🛫 Day 1: Flying to America
인천공항에서 뉴어크까지 - Our big adventure begins!
Charlotte's Travel Diary 📖
"오늘은 드디어 미국 가는 날! Apa said we need to be at Incheon Airport by 2 PM. I packed my teddy bear, coloring books, and tablet. The flight is 14 hours - that's SO long! But I'm excited because we'll fly over the ocean and maybe see whales from up high! Apa is going to a big conference, and I get to see pandas!"
The World's Best Airport Adventure! 🏆
Welcome to Incheon International Airport, Charlotte! Did you know this amazing place has been voted the world's best airport for eight consecutive years? As we step into Terminal 1, you'll see why. The ceiling soars high above us with beautiful Korean traditional designs, and the floor is so clean you could almost eat off it!
Our first stop is the Airpremia check-in counter (A-1 through A-6). While Apa handles the boarding passes, you can watch the giant screens showing our flight information. Flight YP131 to Newark - that's our magical carpet to America! The friendly staff will give you a special junior pilot sticker if you ask nicely.
After check-in, we'll explore the Korean Cultural Museum on the 4th floor. It's like traveling through 5,000 years of Korean history in just 30 minutes! You'll see traditional hanbok dresses, ancient pottery, and even try writing your name in Korean calligraphy. The best part? There's an interactive section where you can play traditional Korean games.
Our Trans-Pacific Adventure Begins! 🌊
Buckle up, Charlotte! We're about to board the magnificent Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced airplanes in the sky. As we taxi down the runway, look out your window - you'll see the lights of Seoul twinkling below us like scattered diamonds. In just a few minutes, we'll be soaring 35,000 feet above the Earth, higher than Mount Everest!
Airpremia Flight YP131 • Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Departure: 9:55 PM KST from ICN Terminal 1
Arrival: 9:30 PM EST at EWR Terminal B (same day!)
Flight Time: 13 hours 35 minutes
Booking Reference: J9P12N
Passengers: Hohyon Ryu & Charlotte Ryu
Class: Economy Light (23kg baggage each)
Our journey will take us on an incredible path across the Pacific Ocean. Since we're departing at 9:55 PM, it will be completely dark when we fly over Japan, but you can still see the beautiful city lights of Tokyo twinkling like stars below us! As we continue into the vast Pacific, we'll chase the sunrise westward, flying through the night over the deep blue ocean. Later, we might catch glimpses of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska's snowy mountains as dawn breaks over North America.
The amazing thing about our 13.5-hour flight is that we'll travel through time! Even though we're flying for over half a day, we'll land on Tuesday night because we're chasing the sun westward. Your personal entertainment screen has over 100 movies, including all your favorites like Frozen and Moana. The flight attendants will serve us delicious Korean bulgogi for dinner and American pancakes for breakfast - the best of both worlds!
Welcome to the United States of America! 🇺🇸
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Newark Liberty International Airport. Local time is 9:30 PM." Charlotte, we made it! Can you believe we just traveled halfway around the world? As we step off the plane, you'll notice something magical - even though we flew for 14 hours, it's still Tuesday night! We've literally traveled through time.
Here's where our Global Entry membership makes everything super easy, Charlotte! Instead of waiting in long immigration lines like other travelers, we get to use the special Global Entry kiosks. You'll scan your fingerprints on the machine (just like a secret spy!), and it will take your photo automatically. Since we're both American citizens with Global Entry, we'll be through immigration in just a few minutes while other passengers wait for 30-45 minutes. It's like having a VIP pass at the airport!
Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott
1 Hotel Road, Newark, NJ 07114
Check-in: November 11, 4:00 PM
Check-out: November 12
Confirmation: 95648274
Phone: +1 973-623-0006
After collecting our bags from the carousel, we'll take the hotel shuttle to our cozy room at the airport Marriott. Tomorrow is a big day - we're flying to Washington D.C., the capital of America! But tonight, we need to rest our weary traveler legs and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Sweet dreams, Charlotte - tomorrow we begin exploring the land of the free and the home of the brave!
✈️ Charlotte's Epic 14-Hour Flight Adventure Guide!
Flying across the Pacific Ocean is like being on a floating island in the sky! Here's how we'll make every hour of our journey magical and educational. Think of it as our personal flying classroom where we'll learn about geography, science, and cultures while having the time of our lives.
🎬 Cinema in the Clouds: Your personal entertainment screen is loaded with over 100 movies! Start with "Encanto" to learn about family bonds, then watch "Moana" as we fly over the Pacific Ocean - just like Moana's adventures! End with "Frozen 2" to get excited about seeing snow in Washington D.C. Each movie will teach you something new while keeping you entertained.
🍎 Charlotte's Healthy Flying Menu: Since you love fresh fruits, ask the flight attendant for the fruit plate instead of bread or rice. They usually have fresh strawberries, grapes, and apple slices. The Korean meal option includes fresh kimchi (fermented vegetables) which is super healthy, and you can skip the rice and eat more of the grilled vegetables and fruit. Don't forget to drink lots of water - flying can make you thirsty!
🌍 Geography Detective Game: Use the flight map on your screen to track our amazing journey. When we pass over Japan, look for Mount Fuji's perfect cone shape. Over the Pacific, count how many different shades of blue you can see in the ocean. As we approach Alaska, you might spot icebergs floating like white puzzle pieces in the dark water.