Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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Does anyone know if there are layover restriction in Japan? I'm planning a trip to Indonesia next month but apparently Singapore doesn't allow transit if you've been in Indonesia (and a few other countries) in the past 14 days. So definitely SQ is out. Thinking of going with ANA if there aren't restrictions.
That being said, you can't change between Haneda and Narita, as that requires entry to Japan, and you can't do overnight connections in Narita. So compared to normal, it is a bit more restrictive.
#182
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SFO/OAK/SJC
Programs: UA 1P, HH Silver
Posts: 144
#183
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Location: Tokyo
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Thanks for the info CPH-Flyer . Another question - do you know if 2 hours layover in Narita would be enough? Will be my first time flying in the COVID era, so not sure if there will be any extra processes other than re-checking bags through the scanner.
#185
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CPH-Flyer Oh I meant my carry on bags. For layover we usually need to run them through the scanner again, before going to next flight's gate. Or is this no longer necessary during COVID?
#186
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SFO/OAK/SJC
Programs: UA 1P, HH Silver
Posts: 144
Haha yeah I wasn't aware if there would be additional security. One more question if you don't mind, do we need to show any negative COVID test or some sort? Apologies if the questions are too basic, as all documentation I can find are referring to arrival and not transit.
#187
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Haha yeah I wasn't aware if there would be additional security. One more question if you don't mind, do we need to show any negative COVID test or some sort? Apologies if the questions are too basic, as all documentation I can find are referring to arrival and not transit.
#188
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
CPH-Flyer Oh I meant my carry on bags. For layover we usually need to run them through the scanner again, before going to next flight's gate. Or is this no longer necessary during COVID?
Ymmv though, it was policy for some usa-NRT pre-covid to be allowed to skip transit security . Only applies to flights inbound from USA to narita
#189
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#190
Join Date: May 2020
Location: LHR
Programs: OWE, *G
Posts: 219
Would either of these count as a transit and hence be allowed under the current rules?
a) LHR-HND-LHR
b) LHR-HND-FRA or FRA-HND-LHR
Purchased as a return (or open jaw) ticket with time spent at HND being less than 24 hours.
a) LHR-HND-LHR
b) LHR-HND-FRA or FRA-HND-LHR
Purchased as a return (or open jaw) ticket with time spent at HND being less than 24 hours.
#191
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a) would not be permitted
#192
Join Date: May 2020
Location: LHR
Programs: OWE, *G
Posts: 219
#193
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
Did another separate ticket transit in Narita arriving on UA and departing on QR. On my first leg from GUM, there were 8 (out of 107) passengers connecting to QR and only my companion and I were hand carry only!!! Even without a policy in place to through check to QR, it seems they’re allowing it due to COVID and the inability for most people to enter Japan. We were escorted by a UA agent from our gate in T1 all the way to the T2 transit counter. Each passenger took roughly 20-30 minutes to verify documents and check in, so altogether 2.5 hours. Was probably the most thorough document check I’ve ever experienced BY FAR, felt so bad for the agent. They even had to verify if my hotel was on the Maldives Official Lodging list. They had an older hard copy list with 152 properties, and what do you know, my property was #153, so had to find the updated list online.
I had a back up routing to SF just in case we were denied boarding and the UA agent escorting was well aware of this. But because it took so long to get us processed we couldn’t even use that. Agent said if we were IDB’d we would need to overnight airside which I didn’t even know was possible. Contradicts policy but due to COVID there’s really no other alternative as all the US bound flights departed. I’m otherwise eligible for entry into Japan but my PCR tests for the Maldives was a few hours invalid for Japan.
I had a back up routing to SF just in case we were denied boarding and the UA agent escorting was well aware of this. But because it took so long to get us processed we couldn’t even use that. Agent said if we were IDB’d we would need to overnight airside which I didn’t even know was possible. Contradicts policy but due to COVID there’s really no other alternative as all the US bound flights departed. I’m otherwise eligible for entry into Japan but my PCR tests for the Maldives was a few hours invalid for Japan.
#194
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
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Posts: 1,532
We heard from some people who had returned from the US that free tests are available in the US. Most important, they are valid for Japan as long as the right documents are stamped. My son is in NYC and due to come back next week via ICN. He knows Japanese who have done this, supposedly the test is just 30 minutes. I guess it is the/an antigen test? It's hard for me to verify anything though.
Searching NYC in English I just see commercial testing for $200 or free NYC testing that takes 3-4 days.
EDIT: The Japan Immigration acceptable ECLEIA or CLEIA tests seem to be terms that only get hits in Japanese. The form warns ICA is not acceptable.
Searching NYC in English I just see commercial testing for $200 or free NYC testing that takes 3-4 days.
EDIT: The Japan Immigration acceptable ECLEIA or CLEIA tests seem to be terms that only get hits in Japanese. The form warns ICA is not acceptable.
Last edited by JapanFlyerT; Sep 1, 2021 at 10:08 pm
#195
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
We heard from some people who had returned from the US that free tests are available in the US. Most important, they are valid for Japan as long as the right documents are stamped. My son is in NYC and due to come back next week via ICN. He knows Japanese who have done this, supposedly the test is just 30 minutes. I guess it is the/an antigen test? It's hard for me to verify anything though.
Searching NYC in English I just see commercial testing for $200 or free NYC testing that takes 3-4 days.
Searching NYC in English I just see commercial testing for $200 or free NYC testing that takes 3-4 days.
Last edited by ALGU; Sep 1, 2021 at 10:14 pm