QF RTW - Flight change (HND to NRT)

[aidan059]

I have a RTW ticket booked for 2 Pax incl. myself for June 2022. I have just checked bookings and have seen that the last leg from HEL-HND-SYD has been changed. Instead of Finnair from HEL-HND, they have moved both myself and partner to HEL-NRT whilst the HND-SYD (JAL) leg stays the same with a 4 hour transit. Surely they cannot expect me to transfer airports or think that this schedule change is a 1 for 1 transfer. Do I have any leg to stand on considering they are non-QF flights and the change is probably as a result of increase in flight times for Finnair flying around Russia? I.e can I demand QF release some inventory out of LHR instead on QF metal?

 

[ronlon]

Hi, not good. Your other issue apart from the time to get from Narita to Haneda is that Japan are not allowing tourists at the moment so unless there is some sort of transfer between the airports in which you don't enter the country I would be getting on the phone to Qantas or look for alternatives routes on-line.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So your options here are to (a) find alternative award availability that can get you to HND so your transfer stays within the same airport (this is *not* an obligation on Qantas to fix), (b) get a full refund, (c) wait for a few weeks to see how/if Japan opens to tourists… two months is a long period in covid times.

The minimum connecting time HND-NRT is three hours. I have had three hour connections and you make it with about an hour to spare. The transfer is streamlined and very simple.

 

[Isaac]

So your options here are to (a) find alternative award availability that can get you to HND so your transfer stays within the same airport (this is *not* an obligation on Qantas to fix), (b) get a full refund, (c) wait for a few weeks to see how/if Japan opens to tourists… two months is a long period in covid times.

The minimum connecting time HND-NRT is three hours. I have had three hour connections and you make it with about an hour to spare. The transfer is streamlined and very simple.

I have the same problem for a oneworld award booked for my partner and I in December and our connection time is 3h 5m. Ive read that the buses only run every 45 mins later in the day and we dont arrive until 8pm. Did you catch a bus or train between the two airports? We will be connecting from QF to AY so im assuming we'll have to collect our bags in that time too?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

From my looks on google, there is also the airport shuttle bus, that runs 24 hours, between HND and NRT, apart from the limo bus which does stop at 21.05 or so.
I would not get the train, as you have to use the monorail, from HND to Shinagawa, and then the NRT exp rest of the way.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have the same problem for a oneworld award booked for my partner and I in December and our connection time is 3h 5m. Ive read that the buses only run every 45 mins later in the day and we dont arrive until 8pm. Did you catch a bus or train between the two airports? We will be connecting from QF to AY so im assuming we'll have to collect our bags in that time too?

Bus. The 45 minute intervals might be a covid thing, they used to run more frequently than that when the demand was there during normal pre-covid operations.

You’ll have to collect your bags, but Tokyo is pretty quick, If the system allows you to book the connection with three hours then you should go for it. You would be protected if your inbound is late.

All up the couple of times i have done it it takes 30 mins to pass immigration and collect your bags. 15 mins for getting to the bus and buying a ticket. An hour for the journey - max. 15 mins for check in at the other airport, and 10 mins to get through security.

Leaves you just under an hour. And certainly a small bit of padding if any of the steps takes longer.

Both times I still had time to go into the lounge and grab a coffee or drink.

 

[ozflier]

Just thinking laterally here - if the new itinerary has been ticketed , then the HEL-NRT-HND-Australia is legal .
The airlines involved are obliged to make it work for you!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Can you maybe look at re-routing NRT-MEL-SYD if available? You could get QF to ask JL to release seats given the involuntary change.

 

[Batterytraveller]

I would not get the train, as you have to use the monorail, from HND to Shinagawa, and then the NRT exp rest of the way.

There is a direct train run by the Tokyu and Keisei lines. 1 seat all the way and it costs 1709¥ Which is much less than the bus. Plus you can load a suica card onto your phone so you don’t even need to stop to get a ticket.

Very convenient, but it’s a shame that the borders are closed.

 

[Franky]

There is a direct train run by the Tokyu and Keisei lines. 1 seat all the way and it costs 1709¥ Which is much less than the bus. Plus you can load a suica card onto your phone so you don’t even need to stop to get a ticket.

Very convenient, but it’s a shame that the borders are closed.

Checking with your option on the Rome2Rio app, it doesnt appear as a direct trip...

