Imagine adding time for full manual document checks on top of that without the app. Though if the queue is now growing behind you, it would all be same same.

The line to exit customs with QR code wrapped all the way around baggage claim - never seen anything like it so I filled out the form and walked out in less than a minute - and barely made my bus!

Honestly -- it's great to see Narita so busy again -- I hope they figure out this new QR code system soon.... TBH I don't think that it really saved any time once you arrive -- I mean scanning the QR code at immigration instead of having them look at your form -- maybe 30 seconds? Totally get using the app to pre-verify Passport / COVID documents -- but that can easily be checked by the airline (mine was by UA) and does nothing to speed up the process once you hit immigration...

Perhaps the plan is all about using customs agents more effectively rather than saving time for passengers. I could imagine a situation in which agents only deal with passengers who have items to declare, or who get flagged for secondary inspection at "self service," green lanes.

It needs some refinement, and it sounds like good advice to have a paper form as well as a QR code at the ready. On my Air France flight earlier this year, the flight attendants ignored my request for a paper form. Turns out they had run out of translated forms. I eventually persuaded them to give me a Japanese language form.

It is not supposed to speed up immigration, it is supposed to speed up the check of your vaccine certificate and the group you belong to depending on your recent recorded travel history. I guess you are forgetting the show we went through with the doc checks before mysos.

Oh believe me I remember lol -- it's just now that things are reopened I would expect technology to improve the process ... I agree it is useful to pre-screen for vaccination / negative tests so you can't get on the plane to Japan -- but everything else seems way less efficient now -- I mean why have a 30 minute wait to check out of baggage claim with a QR code when you can do it with a form in less than a minute?

The fix is surprisingly easy, as we upload our passport page in the visit Japan website, there should be no reason to visit the kiosk before walking out, the facial recognition should be able to work via the passport page. It works for other countries.

A more expensive fix is to get more kiosks.

Completely agree -- since they use facial recognition to leave -- why can't they use for arrival? I mean even the US does it now (I have Global Entry) and never even have to use my passport any more - it scans my face -- and I walk out.... It was fascinating to watch customs today -- they had about 7 kiosks serving hundreds of pax -- and 7 lanes of normal customs serving no one.... This isn't typical Japanese efficiency lol

The process of the visit Japan website is hardly comparable to Global Entry. I don't get to enter the US on facial recognition alone when I arrive with my ESTA. Once that happens we can start comparing it to visit Japan.

I have spent 45 minutes exiting customs in Miami, just walking pas a counter where a piece of paper was collected and maybe a couple of questions asked.
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Arriving at NRT in early December on NH5 (16:30) and self-connecting international > interntional on JL745 (18:05). Probably pretty risky but I think it's manageable:

1. carry-on luggage only
2. no need for passport control as not entering japan
3. terminal 1 to terminal 2 transfer seems pretty straight forward
4. obtain boarding pass when arriving at terminal 2
5. both flights frequently delayed in the recent past

I'm hoping to avoid an overnight stay and/or HND transfer. Am I foolish to even attempt this?

There is no transit security arriving from the US, so the flow should be pretty quick. You'd definitely need to do online check-in for JAL, as the check-in will close at 17:05, and there is quite a risk not reaching a JAL counter before that.

If NH is on time or early, it is likely fine. But there is no time to dawdle. Any delay in arrival will very quickly mean time's up and you'll miss your JAL flight. What's the flexibility on the JAL ticket, as you'd need to buy a new one if you miss the flight.

Thanks for the reassurances! These are all award flights so there will be no re-accommodations, but also reserved NH869 departing the following day out of HND as a backup.

As you note, it is a rather risky endeavour, the benefit upside is that JAL will only start boarding 20-25 minutes before departure.
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3h45m enough for Intl-NRT/HND-dom?
 

I'm seeing NH selling and UA not-listing-unless-multi-city a 3h45m (1630-2015) US-NRT/HND-OKA connection (both NH metal). Is the current immigration processing time making this too risky?

I wouldn’t risk it - I arrived last week and it took well over an hour to get to the bus desk - which also had a line about 20 minutes long - immigration is a mess and customs is worse during peak times - almost like pre Covid….

My main concern for you is the reduction in frequency of the airport to airport buses - they just haven’t restored service to pre Covid levels since demand just isn’t there…

Here’s a shot from immigration last week - lines back into the terminal at 3pm…. It’s doable - but risky….


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...01ee0c3f5.jpeg

Wow, thanks! I guess I should look for red-eyes directly into HND or a one-night layover.