JustSayGrr

OK, so I did the due diligence and searched this forum using "Narita transfers" and only came up with a couple threads, the most relevant (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...rita+transfers) appearing to be over 4 years old.

I will be traveling LAX-NRT-HKG on 8/31 - 9/1. I arrive NRT on AA0169 at 4:00PM JST and am scheduled to depart on CX0285 (AA6115) at 5:00PM JST.

The older thread said basically there's no way a connection is possible if a terminal change is involved and the layover is under 2 hrs. But with both carriers operating out of T2, is this still enough time to transit through? That's cutting it somewhat close at a major domestic airport (ORD, DFW, etc). Adding passport control, etc. into the mix seems like I'm doomed to misconnect.

Thoughts from FT'ers out there who have recently done this?

Cheers,
JSG

millionmiler

If the flight pulls up right on time you could make it but I would never do this at NRT - too easy to get stuck for the night.

kix1979

I have a similar situation coming back from Perth, but I have about 90 minutes. I pray this is enough time to make it to flight to DFW. In F/B I would hope since we get off the plane first that it would help.

JustSayGrr

Yes, I'm thankfully in J (and on the port side), so I'm hoping that plays in my favor.

inlanikai

I've done it in 15 minutes, from the time the door opened on the arriving plane to the next gate, both in T2. That included going through security. Add 5 minutes if one flight is in the "main" T2 terminal and the other is in the "satellite" terminal. There is a short tram ride between the two.

With OW all in T2 now it makes NRT almost a pleasure for connections. Of course, this assumes your arrival is on time. If you miss the connection, there is a 6:30pm CX flight after yours.

KeaauFlyer

Security re-screening is your biggest opportunity to get stalled here. This used to be a chronic nightmare, but has improved in recent years. If your flight is on time, and if there are not a whole lot of other flights dumping into the re-screening process at the same time, you should be OK. NRT security finally seems to have learned to staff the checkpoints in proportion to the expected volume of PAX, but if other incoming flights come in later (or earlier) than scheduled, things could get backed up. Having said all that, I have done it in 60 minutes or less, and think you should be OK with just fair luck.

Efrem

Assuming your arrival is on time, you should be OK. If your arrival isn't on time, no connection time can guarantee that you'll be OK, so I wouldn't lose sleep over that scenario.

As mentioned, the only possible hang-up is connection security screening. However, there are usually airport employees around the screening lines for people with tight connections. Show them your boarding pass for the next leg, or a printout of your itinerary if you don't have a CX boarding pass yet. Even if they don't speak much English they can read an airport code, an airline code, and a departure time. As they did for me once, they'll take you to the head of the line and make sure you're the next person screened. (I was also doing a terminal transfer at the time, it was before all of oneWorld got together in the same terminal, so they also phoned for a special shuttle van to take me across the airport. At least you won't need that.)

millionmiler

Absolutely not correct. BA still uses T1.

jiaotze

The op's itinerary is legal as 60 minutes is the minimum legal time for Oneworld transfers within the same terminal. I've done it many times. If your incoming flight is arriving on time, you should have absolutely no problem making the connection.

Assuming the AA flight is late in arrival, which causes you to miss your CX flight, and assuming that your journey is one ticket (not split-ticketed), AA will stick you on the next flight to HK (probably a JAL flight).

JustSayGrr

Thanks for all the great feedback!

As it's a single, albeit paper, ticket (due to a FRA-BHX segment that's BA codeshare on flybe) I should be ok.

I decided to play it safe and rebooked on the 6:30PM departure. Gives me a little more breathing room, more time to people watch AND the bonus of finally riding on a 747.

I'll be sure to update the forum with my actual connection time.

alankyman

i think you made the right decision. just a slight delay in lax and you have a problem. i just booked dfw to nrt and then hkg for december and passed on the 65 minute connection in favor of a 6:15 flight on jal. there was a 6:20 on cx but if aa booked that for me the fare went way up. apparently if there is an aa code share number the cx flight prices right but if not then cx is charging a premium. anybody have any thoughts on this.

on another note, i was through there in july and the new nrt admirals club is not only nice but nice then cx. go figure.

simongr

Also - now you will be able to sample the new excellent AC in NRT (fantastic showers) or the new JL F lounge (I am trying it in a couple of weeks). I recently flew NRT-HKG on a regional CX flight in J and having just stepped out of the enormous F coffin on AA (JFK-NRT) the CX regional jet was a big comedown...

Out of interest are those flight numbers correct? I was on the 5PM CX flight and it was CX521 - the oneworld timetables only show CX521 at 5PM. That was the regional CX aircraft.

JustSayGrr

OK, arrived last night and 60 minutes would be a bit tight, but completely possible - you wouldn't be waiting at the gate for the first boarding call, but you'd make it.

It appears that AA's flights arrive at the T2 satellite gates, so you're at the mercy of however many people are dumped into that portion of the terminal to get on the little train to the main terminal building. I had to wait for 3 trains to finally get on.

As internationally transiting pax do NOT have to clear passport control or customs it's actually a quick process if your carrier is within the same terminal. Just re-clear security (which was efficient) and you're on your way.

I changed to the 6:30PM departure on CX, so I had a bit of extra time. I stopped at the new AC and took a shower. IMHO, that's the way to go about things. That club's pretty damn nice. Didn't have time to sample the CX club for comparison, but it's one of the nicest AC's out there.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Hopefully this will be of some use to another FT'er out there headed to NRT. ^

JSG

illinifan

Came thru NRT today on JAL and connected to AA. So much quicker than in the past. Was able to come from the remote terminal, go thru security (opened a second line just as I came up), went to the AC and made gate 77 which is the last one. Had 115 minutes and spend 70 minutes in the AC. If all goes well, 60 minutes is enough, as pointed out, the key is security to making it. I have spent 3 unexpected nights at NRT, not a lot of fun getting to the hotel and back for an early morning flight.

dfowlkes

I connect AA to JL in NRT frequently. This should be fine. JAL often has staff meeting delayed AA flights and escorting connecting passengers to security and directly to the JL flight. This hub is now a really great One World asset.