Would appreciate input on anyone's experience transiting through KIX Osaka airport. Flying from Mainland China on Shandong Airlines to KIX then to LAX on Japan Airlines. Flights are booked on two separate reservations. Is a visa required to transit? Do I need to retrieve bags and go through customs? Many thanks!

That really depends on Shandong Airlines, I have no experience with them, but it will be their willingness and capability to check in luggage in across tickets. If they can't/won't, you will need a visa to enter Japan to reclaim and recheck luggage.

Thank you—I paid for WiFi hoping you would reassure me!

JL99 will start boarding 20 minutes before departure. So while not ample time, even end to end in Haneda should be possible

I hope our checked luggage makes it.

So major mess up and looking for advice on what we did wrong.

Saw this website which states we can use Suica to ride the Skyliner train by tapping in at the gate. No mention was made of buying any paper ticket. We tapped at the gate and entered without a problem
https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetu...0ticket%20gate.

We boarded the train, showed our suica iPhone wallet to the conductor who told us no, and we had to get off the train at Shin Kamagaya. Before arriving I found a link to buy the tickets online from my phone so in a rush I bought two tickets - no mention on the website that we would only receive a QR code and needed to exchange the code for paper tickets.

At Shin Kamagaya we were told no it could not be done. So we ended up on the local train to Hamada that stopped at our destination Shinagawa.

So now we’re out Y4620 for the unused Skyliner tickets plus the local train cost.

I’m a little annoyed because while Japanese websites love to be extremely detailed with flow charts and instructions, Keisi didn’t seem to get that memo so I’m tempted to dispute the Skyliner charge with Amex and let them sort it out.

Aside from joining a very long line to buy paper tickets, which is not what the website said we needed to do, what else could we have done? I assume Eki.net for JR also sends a useless QR code that needs to be exchanged at a counter when buying online?

SUICA is only for the fare ticket. You also need the limited express ticket.

If you bought the discounted ticket, it says very clearly that it has to be exchanged at Narita Airport stations.

We didn’t choose the discounted ticket just a regular one way. I didn’t see anything on the website when buying the ticket saying it needed to be exchanged. The confirmation email said it could also be exchanged at Ueno but after being booted from the train once we didn’t want to get back on the next train and go through it again at the next station.

So in theory we should have been allowed to stay on board and exchange the ticket at ueno to cover the trip fare.

No, you did not hold a valid ticket. It needs to be exchanged before boarding. It has been a while since I took the Skyliner and even longer since I didn't buy the limited express ticket from a machine at the station so I don't remember the online flow fully. But it is pretty clear to me in both signs and announcements that you need the limited express ticket before boarding.

I did LAX-HND-TSA last week and we were required to go thru transit security screening to reach departure gate area again.

Yes, I can confirm there was still a transit security check. But as CPHFlyer helpfully posted, JAL staff were there for every connection on the flight, marked us present on their iPads, hustled us through security, and brought us to our gate. I imagine the international-domestic passengers were even more harried!

Our checked luggage made it as well, thank goodness. Looking at alternatives to get us to our final destination, Penang, our options were limited and all involved 18+ hour long connections. (TPE-HKG-PEN on CX today was booked as a separate ticket because of a corporate ticketing requirement.)

Interesting, has the no transit security rules changed once again. It is a bit tricky as they don't really write it anywhere.

I was surprised when I exited the plane, the airport workers directed me towards the same moving sidewalk as the rest of the people even though I pointed out I'm only transiting. The airport workers just keep nodding and pointed with arms to signal me to go to transit security. Fortunately, transit security was basically empty... one other US citizen from the same flight so I was back to departure side in about 90 seconds. Took longer to walk to the Sakura Lounge :)

Is there any shortcut for JR either with or without SUICA that can avoid the massive line up at NRT T2 for getting tickets? Meaning can I buy anything online that gives me an actual ticket for the train, either with or without SUICA that I can board with? Or regardless I’ll need to stop at the counter to exchange the online booking for a paper ticket coupon?

I just really want to avoid that huge cluster of a lineup next week if possible

The vending machines take credit cards and rarely have a massive line, only the in person counters seem to have massive lines. The vending machines also "speak" English. I normally buy there, and rarely have to wait more than a minute or two.