Recently did AC/NH YYZ-HND-TAK . The zoo that was at HND meant my 115 min. connection was becoming almost impossible.

By the time I got to luggage claim (was in PE, took 95 minutes) the belt was full of bags.

I decided to do a quick walk around and saw my bag and a couple others already on the side, with 2 NH ground staff beside them. I identified my bag and the staff immediately radioed someone (to make sure to wait for me.. I hope ). She escorted me through customs and told me how to take my bag to the domestic terminal (this is HND) because it was too late to use the bag drop counter.

So it helps if they know you are connecting.

Okay, so did you manage to make the connection? You had 20 minutes to do all of customs, train/bus, domestic check-in, security, run to gate. If you did make the connection, they must've held up the plane a long time for you.

sorry wrong math. 85 minutes.

30 minutes for customs, bus, domestic check-in (had to wave the clerk over so I could bypass the queue). Just in time for boarding my row at the front of the plane.

30min is still too close for comfort.
You'd wish the ground staff would help you pre-entry to get you through the passport controls quicker, because that's where the biggest bottleneck is.

I remember someone saying here on FT a year or two ago, 90min gate to gate, NRT to HND. Now we are worrying about 2hr intl-dom transit within the same airport.

Even with a pre-booked car service leaving the second you exit the terminal, 90 minutes gate to gate from NRT to HND would always have required a fair bit of good fortunes.

I fly in and out of Haneda quite a bit, and spending more than 30 minutes from landing on an international flight to being at the monorail platform is very rare. There are exceptions, but generally I would never be concerned for a two hour int to dom connection.

Found the post. Actually he/she said 85min.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...merged-10.html (#145)
But yeah I agree. Takes a near-miracle for 85-90min to happen. Personally I'd like to allow 3hr minimum, 4hr to be safe. These days, I don't know anymore.

I usually enter Jpn thru NRT. I've only entered Jpn via HND a few times. But for me, as well, at HND it's been 30-45min from gate to train platform each time with checked bags. But when you read what people are posting about 1hr+ passport control queues these last couple months at NRT and HND, I can't see how one would not be concerned about 2hr intl-dom transit anymore. beep88 had a 115min connection, and he/she just about missed her connection.

Flying OKA-ITM-NRT (JL) with a 25 min connection later this month, all on one ticket. Arrival into ITM is at 14:15 and departure at 14:40. Never been to ITM, should I be worried about this connection?

No need to worry. Domestic flights in Japan are pretty simple and painless when it comes to transfers. And the airline knows you are connecting.

That's good to know. Thanks for the reassurance.

Just want to report back that the transfer went through smoothly. NH171 arrived early which helped offsetting the delay in getting the luggage. The wait time for luggage was longer than usual (about 45 minutes).

Late PM HND to NRT connection
 

Hello all,

I'm staying at the Hilton Narita next week, leaving to ORD the next day. I arrive into HND from HKG at around 9:30 PM.

The bus does not seem to run that late.

What are my options?

Thanks in advance!

Very limited... I checked the train options to Narita, and that time of day (searching with 10pm as departure time) it will take 2 hours and a bit to get to Narita.

I would suggest taking a hotel in Haneda or in town and go to Narita early in the morning.

Yea, looks like your choice will be taking a bus from Haneda International Terminal to Keisei Funabashi station or Keisei Tsudanuma station. From there take Keisei line to Narita (city station). From Keisei Narita station it will be taxi to Hilton Narita. You will arrive at Keisei Narita around 12:20 midnight. You will likely checking in at Hilton Narita past 12:30 midnight.

What time is departure of your ORD flight from NRT? I agree that maybe better off getting a hotel around HND and head to NRT next morning.

If you have flexibility on your ex Hong Kong flight, another option is the 1am CX flight getting in to Narita around 6am, one of the first flights in to Narita in the morning.

The earliest NRT-ORD flight is at 10:45 AM. If I were on that flight, I would spend the night near Ueno or Tokyo station and plan on catching a train or bus around 7:30 AM to Narita. If the flight is later then adjust the schedule accordingly.

From Ueno station you can take the Keisei Skyliner train. From Tokyo station you can take the Narita Express train or Keisei/Heiwa Kotsu bus.