Tokyo (Narita) - Tokyo (Haneda) Stopover

[Tueso]

Hi Everyone,

I booked a flight from Brisbane - Reykjavik and didn't closely read into the stop-overs when I purchased the ticket with my frequent flyer points.
My flight schedule is:
Brisbane - Tokyo (Narita)
10:30-18:45 (Sunday)

Tokyo (Haneda) - Helsinki
21:50 - 04:40 (Sunday - Monday)

My concern is the changeover time for me to get from Narita - Haneda, I will only have carry on luggage so this could save me.

I have found a Airport limousine which can transfer to Haneda from 19:30 - 20:55, but I am just wondering how immigration will be, and if this will be enough time to make it through Haneda customs.

I have spoken to my airline and they confirmed the baggage will be continuing on a shuttle but they are not providing me a shuttle, will I make this flight? they confirmed if I do not make it in time they will sort me out.

I am unable to change the flight also.

 

[justinbrett]

I went through NRT arrivals a few weeks ago at a very similar time, allow at least an hour.

There is a published MCT between NRT and HND and it’s 3:30, which you do not meet. If this is booked in a single PNR I would call and get a different option.

 

[Himeno]

Provided the flight from Brisbane is on time, you shouldn't have any problems.
That time is quite light on T2 arrivals into Narita, only a handful of short haul narrow bodies.

I assume you are going from QF61 to AY62?
You'll need to enter Japan and collect any baggage at Narita and go to the bus to Haneda, then exit Japan at Haneda T3. If they check you through at Brisbane, it will save you a step at Haneda. (make sure you have filled in the visit japan web online form and have the QR code available before departing Brisbane. Will save you more time at Narita)

There are train options between the airports, but the bus is the best choice.
The bus is scheduled to take ~90 minutes, but is often faster. The driver monitors traffic conditions and changes the route as needed to avoid any major traffic delays.

If anything, the biggest delay you might have is security at Haneda.

I've done this transfer before, in the other direction during morning peak. It took about 2 hours from exiting aircraft at Haneda to arriving at departing at gate at Narita.

There is also JL47 Haneda-Helsinki, but would require an overnight in Tokyo (departs 0825) and AY74 Narita-Helsinki, one of the last flights out of Narita before the curfew (departs 2305), but doesn't operate on Sundays.

 

[encryptededdy]

Make sure you fill out Visit Japan Web beforehand to avoid any delays.

 

[justinbrett]

Provided the flight from Brisbane is on time, you shouldn't have any problems.
That time is quite light on T2 arrivals into Narita, only a handful of short haul narrow bodies.

I assume you are going from QF61 to AY62?
You'll need to enter Japan and collect any baggage at Narita and go to the bus to Haneda, then exit Japan at Haneda T3. If they check you through at Brisbane, it will save you a step at Haneda. (make sure you have filled in the visit japan web online form and have the QR code available before departing Brisbane. Will save you more time at Narita)

There are train options between the airports, but the bus is the best choice.
The bus is scheduled to take ~90 minutes, but is often faster. The driver monitors traffic conditions and changes the route as needed to avoid any major traffic delays.

If anything, the biggest delay you might have is security at Haneda.

I've done this transfer before, in the other direction during morning peak. It took about 2 hours from exiting aircraft at Haneda to arriving at departing at gate at Narita.

There is also JL47 Haneda-Helsinki, but would require an overnight in Tokyo (departs 0825) and AY74 Narita-Helsinki, one of the last flights out of Narita before the curfew (departs 2305), but doesn't operate on Sundays.

I was on JL942 a few weeks ago and landed around the same time as both QF flights - in fact I was amongst Aussies in the immigration queue I’m sure the official would have assumed I arrived from Australia directly if he didn’t check.

It still took about an hour from landing to clearing customs. I did have checked bags but by the time I got through immigration I didn’t have to wait for bags. Maybe there were other flights delayed which made the queue longer than normal.

Make sure you fill out Visit Japan Web beforehand to avoid any delays.

Yeah that burnt me a little, at no point during check in or on the flight did JAL tell me to do this, I guess they assumed I knew. I had time to fill out the handwritten forms whilst waiting in the queue so didn’t slow me down, but was slightly annoying.

 

[Himeno]

I was on JL942 a few weeks ago and landed around the same time as both QF flights - in fact I was amongst Aussies in the immigration queue I’m sure the official would have assumed I arrived from Australia directly if he didn’t check.

It still took about an hour from landing to clearing customs. I did have checked bags but by the time I got through immigration I didn’t have to wait for bags. Maybe there were other flights delayed which made the queue longer than normal.

The peak time for NRT T2 arrivals is about 1-3 hours before the QF flights arrive with CX, EK and lots of US flights.
In the 60 mins before the QF BNE flight is due, there is a HK Express, Tigerair Taiwan and Cebu Pacific, with a QR and CI flight due in just before the QF MEL flight.
JL942 is due 35 mins after QF79. In your case, either both the QF flights were 30-60 mins late or JL942 was quite early.

If everything is on time, QF61 shouldn't have many issues at immigration, unless the US and EK flight processing has been slow.
QF79 might get stuck in the QR arrivals.

