quick update: flew through NRT this past weekend and everything was a breeze. As expected, both arriving and departing flights were delayed, which basically had no impact to the 90 minute connection. The deplaning process was not coordinated by ground staff, so it was just like any other flight. There were no transit security checkpoints and only had to show our boarding pass to the inter terminal bus agent, which we obtained online. The longest wait was for the inter terminal bus, which arrived on schedule within 10 minutes of our arrival.

Again, I appreciate all your advice in helping us best prepare for a positive outcome.

You'll make the flight easily if you drop the bag at 6;30 am. If it's a big bag, that's probably the easier option.

100 min transfer at Haneda from US to Osaka
 

Hi folks: I am thinking of redeeming an award ticket in J from the US west coast to Osaka Itami, via Haneda, for my partner. I did not choose the direct LAX-KIX flight because those J seats are terrible. The catch for this flight via Haneda, however, is that the connecting time is only 100 minutes. My partner isn't Japanese and therefore cannot go through expedited passport checks. According to the Haneda website, the minimum transfer time is 70 min, but I am guessing that even 100 min is very tight. The second segment to Osaka Itami is the last flight of the day and therefore there is no chance to mess up. This would be ticketed as one journey, and JAL should put him up to the next flight (next morning) if he can't make it. Yet, this would really suck because Osaka is not our destination (Kyoto is). We are traveling in early March, 2023. From Tripadvisor forums, it seems that many foreigners are interested in visiting Japan.

I myself will fly into Osaka from Singapore. My plan is to meet up with him in ITM that evening. My questions:
1. What do you think of the transit time? Is this realistically possible?
2. Will he have to go landside to change terminals? The Haneda airport website seems to suggest so, but it's not clear (an English translation problem?).
3. What if he misses the ITM flight? Would JAL put him up at a hotel at Haneda and pay for his dinner and breakfast?
4. One alternative to this is to take a connecting flight from Haneda to Kansai. The connecting time is 2.5 hours, but this flight lands at KIX at 10:15pm. So, we won't make the last direct bus or train to Kyoto and therefore will have to stay at a hotel near Kansai airport for one night. I will arrange for a flight from Singapore to KIX.


What is your advice? Thank you. I am posting this in the Japan board and the JAL board to seek more advice.

Question about testing for toddlers under 6
 

Tried searching but no luck. Traveling with a 2 and 3 year old in January 2023. Wife and I are both Fast Past approved via Visit Japan Web (Screen showing Blue). Since kids under 6 don't need to test if they are traveling with vaccinated parents, what should I select for "Test result certificate for test taken less than 72 hours before departure" for the two toddlers? Do I select register and then select No for not submitting a test result or do I need to do a PCR test for the toddlers less than 72 hours before flight and upload those results? Thanks in advance.

Yes. Especially if your partner travels with hand luggage only.
Yes. He will have to clear customs at HND then take the bus from T3 to T1 for a domestic flight with JAL.

I doubt it. They're more likely to put him on the later flight to KIX.
If I were him, I would just take the train to Kyoto. Last departure from Shinagawa is around 9:30 PM and gets him to Kyoto two hours later. He could try to persuade JAL to pay for the train ticket but I am not sure if they would do that.

You can make it to Kyoto if you take the Nankai Rapi:t train from KIX at 11:00 PM.
That said, I would book the flight to ITM and fall back on the train in the event of a missed connection.


Needless to say, if you book an itinerary that includes a flight to Osaka, but you decide to take the train instead, make sure you communicate that to JAL at HND to ensure that they don't cancel all subsequent flights on the same itinerary.

Agree, but if it were I, I'd cancel the ITM leg entirely and either get the Shinkansen to Kyoto that night or spend the night near Shinagawa station, and then grab the Shinkansen to Kyoto in the morning.

Who would want to do an extra domestic flight, then deal with getting from ITM (or KIX) to Kyoto, when you could take the Shinkansen.

Thank you 4 your suggestion. However, my partner is not used to taking public transit. He also does not know a word of Japanese.

It's quite easy to navigate Haneda airport and Shinagawa station without any Japanese. Unless your partner has special needs, I don't think you need to worry.

For some reassurance, I recommend this video of an Australian family arriving at Narita ** and taking the train into Tokyo. As you watch, take note of all the signage that's in four languages. Skip to 2:50 where the girl says "Guys, we're trying to catch a train. Nothing is in English and it's so confusing ... We're trying to find which train to get on. I'll update you if we get on the wrong train, because literally nothing is in English, so we don't know where we're going. We're just following colors at this point."


** The situation at Haneda is much the same. Virtually everything is signposted in English.

Sorry disregard. Realized I posted in front thread. Thanks!

Ditto. Couldn't be easier. And the trains run every 10 or 15 minutes so it's not like you will miss your train if it takes you extra time to find your way through the station.

Hi All,

Could I get some advice on the following?

GMP-HND-RDU via JAL and AA, all on a single ticket booked through AMEX

Just got info that the connection time at HND between GMP and HND has been reduced from 1 hr to 40 minutes. Do I insist on being rebooked, or take a chance with the short international-international connection? Will have kids in tow.

Thanks in advance

LAX/HND/SGN
 

Hello,

Is there enough time on a 1HR 25min to move from T1 to T3 in HND?
Context: I am Looking to travel from Los Angeles to Saigon with family (baby and two elderly parents).

I see airport website shows busses and train / monorail transportation for commuters with connecting flights.
Is this transportation system behind security? (trying to understand if I need to re-enter security)

If anyone with experience traveling through this airport could help or provide a data source to read I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

Your fight from LAX will arrive at T3 of HND. International-International connection at HND will be all within T3. 1 hr. 25 min. should be fine for international-international connections at HND.

Does your ticket information say that you will arrive at HND T1?

HND Layover
 

The flight (before I book) says LAX to HND (NH834 - Term 3) and HND (NH006 - Term 2/3) to SGN. The last leg departure to SGN is what gives me hesitancy to book with a whole family in tow and in an airport I don't have familiarity with or and language barriers.

I am fairly certain that 40 minutes is below MCT in Haneda. So you will probably have to rebook. In practical terms it is probably possible with some help from the airline and a bit early arrival with a short taxi time