Thanks guys

Tight Connection - Too Risky?
 

Hello all, new here and just booked my first J class reward ticket to Japan next year. For a variety of reasons, I wasn't able to book directly to Osaka as intended and now have 2 separate itineraries in and out of NRT. I'm considering booking this flight on arrival but looking for advance on the tight connection and separate tickets.

1st Ticket via JAL - LAX --> NRT arriving at 4:40 PM
2nd Ticket via JAL - NRT --> ITM departing at 6:25 PM

That only leaves 1 hour and 45 minutes to go through immigration, get my luggage, and then recheck it as I will be traveling with more than a carry-on. I've been hearing horror stories lately regarding immigration times at NRT and am worried I'll be stuck as this is the final flight to Osaka area if I miss it. I know taking the shinkansen is always an option, but doing a round-trip shinkansen trip just means another day of checking out, traveling, and then checking in again, which I would love to avoid. I do see that this specific itinerary can be purchased as 1 ticket directly from JAL, so that gives me some level of confidence, but since I will have separate tickets, I assume they have no obligation to get me on the next flight. Does anyone have experience with this connection?

Thanks again in advance.

Is there any storage / locker facility in HND? Does JAL lounge in HND offer any locker facility? Just looking to leave a couple carry-ons while going to town on a 9hr layover.
Tried searching this thread, but can't seem to find a definitive answer.

There are landside lockers and stored luggage facilities.

If you go to the lounge first, there is no direct public route back to arrivals, and you'll need staff to escort you.

I'm hoping someone can double check my thought process. I'm looking to self transfer at HND, arriving at 14:20 on Delta, departing on Cathay to HKG at 16:25. Arriving in J, no checked luggage, have TTP, but shouldn't need to enter Japan. If I'm not able to able to check-in online, does Cathay have agents or kiosks at the transit desks?

I'm aware this is a fairly poor idea and cutting it close, but my thought is if the Delta flight is delayed, I can change to the 21:45 NRT-HKG flight, or the following morning HND-HKG. I'd pay a fare difference and transportation/hotel cost if the plan goes sideways, but that's not the end of the world. Am I missing anything?

If you are in J on Cathay, they can sort you out in the lounge. It is cutting it quite close, but arriving from the US you should not need to go through security, but rather are just let in to the departures area. You will either need a boarding pass or a print of your e-ticket for that. There is a transfer counter, but I have never noticed if it is manned by CX staff, but I am sure there will be a direction for how to get hold of them if not.

Check in cut off would be 60 minutes, so if you can't check in online, and DL adds about an hour's delay, you do risk being a no-show.

Thanks for the thoughts! The Cathay flight will be in J on a flex fare. I’ve never done INTL to INTL at HND, so I didn’t realize US flights skip the security check. I think I’m going to give it a shot. If there’s a delay on the ground in the US I’ll change the flight then, if there’s a delay on arrival or waiting for a gate, I will enter Japan and figure it out from there.

Following up on this, but going the other way. I have a morning Cathay Pacific flight to Tokyo Haneda, with 2.5 hr layover to connect to JFK flight on JAL. Is that sufficient time? First time Asia flyer, and I'm indifferent about a lounge visit. Thanks !

Hi,

Should be plenty of time even with an hour or 90 min delay on the HKG-HND leg. You will have transit security but no immigration at HND . You should have time for a lounge visit also ( JAL F or Cathay for an AA EXP ( OWE pax)

Regards
TBS

INT-DOM HND 3hrs OK?
 

I have a meeting later this year, nearest airport is KMQ. I can fly SFO-HND-KMQ with three hours between flights. I've never done Int-domestic transfer in Japan (and haven't connected in Japan since Covid).

I suspect this should be fine, barring any major delays, but would be great to get feedback from regulars.

tb

Should be fine. You are not mentioning the airlines, but as long as you ticket it as one itinerary then they will sort you out if there is a delay.

Thanks TBS, much appreciated.

It will not be an issue -- just follow the signs they are very well marked. Assuming you will be on either UA or NH from SFO you will either come in to terminal 2 or 3 -- and depart from terminal 2 where all NH domestic flights operate from.

Currently on JL 5 to HND connecting to JL 99 to TSA. Our original connection was 1:45 but we are now landing 60 minutes later, at 17:35, and who knows how long it will actually take to get to the gate. JL 99 departs at 18:20. All on one ticket, in J. Will we make it with a 45 minute connection?

I have a separate ticket on CX the next morning from TPE and I really need to make that.

No security check at Haneda for US arrivals. And JAL will have staff ready to help you.