Apr 8, 2014, 9:20 pm
Last edit by: muji
When posting a question, please be sure to list the following information:
- The airport(s) at which you are transiting
- The airline on which you are arriving
- The airline on which you are departing
- Your connection time in hours/minutes
- How you are connecting, whether international to international (Int-Int), international to domestic (Int-Dom), domestic to international (Dom-Int), or domestic to domestic (Dom-Dom)
- Whether you are traveling on a single ticket, or separately-booked tickets
The "Help! I have a connection in Japan!" Master Thread
Mar 21, 2019, 1:43 pm
#796
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
I have a flight arriving at 910 pm at HND from JFK on ANA and I have a connecting flight on TG at 1220 to BKK from HND. Should I be worried about the connection time. I gave ANA a call and they said they can try have a direct checkin for JFK-BKK at JFK. Just in case that doesn’t happen could I be in trouble.
On side note since HND is slightly smaller airport would it be easy to collect bags clear customs and check in with an hour ?
On side note since HND is slightly smaller airport would it be easy to collect bags clear customs and check in with an hour ?
I'd be surprised if NH can't through-check to BKK, but I don't know why they can't give you a definitive yes/no on that. Granted, sometimes phone agents can be wrong about these things.
With regards to your second question, no. Unless you're in premium class or SA Gold, your bags can take a while to come out at HND. I would not assume being able to get through immigration, carrousel, customs, then head up to bag-drop, all within an hour.
Mar 21, 2019, 6:59 pm
#797
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 47
I presume this is on separate tix, but as noted above 3hr10min should be ample time even if you account for 1-hr delay and they cannot through-check.
I'd be surprised if NH can't through-check to BKK, but I don't know why they can't give you a definitive yes/no on that. Granted, sometimes phone agents can be wrong about these things.
With regards to your second question, no. Unless you're in premium class or SA Gold, your bags can take a while to come out at HND. I would not assume being able to get through immigration, carrousel, customs, then head up to bag-drop, all within an hour.
I'd be surprised if NH can't through-check to BKK, but I don't know why they can't give you a definitive yes/no on that. Granted, sometimes phone agents can be wrong about these things.
With regards to your second question, no. Unless you're in premium class or SA Gold, your bags can take a while to come out at HND. I would not assume being able to get through immigration, carrousel, customs, then head up to bag-drop, all within an hour.
Mar 22, 2019, 2:29 am
#798
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,138
Really enough time?
We are US citizens considering traveling on a single-ticket JL reservation from HNL to CTS, with a 80 min connection in NRT. We will be in J on our international arrival flight.
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Many thanks.
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Many thanks.
Mar 22, 2019, 2:34 am
#799
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Mar 22, 2019, 4:55 pm
#800
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
We are US citizens considering traveling on a single-ticket JL reservation from HNL to CTS, with a 80 min connection in NRT. We will be in J on our international arrival flight.
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Connection Information - JAL Domestic Flights
Mar 22, 2019, 7:32 pm
#801
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,138
According to JAL home page, 80 minutes is the minimum connection.
Connection Information - JAL Domestic Flights
Connection Information - JAL Domestic Flights
1. JL flight into NRT from USA with USA passports
2. Traveling in J
3. Need to clear immigration, pick up luggage, clear customs, recheck luggage and re-clear security
4. Connecting with domestic JL flight (will be in economy)
5. The arrival and departure are in Terminal 2
6. Arrival is at 5:30 PM
Again, while I understand that the MCT is met, I just wanted to get a sense of whether this might be a problematic connection.
Thank you.
Mar 22, 2019, 7:41 pm
#802
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
We are US citizens considering traveling on a single-ticket JL reservation from HNL to CTS, with a 80 min connection in NRT. We will be in J on our international arrival flight.
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Is 80 minutes really enough time to clear immigration, customs, recheck our bag and board our flight?
Since it’s single tix, you’ll be protected. But you won’t be protected from missing your flight. With ANA domestic flights out of NRT, though, they often hold up the flight a bit for late arriving transit passengers.
With ANA, my ideal connection time would be >1hr40hr. It’s quite common for them to arrive >30min late. Typically its 25-35min from parked at gate till bags come out at NRT, but there’s always a chance that the immigration line is horrible. Once you’re landside, everything goes quick.
If JAL is like ANA and you have another option that leaves a little bit later, then I would go for that one instead. If there isn’t, I’d take s chance.
Mar 22, 2019, 8:01 pm
#803
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,138
I have a lot more experience doing this with ANA. So hopefully a JAL expert will chime in.
Since it’s single tix, you’ll be protected. But you won’t be protected from missing your flight. With ANA domestic flights out of NRT, though, they often hold up the flight a bit for late arriving transit passengers.