The only time I've spent more then 30 minutes going through arrivals procedures at NRT has been when they were rolling out changes at immigration (like when Japan started the US VISIT style fingerprint/photo thing).

 

[Himeno]

Yeah that burnt me a little, at no point during check in or on the flight did JAL tell me to do this, I guess they assumed I knew. I had time to fill out the handwritten forms whilst waiting in the queue so didn’t slow me down, but was slightly annoying.

They've had Visit Japan Web in some form since 2021 as a way to submit covid related documents before arrival. It has since transitioned to a replacement for the arrivals card, to the point that many airlines have stopped handing the cards out to be filled in, although they are still available and Visit Japan Web isn't required (it is the arrivals card or VJW).

There is a note about Visit Japan Web in Timatic, so the airline should ask about it at check in when they check your passport and any visa requirements against the database. If flying on Qantas, they mention it in their pre departure checklist that they email/txt out around 3 days before departure.

 

[Cynicor]

How was this flight booked? You have no protection so “should be fine” isn’t a great option.
As FF points I’m guessing seperate tickets.
Are you certain you’ll even be through-checked?
I’d be considering my options for changing, even though it’s probably ok.

For reference, I’ve never spent an hour inside Narita trying to get out, but you still need to buy your ticket on the airport limousine and fine the right place. They don’t wait for anyone

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How was this flight booked? You have no protection so “should be fine” isn’t a great option.
As FF points I’m guessing seperate tickets.
Are you certain you’ll even be through-checked?
I’d be considering my options for changing, even though it’s probably ok.

For reference, I’ve never spent an hour inside Narita trying to get out, but you still need to buy your ticket on the airport limousine and fine the right place. They don’t wait for anyone

No reason for it to be separate tickets just because it’s FF points. Perfectly possible to have a transit in TYO on a single award ticket.

Just picking up on a comment by the OP… which they are travelling with hand luggage only, it is concerning that any airline says ‘bags will continue on a shuttle’. They need to be collected by the passenger and transported by the passenger between the airports. No airline I know does the bag transfer automatically.

 

[Cynicor]

No reason for it to be separate tickets just because it’s FF points. Perfectly possible to have a transit in TYO on a single award ticket.

It doesn’t meet MCT though

 

[Matt_01]

@Himeno around 4 weeks ago QF were still handing out arrivals cards on QF25. I am heading back next week with JL so maybe I will try the website. @Tueso I have transferred NRT-HND and vice versa, for me I would prefer 4 hours+ when on the same PNR, if they are seperate PNRs I would allow more time or even overnight if required as you do not have the same level of protection when on seperate PNRs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It doesn’t meet MCT though

True! But i’m wondering if there has been a schedule change somewhere?

 

[Himeno]

@Himeno around 4 weeks ago QF were still handing out arrivals cards on QF25. I am heading back next week with JL so maybe I will try the website.

All of my flights to Japan since the AU borders reopened (CX, QF and JL) haven't had any cards handed out and asked at check in if I'd filled in the online form.

 

[serfty]

True! But i’m wondering if there has been a schedule change somewhere?

If it is a single booking with a schedule change then it incumbent on the booking entity/airline to address the MCT failure before travel.

 

[Matt_01]

All of my flights to Japan since the AU borders reopened (CX, QF and JL) haven't had any cards handed out and asked at check in if I'd filled in the online form.

Do you fly direct from the eastern states. For the flight I mentioned it was a single ticket ADL-xSYD-HIJ. There were no questions asked at ADL checkin.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it is a single booking with a schedule change then it incumbent on the booking entity/airline to address the MCT failure before travel.

Exactly! As suggested by justinbrett in post #2

 

[Himeno]

Do you fly direct from the eastern states. For the flight I mentioned it was a single ticket ADL-xSYD-HIJ. There were no questions asked at ADL checkin.

CBR-NRT via MEL/HKG
CPH-HND via LHR/SIN
CBR-HND via SYD

 

[justinbrett]

The peak time for NRT T2 arrivals is about 1-3 hours before the QF flights arrive with CX, EK and lots of US flights.
In the 60 mins before the QF BNE flight is due, there is a HK Express, Tigerair Taiwan and Cebu Pacific, with a QR and CI flight due in just before the QF MEL flight.
JL942 is due 35 mins after QF79. In your case, either both the QF flights were 30-60 mins late or JL942 was quite early.

If everything is on time, QF61 shouldn't have many issues at immigration, unless the US and EK flight processing has been slow.
QF79 might get stuck in the QR arrivals.

The only time I've spent more then 30 minutes going through arrivals procedures at NRT has been when they were rolling out changes at immigration (like when Japan started the US VISIT style fingerprint/photo thing).

We were a bit early, and it was a Sunday which I’m guessing is a busy day. Our flight was full. But that’s the thing, who’s to say the same won’t happen to OP.

 

[drron]

We have had 5 arrivals into Japan on JAL in the last 8 months and we have always been given arrival cards.

 

[frodo]

3 arrivals on JL for me this year and been handed out arrival cards.

I actually don't bother to fill in the online form now as it's more time consuming than filling in the physical card and doesn't even save any time at immigration.