2004. xmas season. i was leaving japan after 6yrs there. sent 3 of my 4 checked bags to the airport's luggage storage 3 days before. but too many last minute "finishing up" errands on my final half-day led to delay after delay in getting across tokyo to NRT. i arrive at check-in 45mins before scheduled intl departure - AND flight's dep time has been moved UP by 20mins. so just 25mins to say my goodbyes, claim my stored bags, check them, check in, clear security and (outbound) immigration, get to my gate and in my seat. somehow, the local NWA staff pulled it off. they took my tickets and passport and checked me in while i went to claimed my stored bags and an one of them hustled me to the front of the line at security and had me whisked through. what a blur ... i still don;t know how they did it but i was thankful because i know it would be nearly impossible to duplicate. the people there to say goodbye to me had long since given up on me, and since i had cancelled my mobile coverage and didn't have time to locate and use a payphone, i had to call them and say my goodbyes using a mobile borrowed from a sympathetic fellow pax just before the door closed.