saaveraward

I'm trying to fly:

NH2144 arrives NRT 15:25 (issued by VS)
NH10 departs NRT 16:40 (issued by NH)

I am checking a bag. Even though this is a legal connection, I'm concerned:

1) They won't let me through the transit area
2) FUK checking my bag through to JFK
3) zero protection if the inbound is late


VS can't open the ticket to add a segment. NH won't open it to sell me an add-on segment.

Any thoughts from those who have transited NRT on NH? I'm told I will arrive and depart the same terminal.

Only other choice I guess is fly in super early/night before/HND. There isn't really a sweet spot to get in early and get a day rate at the NRT Hilton.

Thanks in advance

MSPeconomist

With two separate tickets, you don't have a connection. So whether it's legal or illegal is irrelevant.

Mwenenzi

VX was Virgin America, now taken over by AS
Cash or award tickets?
Have you checked if NH will interline checked bags on separate tickets. Some airlines will and an increasing number will not, even to themselves.
Have you been to NRT - HND before?
Great Circle Mapper

CPH-Flyer

NH will check your baggage through.

But you will still need to go through a security check and immigration. Follow the signs for international connections when you arrive. A 16:40 flight will start boarding at 16:10, so you don't have a ton of time for delays. If you miss the flight you are on your own as a no show.

saaveraward

sorry, mistype. Virgin Atlantic.

I have been told both "yes" and "no" about interlining.

I Have been to both NRT and HND before but have never been a transit pax nor traveled between the two.

paperwastage

The MinConnectTime is airline's own acceptance of risk (if there is a delay, they bare the costs of rebooking you)

As @MSPeconomist mentioned, you don't have a connection/transfer. You have separate tickets, any issues and you have to rebook yourself on a new ticket

So what is your acceptance of risk? Just today, the incoming flight was delayed by 52 min, which means you wouldn't have made it
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/flight-tracker/NH/2144

This is the past historical stats, with caveat that past doesn't mean future performance
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/fligh...ng/NH/2144/FUK

Also,looks like it sometimes land in T1S? Could also be bus Gates?

saaveraward

All excellent points. I guess what my main question is:

Can VS or NH "open" up an existing award ticket to add a paid segment so there is protection?

I haven't HUCA, so this may be fact, or I may have gotten an untrained agent.

Kacee

NH certainly has the ability to check the bags through; you're always at the mercy of the first check-in agent in this situation though.

You're not going to get formal "protection" on separate tickets. Whether NH might accommodate you in case of an inbound delay is a separate question; I tend to think they would not but that's not based on any directly relevant experience, just general knowledge of how strictly they enforce rules. Personally, I would hesitate to leave so little time for an onward international connection.

Getting through transit security is not a problem so long as you have an onward BP (or can show proof of an onward ticket, such as a printed confirm).
It's absolutely relevant, because NH is not going to check bags through if the transit time doesn't meet MCT (i.e., an "illegal") connection.

CPH-Flyer

No, they are not going to add a paid segment to an award booking.

Sedge

I would not be comfortable with a 1hr15min domestic->international connection at NRT on separate tickets. It's doable, but there's (IMHO) not enough buffer time in case something goes wrong.

There is a Jetstar Japan flight at a better time (GK504 dep FUK 11:05 arr NRT 12:50), but NH is even less likely to be understanding if a GK delay makes you miss your connection.

The only other ANA option, NH2142 (dep FUK 07:20 arr NRT 09:00) means a painfully early start and long layover at NRT.

If I were in your place, I'd take the train. For example:
- Nozomi 12 dep Hakata 08:10 arr Shinagawa 13:06
- Narita Express 29 dep Shinagawa 13:24 arr Narita Terminal 1 14:29

saaveraward

I think I'm down to that jetstar flight you mentioned or go in the night before. CP rate isn't too bad. It's just a waste of a day at NRT.

nancypants

have you already purchased both of these tickets? Or just the award (FUK-NRT?)?

if not I’d personally be looking to simply rebook as a through ticket FUK-NRT-[JFK?]- either cancelling the award domestic segment or throwing it away

or, second the advice about the train

saaveraward

NRT-JFK is an award. Can't cancel that. Haven't booked the positioning flight to NRT yet.

nancypants

Aha
makes more sense that way round

CPH-Flyer

Just be aware that Jetstar will not check your luggage through. And they arrive in T3, so there is a quite long terminal change as well.