JAL INternational Award Flight - Originating in USA - Tight Connection
Nov 15, 2021, 11:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 72
JAL INternational Award Flight - Originating in USA - Tight Connection
Hi. Currently hold a JAL business class award flight/tickets from USA to Jakarta for Jan 2022. We have a tight connection time at NRT - 70 minutes. I believe JAL website states 60 minutes is the minimum necessary connection time, so we meet that requirement.
However flying through NRT in the fall of 2020, international transfers/connections took MUCH no longer than in the "usual" pre-covid days. Had to queue in a different section / room of the airport etc.
As NRT is *not* a 24 hour airport, we are curious what happens *if* we missed our connection? Given that we (tourists) can not enter the country / leave the airport.
Would we be spent back to USA? Re-booked on another competing airline (as ANA has later flight that day)? Would we be permitted to be "locked in" the airport in a quasi-limbo as JAL has another Jakarta flight early the next morning?
I know it's likely impossible to know what would actually happen, but wanted to start seriously thinking about WHAT IF, as we get closer to our departure. Appreciate any help or insight!
However flying through NRT in the fall of 2020, international transfers/connections took MUCH no longer than in the "usual" pre-covid days. Had to queue in a different section / room of the airport etc.
As NRT is *not* a 24 hour airport, we are curious what happens *if* we missed our connection? Given that we (tourists) can not enter the country / leave the airport.
Would we be spent back to USA? Re-booked on another competing airline (as ANA has later flight that day)? Would we be permitted to be "locked in" the airport in a quasi-limbo as JAL has another Jakarta flight early the next morning?
I know it's likely impossible to know what would actually happen, but wanted to start seriously thinking about WHAT IF, as we get closer to our departure. Appreciate any help or insight!
Nov 15, 2021, 11:55 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,537
Hi. Currently hold a JAL business class award flight/tickets from USA to Jakarta for Jan 2022. We have a tight connection time at NRT - 70 minutes. I believe JAL website states 60 minutes is the minimum necessary connection time, so we meet that requirement.
However flying through NRT in the fall of 2020, international transfers/connections took MUCH no longer than in the "usual" pre-covid days. Had to queue in a different section / room of the airport etc.
As NRT is *not* a 24 hour airport, we are curious what happens *if* we missed our connection? Given that we (tourists) can not enter the country / leave the airport.
Would we be spent back to USA? Re-booked on another competing airline (as ANA has later flight that day)? Would we be permitted to be "locked in" the airport in a quasi-limbo as JAL has another Jakarta flight early the next morning?
I know it's likely impossible to know what would actually happen, but wanted to start seriously thinking about WHAT IF, as we get closer to our departure. Appreciate any help or insight!
However flying through NRT in the fall of 2020, international transfers/connections took MUCH no longer than in the "usual" pre-covid days. Had to queue in a different section / room of the airport etc.
As NRT is *not* a 24 hour airport, we are curious what happens *if* we missed our connection? Given that we (tourists) can not enter the country / leave the airport.
Would we be spent back to USA? Re-booked on another competing airline (as ANA has later flight that day)? Would we be permitted to be "locked in" the airport in a quasi-limbo as JAL has another Jakarta flight early the next morning?
I know it's likely impossible to know what would actually happen, but wanted to start seriously thinking about WHAT IF, as we get closer to our departure. Appreciate any help or insight!
I have May 2022 JL flights to CGK with the same connection time.
Nov 16, 2021, 12:00 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 72
That's encouraging, thanks! We had a CGK flight in November 2020 to CGK and recall it took just about an hour to get through the additional / connected screening at Narita (brought to a room that we had never experienced before). On the way back (CGK-NRT-USA) it was not an issue
Nov 16, 2021, 12:12 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,146
There really should not be any additional screening for a transit.
When the plane pulls up to the gate door L1 is opened, connecting passengers are taken of the plane first, and escorted to the transit security, or the transit area for US arrivals. As Narita has no transit security check for US arrivals.
What happened in your prior experience, I can't say. But in unusual circumstances such as that, I am sure JL would be aware, and hold connecting flights.
