Schedule change via IAD and NRT to Guam (GUM)
Jun 23, 2018, 6:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 563
Schedule change via IAD and NRT to Guam (GUM)
Next March, we're flying on an all UA itin connecting through IAD and NRT to GUM (actually on to Palau but we are spending the night in GUM so we have more than a 12+ hour layover therefore not too concerned about that). We had a 1h36 min connection in IAD and a 1h15 connection in NRT. Now they have changed the times leaving us with a 1h41 connection in IAD which I am glad for... but have also changed the flight times on the IAD-NRT flight UA 803 to leave IAD 5 min later but arrive NRT 15 min later... and just like that, poof, the connection in NRT is down to exactly 1h! I suspect this is not a legal connection because neither the UA website nor hipmunk is offering it. I did notice that UA 803 tends to arrive 15-20 min early but that's not the point as UA could well deny us boarding due to the tight published connection. There is a second flight UA 874 leaving NRT later that evening but it gives us a 4+ hour layover in NRT and also arrives in the middle of the night so we'd really rather stay on what we have.... and since we'll be most likely checking at least 1 bag, won't be able to standby for UA 803 if they ticket us on 874. I suppose in the unlikely event we do make it standby on UA 803 they could if they really wanted to, send the bags on after us on UA 874 and deliver it the next day to our hotel... but as I said... highly unlikely.
I am getting a tad exhausted with these pesky schedule changes since we originally were flying through EWR and HKG and there were schedule changes on the original one (I think because Daylight Savings starts a few days before we leave in March, they are still tweaking the schedules) so we then requested to be put on the IAD-NRT connection... and now this has happened. Should I just wait and see what else may occur since there are still 9 months to go and maybe the schedules may revert to where all connections become legal again? It feels like have spent more time on the phone working on this trip than the 45h15 min that the trip itself will take!
I stand by what I have told many over the nearly 20 years of doing this... that the Pacific is the most difficult region in the world to get to and around without experiencing some major adverse scheduling event.
I am getting a tad exhausted with these pesky schedule changes since we originally were flying through EWR and HKG and there were schedule changes on the original one (I think because Daylight Savings starts a few days before we leave in March, they are still tweaking the schedules) so we then requested to be put on the IAD-NRT connection... and now this has happened. Should I just wait and see what else may occur since there are still 9 months to go and maybe the schedules may revert to where all connections become legal again? It feels like have spent more time on the phone working on this trip than the 45h15 min that the trip itself will take!
I stand by what I have told many over the nearly 20 years of doing this... that the Pacific is the most difficult region in the world to get to and around without experiencing some major adverse scheduling event.
Jun 23, 2018, 6:11 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
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1h is legal on UA to UA I:I at NRT
If you book >3 months out, you're going to have schedule changes. I'd stick with this for now and evaluate real options at T-3mo.
I find the Pacific to be easy to get around and for scheduling, there's all sorts of options all the time.
Code:
STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I. ONLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 OFFLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 ** OR * ARE ALL UA-UA II SUP FLT 7899 - 8014 - FLT 7899 - 8014 GUM - ALL TRM 2 - 2 ALL - UNITED STATES UA-UA II SUP FLT 7899 - 8014 - FLT 7899 - 8014 ALL - GUM TRM 2 - 2 UNITED STATES - ALL UA-UA II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - FLT 1 - 9999 ALL - KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE UA-UA II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - FLT 1 - 9999 ALL - SYRIA UA-UA II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - FLT 1 - 9999 KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE - ALL UA-UA II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - FLT 1 - 9999 SYRIA - ALL UA-UA II 1.00 ALL - FLT 7284 - 7323 TRM 1 - 1 UA-UA II .45 TRM 1 - 1 UA-UA II 1.30 TRM 2 - 1 UA-UA II 1.30 TRM 1 - 2 UA-UA II 1.00 TRM 2 - 2 **-UA II SUP ALL - FLT 1 - 9999 ALL - KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE **-UA II SUP ALL - FLT 1 - 9999 ALL - SYRIA **-UA II SUP ALL - FLT 1 - 9999 KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE - ALL **-UA II SUP ALL - FLT 1 - 9999 SYRIA - ALL UA-** II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - ALL ALL - KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE UA-** II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - ALL ALL - SYRIA UA-** II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - ALL KOREA DEM PEOPLES RE - ALL UA-** II SUP FLT 1 - 9999 - ALL SYRIA - ALL **-** II 1.00 TRM 1 - 1 **-** II 1.30 TRM 2 - 1 **-** II 2.10 TRM 3 - 1 **-** II 1.30 TRM 1 - 2 **-** II 1.30 TRM 2 - 2 **-** II 2.10 TRM 3 - 2 **-** II 2.10 TRM 1 - 3 **-** II 2.10 TRM 2 - 3 **-** II 1.40 TRM 3 - 3
I find the Pacific to be easy to get around and for scheduling, there's all sorts of options all the time.
Jun 23, 2018, 6:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: WAS/TYO
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A 1h INTL-INTL connection at NRT should be more than enough time. You just have to go through transfer security (which usually takes no more than 10 minutes) without ever actually entering Japan.
