Consolidated Japan Customs & Immigation Discussion (was Extremely long wait times...)
May 1, 2016, 6:17 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Tokyo/Syd/Mel
Programs: NH Dia (MM), QF-Plt, S-La GC Dia, Marriot Plt
Posts: 226
This is my experience at T1: Up to about mid afternoon, things aren't too bad and the average traveler without any special privilege will need 20-30 min or so to get through and to your gate.
But after say 3pm, lines in immigration can grow very quickly and before you know it you need a good hour to get through and walk to your gate.
That is before you consider additional time if you are flying during a peak travel period.
I have seen times in the afternoon where people needed an hour in line through outbound immigration alone.
May 1, 2016, 6:41 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
The time has a lot to do with when you are flying.
This is my experience at T1: Up to about mid afternoon, things aren't too bad and the average traveler without any special privilege will need 20-30 min or so to get through and to your gate.
But after say 3pm, lines in immigration can grow very quickly and before you know it you need a good hour to get through and walk to your gate.
That is before you consider additional time if you are flying during a peak travel period.
I have seen times in the afternoon where people needed an hour in line through outbound immigration alone.
This is my experience at T1: Up to about mid afternoon, things aren't too bad and the average traveler without any special privilege will need 20-30 min or so to get through and to your gate.
But after say 3pm, lines in immigration can grow very quickly and before you know it you need a good hour to get through and walk to your gate.
That is before you consider additional time if you are flying during a peak travel period.
I have seen times in the afternoon where people needed an hour in line through outbound immigration alone.
On another note, I have a 2-hr int'l to domestic connection at NRT late afternoon (both T1, same tix) in 2months. Never imagined I'd be worrying about missing that connection until now.
May 1, 2016, 7:16 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Tokyo/Syd/Mel
Programs: NH Dia (MM), QF-Plt, S-La GC Dia, Marriot Plt
Posts: 226
Hi evergrn, yes, I have seen it many times very bad out of T1 - but I should qualify further that many of my experiences were on a weekend so that might be the difference (I typically fly out on a Sunday but not always).
I've been through many times feeling so thankful for my registration for the automated gates.
I've seen some graph somewhere that shows the volumes through immigration at Narita for each hour and it really ratchets up after 3pm.. but for the life of me I can no longer find that link.
Regards
I've been through many times feeling so thankful for my registration for the automated gates.
I've seen some graph somewhere that shows the volumes through immigration at Narita for each hour and it really ratchets up after 3pm.. but for the life of me I can no longer find that link.
Regards
May 1, 2016, 7:19 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Tokyo/Syd/Mel
Programs: NH Dia (MM), QF-Plt, S-La GC Dia, Marriot Plt
Posts: 226
May 1, 2016, 11:16 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Me too, I fly out on various days but probably Sundays more so than any other days, almost always from T1. Mind you, I only fly in/out of TYO few times a year, but I've been doing this for decades and I don't remember it ever being as bad as you describe. 20min wait at the exit immigration would be about the worst-case as far as I can remember. So something must've changed in the last few months for both arrival and departure immigration.
May 2, 2016, 8:04 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
AA will be T2, when I flew out of NRT on AA two Sundays ago, there were no lines for check-in or security/immigration. The walk from the security check-point to my AA gate took longer than the entire security and immigration process. This was around 2-3pm.
May 3, 2016, 12:29 pm
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,301
I'm in and out 4 times per month - yes sometimes it can get past the temperature monitor lol - as far as I can tell it's due to the massive increase in Tourists to japan - primarily Chinese - as the domestic lines are always empty...
May 3, 2016, 9:41 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YQB
Programs: Aeroplan, Nexus
Posts: 39
Lines were also quite long at KIX on Apr 13 around 7 PM (~45 min). No wait for customs.
But the exit controls were a breeze on Sunday at NRT T1, security and exit immigration took 10 minutes (just before 4 PM).
But the exit controls were a breeze on Sunday at NRT T1, security and exit immigration took 10 minutes (just before 4 PM).
May 3, 2016, 10:09 pm
#54
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM / GE / APEC
Posts: 61
I flew into T1 @NRT Tue. 4/26 afternoon, departed Sun 5/2 Afternoon. Both into/exit the lines were extremely short, <10 min on both sides (wish I could say the same for JFK). So hopefully an improvement.
May 5, 2016, 5:44 am
#56
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
I wonder if the queue has gone up the stairs. Probably what would happen then is they would have staff direct traffic at the top of escalator and have people line up at the top of escalator and direct people to head down the escalators one by one as space opens up downstairs.
May 5, 2016, 12:38 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 106
That's crazy. I'm surprised you got through in an hour.
I wonder if the queue has gone up the stairs. Probably what would happen then is they would have staff direct traffic at the top of escalator and have people line up at the top of escalator and direct people to head down the escalators one by one as space opens up downstairs.
I wonder if the queue has gone up the stairs. Probably what would happen then is they would have staff direct traffic at the top of escalator and have people line up at the top of escalator and direct people to head down the escalators one by one as space opens up downstairs.
To be fair, as packed as it was, there *were* quite a few windows open, and they seemed to be getting people through fairly quickly. It was the longest line I've ever seen there, and relative to the size, was probably the "quickest" I've seen it move.
May 5, 2016, 1:33 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: United, Hilton, SPG, Marriott, IHG, ANA, Luftansa
Posts: 1
Golden Week
Hi- I believe that the reason for the wait times are due to Golden Week. The beginning of May has many holidays for the Japanese and most families are taking vacations at this time. Hopefully, it will clear up buy the end of this week
May 5, 2016, 1:50 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
NRT 25/April - plane door at 9:25 am and catching the 9:48 N'Ex (exactly 23 minutes) incl. immigration, customs, visiting an ATM, a SIM-vending machine, JR office redeeming JR pass and booking shinkansen seats.
As for immigration, I walked up straight to the agent, no-one in front
As for immigration, I walked up straight to the agent, no-one in front