Flew out of NRT T1 this morning and the line for security at South Wing was as insane as I have ever seen—hundreds long, extending to the far end of the check-in hall. So I walked over to North Wing, and there was no wait whatsoever (walked right up to the belt and straight through).

I have used that trick pretty often. Both fast track and regular lines were hopeless?

Adding a data point:
Zero immigration and customs line on arrival at NRT on Jan 20 at 330pm.

920pm LOL zero line albeit late arrival from ICN. Time to taxi to gate was 10 times longer than the walk to immigration and out. I'm sure those not in prestige face a little wait. Spent the most time with customs as I had to tick the box with some psychotropics. Lol.

Arrived from SIN (I forget the terminal number) 15 Mar 2026, disembarked at about 1645 (admittedly from F). Since the flight arrived early, the plane had to wait for the departing flight at the gate, so it could have been earlier.
Vistor Immigration probably took about 40 mins. The line looked half full when I arrived, only to find out the line extended to a back corridor hidding on approach to the line.
Amusingly at baggage collection, the conveyer belt was overloaded and stopped. Luckily being in F my baggage was set aside and easily located.
Customs was much faster.
All up probably 50-55min.
Within an hour of disembarking I was on the train platform *phew*

yikes, I take it this was JAL?

No, it was SQ. I've just edited the original to clarify that I actualyl can't remember which terminal. It really was amusing to see the conveyor belt just clogged with luggage and not moving.

I've run into this as well arriving on Zipair. I was through immigrations in about 5min but had to wait about 30min for my bag to arrive. Around the 15min mark or so, the belt staff were doing what they could to open up space by arranging the bags but they kept getting stuck at the exit as there was literally no more space.

When immigration waits are long, they need to line the bags up on the side. I had that discussion in Haneda with the one of the US3 that likes to believe they are premium. They could not complete delivery, as the belt was filled with bags and the passengers were at immigration. I asked them to take the bags off the belt, so the next flight were passengers were already waiting (including me) could start getting their bags. They refused, as their passengers would not understand where to find their bags if they were placed next to carousel. Their wording not mine. Eventually some of the airport staff started doing just that, and the airline in question's staff eventually started helping with the process.

It also feels like the carousels at Terminal 1 are rather small for the number of passengers aboard widebodies the terminal serves... Could be me remembering wrong, but Narita T2 and also baggage claim at Haneda felt a lot roomier with larger carousels and treadmill style ones that looped behind the wall.

Seems like the e-customs lines at NRT are getting backed up again, to the point that the Japanese news media is writing about it.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles...0m/0na/004000c

It is ghe terrible setup, where you can't use the kiosks while waiting for luggage. Like you can in Haneda. Also in Haneda, they try to process the Japanese passport holders before passport control with the integrated customs and immigration terminals. So the setup just flows easier.

I have tried to give feedback to Narita, the airport just replies that it is all in the hands of the customs office, and that is a different office than the one that runs Haneda, so they select different solutions.

Landed just before 9pm, T1.
Was on economy with checked bags.
Yet 17 minutes from landing to curbside! Must be a record.
My bag came out first (Sky Elite Plus). I couldn’t believe a priority tag served its purpose, or maybe it was pure luck.

Normally, Narita Airport is very good with making sure that luggage comes out in the appropriate order. Also for other airline than JAL and ANA. Though admittedly, I have only arrived on other *A and OW carriers.

3 weeks ago at the gate about 6:30 am after a long time taxiing travelling on TG. Long walk, first passengers on flight to arrive at immigration which was empty, bags waiting and priority luggage separated from non priority as always in my experience.