Travelling to and in America for Dummies (+ some other questions)

[anat0l]

Soon I will be travelling to the USA. Flights to the USA are BNE-SIN-NRT on SQ, followed by NRT-SFO-LAS on UA. The SQ flights are on one ticket, the UA flights are on another ticket. The entire outbound trip - BNE-SIN-NRT-SFO-LAS - has no stopovers, all transits, and all in Y (except for possibly the UA sectors pending on SWUs). In each case, the size of the transits are:

• in SIN: ~3 hrs
• in NRT: ~10 hrs
• in SFO: ~2 hrs

Here come the questions:

• I'm guessing that 2 hrs in SFO should be more than enough time?
• Would I be able to check my bags all the way to LAS? Star Alliance carriers naturally interline with each other, but in this case the routing is long and the break in NRT is large. So it may be a question of not whether it is possible as to whether I should check the bags all the way to LAS. The problem would be if I don't do this then I would need to claim bags at NRT, which means clear immigration and so on. Also, it may happen that if I have to claim my bags at SFO, well, of course I can't check them all the way to LAS.
• Any ideas for 10 hr transit in NRT? Again, probably would avoid ideas that leave the airport as that requires entering Japan (although that mightn't be a huge bad thing). Plan A was, provisional on checking bags all the way to LAS, head to the lounges and work/sleep etc. Anyone know a good place on NRT airside to sleep/get a nap, perhaps?
• When I arrive in SFO, do I need to clear immigration, claim bags, clear customs and re-check in? That procedure sounds pretty much like the Australian model of international to domestic flights. Or, do I clear immigration but do not need to claim my bags, just get a new BP and re-enter to airside? Or, do I just transit (and then clear immigration at LAS)?

 

[notzac]

[*]When I arrive in SFO, do I need to clear immigration, claim bags, clear customs and re-check in? That procedure sounds pretty much like the Australian model of international to domestic flights. Or, do I clear immigration but do not need to claim my bags, just get a new BP and re-enter to airside? Or, do I just transit (and then clear immigration at LAS)?
[/list]

You'll clear Customs and then whatever immigration there is (usually not much). Once landside, there should be a bag drop - from there it's a short monorail ride to the domestic terminal (and then security etc.) for your flight to LAS.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Would I be able to check my bags all the way to LAS?

That would be up to the outbound carrier SQ as to whether they will or not even if they do have an interline agreement with UA for luggage.

SQ may baulk at checking bags beyond NRT if your 10 hour transit is overnight. Having 4 flight numbers would require two thermal bags tags however it's the same tag number but it just comes in two pieces.

I would try to do a 'dry run' & head out to the SQ counter at BNE intl either a few days before or no later than the day prior and ask them if they can check your bag through to Vegas. Make sure you take itinerary with you giving all the flights details & times. If 24 hours before they may even be able to add these details in then so when you arrive at the airport the next day it's smooth sailing.

When I arrive in SFO, do I need to clear immigration, claim bags, clear customs and re-check in?

You will need to clear customs & immigration in SFO as it's your first port of entry to the USA irrespective of whether your bag is tagged to SFO or LAS however the process is faster if your bag is tagged to LAS.

If your bag is tagged to LAS, once you're done with customs formalities just prior to exiting the main customs hall there is a sign to follow for bags already checked to their final destination so you can take a shortcut direct to the boarding gate after doing the bag drop in the customs area.

If your bag is only tagged to SFO, you need to exit the customs hall altogether & enter the main terminal & proceed to the UA checkin area to bag drop as you would if you were just a domestic pax or had an overnight stop in SFO.

I'm guessing that 2 hrs in SFO should be more than enough time?

The office MCT in SFO for international is 1hr 45 mins so giving yourself a min or 2 hours is good, although I imagine UA would have quite a few flights SFO/LAS should you miss one for whatever reason.

 

[drron]

At the risk of letting the fit hit the shan-anytime access at NRT?
Sorry wrong terminal.However with 10 hours you could go into Narita town.It is an interesting walk up and down the main drag.An important temple there as well.
There have been posts about it in the past but not for some time-I'm sure you can use search better than me!

 

[anat0l]

SQ may baulk at checking bags beyond NRT if your 10 hour transit is overnight.

BNE-SIN and SIN-NRT are on the same calendar day, with SIN-NRT being an overnighter (i.e. arrive NRT "next day"). Then, NRT-SFO is on the same day (10 hrs after SIN-NRT), etc.. So not a 10 hr overnight transit, which makes me think that it might be possible to check it all the way. Whether that's wise or not is another thing.

Wise in the sense that could it increase my chances of the bag being lost..... I suppose the risk is almost the same claiming and rechecking it anyway. Also, if I take on drron's idea of visiting the town of Narita, then they probably wouldn't like my leaving the airport with the bag in the transit area (security purposes).

Having 4 flight numbers would require two thermal bags tags however it's the same tag number but it just comes in two pieces.

Having experienced CBR-SYD-ADL-MEL-AKL and PER-MEL-BNE-SYD-ADL with a checked bag, I know what this is like (although in this case, QF either misconnected my bag or pulled it off at some stage and just RUSH tagged it to my final destination).

The office MCT in SFO for international is 1hr 45 mins so giving yourself a min or 2 hours is good, although I imagine UA would have quite a few flights SFO/LAS should you miss one for whatever reason.

