Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread
#2191
Join Date: Mar 2025
Posts: 6
Of course JAL will check in on a single ticket. They would more than likely even do it on separate tickets. But yes if you call them there will always caution that there are cases where it could not happen.
There is as mentioned above, in moat airports counters for international connections. Just ask and they will either guide you there, or tell you there is no such thing.
There is as mentioned above, in moat airports counters for international connections. Just ask and they will either guide you there, or tell you there is no such thing.
Just to check if I understood correctly: at Itami (that is the first airport in the journey), instead of going to the normal check-in counter, I should find a JAL counter specific for international connections.
#2192
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Yes, Itami has a counter for international connections. If you look at the terminal building from the road side, it is at the far right hand side at street level.
#2193


Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
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#2195

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York, New York, US
Programs: HH, KF, FB, AM
Posts: 227
Just a question, I am traveling with my family from HKG to Osaka via HND. Flying with JAL arriving 8:30 PM then my connecting flight to Osaka is leaving at 12PM the next day. I will be staying in a hotel within T3 of Haneda. Will be checked through in HKG? and If I am or I am not I know there is a transit desk at T3 for JAL at Arrivals. Can i check in there for my connecting flight the next day and drop off my baggage at T3 Transit or Do i have go to T1 for everything? I will be traveling with 1 kid and a few luggage.
#2196
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Just a question, I am traveling with my family from HKG to Osaka via HND. Flying with JAL arriving 8:30 PM then my connecting flight to Osaka is leaving at 12PM the next day. I will be staying in a hotel within T3 of Haneda. Will be checked through in HKG? and If I am or I am not I know there is a transit desk at T3 for JAL at Arrivals. Can i check in there for my connecting flight the next day and drop off my baggage at T3 Transit or Do i have go to T1 for everything? I will be traveling with 1 kid and a few luggage.
#2197
Join Date: Mar 2025
Posts: 6
I have booked a domestic flight with Japan Airlines (JAL), connecting to an international flight with All Nippon Airways (ANA) at Haneda Airport, all under a single ticket with Lufthansa. This was not the original plan, but as Lufthansa has cancelled one of the original flights, this was the only option.
The layover is only 2h and I recently found out that there is a very high probability that my checked baggage will not be transferred automatically from the JAL domestic flight to the ANA international flight, and that I will have to pick them up and check them again. I have checked this with both JAL and ANA. JAL says there is a chance they may check them through, but the only way to know is at check-in at the day of the flight.
My question is: will 2h be enough to pick up bags, check them and still make my flight?
If it's relevant, we will be flying business.
The layover is only 2h and I recently found out that there is a very high probability that my checked baggage will not be transferred automatically from the JAL domestic flight to the ANA international flight, and that I will have to pick them up and check them again. I have checked this with both JAL and ANA. JAL says there is a chance they may check them through, but the only way to know is at check-in at the day of the flight.
My question is: will 2h be enough to pick up bags, check them and still make my flight?
If it's relevant, we will be flying business.
So, to give some feedback on this, should it be useful to someone in the future:
JAL was not able to check through the bags. Not for lack of trying: the lady at the international connections desk tried in the system, got her superior involved and they spent over 20m on the phone with Lufthansa.
In the end, as they thought the connection time was too short, they solved it by putting us on a earlier flight to Tokyo (we had arrived at the airport 3h before the flight).
Absolutely great service by JAL, a stark contrast to Lufthansa.
ill add that at Haneda everything was quite fast, so even the 2h would have been enough, if tight.
#2198
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 3
Hi all,
Im looking for some input on a connection Im planning at NRT before going to TPE. Ill be flying SQ11, arriving at 5:40 PM. I would rather depart to Taiwan the same day rather than stay in Narita overnight then fly out the day after, so I was thinking of booking BR195, which leaves at 8:20 PM. I booked SQ11 through Singapore Airline's website, and BR195 through United, both are award travel and booked on separate tickets. I would highly prefer to check in luggage but if needed I dont have to.
If I was to check in luggage, from what I've researched online it sounds like I'd still have to pass through immigration, pick up my checked luggage, then re-check in regardless because of Japanese immigration and customs. From the reply above it sounds like this is still the case? If I will have to claim checked luggage, will 2h40m enough time to clear immigration, collect my luggage, and check in again with Eva? I believe both Singapore airlines and Eva are both in T1 so I wont have to switch terminals.
Ive also heard of people interlining their separate tickets, if I was to interline my tickets would my luggage automatically go to the Eva plane or would I still have to re-check my checked luggage and go through immigration/customs?
Thanks all!
Im looking for some input on a connection Im planning at NRT before going to TPE. Ill be flying SQ11, arriving at 5:40 PM. I would rather depart to Taiwan the same day rather than stay in Narita overnight then fly out the day after, so I was thinking of booking BR195, which leaves at 8:20 PM. I booked SQ11 through Singapore Airline's website, and BR195 through United, both are award travel and booked on separate tickets. I would highly prefer to check in luggage but if needed I dont have to.
If I was to check in luggage, from what I've researched online it sounds like I'd still have to pass through immigration, pick up my checked luggage, then re-check in regardless because of Japanese immigration and customs. From the reply above it sounds like this is still the case? If I will have to claim checked luggage, will 2h40m enough time to clear immigration, collect my luggage, and check in again with Eva? I believe both Singapore airlines and Eva are both in T1 so I wont have to switch terminals.
Ive also heard of people interlining their separate tickets, if I was to interline my tickets would my luggage automatically go to the Eva plane or would I still have to re-check my checked luggage and go through immigration/customs?
Thanks all!
#2199
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If SQ can check your luggage through, you will not need to pass immigration and customs, you'd just transit security. I am not sure what Japan rules you have seen, but objectively wrong. Whether SQ checks luggage through on separate tickets, I don't know, but I would expect so. A question for the SQ forum.
#2200
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 3
Oh okay thats great to hear! I had ChatGPT do most of my trip planning and it seems to be wrong about that aspect, as on NRT's website it seems to only say carry on baggage will be searched.
I was able to call Singapore Airlines and get them to interline my tickets. She said that it won't show up on my end but it's linked on their end; she also said that I will be able to check luggage from LAX-NRT-TPE. However she did say that on the day of the flight I need to confirm with the check-in agent at LAX to make sure my two flights are interlinked and that my luggage will be tagged correctly. If anyone is able to confirm that they've checked luggage through NRT or on SQ on separate tickets and airlines that would be great; I'll also check in with the SQ forum, thanks for the suggestion!
I was able to call Singapore Airlines and get them to interline my tickets. She said that it won't show up on my end but it's linked on their end; she also said that I will be able to check luggage from LAX-NRT-TPE. However she did say that on the day of the flight I need to confirm with the check-in agent at LAX to make sure my two flights are interlinked and that my luggage will be tagged correctly. If anyone is able to confirm that they've checked luggage through NRT or on SQ on separate tickets and airlines that would be great; I'll also check in with the SQ forum, thanks for the suggestion!
#2201
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Oh okay thats great to hear! I had ChatGPT do most of my trip planning and it seems to be wrong about that aspect, as on NRT's website it seems to only say carry on baggage will be searched.
I was able to call Singapore Airlines and get them to interline my tickets. She said that it won't show up on my end but it's linked on their end; she also said that I will be able to check luggage from LAX-NRT-TPE. However she did say that on the day of the flight I need to confirm with the check-in agent at LAX to make sure my two flights are interlinked and that my luggage will be tagged correctly. If anyone is able to confirm that they've checked luggage through NRT or on SQ on separate tickets and airlines that would be great; I'll also check in with the SQ forum, thanks for the suggestion!
I was able to call Singapore Airlines and get them to interline my tickets. She said that it won't show up on my end but it's linked on their end; she also said that I will be able to check luggage from LAX-NRT-TPE. However she did say that on the day of the flight I need to confirm with the check-in agent at LAX to make sure my two flights are interlinked and that my luggage will be tagged correctly. If anyone is able to confirm that they've checked luggage through NRT or on SQ on separate tickets and airlines that would be great; I'll also check in with the SQ forum, thanks for the suggestion!

