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Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread

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Old May 21, 2020, 5:59 pm
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Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread

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Old Jul 13, 2022, 8:25 pm
  #886  
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Originally Posted by bmwe92fan
I think it is now called the "Narita Travel Lounge" -- not associated with any airline. As I mentioned in another thread Narita Airside seems as busy as ever -- landside it's still virtually empty -- and most all of the stores airside are still closed.... We got to watch Abe's funeral procession as we waited for our flight to NYC - regardless of your politics it was a sad and moving event....
I used to love that lounge......great views , and the food wasn't bad for a NW/DL lounge of that era.
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Old Jul 13, 2022, 8:42 pm
  #887  
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Originally Posted by bmwe92fan
When I arrived a few weeks ago I was taken off the plane first (before any announcements were made) as there was someone waiting for me to escort me to processing (I am GS with United). They told me that the airport chooses who gets off first based on the backup (if any) in processing (there are typically still far more transit passengers than those arriving to stay). If the processing area is clear then arrivals get off first -- if it is backed up then transit passengers go first... This was Narita terminal 1...
Actually this makes a fair bit of sense, hadn't thought of it that way.
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Old Jul 14, 2022, 1:16 pm
  #888  
 
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Question. Sorry if it has already been said, but I haven't seen it.

I have a 20 hour layover in Haneda next week. I know I can stay over in the terminal, but when talking to United, they said that because the layover was so long, it wasn't a 'connection', but a 'layover'. So, I would still have to get a PCR test for Japan requirements, even though I wasn't entering Japan through customs. Seems wrong, as it says on every site if you not entering Japan and going to another country you don't need any tests (and I didn't in June when I transited through Narita to Canada. But that was just 10 hours same day.)

Any thoughts?
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Old Jul 14, 2022, 3:39 pm
  #889  
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Originally Posted by robsolo
Question. Sorry if it has already been said, but I haven't seen it.

I have a 20 hour layover in Haneda next week. I know I can stay over in the terminal, but when talking to United, they said that because the layover was so long, it wasn't a 'connection', but a 'layover'. So, I would still have to get a PCR test for Japan requirements, even though I wasn't entering Japan through customs. Seems wrong, as it says on every site if you not entering Japan and going to another country you don't need any tests (and I didn't in June when I transited through Narita to Canada. But that was just 10 hours same day.)

Any thoughts?
United is wrong on that score, as long as you go through a connection without entering Japan, no test is required.
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Old Jul 14, 2022, 4:20 pm
  #890  
 
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Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
United is wrong on that score, as long as you go through a connection without entering Japan, no test is required.
+1
Expect accurate information regarding international travel requirements from airport agents who are actually working the flight to Japan. Don't expect accurate information regarding international travel requirements from airline phone reservation agents - generally speaking, phone reservation agents do not understand the nuances related to international travel regulations nor do they understand how to properly use TIMATIC to determine the exact requirements applicable to a specific individual traveler.
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Old Jul 14, 2022, 7:25 pm
  #891  
 
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Originally Posted by seigex
It's JAL-JAL.. The flight is consistently early/on time and gates are pretty close to each other, so i'm not worried about delays, but JAL's website only shows MCT info for Domestic-Domestic, International-Domestic, and Domestic-International, so I'm not sure what the MCT is for internatonal to international is. That's my concern is if 50 minutes is enough for bags to change planes and recent experiences from someone transitting to know how long transit security coming from BKK has been taking.
To circle back on this. The flight was successful and had no issues with the 1 hour connection time. Luggage checked no problem, flight was about 5 minutes later than expected, but transit passengers were let off first (4/4 for me transitting NRT in the last few months). There was a line at immigration security for bags to go through the scanners and someone checking passport/ticket as you pass through line. The end of security was right next to my gate (62). The line itself was about 20 minutes, that left me about 10 minutes, though there were some JAL people looking in line for people with tight connections and pulling them out of line to go through security faster.

When I got to the gate they had a document check line that was a bit long before going down the escalator to the actual gate, but I was able to squeeze through as a boarding group 1/F ticket and get in to my seat with enough time to spare for my pre-departure champaign. Also my bags showed up with me at LAX.

Why though do JAL/ANA cabins have to be so damn hot when the lights go out? I swear it had to be 80+ degrees while everyone slept. I woke up sweating.
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Old Jul 14, 2022, 8:53 pm
  #892  
 
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Originally Posted by seigex
Why though do JAL/ANA cabins have to be so damn hot when the lights go out? I swear it had to be 80+ degrees while everyone slept. I woke up sweating.
Ask my wife -- the Japanese have different body temperatures and physiology than westerners -(actually it's true) - whenever I am home in Japan I am dying at 30 -- while she was fine.... On our flight home (on United) the cabin was the north pole to her - I was in heaven..... When we've flown NH/JL I swear I lost five pounds in sweat during the flight.... Humidity + lack of body fat = MC^2.