When the plane pulls up to the gate door L1 is opened, connecting passengers are taken of the plane first, and escorted to the transit security, or the transit area for US arrivals. As Narita has no transit security check for US arrivals.
What happened in your prior experience, I can't say. But in unusual circumstances such as that, I am sure JL would be aware, and hold connecting flights.
Nov 16, 2021, 10:19 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
There really should not be any additional screening for a transit.
When the plane pulls up to the gate door L1 is opened, connecting passengers are taken of the plane first, and escorted to the transit security, or the transit area for US arrivals. As Narita has no transit security check for US arrivals.
What happened in your prior experience, I can't say. But in unusual circumstances such as that, I am sure JL would be aware, and hold connecting flights.
When the plane pulls up to the gate door L1 is opened, connecting passengers are taken of the plane first, and escorted to the transit security, or the transit area for US arrivals. As Narita has no transit security check for US arrivals.
What happened in your prior experience, I can't say. But in unusual circumstances such as that, I am sure JL would be aware, and hold connecting flights.
I was actually considering exactly this in December as I'll be in the US and was going to have my friend meet me at NRT and take the same flight to BKK together, but really puts a damper on things I'm held in a US arrivals room for the nearly 4 hour transit. She's already unhappy that I'm flying C and she probably can't, so was planning to at least let her enjoy the lounge.
Nov 16, 2021, 11:26 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AC 35K, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, GHA Titanium, HH Gold, Centara Platinum
Posts: 490
That's encouraging, thanks! We had a CGK flight in November 2020 to CGK and recall it took just about an hour to get through the additional / connected screening at Narita (brought to a room that we had never experienced before). On the way back (CGK-NRT-USA) it was not an issue
Nov 16, 2021, 11:46 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 72
From my recollection in 2020, I was definitely able to access the JAL lounge at NRT on the way back from Jakarta but there was significant closures (an entire floor of the first class lounge was shut down). At that point in time, almost every imaginable shop and restaurant was closed inside NRT - so was quite thankful for that. Now that air travel has picked up, I imagine things will be more busy?
I think something unusual or different happened on my NRT arrival flight on the way to CGK. Spoke to my wife and she recalls being brought to a different room / area and further screened and it moving VERY slow.
And well there it is........
Figured out this mystery. Just looked this 2020 flight up and I apologize for the confusion and scare. I was entirely mistaken, our flight to CGK was routed via HKG. That was around the time for airport shutdowns and protests in HKG. It was at Hong Kong where we were brought to a different transfer room. Definitely not at Narita. We did fly home from Narita. Ugh. Again so sorry !
I think something unusual or different happened on my NRT arrival flight on the way to CGK. Spoke to my wife and she recalls being brought to a different room / area and further screened and it moving VERY slow.
And well there it is........
Figured out this mystery. Just looked this 2020 flight up and I apologize for the confusion and scare. I was entirely mistaken, our flight to CGK was routed via HKG. That was around the time for airport shutdowns and protests in HKG. It was at Hong Kong where we were brought to a different transfer room. Definitely not at Narita. We did fly home from Narita. Ugh. Again so sorry !
Last edited by sky_throwaway; Nov 16, 2021 at 3:53 pm Reason: added some words
Nov 16, 2021, 3:20 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,146
Quite curious about this transit area for US arrivals you've mentioned, does this mean that if transiting for example ORD-NRT-BKK, US arrivals can not enter the main part of the airport during transit and use the lounges?
I was actually considering exactly this in December as I'll be in the US and was going to have my friend meet me at NRT and take the same flight to BKK together, but really puts a damper on things I'm held in a US arrivals room for the nearly 4 hour transit. She's already unhappy that I'm flying C and she probably can't, so was planning to at least let her enjoy the lounge.
I was actually considering exactly this in December as I'll be in the US and was going to have my friend meet me at NRT and take the same flight to BKK together, but really puts a damper on things I'm held in a US arrivals room for the nearly 4 hour transit. She's already unhappy that I'm flying C and she probably can't, so was planning to at least let her enjoy the lounge.