Narita Employee English Ability
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
Narita Employee English Ability
Can I get some feedback on the English ability of Narita employees? Do all employees speak English or only a % and how good is it?
Have to transfer either in Narita (Japan) or Incheon (South Korea) and am looking for the smoothest experience. Thanks all
Have to transfer either in Narita (Japan) or Incheon (South Korea) and am looking for the smoothest experience. Thanks all
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Announcements are all in English and Japanese. Transfer desk personnel will be English speakers.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
If the OP needs a wheelchair then there is a very good chance that they'll be spending time with staff who speak very little English.
Not a problem though - one only needs to show the boarding pass for the next flight or ask for "transit desk". "Toilet" will also be understood.
With or without a wheelchair, if you're worried about not finding or missing a connection just show your boarding pass (or write down - clearly - your next flight details and departure time) and say "Help please!" (a little bow won't go amiss) to a staff member.
I have less experience of ICN than NRT (where I have plenty as a non Japanese speaker) but I'm sure the professionals in South Korea are just as customer focused and helpful.
Book either route with confidence (neither are anything like transiting through Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Paris )
Personally, I like the food and things you can buy at NRT WAY more than at ICN. Then again, so do a lot of people, so the queues at the NRT airside shops can be daunting.
You are more likely to encounter cultural events (eg parades in period costume) at ICN, but NRT often has some beautiful cultural "Easter Eggs" of its own.
Not a problem though - one only needs to show the boarding pass for the next flight or ask for "transit desk". "Toilet" will also be understood.
With or without a wheelchair, if you're worried about not finding or missing a connection just show your boarding pass (or write down - clearly - your next flight details and departure time) and say "Help please!" (a little bow won't go amiss) to a staff member.
I have less experience of ICN than NRT (where I have plenty as a non Japanese speaker) but I'm sure the professionals in South Korea are just as customer focused and helpful.
Book either route with confidence (neither are anything like transiting through Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Paris )
Personally, I like the food and things you can buy at NRT WAY more than at ICN. Then again, so do a lot of people, so the queues at the NRT airside shops can be daunting.
You are more likely to encounter cultural events (eg parades in period costume) at ICN, but NRT often has some beautiful cultural "Easter Eggs" of its own.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I speak Japanese (used to teach it and now work as a translator) so I can't tell you what NRT is like for a non-Japanese-speaker, but my Korean is limited to a few basic words and phrases, and I did fine at ICN--check in, duty free, coffee shop, boarding, they all had reasonably competent English speakers, and since NRT is even more of a major international transfer point, I would imagine that the same is true there.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
With regard to English ability, I think they're probably equal. Signage is multilingual. There are enough English speakers.
In terms of airport layout etc. for transfers, I've found ICN to be really top notch. With regard to NRT, if its all within one terminal, I think it's great, but if you have to change terminal, perhaps not as good as what I've seen of ICN.
In terms of airport layout etc. for transfers, I've found ICN to be really top notch. With regard to NRT, if its all within one terminal, I think it's great, but if you have to change terminal, perhaps not as good as what I've seen of ICN.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
Thanks for the replies. Don't need medical or other assistance. Just want the smoothest experience. Transferred through Beijing before and it really sucked. Looking for the smoothest experience, not something I have to Beijing through.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
I would regard both Incheon and Narita as significantly easier/more preferable for a transit than Beijing. Personally I'd prefer Narita as the airport is a bit smaller, the lounges a bit better and generally the service a bit better but there's not a lot in it. I think Beijing has a lot more in common with LHR than it does with ICN or NRT.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,820
I would regard both Incheon and Narita as significantly easier/more preferable for a transit than Beijing. Personally I'd prefer Narita as the airport is a bit smaller, the lounges a bit better and generally the service a bit better but there's not a lot in it. I think Beijing has a lot more in common with LHR than it does with ICN or NRT.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
If you're doing a I-I transfer, which I think is what you're doing, and you don't have any special needs or issues, you will have absolutely no problems as an english-only speaker at NRT. I pass through there several times most years, and have never been tempted to go from English to my broken Japanese when interacting with any staff.
I believe the same holds true at ICN, but I've only done one such transfer there and it was 5 years ago.
I believe the same holds true at ICN, but I've only done one such transfer there and it was 5 years ago.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 1,674
This isn't even a language issue now that you've mentioned this tidbit. Incheon and Narita are just plain easy for transferring, especially compared to Beijing.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Personally, I like the food and things you can buy at NRT WAY more than at ICN. Then again, so do a lot of people, so the queues at the NRT airside shops can be daunting.
You are more likely to encounter cultural events (eg parades in period costume) at ICN, but NRT often has some beautiful cultural "Easter Eggs" of its own.
You are more likely to encounter cultural events (eg parades in period costume) at ICN, but NRT often has some beautiful cultural "Easter Eggs" of its own.
ICN has the appearance of being a more modern, grander airport. The layout is definitely good. Also kids enjoy the free craft at ICN's cultural areas. But ICN has very little to offer me in terms of any item I'd want to buy or food I'd want to try. That's in spite of the fact that ICN seems to have far more
Last edited by evergrn; Jan 6, 2018 at 4:55 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
Oh, NRT! On the one hand there are the terrible, terrible queues for the wonderful, wonderful treats:
Long line at gate area souvenir shop at NRT
And then there's the unexpected joy of being able to relieve yourself in Gallery Toto - which is right next to a children's play area
https://gizmodo.com/this-airport-gal...tic-1740006545
Long line at gate area souvenir shop at NRT
And then there's the unexpected joy of being able to relieve yourself in Gallery Toto - which is right next to a children's play area
https://gizmodo.com/this-airport-gal...tic-1740006545
#15
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Vietnam & USA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 456
I would regard both Incheon and Narita as significantly easier/more preferable for a transit than Beijing. Personally I'd prefer Narita as the airport is a bit smaller, the lounges a bit better and generally the service a bit better but there's not a lot in it. I think Beijing has a lot more in common with LHR than it does with ICN or NRT.
I wouldn't worry.