Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread
#136
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
He's just 17, so driving home on his own is out. I did find out that United flies into Nagoya, with a 12hr stopover in Guam, so that will probably be the route we go (6 hours of driving for me instead of 16 roundtrip to Tokyo). When he flew out a year ago it was ITM-HND/NRT-GUM-HNL, so this is actually easier.
#137
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
I don't think that you can count on the KIX route not getting cancelled. I've got friends trying to plan a trip to the US and return early August, hopefully, to KIX, but their return flight has been cancelled. I think that a Tokyo airport destination has the highest probability of not getting cancelled.
#138
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
I don't think that you can count on the KIX route not getting cancelled. I've got friends trying to plan a trip to the US and return early August, hopefully, to KIX, but their return flight has been cancelled. I think that a Tokyo airport destination has the highest probability of not getting cancelled.
Other options are buying nonstop JAL or ANA for ¥54,000 and ¥58,000. But then crunching the numbers, it looks like it'll cost 33,000 to drive roundtrip to Haneda, and 36,000 to Narita. I could fly one way for ¥10,000, but I haven't found a oneway rental yet that doesn't have a huge dropoff fee.
The Hawaiian flight to KIX is now starting to look more attractive, but as you said, it might get canceled...
A waste to use 35,000 on an economy JAL ticket that costs ¥54,000.
#139
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
I feel your pain. We were hoping to get back to Seattle area this summer. But the unsure situation with flights led us to not even try. Have you looked at flights routing through Korea?
I think that your estimate of cost for the round-trip drive looks about right. I'm very fortunate because a family member has a special needs certification which includes half-price ETC tolls. A big help for me when I drove up and back.
I think that your estimate of cost for the round-trip drive looks about right. I'm very fortunate because a family member has a special needs certification which includes half-price ETC tolls. A big help for me when I drove up and back.
#140
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
I feel your pain. We were hoping to get back to Seattle area this summer. But the unsure situation with flights led us to not even try. Have you looked at flights routing through Korea?
I think that your estimate of cost for the round-trip drive looks about right. I'm very fortunate because a family member has a special needs certification which includes half-price ETC tolls. A big help for me when I drove up and back.
I think that your estimate of cost for the round-trip drive looks about right. I'm very fortunate because a family member has a special needs certification which includes half-price ETC tolls. A big help for me when I drove up and back.
#141
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
I did consider Korea or Taiwan, since there are a few flights into KIX, but the former requires roundtrip for Skyteam, and the latter I couldn't find much, plus I think I read it is not letting people transit w/o 14 day quarantine. There are so few flights from HNL these days it is tough to find any availability.
#142
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
That said, my buddy in Shiga is sending his teenage son from Michigan to NRT via DBX because it was $800 vs $2000.
Last edited by JapanFlyerT; May 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
#143
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
So his son goes via DXB but still goes to NRT instead of KIX? That's stupid.
#144
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
#145
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
United seems to have cancelled all their GUM-NGO flights through July 31st
Hawaiian has been consistently operating HA449 HNL-KIX for april + may (tuesday only), so they're less likely to cancel (unless Japan declares a major change)
(Versus united, who basically thought they could start gum-ngo service now, but pushed it back to august)
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL449/history
hard to say, definitely the TYO flights are less likely to cancel but its' more time/roughly same $
if HNL-TYO cancelled in advance, hard to say if ANA/JAL would re-route you via continental USA or just refund you. if cancelled/IRROPS sameday as flight, higher chance of this happening
Hawaiian has been consistently operating HA449 HNL-KIX for april + may (tuesday only), so they're less likely to cancel (unless Japan declares a major change)
(Versus united, who basically thought they could start gum-ngo service now, but pushed it back to august)
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL449/history
hard to say, definitely the TYO flights are less likely to cancel but its' more time/roughly same $
if HNL-TYO cancelled in advance, hard to say if ANA/JAL would re-route you via continental USA or just refund you. if cancelled/IRROPS sameday as flight, higher chance of this happening
Last edited by paperwastage; May 22, 2021 at 8:51 pm
#147
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
#148
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,534
United seems to have cancelled all their GUM-NGO flights through July 31st
Hawaiian has been consistently operating HA449 HNL-KIX for april + may (tuesday only), so they're less likely to cancel (unless Japan declares a major change)
(Versus united, who basically thought they could start gum-ngo service now, but pushed it back to august)
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL449/history
hard to say, definitely the TYO flights are less likely to cancel but its' more time/roughly same $
if HNL-TYO cancelled in advance, hard to say if ANA/JAL would re-route you via continental USA or just refund you. if cancelled/IRROPS sameday as flight, higher chance of this happening
Hawaiian has been consistently operating HA449 HNL-KIX for april + may (tuesday only), so they're less likely to cancel (unless Japan declares a major change)
(Versus united, who basically thought they could start gum-ngo service now, but pushed it back to august)
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL449/history
hard to say, definitely the TYO flights are less likely to cancel but its' more time/roughly same $
if HNL-TYO cancelled in advance, hard to say if ANA/JAL would re-route you via continental USA or just refund you. if cancelled/IRROPS sameday as flight, higher chance of this happening
EDIT* Booked 7/13 for $779 Hopefully end of discussion...now the only question is where to credit the miles (AA I think). I will report if anything crops up.
Last edited by JapanFlyerT; May 23, 2021 at 6:15 am
#149
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
Just wanted to provide an update to this post. As of today, you can still transit NRT on separate tickets and ANA will still through check to UA. Let ANA check you in for UA flight rather than doing self check in, since they might need to make adjustments when through checking and linking reservations.
Of course, if you can book single tickets, please continue to do so as it saves the hassle at check-in. I’m sure many who are doing separate routings are redeeming VS on ANA. I can’t report on other outstations but ANA staff at ORD seem to be familiar with the routine.
Also, even though technically required, airlines haven’t been checking COVID tests for passengers entering Guam when transiting Narita and originating in the CONUS, regardless if it’s separate or single itinerary. Please don’t take this as a recommendation to avoid a test, but if for some reason you can’t get a test in time, the enforcement seems to be questionable on CONUS-NRT-GUM routings.
Of course, if you can book single tickets, please continue to do so as it saves the hassle at check-in. I’m sure many who are doing separate routings are redeeming VS on ANA. I can’t report on other outstations but ANA staff at ORD seem to be familiar with the routine.
Also, even though technically required, airlines haven’t been checking COVID tests for passengers entering Guam when transiting Narita and originating in the CONUS, regardless if it’s separate or single itinerary. Please don’t take this as a recommendation to avoid a test, but if for some reason you can’t get a test in time, the enforcement seems to be questionable on CONUS-NRT-GUM routings.
Last edited by ALGU; Jun 25, 2021 at 5:36 am Reason: Typo
#150
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
.
Also, even though technically required, airlines haven’t been checking COVID tests for passengers entering Guam when transiting Narita and originating in the CONUS, regardless if it’s separate or single itinerary. Please don’t take this as a recommendation to avoid a test, but if for some reason you can’t get a test in time, the enforcement seems to be questionable on CONUS-NRT-GUM routings.
Also, even though technically required, airlines haven’t been checking COVID tests for passengers entering Guam when transiting Narita and originating in the CONUS, regardless if it’s separate or single itinerary. Please don’t take this as a recommendation to avoid a test, but if for some reason you can’t get a test in time, the enforcement seems to be questionable on CONUS-NRT-GUM routings.
Surprised this is the case, expected the usual rule following behavior.