With ANA, my ideal connection time would be >1hr40hr. It’s quite common for them to arrive >30min late. Typically its 25-35min from parked at gate till bags come out at NRT, but there’s always a chance that the immigration line is horrible. Once you’re landside, everything goes quick.
If JAL is like ANA and you have another option that leaves a little bit later, then I would go for that one instead. If there isn’t, I’d take s chance.
Might you (or anyone) know of a reputable "Fast-Track" "Meet/Greet" service at NRT. I did some searching, but it appears that the companies that are Japanese just meet after leaving the sterile area. There are some other companies that claim to meet at the jetbridge, but these companies claim access to many international airports.
Mar 23, 2019, 6:43 am
#804
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
Thank you for your advice.
Might you (or anyone) know of a reputable "Fast-Track" "Meet/Greet" service at NRT. I did some searching, but it appears that the companies that are Japanese just meet after leaving the sterile area. There are some other companies that claim to meet at the jetbridge, but these companies claim access to many international airports.
Might you (or anyone) know of a reputable "Fast-Track" "Meet/Greet" service at NRT. I did some searching, but it appears that the companies that are Japanese just meet after leaving the sterile area. There are some other companies that claim to meet at the jetbridge, but these companies claim access to many international airports.
Mar 23, 2019, 6:52 am
#805
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,147
Thank you for your advice.
Might you (or anyone) know of a reputable "Fast-Track" "Meet/Greet" service at NRT. I did some searching, but it appears that the companies that are Japanese just meet after leaving the sterile area. There are some other companies that claim to meet at the jetbridge, but these companies claim access to many international airports.
Might you (or anyone) know of a reputable "Fast-Track" "Meet/Greet" service at NRT. I did some searching, but it appears that the companies that are Japanese just meet after leaving the sterile area. There are some other companies that claim to meet at the jetbridge, but these companies claim access to many international airports.
JL will help you to the extend that they can if you are running late.
Mar 23, 2019, 9:02 am
#806
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
I don’t know about JAL. With ANA, I’ve seen them help expedite security but I don’t think they can help you out at arrival immigration.
and I too am not familiar with any private company that offers the kinds of service you’re talking about.
and I too am not familiar with any private company that offers the kinds of service you’re talking about.
Mar 23, 2019, 10:34 pm
#807
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,138
I guess I will alert the Sakura Lounge staff in Honolulu to our predicament, and perhaps they can start the process of alerting NRT ground staff. I will repeat that in the air with the purser, and perhaps the crew can also signal NRT staff.
While I understand that elite Oneworld members and F flyers may be entitled to Fast Track, we will be lowly J passengers without Oneworld status.
Mar 23, 2019, 11:20 pm
#808
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
lowly J passenger is the ultimate oxymoron. But I guess this is FT. (I have not flown in F or J in probably 3 years)
Mar 24, 2019, 12:36 am
#809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,147
Thank you all. It sounds like JAL may extend courtesies, and that will be great.
I guess I will alert the Sakura Lounge staff in Honolulu to our predicament, and perhaps they can start the process of alerting NRT ground staff. I will repeat that in the air with the purser, and perhaps the crew can also signal NRT staff.
While I understand that elite Oneworld members and F flyers may be entitled to Fast Track, we will be lowly J passengers without Oneworld status.
I guess I will alert the Sakura Lounge staff in Honolulu to our predicament, and perhaps they can start the process of alerting NRT ground staff. I will repeat that in the air with the purser, and perhaps the crew can also signal NRT staff.
While I understand that elite Oneworld members and F flyers may be entitled to Fast Track, we will be lowly J passengers without Oneworld status.
Fast track immigration at Narita is only for F passengers, no status will achieve that
Mar 25, 2019, 10:04 pm
#810
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 112
There are flights throughout the night, low cost carriers coming in an leaving at very odd hours, so I would expect so.
However, once at the departure level there is no direct access back to arrivals and that time of day, it might not be easy to find a staff member to escort a passenger back to arrivals. But there is the airside Hotel.
However, once at the departure level there is no direct access back to arrivals and that time of day, it might not be easy to find a staff member to escort a passenger back to arrivals. But there is the airside Hotel.
Nailed it. This is the right advice. I’d check out the land side hotel option(s) at HND on site, and depending on your time zone, perhaps consider grabbing some 24 hour sushi or late late night ramen off site. I’ve never been impressed with any NH lounge food, although compared to non Polaris UA, it’s a world of difference. However, most any restaurant will be superior. I was shocked to find myself impressed with a Japanese style Italian pizza place land side at HND accessible via the escalators up above the ticketing level.