Jin Air Nha Trang 737 MAX 8: Is It Comfortable for 5 Hours?

---

Vietnam Nha Trang Trip

Jin Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 Flight Review

---

When planning your flight to Nha Trang,

do you ever find yourself debating whether to choose a low-cost carrier (LCC)

over a full-service airline like Korean Air?

The flight from Incheon Airport to Nha Trang Cam Ranh Airport

takes about 5 hours.

I was a bit concerned myself about whether I could comfortably manage

a 5-hour flight on an LCC.

On this trip, I personally experienced Jin Air, and I've put together a step-by-step account of everything,

from online check-in and Smart Pass,

to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 seat pitch.

Table of Contents

1. How to Online Check-in with Jin Air

2. Incheon Airport Smart Pass Step 2

3. Boeing 737 MAX 8 Seat Pitch Review

4. Concluding the Travelogue

1. How to Online Check-in with Jin Air

I departed from Incheon Airport for Nha Trang on a Jin Air 8:40 PM flight

that I booked through Trip.com.

The day before departure, Jin Air sent a check-in guide message

via their KakaoTalk channel.

Here’s a summary of the times mentioned in the message:

Category	Details
Online Check-in	24 hours to 1 hour 30 minutes before departure
Airport Check-in Deadline	50 minutes before departure

If you booked through Trip.com,

you'll need to check in using the 6-digit Jin Air reservation number

from the alert message, not your Trip.com booking number.

⭐ Check-in Process for Trip.com Bookings

Tapping the 'Go to Mobile Check-in' button

will take you to the Jin Air website.

On the Jin Air homepage, at the bottom,

under the [Check-in/Boarding Pass] menu,

click the 'Non-member/External Channel Booking' check-in button.

Enter your 6-digit reservation number, English first and last names,

and departure date, then click 'Search Reservation'

to find your flight for check-in.

From this point, simply follow the

4 steps exactly as they appear on the Jin Air screen.

---

① Select Passenger(s)

Since I booked with the same reservation number as my companion,

we were able to check in both of us at once.

There was no need to do it separately for each person.

② Passenger Information

Enter your passport number, expiration date, and issuing authority,

then check the box to agree to the information provided below.

③ Seat Selection

You can choose your seat for free during check-in.

However, even though I did it around 9 PM the night before,

most of the front seats were already taken.

⭐ If you have a preferred seat,

be sure to check in as soon as it opens.

There were only a few rows left at the very back

where two of us could sit together,

so we ended up in the back.

​

④ Issue Boarding Pass

That's it! Your web check-in is complete.

Clicking the 'View Boarding Pass' button

lets you see your mobile boarding pass instantly.

If you click 'Send Boarding Pass,' the mobile boarding pass will be sent

via KakaoTalk to the person you checked in with.

Our arrival at Nha Trang Cam Ranh Airport

was at 11:45 PM local time.

Since it's quite a distance to Nha Trang city center,

getting to our accommodation was my biggest concern.

If you're arriving late at night, be sure to arrange

airport pickup tailored to your arrival time.

>> View Nha Trang Airport Pickup Review

​

2. Incheon Airport Smart Pass, Stage 2

Smart Pass is a service that allows you to pass through

using facial recognition instead of your passport and boarding pass.

I had already registered for Smart Pass previously,

so I didn't need to set it up this time.

Even though I bought my ticket from Trip.com,

after completing Jin Air's online check-in,

it was automatically linked to Smart Pass.

First, before entering the security checkpoint,

I used it at the departure hall entrance.

The regular line was long,

but the Smart Pass line only required a face scan,

and I could go straight in.

There was also a separate Smart Pass lane

in front of the boarding gate for the flight.

I didn't have to stand in the regular line waiting to board;

I could just use facial recognition

and board the plane directly.

If you haven't registered yet, make sure to register your passport and face

on the Incheon Airport Smart Pass app

before you depart.

You'll also receive a registration link via Jin Air's KakaoTalk notification service.

3. Boeing 737 MAX 8 Seat Pitch Review

The Boeing 737 MAX 8, which has been introduced

on this Nha Trang route,

is a new aircraft that Jin Air has brought in.

It has a longer operating range than the existing B737-800,

exceeding 1,000km,

making it suitable for medium-haul routes

of around 5 hours.

The ceiling features blue LED lighting,

and it has a 3-3 configuration with three seats on each side of the aisle.

So, how does it compare to other LCCs?

I checked with data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Looking at the seat width for the same B737-800,

Jin Air's was on the wider side.

Airline	Minimum Seat Width
Jin Air	43cm or more
T'way Air	43cm or more
Jeju Air	41.4cm

The 737 MAX 8 I flew on this time

is known to have a seat pitch of approximately 29-30 inches,

which is about 74-76cm.

This is similar to T'way's 737 MAX 8.

Just looking at the numbers doesn't really give you a feel for it, does it?

So, I sat down and took a picture myself.

When I, who is 178cm tall, sat down,

my knees didn't touch the seat in front,

and there was about a fist's worth of space left.

There was also distance between my upper body and the seat in front,

so I didn't feel cramped during the 5-hour flight.

And you might be curious about in-flight meals.

I didn't order any separately.

Since it was an evening flight, I ate at Incheon Airport

before boarding.

Jin Air doesn't provide in-flight meals as standard,

so if you want one, you need to order it in advance

on their website or app before departure.

You can charge your devices via the seat's USB port.

I was worried about the 5-hour flight, but

both the legroom and the charging options were perfectly adequate.

If you're considering flying to Nha Trang with an LCC,

first compare which flights are available

on your desired dates.

🔻🔻

Find the cheapest Nha Trang flights here

4. Journey's End

Before going to Nha Trang, I was worried if a 5-hour flight

with an LCC would be comfortable enough.

Jin Air's Boeing 737 MAX 8,

for someone 178cm tall, had about a fist's worth of space

in front of the knees.

Even if you do online check-in the day before,

only the back seats might be left, so next time,

I plan to do it as soon as it opens.

Smart Pass was convenient to use at both the departure hall

and the boarding gate.

If you're thinking of Nha Trang for a short break,

an LCC like Jin Air is a great option.

---

Helpful articles for your Nha Trang trip