Jun 23, 2018, 7:05 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Op: what class of service and are there upgrades involved?
if you are flying in Y, I wouldn’t worry. If there is a misconnect, UA will get you to your destination somehow.
If if you are in paid C, many attractive alternatives can become available.
if your are on an award or upgraded business, it become more difficult, as you have a good seat to protect. If this is the case, I would be more apt to be proactive.
if you are flying in Y, I wouldn’t worry. If there is a misconnect, UA will get you to your destination somehow.
If if you are in paid C, many attractive alternatives can become available.
if your are on an award or upgraded business, it become more difficult, as you have a good seat to protect. If this is the case, I would be more apt to be proactive.
Jun 23, 2018, 7:28 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2006
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Posts: 2,911
I suppose you're connecting to the "midday" (~5 pm) NRT-GUM flight. There is always the next (last) one which tends to be less crowded that gets you to GUM late at night. And Palau is a daily destination.
Jun 23, 2018, 8:08 pm
#6
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FWIW - not all schedule changes are done on the same day.
So most scheduling issues will be eventually resolved after the schedules are adjusted.
So most scheduling issues will be eventually resolved after the schedules are adjusted.
Jun 23, 2018, 9:39 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 563
I'll keep an eye on it. It is a Y award. Did a little digging and Hipmunk is still showing the old time with the 1h15 cxn. So I guess it lags the UA system. I remember many years back I think I was coming from GUM via NRT back to the mainland US and it's been so long ago that I might be stretching but I do believe when I landed in NRT because we were a bit late there was a guy waiting for me with my name on a board to escort me "fast track" through security to the next flight. Not sure they still do that. And yes, I am on the 5:45 PM NRT-GUM and the next one leaves after 9 pm getting in before 2 AM.
Jun 23, 2018, 11:07 pm
#8
Moderator: United Airlines
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.... the connection in NRT is down to exactly 1h! I suspect this is not a legal connection because neither the UA website nor hipmunk is offering it. I did notice that UA 803 tends to arrive 15-20 min early but that's not the point as UA could well deny us boarding due to the tight published connection. ....
However, as noted MCT is still valid and reasonable for NRT/
Jun 24, 2018, 12:50 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Just connected through NRT a few weeks ago and as others have pointed out there is a transfers area where you just go through security once. Landed around 1 PM Japan time and took me about 5-10 minutes to clear security. The key with NRT is to get a good sense of where your next departure gate is since the international side of NRT is pretty long and there'll be a decent amount of walking! The security standard used in Japan is similar to US (albeit less intimidating!), so you won't be asked to take off shoes or put liquids in clear plastic bags like our neighbours across the Atlantic require us to do. Most importantly, if you're a *A Gold member (i.e. UA Gold, Platinum, 1K, GS or CC) you'll have access to a dedicated security line which should speed things up if there's a queue.
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
Jun 24, 2018, 1:38 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Posts: 2,805
Anything can go wrong of course with your flight into NRT, but I’ve done the NRT to GUM flight a couple of times with an inbound cxn and it’s never taken me much time at all to clear transfer security. I wouldn’t be completely at ease but I wouldn’t sweat it too much either. The alternative is typically a LONG connection at NRT which isn’t great either. Make the most of your your time on Guam... every time I go there I like it a little more.
Jun 24, 2018, 5:09 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
As said before, NRT is really efficient. Furthermore, you end up airside pretty much where UA boards. And given that the flight is in March, I wouldn't worry about connection times until around February.
Jun 24, 2018, 6:33 am
#12
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Posts: 1,058
If time ends up being shorter-than-comfortable at NRT, e.g. you arrive late from IAD, remember that there are security screening areas at both ends of the UA concourse: the more commonly used one by Gate 31, but also another one by Gate 47. If the NRT-GUM gate is in the higher numbers, it might be worth walking toward the security checkpoint by Gate 47 even if you arrive at a mid-30's gate.
Jun 24, 2018, 8:07 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
check alternatives nine months out
Nine months out, I would be looking for ways to optomize my itin, not kvetch about it! Seriously, there are # options not on your wish list which I would explore now:
- the Island Hopper : look for an alternative which gets you on UA 133. 3 transit stops Marshall Islands (worth experiencing). In my case, that meant an overnight in MNL. Another tranist option I considered was FUK;
- free stopover in Palau : Visiting Palau was a delight. Its an enviro paradise, visa is expensive but maybe UA will comp it? Book a private tour, PM me if you want a recommendation?
UA is very flexible when it comes to overnight cnx. Use this to your advantage.
- the Island Hopper : look for an alternative which gets you on UA 133. 3 transit stops Marshall Islands (worth experiencing). In my case, that meant an overnight in MNL. Another tranist option I considered was FUK;
- free stopover in Palau : Visiting Palau was a delight. Its an enviro paradise, visa is expensive but maybe UA will comp it? Book a private tour, PM me if you want a recommendation?
UA is very flexible when it comes to overnight cnx. Use this to your advantage.