Record Time Exiting Narita
 

Stepped off the plane today Gate 45 Terminal 1 at exactly 7:59 AM and made the 8:13 NEX with checked bags. I think this is about as quick as it can be done with checked luggage.

Probably OCD on my part to track this stuff.:rolleyes:

You're not the only one. I check my times too, only I don't check bags although I do usually queue up for the N'Ex-SUICA deal and do an ATM withdrawal. Problem is that I also tend to forget my best times later on, but I have done 25 minutes for sure.

The JR people won't normally sell you a ticket if the train is leaving within minutes. I guess you used a machine? I once used a machine and literally got on seconds before the doors closed. Other time when getting SUICA-NEX, I got on an earlier train.

Did you wait at all for your bag?

Recently off LH 416 from MUC. I don't know when I actually stepped off the plane. I did make a mistake because I was waiting for the middle door to open and it took longer. Official arrival was 30. I looked up at one point during the long walk (from gate 46) and the clock was 37. I exited customs (no checked bags) at 45 (when NEX departs). Took a bus that departed 50.

First one off the plane. Gate 45 is the longest haul in the airport, but zero line at immigration. Bag came out as I was walking down the stairs to baggage claim. 30 second wait at customs. I learned awhile ago that JR will actually let you through with no ticket if the train is about leave. So I just had them buzz me through the ticket gate, jumped on the train with less than 10 seconds to spare, and bought the ticket on the train.

With no bags I've made it from plane to curb in 7 minutes but that was from a much closer gate.

BTW - How's the flight through MUC. I do US east coast to NRT through FRA quite often but have never tried MUC.

That's very impressive. As it's a long walk from Gate 45 your checked bags can often beat you to the carousel if they are priority tagged. I think it all depends on the length of the queue at immigration and other flights esp. from SE Asia arriving before or after yours.

LH714 MUC-NRT arrives later in the morning which some people prefer but I don't think this is LH's prime route. Economy is often full of Japanese tour groups but the front cabins are not usually very full. For example according to Expert Flyer today's LH714 is F8A8. If you are interested you have about 64% chance of getting the new F.

MUC is a much easier airport for connection than FRA (a little boring if you ask me :p). US arrivals are on the same level as departures to NRT and you don't need to go through security or passport control. This could sometimes happen in FRA but is not always the case.

What would average time be to get through airport?
 

1st time @ NRT in early July. Arrive in the afternoon ~1630 on JL005 from JFK. About how long should I plan for getting through the airport and onto NEX? No checked bags; will need to queue for NEX+Suica (at least that's the plan) and get cash for taxi from Tokyo Station to the Peninsula. I'm trying to gauge my possible arrival time at the hotel to try and make dinner reservations that night. Thanks.

If you're committed to the N'EX, the trains you might catch are:
4:48pm - Unlikely unless you hitch yourself to 5khours
5:19pm - Doable if you don't dawdle
5:47pm - Doable unless you screw up royally

N'EX takes an hour to reach Tokyo Station. From there to the Pen = 10 minutes.

Thanks for the info - great to help plan! Would you recommend the bus instead of N'EX?

Bus is an option and is cheaper sometimes, but is not really that comfortable. The "Limousine" bus is overstating the level of service you should expect.
Take the train and get the Suica package.

Also, both T1 and T2 (the one you'll be landing at) has Citibank ATMs if that works for you.

(And latching yourself to 5khours will be harder than catching the 4:48, since you'll need to make your way over to T1 where UA and NH land :D)

MUC is a great airport. US-MUC/FRA-NRT is a bit crazy, but you would have a great connection in MUC because you arrive clean as NewbieR pointed out.

From Schengen it's also a breeze, especially compared to FRA where you encounter buses, tunnels, long walks, congested walkways, etc. Although FRA was pretty good Schengen-FRA-US for the last several years, but the escalator to passport control by A26 might be gone according NewbieR, who was kindly educating me on the latest at FRA. In the old days you would take that escalator to passport control and then right there was the Tower lounge.

I flew ORD-MUC-IST recently and my next gate was 5 min away.

I was up late here booking my next RTW. I picked FRA-NRT because I am using a UA SWU and with 60+ odd seats on the seatmap one month out it looks better to go from FRA. I did MUC a few weeks ago and I actually changed my flight date because C class was filling up on my original date.

If there is a bus to your hotel then note the departure times. When you exit customs the bus desk (look for orange) should be right in front. (I only fly *A to T1, so not sure about T2.) You can get on a bus if you have 2-3 minutes to spare. Only do it if the bus departs within 10-15 minutes.

I'm not a bus guy. I'd probably consider Keisei Skyliner:

#36 Departs T2 at 5:02pm - arrives Nippori at 5:40pm
#38 Departs T2 at 5:22pm - arrives Nippori at 6:00pm
#40 Departs T2 at 5:43pm - arrives Nippori at 6:23pm

From Nippori, you can take the Yamanote Line to Yurakucho - a short walk from the Peninsula. If you don't like the sound of a train change and short walk, you should stay on the Skyliner until it reaches the Keisei Ueno terminus and get a cab from there.

IMHO, each of the above trains is a no-brainer if you arrive just a bit too late for the preceding N'EX.

Leaving aside the issues of price, convenience and comfort how would you rate N'EX, Keisei Skyliner and the Limo bus from the standpoint of "sightseeing"? I'll be flying into NRT mid-October, first time ever to Asia! Does one route/mode of transportation offer more interesting "views" than the others?

All rubbish. With the limo-bus, depending on the route, you might get a brief glimpse of the Tokyo skyline and rainbow bridge, but mostly you'll be looking at the barriers on either side of the highway. On the N'EX you can survey the Tokyo-Chiba suburban sprawl. On the Keisei trains you get to see the concreted rivers to the east of Tokyo.

Whoopee.

I'd appreciate advice on my upcoming NRT passage.

I arrive at T1 at 4:00pm and Mrs. Milepig arrives at T2 at 4:40. (Using miles, enough said!)

We'll be checking at least one bag and it doesn't matter which one does so. We'll both be in premium cabins.

My basic plan is to:

I arrive at T1 and [collect bag if I've checked it]
I take the shuttle to T2
If enough before 4:40 I can get our N'EX/Suica tickets while I'm waiting for her, and hit up the Citibank for cash.
But - I won't know for sure which train to book on until I see her smiling face, so I'm thinking I should wait for her arrival to buy the tickets??

Realistically, how long will it take me to deplane, collect the bag and make my way to T2, and would it work out better - timing-wise - for Mrs. Milepig to check the bag?