Is Tokyo airport reliable?

[Deleted]

As in, if I am coming in from Singapore and only have 50 min to catch my flight back to SFO...is that doable or nuts?

I'm not sure if I clear customs in Singapore or not (guessing I do?)

ETA: This is actually SUPER important, because I'm flying back on the day of my brothers wedding rehersal and he is getting married the next day. I'm pretty sure I will be disowned if my flights get fucked and I don't make it back in time.

Ok, thanks!

[underwaterrhymes]

That's pretty tight. You can look to see how often flights are on time here: www.flightstats.com/go/FlightRating/flightRatingByRoute.do

The only way you'd have to go through customs in a connecting city is if you're connecting in Canada or the States or having a longer layover that has you leaving the airport.

ETA - I think I'm misunderstanding the clearing customs in Singapore piece. Is that the city you're starting in and you're connecting in Tokyo? Or the other way around? Either way, your starting city should be the only one in which you'll need to deal with departure tax, etc. Your connecting city shouldn't involve customs of any time unless you're there for a longer period of time and actually exit the airport. Theoretically fifty minutes would be enough time to get from one end of the airport to the other, but that's presuming the flight takes off and lands on time.

[-Moe-]

I've had nothing but great times at Narita. DH, on the other hand, had issues, especially if it's in the wee hours in the morning, when the shuttles between customs and the gates are closed (at, say, 6am) and they all SWEAR that they're working, but oh no, trust me, they're not running.

I'd try to get a bit more time. Customs is quite quick (the have automated EVERYTHING), but if that happens to you, you're hosed.

Oh and I remember going through this scanner heat thingie through Narita when I was connecting. So there's definitely 1) a line, and 2) some extra hurdle (it may not be customs, I was definitely jetlagged and/or tired from the previous flight)

Also, can't you fly out of HK? I am assuming you're going through Delta or United to go to Tokyo, but man, SINGAPORE AIRLINES, YO! I hear they're the bomb diggity.

[Deleted]

My other option is to connect through Hong Kong.

I'm an Asia travel virgin, I know nothing about anything in terms of best travel tips/tricks. I am so dreading this trip...it will be the longest I've had to be away from my kids (leaving Saturday) and then immediatly into my brothers wedding stuff which means I won't really see them until Sunday (kids aren't invited to the wedding and we have to stay over at the location.)

I am also cramming into 17,000 meetings into this trip so I don't have to go back any time soon. Coupled with having to put together a presentation to senior leadership and I have no idea WTF I'm doing. And haven't really started it (except in my head) b/c of a bunch of other shit going on with work.

I won't go into my list of other FWP, but I haven't felt this anxious in YEARS.

[-Moe-]

Jul 9, 2012 12:34:04 GMT -5 fields said:

My other option is to connect through Hong Kong.

I'm an Asia travel virgin, I know nothing about anything in terms of best travel tips/tricks. I am so dreading this trip...it will be the longest I've had to be away from my kids (leaving Saturday) and then immediatly into my brothers wedding stuff which means I won't really see them until Sunday (kids aren't invited to the wedding and we have to stay over at the location.)

I am also cramming into 17,000 meetings into this trip so I don't have to go back any time soon. Coupled with having to put together a presentation to senior leadership and I have no idea WTF I'm doing. And haven't really started it (except in my head) b/c of a bunch of other shit going on with work.

I won't go into my list of other FWP, but I haven't felt this anxious in YEARS.

read above. if it means singapore airlines, DOOOO EEET! they're like the virgin airlines of asia. seriously. and yeah, traveling through asia = same as traveling through any other continent! there's a line. there's a gate. there's baggage claim. there's people all over. except there's a humbling experience when you realize that you can't.fucking.make.any.intelligent.assumption about the characters, even if you try.

But then again, Singapore is very English friendly so you'll be ok.

[Deleted]

Ok - there is a 5:25 that gives me 2 hours. I was just nervous b/c I'm fucked if that gets cancelled...although there are a lot of other airlines flying to the US around the same time.

This anxiety is brought to you by my last business trip where my flight got cancelled and they didn't have another flight for me until Saturday - this was in OREGON people. And no rental cars that went one way. Anywhere, in town. We had to pay car service to drive from Portland to come get us 2.5 hours away and then bring us back to Portland to catch a flight home that night. I've had bad travel juju lately, so I'm nervous.

[Deleted]

Singapore Air isn't a preferred travel partner - TRUST when I say thats the first airline I tried to get on (and mysteriously our VP is booked on it - I asked for his itinerary b/c we are flying out of the same airport - and then his EA emailed me a day later to say he was checking on United? lol.)

