Originally Posted by
KnightInWhiteSatin
I have read much of the thread and have not seen a specific answer to my dilemma. We will be arriving on UA into NRT at 250p, and we are contemplating purchasing tickets on ZipAir at 5p to BKK. I understand ZipAir does not have an airside transit desk but I have read on their website that their system will automatically check you in and email you boarding cards. We will have carry-ons only. Do you think that we will be allowed to board airside without having to go to their outside counters?
Would you take a chance that ZipAir would permit us to transfer airside with their emailed boarding passes?
If not, we will be made to pass through immigration formalities to their counter in T1. I am also assuming that Japan will be open by our travel date of Jan 2023. Is there sufficient time to get to their counters by the 4pm checkin deadline if we arrive on UA at 250pm?
If you're going UA to ZipAir and you are certain you will your boarding passes sent electronically, then you're good to go. There will be no transit security coming in from the US, they will verify you have your boarding passes as you check in for UA and then as you leave the plane though. After that, you just walk from the UA gate to the ZipAir gate, which 2 hours should be enough unless your UA flight is seriously delayed. Both flights are in T1. Also worth noting, this only works because you're carryon-only.
The problem is on the return, you can't go from ZipAir to UA if that is your plan, as they will force you to go through security, which you can't do without an approved visa to enter, unless you are going from ZipAir to ZipAir on very specific routes:
Connecting flights | ZIPAIR Official Website
and
Regarding Transfers and Same-day Connection Services | ZIPAIR Official Website
I am also assuming that Japan will be open by our travel date of Jan 2023
I wouldn't plan around this until it is actually announced.