Japan Transit/Connection/Layover Master Thread
#857
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
Non-rev transiting in NRT or HND
Does anyone had an experience transiting in NRT or HND as non-rev from USA if AA or JL will through check bags since visa free exemption is suspended and therefore can't go through Immigration, collect bags and re check in to final destination? Will they also issue confirmed tickets or will they just not let you board the flight from US?
#858
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
Does anyone had an experience transiting in NRT or HND as non-rev from USA if AA or JL will through check bags since visa free exemption is suspended and therefore can't go through Immigration, collect bags and re check in to final destination? Will they also issue confirmed tickets or will they just not let you board the flight from US?
#859
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,300
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...
#860
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
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...
#861
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
It's all JL but I was told this morning by a JL CS agent that because of the visa free exemption being suspended and JL do not issue confirmed tickets for the connecting flight, most likely we'll not be allowed to board even from here in the US even if the connecting flight is wide open. I guess this is the scenario for non-revs who are planning to connect in Japan or HongKong as both countries have almost the same transiting rules. It worked for you because your tickets are a combo of award and non-rev.
#862
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,631
It's all JL but I was told this morning by a JL CS agent that because of the visa free exemption being suspended and JL do not issue confirmed tickets for the connecting flight, most likely we'll not be allowed to board even from here in the US even if the connecting flight is wide open. I guess this is the scenario for non-revs who are planning to connect in Japan or HongKong as both countries have almost the same transiting rules. It worked for you because your tickets are a combo of award and non-rev.
Would you be allowed to board the first flight if you had a full fare / fully refundable reservation for a flight out of Tokyo - with the intention of cancelling the full fare flight as soon as the non-rev flight is confirmed? I guess that would satisfy the requirement for a confirmed onward booking, but perhaps it would fall short of how the airline expects non-rev passengers to behave.
#863
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
It's all JL but I was told this morning by a JL CS agent that because of the visa free exemption being suspended and JL do not issue confirmed tickets for the connecting flight, most likely we'll not be allowed to board even from here in the US even if the connecting flight is wide open. I guess this is the scenario for non-revs who are planning to connect in Japan or HongKong as both countries have almost the same transiting rules. It worked for you because your tickets are a combo of award and non-rev.
If you can't get your second flight confirmed until you are in the airport in Japan, then that might be a bit of a challenge to allow you to board in the US. If we ignore covid and entry restrictions for a moment, what would the normal flow be for this journey, go through transit flow and go to the next gate and do the "stand-by rain dance" and hope for a seat fall down in your lap, or to go through arrivals and start nagging the check-in staff until a seat magically opens?
I have seen reports of UA staff travelling on UA to Guam via Japan, only getting a confirmation of the second flight in Japan. But I don't know if that is easier for UA staff on UA than it is for non JL staff on JL.
#864
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
The issue is that you are essentially on standby for the connecting non-rev flight out of Tokyo?
Would you be allowed to board the first flight if you had a full fare / fully refundable reservation for a flight out of Tokyo - with the intention of cancelling the full fare flight as soon as the non-rev flight is confirmed? I guess that would satisfy the requirement for a confirmed onward booking, but perhaps it would fall short of how the airline expects non-rev passengers to behave.
Would you be allowed to board the first flight if you had a full fare / fully refundable reservation for a flight out of Tokyo - with the intention of cancelling the full fare flight as soon as the non-rev flight is confirmed? I guess that would satisfy the requirement for a confirmed onward booking, but perhaps it would fall short of how the airline expects non-rev passengers to behave.
#865
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 6
The challenge is probably that we who understand the most about the transit rules in general, probably know very little about the intricacies of non-rev/ID travel.
If you can't get your second flight confirmed until you are in the airport in Japan, then that might be a bit of a challenge to allow you to board in the US. If we ignore covid and entry restrictions for a moment, what would the normal flow be for this journey, go through transit flow and go to the next gate and do the "stand-by rain dance" and hope for a seat fall down in your lap, or to go through arrivals and start nagging the check-in staff until a seat magically opens?
I have seen reports of UA staff travelling on UA to Guam via Japan, only getting a confirmation of the second flight in Japan. But I don't know if that is easier for UA staff on UA than it is for non JL staff on JL.
If you can't get your second flight confirmed until you are in the airport in Japan, then that might be a bit of a challenge to allow you to board in the US. If we ignore covid and entry restrictions for a moment, what would the normal flow be for this journey, go through transit flow and go to the next gate and do the "stand-by rain dance" and hope for a seat fall down in your lap, or to go through arrivals and start nagging the check-in staff until a seat magically opens?
I have seen reports of UA staff travelling on UA to Guam via Japan, only getting a confirmation of the second flight in Japan. But I don't know if that is easier for UA staff on UA than it is for non JL staff on JL.
#866
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
Seemed no problem for the UA staff to get to Japan though, but I suspect it is easier on your "home" airline.....
#867
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: DEL
Programs: SA, JAL, EK
Posts: 80
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...
#868
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
For those of you who have transitted NRT from BKK on the way back to the US, do you think a 50 minute layover is workable for bags to make it to my next flight? I might have to head back to the US a few days early and my only award option to get to LAX is 50 minutes layover in NRT or I have to go through SFO which would give me an extra hour. Would prefer straight to LA though.
#869
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
For those of you who have transitted NRT from BKK on the way back to the US, do you think a 50 minute layover is workable for bags to make it to my next flight? I might have to head back to the US a few days early and my only award option to get to LAX is 50 minutes layover in NRT or I have to go through SFO which would give me an extra hour. Would prefer straight to LA though.
#870
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
Is 50 minutes within MCT? I guess that would need to be ANA to ANA or JAL to JAL. It does not leave a lot of wiggle room for delays or whisky shopping, but if within MCT they will do their darnedest to get you through the hoops of the connection. There will be transit security when coming from BKK.
Last edited by seigex; Jul 14, 2022 at 7:25 pm