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
#661
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
For travel from HND to central Osaka, flying isn't a great timesaver - in fact, it will be slower than taking the train if you are appropriately cautious about your connection. Flights may be cheaper but I would not hesitate to take the train.
#662
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Think of it this way.
2:30pm Scheduled DL arrival time.
0:45 DL is delayed 45min (could be worse).
0:05 Deplane (assuming you're in one of the front several rows of Y)
0:05 Walk to passport controls
0:45 Passport control (45min would be a bad case, could be worse).
0:10 Bags / customs
------------
4:20pm You're landside on arrivals concourse.
Well, you've already missed the cutoff (45min) for ANA's domestic transfer bag drop for the 5pm flight.
You'll be on two separate tickets. The more time you can pad (within reason), the better.
#663
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
On the other hand, if luck is on your side ...
2:30pm Scheduled DL arrival time
-0:15 DL arrives 15 minutes early
0:05 Deplane (assuming you're in one of the front several rows of Y)
0:05 Walk to passport controls
0:15 Passport control (30min would be more typical, but I'm feeling optimistic).
0:10 Customs (Don't check bags)
2:50pm You're landslide on arrivals concourse with a ticket for a 6pm flight.
6:15pm You're sitting on the plane, waiting to pull back from the gate and thinking "I could be enjoying Takoyaki in Osaka now, if I'd taken the train."
2:30pm Scheduled DL arrival time
-0:15 DL arrives 15 minutes early
0:05 Deplane (assuming you're in one of the front several rows of Y)
0:05 Walk to passport controls
0:15 Passport control (30min would be more typical, but I'm feeling optimistic).
0:10 Customs (Don't check bags)
2:50pm You're landslide on arrivals concourse with a ticket for a 6pm flight.
6:15pm You're sitting on the plane, waiting to pull back from the gate and thinking "I could be enjoying Takoyaki in Osaka now, if I'd taken the train."
#664
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
On the other hand, if luck is on your side ...
2:30pm Scheduled DL arrival time
-0:15 DL arrives 15 minutes early
0:05 Deplane (assuming you're in one of the front several rows of Y)
0:05 Walk to passport controls
0:15 Passport control (30min would be more typical, but I'm feeling optimistic).
0:10 Customs (Don't check bags)
2:50pm You're landslide on arrivals concourse with a ticket for a 6pm flight.
6:15pm You're sitting on the plane, waiting to pull back from the gate and thinking "I could be enjoying Takoyaki in Osaka now, if I'd taken the train."
2:30pm Scheduled DL arrival time
-0:15 DL arrives 15 minutes early
0:05 Deplane (assuming you're in one of the front several rows of Y)
0:05 Walk to passport controls
0:15 Passport control (30min would be more typical, but I'm feeling optimistic).
0:10 Customs (Don't check bags)
2:50pm You're landslide on arrivals concourse with a ticket for a 6pm flight.
6:15pm You're sitting on the plane, waiting to pull back from the gate and thinking "I could be enjoying Takoyaki in Osaka now, if I'd taken the train."
#665
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
ok yes he could take the train.
However, I don’t know what all the fuss is with takoyaki in Osaka. I’ve yet to have takoyaki there that’s better than Gindaco (isn’t there one in HND)?
#666
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
Hello, would like to your suggestions on the best way to get from Kyoto to Narita.
We have a flight out of NRT at 5:40pm on biz on Air Tahiti Nui, but we'll be in Kyoto that day. I thought the best way would be to fly from KIX/ITM directly to NRT and go from here. But looking at the flight schedules, flights out of KIX/ITM either land in NRT around 8-9am, or around 3:30pm.
1) If we take a late flight and arrive at NRT at 3:30pm, is that enough time to make our 5:40pm flight? It will be domestic > international and on separate tickets.
2) If we take an early flight and arrive at NRT at 9am, what can we do with the 8-hr layover? Is this enough time to go into Tokyo?
3) Are there other alternatives? Flying into HND mid-day then transfer to NRT? Take the train?
TIA for your suggestions. We have a 3yr-old so want to minimize rushing/long day and find the most leisure/easiest way to make this transit. There's nothing worst than a cranky toddler on a long-haul flight!
We have a flight out of NRT at 5:40pm on biz on Air Tahiti Nui, but we'll be in Kyoto that day. I thought the best way would be to fly from KIX/ITM directly to NRT and go from here. But looking at the flight schedules, flights out of KIX/ITM either land in NRT around 8-9am, or around 3:30pm.
1) If we take a late flight and arrive at NRT at 3:30pm, is that enough time to make our 5:40pm flight? It will be domestic > international and on separate tickets.
2) If we take an early flight and arrive at NRT at 9am, what can we do with the 8-hr layover? Is this enough time to go into Tokyo?
