Connecting to KIX flight at NRT
 

Delta started service to Kansai (KIX) airport recently. You connect in Narita for a Delta flight to KIX. Does anyone know if you have to exit through immigration in Narita, collect your checked luggage, and check-in again?

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I just took DL473 (JFK-NRT-KIX) earlier this week.

You do immigration in KIX (but get the documents about JFK-NRT; they did not offer them again NRT-KIX, but they had the documents outside the immigration area in KIX if you need more). Checked luggage is checked all the way through, and you receive a separate boarding pass that is marked "THRU PASSENGER - DOCS OK" at JFK.

You have to clear security at NRT again, though. You go to the "international flights" security area and there are agents both at deplaning and again at this security area holding flights in English and Japanese stating DL473 to Osaka (KIX) is that way.

The good news is you can access the SkyClub because the flight to Osaka leaves from the area below the SkyClub at NRT. Also note that you don't get 500 separate MQMs for the NRT-KIX flight; you get total MQMs for JFK-KIX as one posting.

The short answer is that the process in NRT will be identical to how things would be handled for any of Delta's other interport connections: quick security at NRT, boarding from the typical DL airside areas, followed by customs/immigration at the final destination. Even though this is counter-intuitive considering that you're connecting to a domestic flight, but Delta doesn't sell tickets to domestic customers on this leg so it doesn't matter.

Thanks!
 

Thanks for your detailed replies. Nice to know it's not more complicated than it has to be.

Your comments on MQMS are true if you're on the direct JFK-KIX flight. However if you come into NRT on any other DL flight then you do get MQMs for the flight.

Same for the boarding pass, it only says THRU PASSENGER if on the direct JFK-KIX flight. Otherwise it's just like any other connecting flight BP.

At least in the past, there were other DL and PMNW domestic flights from NRT operated as if they were international, with no local traffic. It's very convenient for international passengers.

IIRC there are some similar KE flights at ICN that are restricted to international passengers. There most domestic South Korean flights use Gimpo.

So just was at NRT and there are people with signs everywhere before you go through immigration to redirect you to where you need to go. As usual, you need to go through security upon arrival but doesn't see you go through immigration.