Originally Posted by
bmwe92fan
When I arrived a few weeks ago I was taken off the plane first (before any announcements were made) as there was someone waiting for me to escort me to processing (I am GS with United). They told me that the airport chooses who gets off first based on the backup (if any) in processing (there are typically still far more transit passengers than those arriving to stay). If the processing area is clear then arrivals get off first -- if it is backed up then transit passengers go first... This was Narita terminal 1...
Four transits through HND in May and June - each time transit passengers were deplaned first. There's a longish walk down a corridor with all restrooms closed off till transit security which was very slow and long queues (two machines operating out of four). That one transit security handles most if not all the international transit and I learned a lesson, racing ahead on subsequent flights to beat the rest.