What the SQ agent did is add a note in your booking with the details of your next booking. They can't actually link tickets beyond that. If you get an outsourced/inexperienced agent they may not see that. Still bring a print of your e-tickets, and leave more time than usual for check in. Don't show up last minute nd expect everything to be done at the speed of a standard one ticket check in.
#2202




Join Date: Mar 2007
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#2203




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
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I'm wondering how late I can arrive at HND. 345pm flight on UA. They probably start boarding at 2:55pm. Would like at least 15-30min in the lounge to get something to eat so arriving at the lounge around 2:25pm. I am Star Gold so if there is a faster security line that could speed things up. I don't know about customs. No Bags to check. Should be able to check in online but even if I can't I'm 1K and flying Polaris so I don't think I'd have a line at checkin. Coming from Yokohama either by train or bus. I was thinking of departing Yokohama around 1pm?
#2204
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I'm wondering how late I can arrive at HND. 345pm flight on UA. They probably start boarding at 2:55pm. Would like at least 15-30min in the lounge to get something to eat so arriving at the lounge around 2:25pm. I am Star Gold so if there is a faster security line that could speed things up. I don't know about customs. No Bags to check. Should be able to check in online but even if I can't I'm 1K and flying Polaris so I don't think I'd have a line at checkin. Coming from Yokohama either by train or bus. I was thinking of departing Yokohama around 1pm?
If you depart Yokohama Station on the Keikyu line at 12:58, you'd reach the airport station at 13:22.
#2205




Join Date: Aug 2008
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If you are flying first class or business class, there is a fast track for security. Status in PY or Y, no dice. The fast track is pretty good, as the regular lines can clog up. Passport control is basically facial recognition and also pretty quick.
If you depart Yokohama Station on the Keikyu line at 12:58, you'd reach the airport station at 13:22.
If you depart Yokohama Station on the Keikyu line at 12:58, you'd reach the airport station at 13:22.



