Air Seoul launches 'Travel Awards 2026' contest, with top entries to become real travel products

Air Seoul is launching a customer travel contest to mark its 11th anniversary, inviting participants to submit videos capturing their travel memories with the airline or propose itineraries for trips they want to take.

The airline announced Wednesday it will hold the "Travel Awards 2026" customer contest. The event was organized to celebrate 11 years of flying from Incheon Airport, gather travel experiences from loyal customers and source fresh travel ideas.

The contest has two categories. The "Film Awards" category invites participants to capture their travel moments with Air Seoul in video form. The "Creator Awards" category asks entrants to submit a proposed itinerary for a trip they would like to take.

The contest is open to anyone aged 14 or older. Entry guidelines and submission details are available on Air Seoul's official website. Applications are accepted through Aug. 31.

Air Seoul plans to announce the final winners on Sept. 23 after reviewing all submissions. Individual award schedules will be communicated directly to winners.

The total prize pool is 10 million won in travel benefits. Each category will name three winners — a grand prize, an excellence award and a merit award — for six winners in total. Prizes include round-trip airfare and a two-night hotel stay. The grand prize is valued at 2.5 million won, the excellence award at 1.5 million won and the merit award at 1 million won.

Particularly notable is the Creator Awards, where winning entries could be developed into commercial travel products. Air Seoul plans to work with travel agency Cool World Travel to bring standout itineraries to market, giving winners the chance to be the first to take the trip they designed.

The contest focuses less on being a one-off promotional event and more on turning customer experiences into content and products. It represents the airline's effort to collect travelers' stories and connect them back to travel offerings and brand experiences.

Low-cost carriers have recently been broadening their customer touchpoints ahead of the summer peak season and the second half of the year, concentrating on short- and medium-haul routes to Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Beyond competing on airfare prices, carriers are also stepping up marketing efforts — including in-flight services, branded merchandise and customer participation events — to build brand loyalty.

"For the past 11 years, our customers have always been with us on every route Air Seoul has flown," an Air Seoul official said. "We want to listen to the precious stories built up over that time and respond with what Air Seoul does best — a wonderful journey."