 

[offshore171]

Checking with your option on the Rome2Rio app, it doesnt appear as a direct trip...

Narita Airport

Visitor guide for Narita International Airport, the international airport of Tokyo.

www.japan-guide.com

Keisei/Keikyu Narita-Haneda Limited Express​

About 1300 yen, 60 minutes to central Tokyo
Departures every 40 minutes
Trains named "Access Express" or "Airport Kaitoku" directly connect Narita Airport to Tokyo's other airport, Haneda Airport via the Narita Sky Access Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Keikyu Airport Line. Along the way they stop several times in central Tokyo, including Asakusa, Ginza and Shinagawa.

 

[offshore171]

In saying that, I would do everything in my power to avoid the need to do the airport transfer!

 

[Franky]

In saying that, I would do everything in my power to avoid the need to do the airport transfer!

Indeed, we were facing that connection, along with a 12 hour layover as part of a booking PER-DFW. Happily we found a better option.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Narita Airport

Visitor guide for Narita International Airport, the international airport of Tokyo.

www.japan-guide.com

Keisei/Keikyu Narita-Haneda Limited Express​

About 1300 yen, 60 minutes to central Tokyo
Departures every 40 minutes
Trains named "Access Express" or "Airport Kaitoku" directly connect Narita Airport to Tokyo's other airport, Haneda Airport via the Narita Sky Access Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Keikyu Airport Line. Along the way they stop several times in central Tokyo, including Asakusa, Ginza and Shinagawa.

It was more frequent in the before times, every 20 minutes IIRC, but a lot of the private railway companies reduced frequency in the pandemic.

Also google maps seems to show a change of trains which is slightly quicker, and more expensive but also inconvenient. I assume this is where rome2rio is pulling from.

NAVITIME is the way to go for Japanese domestic route planning. Google maps seems to assume crowd free stations where you can sprint between trains.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There is a direct train run by the Tokyu and Keisei lines. 1 seat all the way and it costs 1709¥ Which is much less than the bus. Plus you can load a suica card onto your phone so you don’t even need to stop to get a ticket.

Very convenient, but it’s a shame that the borders are closed.

See, the train would take you half way into Tokyo city, and then downwards to HND, or if going the other way, going up half way to Tokyo city, to get the train to NRT.
There is no direct train as such.
There is an undersea free way, that goes under Tokyo bay, but no train tracks.
At this point, Japan as others have said, is not really open yet, and we will all need to get visas prior to arrival, if you look at the Japan High Comm website.
Not sure about transit, or people on transit, and whether you will need a visa if you are just transitting, under the current Japan govt rules.
Not sure too if the airlines would even help you in the case of the current situation.
All the best of luck anyway, maybe the Japanese govt will open Japan by July, but who knows, except them, of course.

 

[Batterytraveller]

See, the train would take you half way into Tokyo city, and then downwards to HND, or if going the other way, going up half way to Tokyo city, to get the train to NRT.
There is no direct train as such.
There is an undersea free way, that goes under Tokyo bay, but no train tracks.
At this point, Japan as others have said, is not really open yet, and we will all need to get visas prior to arrival, if you look at the Japan High Comm website.
Not sure about transit, or people on transit, and whether you will need a visa if you are just transitting, under the current Japan govt rules.
Not sure too if the airlines would even help you in the case of the current situation.
All the best of luck anyway, maybe the Japanese govt will open Japan by July, but who knows, except them, of course.

It’s a direct train, I’ve ridden it many times. It’s crosses the tracks of several railways but it’s one train, no transfers.

 

[Quickstatus]

direct train

There are direct trains but limited number. Most will require a transfer.

Bus is direct.

As the sectors are on one ticket, your are protected in so far as the airline is responsible in the event of delays. I would not bother changing this - apart from maybe making JPN as a stopover

Can use this for assistance. There are others.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Oo, didn't know about the direct trains between the 2!

 

[DC3]

As posted above, tourists are not currently permitted to enter Japan. Therefore, it is still not possible to travel HND-NRT, or vv, as travellers would need to go landslide, in order to do this.

The government in Japan has not indicated when this may change.

 

[sudoer]

I'd be looking to shift onto JL NRT-SIN (which usually has seats) and then ask Qantas to open space on SIN-SYD.

The government in Japan has not indicated when this may change.

Media in Japan are reporting it's unlikely to change until after the election in July, the polls suggest most Japanese are not so keen on opening the borders..