Question about Transfers at airport on 2 separate tickets without entering country
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 78
Question about Transfers at airport on 2 separate tickets without entering country
Hi guys,
Does anyone know where I can find information on possibility of airport transfers at an airport without entering the country on 2 separate tickets?
Example below:
Let's say you cannot enter Japan but have a ticket Bangkok - Tokyo (you cannot enter Tokyo) with 1 airline and another ticket Tokyo - Frankfurt (you can enter Frankfurt) with another airline.
How can I check if transfer on the "air side" (without entering the country, collecting bags etc.) is possible?
Does anyone know where I can find information on possibility of airport transfers at an airport without entering the country on 2 separate tickets?
Example below:
Let's say you cannot enter Japan but have a ticket Bangkok - Tokyo (you cannot enter Tokyo) with 1 airline and another ticket Tokyo - Frankfurt (you can enter Frankfurt) with another airline.
How can I check if transfer on the "air side" (without entering the country, collecting bags etc.) is possible?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,635
The problem is that most likely you will not be allowed to board the first flight because the first carrier will view your final destination as the country (in your exampleJapan) where you don't fulfill entry requirements and the carrier is not allowed to let you board. To the first carrier your onward ticket with another carrier is immaterial. Traveling on separate tickets is currently not advisable
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 78
The problem is that most likely you will not be allowed to board the first flight because the first carrier will view your final destination as the country (in your exampleJapan) where you don't fulfill entry requirements and the carrier is not allowed to let you board. To the first carrier your onward ticket with another carrier is immaterial. Traveling on separate tickets is currently not advisable
I did hear of people travel via Doha on that basis (when entering Qatar was forbidden), however, I think both of their flights were with QR so even though on separate tickets they were able to sort it out, stay at the transit hotel on the airside etc. etc..
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,635
I believe QR/Doha was an exception and yes, it was only QR only involved.
I'm not saying that it will never work/be possible to travel on separate tickets as you suggest, but the risk that it will not work and you will not be allowed to board the first flight is significant and imminent IMO. So I guess anyone considering separate tickets needs to make his/her own assessment of risk, convenience, benefits etc.
I'm not saying that it will never work/be possible to travel on separate tickets as you suggest, but the risk that it will not work and you will not be allowed to board the first flight is significant and imminent IMO. So I guess anyone considering separate tickets needs to make his/her own assessment of risk, convenience, benefits etc.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
It will depend on the destination. In general (and even more so now), if you are travelling on separate tickets you need to be eligible to enter the intermediate country to pull it off. Simply assuming that they will let you transit airside is not advisable. Remember, you don't have a connection.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Japan/Thailand
Programs: AS, UA
Posts: 1,201
It also depends on the specific airlines. For your Bangkok - Tokyo - Frankfurt example, if both flights are ANA, they will let you check in for both flights at the first airport so you don't need to leave Narita. But that is their own policy rather than a universal rule. (I think JAL allows this as well but not completely sure).
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Unless you are on a single ticket, there is no requirement to follow whatever interline agreements may or may not be in place. You are at the mercy of the check-in agent. Assume it won't happen.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,334
In the OP's case, If "Tokyo" means a combination of NRT and HND, it definitely will NOT work, even if it's the same carrier.
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
Right, so that's exactly why I was wondering if this would work.
I did hear of people travel via Doha on that basis (when entering Qatar was forbidden), however, I think both of their flights were with QR so even though on separate tickets they were able to sort it out, stay at the transit hotel on the airside etc. etc..
I did hear of people travel via Doha on that basis (when entering Qatar was forbidden), however, I think both of their flights were with QR so even though on separate tickets they were able to sort it out, stay at the transit hotel on the airside etc. etc..
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,334
In some cases (USA is a major example), even if you have a single ticket for flights on the same carrier, you still must go through immigration. In a few cases (AFAIK ORD could be an example), you could need to go through immigration in order to change terminals, even on a single ticket and carrier. Finally, one would need to be extremely careful about codeshares as the airline operating the flight might use a different terminal, such as DL/AF-KLM codeshares at JFK.