Bag search in jetway prior to boarding out of NRT?
Aug 19, 2015, 1:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 134
Bag search in jetway prior to boarding out of NRT?
Hey everyone, headed to Tokyo in a few weeks and was going to see if they did a carry-on bag search in the jetway for the return trip home to the US like they did out of PEK.
Reason why I am asking is, I am hoping to buy a few Gatorades/Powerades airside to bring with me to help with dehydration and don't want to spend the $6 bucks or so if they are going to be confiscated.
The measly one bottled water that AA gives you (although I understand the storage issues) just isn't enough for me. I also hate how they refill the water bottles, yuck.
TIA
Reason why I am asking is, I am hoping to buy a few Gatorades/Powerades airside to bring with me to help with dehydration and don't want to spend the $6 bucks or so if they are going to be confiscated.
The measly one bottled water that AA gives you (although I understand the storage issues) just isn't enough for me. I also hate how they refill the water bottles, yuck.
TIA
Aug 19, 2015, 8:01 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 134
Thanks again!
Last edited by schwimmair; Aug 19, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Aug 19, 2015, 10:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,376
[addendum: Actually, if you're talking about random gate screening, of course we've all dealt with that. But it's been so long since the last time I encountered a gate screen, I forgot about it. Anyways, no random gate checks at NRT in recent years that I can recall. And even if you did get screened at the gate, I don't see why it'd be a problem to have beverage on you.]
Last edited by evergrn; Aug 19, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Aug 20, 2015, 4:24 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,623
Aug 20, 2015, 8:08 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Riding the rails
Programs: Japan Forum, Skyteam Elite Plus, BW Diamond Select, HHonors Gold, NWA, DL, NH
Posts: 1,936
I swear I've seen it happen a few months ago when I was in T1 on Asiana heading over to ICN for the weekend, it wasn't me, but I remember them calling up about 2-3 random passengers and their bags were checked next to the boarding gate.
Could be dependent on the airline?
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/security/faq/#16
Could be dependent on the airline?
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/security/faq/#16
Aug 20, 2015, 8:15 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,727
The US bound flight liquid search at the gate tends to be concentrated on US airlines, no matter the location (people have reported it at LHR, HKG, PVG, LIM, etc). So if you haven't been flying US based airlines, you probably would've never encountered this fun.
Aug 20, 2015, 10:48 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: BRU, SIN, PEK
Programs: SQ TPP, LH SEN
Posts: 3,235
I've never heard of such thing. Then again my recent international travel is limited to mostly just a few countries. Why can't you have liquid on you that you've purchase post-security? Every time I fly home non-stop from TYO, I stuff my carry-on prior to boarding with vending machine canned ice coffee as soon as I'm airside.
[addendum: Actually, if you're talking about random gate screening, of course we've all dealt with that. But it's been so long since the last time I encountered a gate screen, I forgot about it. Anyways, no random gate checks at NRT in recent years that I can recall. And even if you did get screened at the gate, I don't see why it'd be a problem to have beverage on you.]
[addendum: Actually, if you're talking about random gate screening, of course we've all dealt with that. But it's been so long since the last time I encountered a gate screen, I forgot about it. Anyways, no random gate checks at NRT in recent years that I can recall. And even if you did get screened at the gate, I don't see why it'd be a problem to have beverage on you.]
Aug 20, 2015, 5:15 pm
#12
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
As for NRT, I've never encountered this issue on US bound flights (or any flights for that matter ex-NRT) and in fact I typically bring full bottles of Japanese Whiskey purchased at the Duty Free onto the plane without so much as a second glance.
Aug 20, 2015, 5:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Programs: Amex Platinum, DL Diamond 2MM, PriorityPass, Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 469
I've travelled to the US ex-PEK on UA and can confirm there is indeed security screening after gate check, and liquids are not allowed. I didn't buy duty free items so I can't remember for sure, but I think they do have and permit the security seal bags for those liquid items, but bottles of water or drinks etc don't pass. Not sure if things have changed since.
And yes, ditto to above. As far as i can remember there is always a curtained off area at the entrance to the jetway (I can only speak about US bound flights), where they do bag checks. I think it is random, and they call the on the next person they find crossing, once they have finished with one! Of course YMMV. Cheers.
Aug 20, 2015, 7:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: BRU, SIN, PEK
Programs: SQ TPP, LH SEN
Posts: 3,235
Duty-free what though, are you referring to. I don't think it's an issue buying a liquid make-up from duty-free that's within the liquids restriction limit as with just your personal item. So I guess those security seal bags aren't the issue (or necessary).