Is it crazy to consider onward flight from Tokyo same day as arrival?
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I’ll be flying into Tokyo on a BA 241. As I’m flying out of Tokyo too, I’d rather do my Tokyo stay at the end. On arrival, as I will already be at the airport a quick hop on to Hiroshima would be good. Is same day too risky? Arrival at 10.35am, onward flight 11.55,1.15,2.40 etc (JAL and ANA) Seems to be plenty of flights at present. Just wondering how hard it might be to change flights if there’s a delay getting to Tokyo…I’m assuming there’s no way to connect my BA flight with an onward JAL flight either…
You can’t connect a 241 booking to JAL or ANA.
You’ll need to clear immigration&customs in Tokyo anyway even if on one ticket, so it makes no difference. With hand luggage I did it once last year in an hour and a half (with ANA international to JAL domestic). I wouldn’t trust BA to arrive on time, so I’d leave much longer.
Make sure to fill in arrival card and customs clearance online and generate QR codes and it’s all
pretty quick.It’s not hard to change JAL flights, just need to purchase the Flex fare (slightly more expensive when booked in advance). These tickets can be changed up to 20 minutes before departure.
@NorthernLass, that’s what I assumed. Would have been nice though lol.
@meta I will be hand luggage only, planning on buying a suitcase at the end of the trip to fill up with goodies for flight home..so you reckon we’d be through immigration etc by 12 so an onward flight at 1 or 2 might work? I guess worst case scenario if no flights available if we are delayed there’s always the train lolResponse deleted (I typed too slowly and see my advice has already been covered, in part, by another poster and OP is travelling hand baggage only, so post is not necessary/relevant)
If something goes wrong (such as a late arrival or a delay at passports), your insurance will probably not cover the costs from missing a short connection.
I have done a 4-hour connection at Singapore (probably the world’s most efficient airport, and no requirement to go through passport control when in transit) – but I was nervous, and probably wouldn’t do it again.Recently done that, but on same ticket:
– BA5 was delayed by 1hr. That was enough to make us miss our connection. JAL rebooked us so it wasn’t much of an issue (they were very accommodating moving you to any flight that worked)
– If you are on separate tickets that may be more complicated so I would take into account the BA flights seem to ALWAYS have delays on that route (1-2hrs)
– You need to clear customs, pick your luggage (this is quick given you queue at the border for a little while) and then take a bus to a different terminal
– The good thing is checking (even with luggage) is VERY quick at the domestic terminal. You can drop your luggage, pass security and be on your plane in less than 30 minBest option is to maybe have a ticket you can move on the day or give yourself plenty of time or take the train (check the prices on Google Maps … may be slower but more flexible and you can buy the ticket as you land).
Remember domestic lounges are nothing to write home about (just some seating, coffee/tea/beer and crackers).
Thanks for the responses, yes I’m a bit concerned BA5 could be delayed 🙁 Looked at the flexible price on JAL, costs more than 2 economy flights so not much point. I’d probably just have to have fingers crossed and then buy new flight while sitting at LHR if delayed.. The 2.40 flight is looking like a possibility, that gives me 4 1/4 hours hand luggage only…
@yonasl was it a cash booking on one ticket? Just had a look an BA books on to the 11.55 flight for my dates…don’t think I’d chance that short a transfer lol
I think you’ll be fine with 2:40pm flight and hbo only. Just fill everything online. It’s a quick scan of the customs code on the machine and they won’t check anything. Amex Platinum will pay up for missed connection if you book a ticket corresponding to MCT. They have done this for me several times.
Regarding new tickets, same-day tickets are very expensive on JAL/ANA.
Also look at prices on Japanese site, not on foreign sites and use Google Translate if language is a problem.
@meta did notice same day flights are expensive. If I book at LHR if delayed, it’ll be next day flight so maybe not quite so bad lol.
Unfortunately don’t have Amex platinum anymore. But thanks for tips on checking Japanese site & online paperwork…If you are happy with an inflexible ticket, note that as a foreign visitor with a return ticket you can book “Explorer Pass” fares.
Tokyo to Hiroshima is £60 one way, with seating allocated by JAL.