[-Moe-]

Ugh, United SUCKS DONKEY BALLS. Their 767s (or 777, I never remember) are a crapshoot, and many of them (especially from Seattle) are supah old, which is hellish on an 11 hour flight. Delta usually has a better fleet (but again, this is from Seattle). I'd totally choose Delta if I had the choice between Delta and Seattle. (But my knowledge is restricted to the SEA-NRT path)

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 9, 2012 12:28:21 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

That's pretty tight. You can look to see how often flights are on time here: www.flightstats.com/go/FlightRating/flightRatingByRoute.do

The only way you'd have to go through customs in a connecting city is if you're connecting in Canada or the States or having a longer layover that has you leaving the airport.

ETA - I think I'm misunderstanding the clearing customs in Singapore piece. Is that the city you're starting in and you're connecting in Tokyo? Or the other way around? Either way, your starting city should be the only one in which you'll need to deal with departure tax, etc. Your connecting city shouldn't involve customs of any time unless you're there for a longer period of time and actually exit the airport. Theoretically fifty minutes would be enough time to get from one end of the airport to the other, but that's presuming the flight takes off and lands on time.

I have had to clear customs on my connecting flight several times, including both times I went to Ireland. Indy to Philly, customs in Philly, then to Dublin or Shannon.

[frlcb]

Singapore Air is awesome.

But, since you can't fly it, do the longer layover!

[myordinarylife]

Generally you only have to go through customs at your first departure airport and then again when you reach your ultimate destination. I have no personal experience with the airlines in Asia, but your flight should land in one terminal and you should be able to connect with another terminal without having to clear customs again. That said 50 minutes can be a little tight and a busted connection would suck, if you have the option for a longer connection I would take it.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jul 9, 2012 12:49:19 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Jul 9, 2012 12:28:21 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

That's pretty tight. You can look to see how often flights are on time here: www.flightstats.com/go/FlightRating/flightRatingByRoute.do

The only way you'd have to go through customs in a connecting city is if you're connecting in Canada or the States or having a longer layover that has you leaving the airport.

ETA - I think I'm misunderstanding the clearing customs in Singapore piece. Is that the city you're starting in and you're connecting in Tokyo? Or the other way around? Either way, your starting city should be the only one in which you'll need to deal with departure tax, etc. Your connecting city shouldn't involve customs of any time unless you're there for a longer period of time and actually exit the airport. Theoretically fifty minutes would be enough time to get from one end of the airport to the other, but that's presuming the flight takes off and lands on time.

I have had to clear customs on my connecting flight several times, including both times I went to Ireland. Indy to Philly, customs in Philly, then to Dublin or Shannon.

Right but your connecting was in the States.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2012 12:46:17 GMT -5 -Moe- said:

Ugh, United SUCKS DONKEY BALLS. Their 767s (or 777, I never remember) are a crapshoot, and many of them (especially from Seattle) are supah old, which is hellish on an 11 hour flight. Delta usually has a better fleet (but again, this is from Seattle). I'd totally choose Delta if I had the choice between Delta and Seattle. (But my knowledge is restricted to the SEA-NRT path)

Yes. I hate them. They are the reason it took me 10 hours instead of 1.5 hours to get home a couple weeks ago. But I have no other choice :-( The good news is...if I do get stuck, I know my boss will be ok with me getting home however I need to (just a question of there being seats available on other flights.)

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2012 12:55:03 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Jul 9, 2012 12:49:19 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I have had to clear customs on my connecting flight several times, including both times I went to Ireland. Indy to Philly, customs in Philly, then to Dublin or Shannon.

Right but your connecting was in the States.

Yes - Jalapeno, that makes sense if your connection was in the US - you cleared at the airport where your flight departed to Ireland. I'm connecting through a different country to go to another country....hence why I asked

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2012 12:52:20 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Singapore Air is awesome.

But, since you can't fly it, do the longer layover!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii !!!

[underwaterrhymes]

I think there's also some confusion over customs versus immigration.

Customs only happens when you enter into your destination country in both directions (in the States at your first point of entry, which is why if you're connecting in Canada or the US you have to go through Customs before getting on your connecting flight). That's when you declare what you're bringing with you.

Immigration is different. That's when you get your stamp and it happens before Customs.

And departure taxes are also different. When you leave the country you're visiting, you usually have to fill out some forms.

When you were headed out TO Ireland on your flight, Jalapeno, you just probably went through security again so they could check your passport rather than customs since at that point you had nothing to declare. On the way back, you would have gone through both Immigration and Customs in the first entry city into the States.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 9, 2012 13:02:00 GMT -5 fields said:

Jul 9, 2012 12:55:03 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Right but your connecting was in the States.

Yes - Jalapeno, that makes sense if your connection was in the US - you cleared at the airport where your flight departed to Ireland. I'm connecting through a different country to go to another country....hence why I asked

Egads, I am a moron. I blame the cold meds (or I´m just dumb).