​​​​​​They will try to rush you through. Waiting times for security is usually never bad. Immigration lines might be more of a challenge, depending on how many flights arrive at the same time.

If you go by Shinkansen, you at least need to clear that with ANA/UA first, as otherwise the default option is to cancel the subsequent flights.

It's been a while since I've tried to make a tight connection in Narita. This one is tricky since it is two separate tickets. I'd be coming in on UA into Narita. I will have to collect my baggage and go through customs/immigration and then re-enter security and then check in and check bag, to catch a flight to Taipei on China Airlines. Since there is no interline agreement, my bags won't be checked through. I'm planning to fly J so that should cut down on check in times.

Do I have enough time to do this with 2 hours and 15 minutes?

What's CI's cutoff for check in with luggage? Perhaps 60 minutes? If so, you have 75 minutes to for deboarding, immigration, luggage, customs, and bus to T2. (Assuming UA arrives on time).

That falls under pretty high risk. Cut off of luggage in Narita is 60 minutes, J will not help you cut down on that. On a good day, I can be out with luggage in about 30 minutes from landing in Narita, but I am resident so I have no wait at immigration. Have United land on 34R and you can add another 15-20 minutes taxi to that, arrive as flight 2-3 in the North American arrival bank, and the visitor's line at immigration will be quite long. Luckily luggage handling at Narita is not subjected to United's usual lack of efficiency.

In mid-November, I am flying from Vancouver to Narita on JAL arriving at 4:30 PM with a connecting flight to Osaka (Itami)at 6:20 PM

Will the just under 2 hour connection time be sufficient? Or is there a chance I might miss the connecting flight and have to overnight at narita

Also if I missed my connecting flight would JAL put us on a later flight (saw that there was a later flight but flying into KIX) or would have to overnight at NRT?

So I just called the Global Service desk and not sure if its due to status, but United told me they have an interline agreement with China Airlines and will through check my bag. I actually ended up booking the JAL(they also have interline agreement) flight which gives me 15 more minutes, so I have 2.5 hours, but my bags will be tagged all the way through. Does anyone know if I still have to pick up my bags at the carousel and then drop it off again at the transfer counter? I think I'm ok now as I won't have to exit airside if my bags are tagged through. I can just go through the standard transfer protocol. Does this sound right?

My understanding of United policies is that they only check luggage through to Star Alliance partners on separate tickets, not to other carriers.

UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)


An interline agreement is there to allow them to transfer luggage, to manage single ticket itineraries, the specific policies decides what they do for separate ticket itineraries.

Two hours for JAL (Terminal 2 Int'l) to JAL domestic (Terminal 2 Dom) should be enough. See this page:
https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/connect/dom1/

If both flights are on the same PNR, the airline will ensure that you reach your final destination in the event that you miss that connection. That might mean taking a bus to HND for a flight to Itami (ITM) or Kobe (UKB), or as you noted, getting a flight to Kansai (KIX).

Yeah I just called them back, and now I'm getting conflicting answers. I'm really second guessing this itinerary. I passed through Narita a few weeks ago and it was a zoo. I can't imagine what it's going to be like now that Japan is officially open. Might have to just overnight in Tokyo for sanity.

Coming from NY on JAL (booked on american) arriving at 4pm with a flight next day at 930 am. Planning to leave the airport and go into Tokyo. Questions are:

1)Will my bags will be checked all the way through
2) wanted to buy some sort of liquids while out (sunscreen and/or liquor) am I allowed to checked baggage coming back to airport?

For JAL you should be ok up to 24 hours checking bags through, and from what I've read (I've never tried this) you can actually request some bags to be tagged to NRT/HND and others to be tagged to your destination if you need specific bags for your layover. As to checking back in, you should be able to recheck those bags from NRT/HND to your destination.

I'm flying on JAL metal (AA business class award) in Feb. SIN-HND-DFW. Once I deplane in HND what is the process? Is there another security and do I have to go through customs/immigration ? and will my bags be check all the way to DFW?

Can my wife and I use the first class lounge (one world emerald/AAEXP) ?

You will go through transit security in Haneda. Your bags will be sent directly to the next flight, no need for customs and immigration. The first class lounge is open to emerald members +1.

We will arrive on w1 of November on a Friday afternoon w ANA. Arrivals when I looked up Flightaware has been hovering as early as 242pm to as late as 417pm.

We've passed through and flew out of NRT several times, and it seems to be very efficient, compared to US airports anyway. However, with the recent re-openings, how busy is it at NRT? We need to catch Revaty train to Nikko out of Asakusa, since we have to pick up the Nikko pass there, at 1811pm, or 7pm at the latest - so that we do not get to Nikko really late. There is a train to Narita to Asakusa on Keisei which does not require us to change, leaving at 445pm. If the flight arrives at 320pm, is that do-able to catch the 445pm train? We also planned to stop by Takkyubin counter to ship our bigger bag if possible. That last one is not a must, but it's nice to have.

The alternative is to take Skyliner to Ueno. If we still have our big bag, we could take a cab I guess from Ueno to Asakusa - vs taking the Ginza line.

We're just worried about:
- Friday PM arrival
- The Keisei to Asakusa is like a through service - and it looks like a local type train, and we worried about the potential packed condition
- Coming out late from our flight

If we could pick up Nikko pass at Nikko area, that would be better - but I am not aware if that is an option. I also have an APEC card, but the Mrs does not. I used APEC lane before pre-pandemic, and had my co-workers (non APEC holders) to go with me as well, but that was on a business trip. I don't think I could (or supposed to) but I guess it was a super slow night (late flight arriving from TPE) and the officer allowed it. Not sure if I want to rely on APEC card this time. I suppose I could try.

So, making the 611pm train out of Asakusa, is that a real possibility or are we cutting it too close and just bite the bullet and get a cab?

It is possible to catch the 16:44 train. If the plane is on time, and the immigration lines are not packed up from a number of arrivals.

The train to Asakusa would basically be a standard commuter layout on board the train. As you get on at the start of the route, you would easily get seats, but there is basically no luggage storage, you'll kind of have to manage that in the potential crowds.

You could also make 16:59 Skyliner and change to the Ginza line to Asakusa at Ueno. Though the Ginza line access at Ueno is not exactly luggage friendly.