As a long standing couple our biggest disagreement -- by far --is living temperature....
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Old Jul 15, 2022, 1:46 am
  #893  
 
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Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
If the transit is more than 24 hours, you will have to reclaim luggage if you have checked luggage, so you will need to enter Japan.
I'm curious - where do you get this 24 hour rule from?
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Old Jul 15, 2022, 8:07 am
  #894  
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I just booked a separate ticket NRT connection - JL First (ORD-NRT) to TG First (NRT-BKK) and want to make sure I'm not going to have a problem with JL at ORD. The NRT connection is 1h50m with JL arriving 3:35pm (T2) and TG departing 5:25pm (T1). EF shows minimum International JL to International TG connect time is 1h30m but hoping that JL doesn't have its own more stringent MCT Covid-era rules.
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Old Jul 15, 2022, 3:26 pm
  #895  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
I just booked a separate ticket NRT connection - JL First (ORD-NRT) to TG First (NRT-BKK) and want to make sure I'm not going to have a problem with JL at ORD. The NRT connection is 1h50m with JL arriving 3:35pm (T2) and TG departing 5:25pm (T1). EF shows minimum International JL to International TG connect time is 1h30m but hoping that JL doesn't have its own more stringent MCT Covid-era rules.
I doubt you'll have an issue checkin-wise. I had a 1-hour transfer at NRT on a BKK-NRT-LAX ticket and had no checkin issues. Granted they were both JL so both T2, but ORD-NRT you will not have any doc check coming in to NRT (my flight to BKK a couple weeks ago, the only check that happened was someone at the bottom of the jet bridge verifying I had my passport and an onward ticket, but I didn't even have to stop walking just slowed down while she looked, it was a very cursory search. So I don't see any issues with 1.5 hours, even transferring terminals. Keep in mind it's up to 15 minutes wait for a shuttle, and it takes about 7 minutes IIRC to transfer.

The place where you will have an issue is with checked bags. I don't think JL will check through on TG (different alliances), so hopefully this plan is carryon only.
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Old Jul 15, 2022, 3:29 pm
  #896  
 
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Originally Posted by bmwe92fan
Ask my wife -- the Japanese have different body temperatures and physiology than westerners -(actually it's true) - whenever I am home in Japan I am dying at 30 -- while she was fine.... On our flight home (on United) the cabin was the north pole to her - I was in heaven..... When we've flown NH/JL I swear I lost five pounds in sweat during the flight.... Humidity + lack of body fat = MC^2.

As a long standing couple our biggest disagreement -- by far --is living temperature....
Yeah I need 21 to a max of 23 to sleep, but 26 or more is too much for me. Everyone else seemed comfortable. At some point I went a little passive aggressive and used my drink menu to fan myself and the FA told me she'd drop the temp a few degrees. It was still hot but it helped a lot.
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Old Jul 16, 2022, 1:30 am
  #897  
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Originally Posted by evergrn
As far as I understand, yes she will need to self-quarantine with no public transport for 14days, domestic transit is considered public transport (that’s what ANA website says), rules are the same at NRT and KIX, she still has to quarantine even after negative result.

Reguilar taxis are considered public transport, but I wasn’t aware of “Covid friendly taxis.” Best option for Jpn nationals returning from USA and Europe is to get picked up by family even if it involves a long drive, although I know that’s not feasible for some. Good luck!

Eta:
official info in Japanese
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000618977.pdf
I did the whole quarantine thing in 2021 for 14 days and in 2020 for 2 days. I’ll give details later.
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Old Jul 16, 2022, 12:25 pm
  #898  
 
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Hi all, does anyone know overnight layover at KIX is allowed? This is international to international flight, will be staying at airside. Will be traveling with kids, is there shops open for some foods. Thank you!
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Old Jul 16, 2022, 2:55 pm
  #899  
 
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Originally Posted by Kumar2013
I'm curious - where do you get this 24 hour rule from?
Seems to be something coded in the system. When I was trying to figure out if I needed to reclaim bags at NRT and SIN, the agent said that NRT and HND can store bags for 24 hours while SIN can only do 12.
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Old Jul 17, 2022, 7:57 am
  #900  
 
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Here's hoping someone had am answer to this!

If I book a ICN-NRT flight on a JAL codeshared KE flight (from JAL website), then use AS miles to book a sameday NRT-LAX flight on JAL (thus both flights being JAL)... Would staff at ICN be able to tag my luggage straight to LAX?

There would be a T1 to T2 5 hour layover involved but seems like a viable option!
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