Thanks @Alex G, just trying to weigh up whether to book non refundable flight in advance and hope for best or wait until I arrive and maybe just jump on the next bullet train. Might end up being just as quick with train as no hanging about the airport and worrying about delays etc
Thanks @AlexG, I did see this £60 fare, good price. Just trying to weigh up if I want to take the chance of a delayed flight and missing my connection or just waiting until I arrive and getting an unreserved seat on the bullet train..will probably end up in Hiroshima at same time regardless lol
If you are happy with an inflexible ticket, note that as a foreign visitor with a return ticket you can book “Explorer Pass” fares.
Tokyo to Hiroshima is £60 one way, with seating allocated by JAL.
Quickest/easiest (non flying) option would probs be to taxi it to Shinagawa station and then Shinkansen it from there. Should be doable in about 5 hours. Recently back to Tokyo from Hiroshima, the Peace memorial park and museum is very poignant. Miyajima Island was very busy but it was a Saturday we were there.
You’ll need to clear immigration&customs in Tokyo anyway even if on one ticket, so it makes no difference. With hand luggage I did it once last year in an hour and a half (with ANA international to JAL domestic). I wouldn’t trust BA to arrive on time, so I’d leave much longer.
Make sure to fill in arrival card and customs clearance online and generate QR codes and it’s all
pretty quick.It’s not hard to change JAL flights, just need to purchase the Flex fare (slightly more expensive when booked in advance). These tickets can be changed up to 20 minutes before departure.
Thanks for this. I was unaware. Not been to Japan since 2019.
For anyone else who is not aware, record all your details at:-
https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
You can complete the forms well in advance (I’m not going for another 5 weeks)
Easiest to do on your phone, as you need to take a picture of your passport.
Also provides a QR code that you can use in place of your passport (at certain stores) when buying Duty Free.
My BA5 flight was delayed by almost 2 hours, from what I could understand the parking block was put in too far and got stuck. They ended up jacking up the whole plane (with people and luggage) to get the block moved.
@Tracy if not travelling at peak periods, you may even get a reserved seat. Have you been before? If you have an IC card, you can register details and book all shinkansen tickets via Smart Ex website.
@yonasl was it a cash booking on one ticket? Just had a look an BA books on to the 11.55 flight for my dates…don’t think I’d chance that short a transfer lol
Cash booking and one ticket.
During the flight we were told we had been rebooked into a later flight. When we landed we went to the JAL desk and managed to get into a an earlier one.
It all worked very well but BA never provided much information. SO basically you land and have no paper ticket for your next flight, are not told which terminal to go to or where to get your new tickets, etc.
@meta, never been before so trying to prepare as much in advance as I can…it’ll be the 7th March next year so maybe start of busier time but not spring lol. Just want to get my itinerary sorted so I can get hotels reserved. Will be using points mainly so want to make sure I get them early.
@yonasl, would be great if we could add a JAL hop to the end of a BA 241 then I wouldn’t worry as much about a delay.
@AFKAE, looking forward to Hiroshima a lot. We will be staying over the weekend until the Tuesday so will schedule Miyajima on the Monday, thanks for the heads up.7th March is still good. It’s when you get to 20-25th March that things get busier.
Fairly certain on beginning of March you can easily land and take the train with no problem.
JAL also sometimes runs domestic offers on their Japanese website (you can see it in English). If anyone knows how one can know when they run I would love to learn that!
I agree with booking the hotels sooner rather than later.
@Tracy we just stayed at Ana crown plaza Hiroshima, the hotel is in need of an update. It’s clean, room size ok. The location is excellent for memorial park and taking the ferry to Miyajima. The points rate was 18k IHG points🤯. It was popular with tour groups, the saturday night was fully booked.Trains I booked with klook, you can do it via cashback website. @Meta told me I should be fine not to pre book, but I am here during peak bloom season so I chickened out and pre booked just before leaving the uk.
Fairly certain on beginning of March you can easily land and take the train with no problem.
JAL also sometimes runs domestic offers on their Japanese website (you can see it in English). If anyone knows how one can know when they run I would love to learn that!
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@Reney They are more expensive via Klook I think.
You can download Pasmo card before leaving and buy shinkasen tickets via Smart Ex.
Having seen the zoo of sakura season three weeks ago, I would advise people to pre-book shinkanesen tickets at peak periods. That is 20 March-15 April and all of November.
For anyone going to Kyoto, I would advise waking up early to see the sights, but not go to the sights right at the opening, but slightly after, maybe 15-20 minutes later after all instagrammers are done.
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