Friend and I are going to NRT on seperate flights, landing within a half hour or so of each other. I'm on NW, my friend on UA.

The question is, where should we actually meet? My friend suggested that we do it before customs. I think that's not a great idea and suggested meeting at the train's ticketing booth which he also rejected due to it 'possibly being very cold.'

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Friend and I are going to NRT on seperate flights, landing within a half hour or so of each other. I'm on NW, my friend on UA.

The question is, where should we actually meet? My friend suggested that we do it before customs. I think that's not a great idea and suggested meeting at the train's ticketing booth which he also rejected due to it 'possibly being very cold.'

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Well, UA and NW both use Terminal 1, so you are halfway there. If you will be using a train (either Keisei Skyliner or JR Narita Exrpress) to get from the airport into Tokyo, then your idea about the train ticket counter is a good one. The idea that it will be cold is uninformed. The train counter is right inside the main arrivals hall. There is another ticket window downstairs in the basement, where the trains are actually located, but again, it is in the main terminal building, well away from the actual train platforms (which are also inside.)

Here is a link for the Narita airport, with maps and layout. Perhaps you can select a mutually agreeable location from it.

http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/

Play around with it, looking at the first floor arrivals lobby, and you will see that there are a couple of coffee shops and a designated meeting point, as well as other services. One of the cafes is right next to the train counter.

JR

I'd go with your suggestion--the ticketing booth is down in the basement, not outdoors, so no worries about cold.

If you want somewhere that would be more comfortable to wait if either flight got delayed, there's a Tully's Coffee up on the 2nd floor of the departures area (so it counts as 5th floor of the North Wing), before you go through security. It's off to the side so it seems not many people notice it/go there.

I think I may be able to lend a bit of a hand here. And stay thematic (at least for me) at the same time. :) Starbucks comes to the rescue!

Tell your friend to go to the train ticket window for JR trains (Narita Express is JR) on the basement level. Tell him when facing that counter/kiosk (both are there) to do an about face and he will be staring at a Starbucks. It is, as mentioned, on the basement level. You or your friend, whoever arrives first can relax with a coffee and there is only one Starbucks in the building on basement levels. There is one other one on the Departure level but you will be going no where near that level upon arrival.

As there are JR windows and signs in many places, he can triangulate by using, (1) basement level, (2) JR ticket window adjacent to platfrom entrance, and (3) Starbucks. Should be fairly easy to do and eminently more comfortable than many other options.

See you soon,

Mike

Yeah, I was going to suggest that Starbuck's too. Impossible to miss if you head down to the train entrance. Go with mjm's suggestion, unless you happen to bump into each other in the customs hall.

I forgot about that Starbucks. I know I've seen it on the way into the airport, but I never notice it on the way out--is that because I usually come out of customs, etc. and turn to the right to take the escalator? (Maybe I'm just so focused on getting on the train at that point that I'm spacing.....)

Is it better to come out and take the staircase/elevator to your left?

Es macht nichts, Mox Nix, all roads lead to Rome........

And as to why you have not seen it on the way out, it is becasue you have never met me in person. Shall have to rectify that and you will notice it like one does yellow cars after their friend buys one. :)

Mike

I forgot about that Starbucks. I know I've seen it on the way into the airport, but I never notice it on the way out--is that because I usually come out of customs, etc. and turn to the right to take the escalator? (Maybe I'm just so focused on getting on the train at that point that I'm spacing.....)

Is it better to come out and take the staircase/elevator to your left?

I'd meet at the ice cream cone.

After clearing customs and stepping through the magic doors and into Japan, look right and you will see a giant ice cream cone at a food shop. Actually, the ice cream cone is pretty good after that hot plane ride, too.

And only 50 feet away is a bank of pay phones that you may find useful, too.

If you continue farther past the giant ice cream cone, you will find a couple ATM's (including Citibank). These are always useful.

Oh, the rail ticket counter is only a few feet from the ice cream cone place, too. The rail ticket girls are quite nice and gave my daughter a discount that she shouldn't have had. So please be extra nice to them! :)

I'd meet at the ice cream cone.

After clearing customs and stepping through the magic doors and into Japan, look right and you will see a giant ice cream cone at a food shop. Actually, the ice cream cone is pretty good after that hot plane ride, too.

And only 50 feet away is a bank of pay phones that you may find useful, too.

If you continue farther past the giant ice cream cone, you will find a couple ATM's (including Citibank). These are always useful.

Oh, the rail ticket counter is only a few feet from the ice cream cone place, too. The rail ticket girls are quite nice and gave my daughter a discount that she shouldn't have had. So please be extra nice to them! :)
I like this ice cream cone idea the best since it's on the top floor, can go to the ATMs and get our train tickets into the city.

Thanks for all the help gang!