3) Are there other alternatives? Flying into HND mid-day then transfer to NRT? Take the train?
TIA for your suggestions. We have a 3yr-old so want to minimize rushing/long day and find the most leisure/easiest way to make this transit. There's nothing worst than a cranky toddler on a long-haul flight!
#667
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
Take the shinkansen. Lots of space to sit for you and also the luggage.
#668
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,156
Make sure to change from the Shinkansen to the Narita Express at Shinagawa rather than Tokyo. The change is easy and quick at Shinagawa, at Tokyo the Shinkansen is 2nd floor and the NEX is five floors below ground, and there are no direct elevators. Probably 3 different elevators needed, or an awful lot of stairs
Last edited by CPH-Flyer; Aug 31, 2018 at 6:29 am
#669
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
Indeed Shinkansen from Kyoto. By the time you back track to Itami you are close to half way to Tokyo by the time YOU backtrack to KIX you are almost on Tokyo.
Make sure to change from the Shinkansen to the Narita Express at Shinagawa rather than Tokyo. The change is easy and quick at Shinagawa, at Tokyo the Shinkansen is 2nd floor and the NEX is five floors below ground, and there are no direct elevators. Probably 3 different elevators needed, or an awful lot of stairs
Make sure to change from the Shinkansen to the Narita Express at Shinagawa rather than Tokyo. The change is easy and quick at Shinagawa, at Tokyo the Shinkansen is 2nd floor and the NEX is five floors below ground, and there are no direct elevators. Probably 3 different elevators needed, or an awful lot of stairs
In addition, you can buy your tickets for the Shinkansen and the N'EX at the same time, since all JR station sales offices can sell tickets for any JR train or bus anywhere. Just check to make sure which terminal your international flight is flying out of and buy tickets accordingly.
#670
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
Thanks for the suggestions! I also did some research last night and it seems that the train will fit better with our schedule - we can leisurely take a late am train and still get to NRT by early afternoon. And I'm sure my son will love the train ride!
#671
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
Sitting on left side window going towards Tokyo gives you an opportunity to see Mt. Fuji if clear weather.
#672
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,231
What is the earliest flight I can catch for the following:
SFO-NRT arrival on ANA first next July at 3:25pm
NRT-CTS on a separately booked ticket
CTS-NRT on a separately booked ticket
NRT-SFO departure on ANA first next July at 5:10pm
Thanks!
SFO-NRT arrival on ANA first next July at 3:25pm
NRT-CTS on a separately booked ticket
CTS-NRT on a separately booked ticket
NRT-SFO departure on ANA first next July at 5:10pm
Thanks!
#673
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,437
I will say give little cushion and from Int. to Dom. connection give least 1 hr. and 30 min., for Dom. to Int. connection least 1 hr.
However, if you do JL on NRT-CTS or anther LLC carrier than you have to transfer between the terminal. ANA is at Terminal 1, JAL is at Terminal 2, and many LLC are at Terminal 3. If you choose not to fly ANA on CTS-NRT then may want to add more time for transit.
Another advantage of flying ANA on NRT-CTS is that even under separate tickets, ANA at CTS will able to check your luggage to SFO and will able to issue boarding pass for NRT-SFO flight at CTS. Will make transit at NRT shorter, not just because the transit is within same terminal.
#674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,156
Both the 17:55 and the 15:00 (13:20 departure CTS) leaves enough time for the connection.
#675
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 37
We have US passports. Plan to get 1 way ticket from ICN to NRT (probably Asiana 9am - 11am) then catch ANA flight NRT to SGN at 4:45pm, all in same day departure.
The booking screen warns about buying 1 way ticket into Japan may not be practical (denied entering Japan). The tickets are open jaw on ANA (IAD-NRT / NRT/SGN / SGN-IAD) with the connection ICN-NRT in between date.
My question is:
1. Should we buy the ticket (ICN-NRT) the day before to assure the next flight ?
2. If buying Asiana, would they check bags all the way to SGN ? What about using LCC like T'Way, JEJU Air...
3. Get in and out of NRT same day on a 1 way ticket is a NO-NO? To take out luggage in storage at NRT.
Thanks.
The booking screen warns about buying 1 way ticket into Japan may not be practical (denied entering Japan). The tickets are open jaw on ANA (IAD-NRT / NRT/SGN / SGN-IAD) with the connection ICN-NRT in between date.
My question is:
1. Should we buy the ticket (ICN-NRT) the day before to assure the next flight ?
2. If buying Asiana, would they check bags all the way to SGN ? What about using LCC like T'Way, JEJU Air...
3. Get in and out of NRT same day on a 1 way ticket is a NO-NO? To take out luggage in storage at NRT.
Thanks.