Funny you should say that. UA had some options where the connecting time was 90 minutes, or a little less than that. I thought that was pushing the boundaries; now I find out I've selected an option which was just over the MCT!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The 1.45 hour MCT could be the generic any airline to any airline so UA could well have a 90 minute UA to UA connex. I can't imagine they'd publish flight schedules that failed to meet the MCT criteria. :shock:

However, it's always easier having a later flight booked & being moved to an earlier one versus missing your tight connection & being at the mercy of the airline.

 

[Gold Member]

The entire outbound trip - BNE-SIN-NRT-SFO-LAS - has no stopovers, all transits, and all in Y (except for possibly the UA sectors pending on SWUs). In each case, the size of the transits are:

• in SIN: ~3 hrs
• in NRT: ~10 hrs
• in SFO: ~2 hrs

OMG, Anat0l, are you really into self harm that much? What about one of these cool hotel in Japan that offer a bed within a tiny confined space? Sort of like the bed on the space ship out of The Fifth Element - you can be Ruby Rod or Corbin Dallas!

 

[futaris]

There are dayrooms inside Narita Airport:

Airport Guide : Dayrooms & Showers | NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OFFICIAL WEBSITE

 

[wandering_fred]

Ten hours in NRT is more than enough time to go exploring in the town. The trip up to the temple is a quite enjoyable walk if the weather is good. And there is a Maccers in town if you are really desperate :mrgreen:. A source of coffee if nothing else.

The trains run quite regularly and are not expensive.

Enjoy some wandering

Fred

 

[SeaWolf]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you using such a crazy routing? This has to be a mileage run, right? It couldn't possibly have been cheapest.

 

[anat0l]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you using such a crazy routing? This has to be a mileage run, right? It couldn't possibly have been cheapest.

I need to fly to the US for two weeks, then Japan for two weeks, in that order. There was no time in between going to the US and going to Japan to return home, then fly straight back out again.

Basically three options for flying to get to where I need to go:

1. Fly Australia to US, 2 weeks there, fly on to Japan, 2 weeks there, then fly back Japan - US - Australia (i.e. back the way I came)
2. The reverse of the option above, i.e. Australia to Japan and straight onto US, 2 weeks in US, then return leg back to Japan, 2 weeks in Japan, then fly back home to Australia.
3. Circle Pacific

Of all the options presented, the Circle Pacific was the most expensive, albeit the most convenient. That leaves the first two options, which ended up being similarly priced. So I chose the second option - this is good as it allows me more time to visit Japan (vs. I would have to leave 2 days at the end of the itinerary to get home if I had to return via the US).

 

[Bundy Bear]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you using such a crazy routing? This has to be a mileage run, right? It couldn't possibly have been cheapest.

And that is only half of it, how about the rest LAS-BOS-BUF-NYC-FRA-IAH-PHX-PAE/SEA-NRT-SIN-BNE :shock:

Soon I will be travelling to the USA. Flights to the USA are BNE-SIN-NRT on SQ, followed by NRT-SFO-LAS on UA. The SQ flights are on one ticket, the UA flights are on another ticket. The entire outbound trip - BNE-SIN-NRT-SFO-LAS - has no stopovers, all transits, and all in Y (except for possibly the UA sectors pending on SWUs). In each case, the size of the transits are:

• in SIN: ~3 hrs
• in NRT: ~10 hrs
• in SFO: ~2 hrs

Here come the questions:

• Would I be able to check my bags all the way to LAS? Star Alliance carriers naturally interline with each other, but in this case the routing is long and the break in NRT is large. So it may be a question of not whether it is possible as to whether I should check the bags all the way to LAS. The problem would be if I don't do this then I would need to claim bags at NRT, which means clear immigration and so on. Also, it may happen that if I have to claim my bags at SFO, well, of course I can't check them all the way to LAS.

With 10 hours I would be reclaiming the bags in Narita; that way less chance of them going astray, You need to reclaim your bags at your first entry point into the USA, even if you are only transiting.

I guess you haven't heard the message on the LAX PA system; you must collect your baggage there are no exceptions.

• Any ideas for 10 hr transit in NRT? Again, probably would avoid ideas that leave the airport as that requires entering Japan (although that mightn't be a huge bad thing). Plan A was, provisional on checking bags all the way to LAS, head to the lounges and work/sleep etc. Anyone know a good place on NRT airside to sleep/get a nap, perhaps

I would get a day room for a few hours; even just for a shower and a place to store the bags for a few hours; you can go into Narita to have a quick look around, 10 hours is a long time at any airport.

• When I arrive in SFO, do I need to clear immigration, claim bags, clear customs and re-check in? That procedure sounds pretty much like the Australian model of international to domestic flights. Or, do I clear immigration but do not need to claim my bags, just get a new BP and re-enter to airside? Or, do I just transit (and then clear immigration at LAS)?

No you only clear immigration in SFO; US domestic flights are like Australia although outbound is slightly different.

Going the NRT option your bags will have the tags to LAS and both boarding passes.

You have a lot to learn.

 

[PineappleSkip]

i wouldn't check the bags right thru. I've usually lost them because the tags have come off. The more sectors the bigger the chance of that.

And the idea of 10 hours at NRT with only maccas coffee to console me gives me the horrors. Surely Japan has more to offer than that. Unless you want a reminder that there are worse things than airline food.

Cheers skip