TSA Songshang transfer time - same plane.
Sep 8, 2020, 1:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 134
TSA Songshang transfer time - same plane.
From Japan on ANA, 1 hour between arrival and departure at TSA. Due to airline pricing and covid, it is imperative to get back on the same plane. Anyone have any setbacks getting back on the same international plane? Have to go through customs? Covid check?
It appears that international flights use the same gate on the 2nd floor for both arrivals and departures, and when arriving you go to a common area within security, so it is just a case of getting off and back on given a boarding pass already in hand? Easy question for someone who has flown there internationally.
https://www.taipei-songshan-airport.com/terminal-1.php
It appears that international flights use the same gate on the 2nd floor for both arrivals and departures, and when arriving you go to a common area within security, so it is just a case of getting off and back on given a boarding pass already in hand? Easy question for someone who has flown there internationally.
https://www.taipei-songshan-airport.com/terminal-1.php
Last edited by GeraldHouse; Sep 8, 2020 at 4:30 pm Reason: Include Taipei Songshan airport terminal 1 map
Sep 9, 2020, 2:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
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I have no experience with transit at TSA or even if it was generally possible pre-pandemic.
If this is supposed to be a quick turn, given the current restrictions and special handling on transit by MOTC at TPE (which I assume would also apply at TSA if it is even possible), this seems absurdly risky. I'd definitely confirm directly with the operating carrier as they may not consider this a transit.
If this is supposed to be a quick turn, given the current restrictions and special handling on transit by MOTC at TPE (which I assume would also apply at TSA if it is even possible), this seems absurdly risky. I'd definitely confirm directly with the operating carrier as they may not consider this a transit.
Sep 9, 2020, 6:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 602
So you want to do HND-TSA-HND flying back on the same plane? Why would you want to do that? Mileage run?
Anyway, I don't think this plan is going to work, especially now.
First of all, it's not exactly easy getting admitted into Taiwan these days, and whoever can get in is expected to quarantine, which should be pre-arranged. Anybody else just won't be allowed to board at HND and I'm afraid that might include you. (As far as I recall, the transfer exemption is for BR/CI/CX at TPE only, so it wouldn't apply to this itinerary.)
At some airports around the world, arriving passengers are indeed released directly into the departures area. I've never transferred at TSA but I don't think that's the case here. It doesn't look like there's a transfers desk or even a shortcut back to departures for passengers who already have a boarding pass according to the airport map (by the way, the link you posted is just some third-party website, https://www.tsa.gov.tw/ is the official one, and you can get the whole map of the airport there as a 20 MB PDF). Transferring at TSA is quite a rare experience: even leaving all the virus restrictions aside, I think you'd have to walk out with arriving passengers and then walk back in (if you had a boarding pass beforehand, otherwise also check-in again). So yeah, that'd mean going through immigration back and forth.
Without the virus it could be doable if you managed to check in beforehand for the 2nd flight but it's far from guaranteed: unless you're a Japanese national, you might be flagged for document check, even more so since you have no proof of onward travel. In general, all this doesn't strike me as a sound plan: in normal times, you'd likely be stranded at TSA; in the current situation, you'll likely be denied boarding at HND.
If you need miles, perhaps a domestic flight within Japan would work for you instead? Such as Ishigaki (ISG)?
Anyway, I don't think this plan is going to work, especially now.
First of all, it's not exactly easy getting admitted into Taiwan these days, and whoever can get in is expected to quarantine, which should be pre-arranged. Anybody else just won't be allowed to board at HND and I'm afraid that might include you. (As far as I recall, the transfer exemption is for BR/CI/CX at TPE only, so it wouldn't apply to this itinerary.)
At some airports around the world, arriving passengers are indeed released directly into the departures area. I've never transferred at TSA but I don't think that's the case here. It doesn't look like there's a transfers desk or even a shortcut back to departures for passengers who already have a boarding pass according to the airport map (by the way, the link you posted is just some third-party website, https://www.tsa.gov.tw/ is the official one, and you can get the whole map of the airport there as a 20 MB PDF). Transferring at TSA is quite a rare experience: even leaving all the virus restrictions aside, I think you'd have to walk out with arriving passengers and then walk back in (if you had a boarding pass beforehand, otherwise also check-in again). So yeah, that'd mean going through immigration back and forth.
Without the virus it could be doable if you managed to check in beforehand for the 2nd flight but it's far from guaranteed: unless you're a Japanese national, you might be flagged for document check, even more so since you have no proof of onward travel. In general, all this doesn't strike me as a sound plan: in normal times, you'd likely be stranded at TSA; in the current situation, you'll likely be denied boarding at HND.
If you need miles, perhaps a domestic flight within Japan would work for you instead? Such as Ishigaki (ISG)?
Sep 11, 2020, 8:35 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,886
From Japan on ANA, 1 hour between arrival and departure at TSA. Due to airline pricing and covid, it is imperative to get back on the same plane. Anyone have any setbacks getting back on the same international plane? Have to go through customs? Covid check?
It appears that international flights use the same gate on the 2nd floor for both arrivals and departures, and when arriving you go to a common area within security, so it is just a case of getting off and back on given a boarding pass already in hand? Easy question for someone who has flown there internationally.
https://www.taipei-songshan-airport.com/terminal-1.php
It appears that international flights use the same gate on the 2nd floor for both arrivals and departures, and when arriving you go to a common area within security, so it is just a case of getting off and back on given a boarding pass already in hand? Easy question for someone who has flown there internationally.
https://www.taipei-songshan-airport.com/terminal-1.php
I don't want to be discouraging but I can see ANA not allowing you to board a flight to Taiwan if you are not qualified to enter. Maybe call ANA and see if you can get anywhere that way. Transit in ICN may be easier, don't know about pricing. Good luck and stay safe.
Mar 7, 2021, 11:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Posts: 1,874
As someone who’s done HND-TSA-SHA pre-pandemic, I can provide a definitive answer. No, there are no international transit facilities. You have to “enter” the country like anyone whose final destination is TSA, then go out into the check-in area, check in again, and then back through security and exit control. I highly doubt ANA will let you board with that booked, especially since you’d likely have to book it as two one-ways.