Mulit-City Airline Tickets Bag Checking?
Jul 1st, 2010, 04:47 PM
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Mulit-City Airline Tickets Bag Checking?
I want to have a long 'layover' in Tokyo for a day to see a quick view of the city on my way back to the states. I have been looking at tickets, and it seems to be easier to book a multi-city ticket (and cheaper for some reason) to get a long 'layover' time in Tokyo. So here is my question. If I fly in and out of Tokyo on the same day; but on a multi-city ticket; is there a way a won't have to claim by luggage and recheck it in Tokyo. Can I have it checked all the way to the states? And if so, how do I go about this?
Jul 1st, 2010, 05:22 PM
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I don't know that I fully understand your question. Have you booked more than one set of tickets? Or did you just use the "Multi-city" option on a booking site to force a longer layover in Tokyo?
If you have one set of tickets, there should be no problem at all. You just make sure when you check in for your flight that that your bags are tagged for your final US destination.
If you have two separate sets of tickets, your bags can often be checked all the way through by simply requesting it at check-in and showing all of the tickets. If your flights are on one airline, there will be no problem. If you are switching airlines, some airlines may choose not to check your luggage all the way through, though I have never encountered this.
If you have one set of tickets, there should be no problem at all. You just make sure when you check in for your flight that that your bags are tagged for your final US destination.
If you have two separate sets of tickets, your bags can often be checked all the way through by simply requesting it at check-in and showing all of the tickets. If your flights are on one airline, there will be no problem. If you are switching airlines, some airlines may choose not to check your luggage all the way through, though I have never encountered this.
Jul 1st, 2010, 06:09 PM
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Thanks. For the response. I am going to buy a 'multi-city' ticket and will probably be on two different airlines. The ticket that I am looking at has me flying ANA (all Nippon Airlines) from Seoul to Tokyo. And then flying out on my second part of the ticket on United Airlines from Tokyo to SanFran. I hope I can just have them checked all the way through. If this is not possible, can you check you bags into storage at the airport for the day somewhere??
Jul 1st, 2010, 06:22 PM
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If I understand you correctly, you will purchase a ticket to fly to Tokyo on ANA, and another ticket on United from Tokyo to the US. These flights will occur on the same day, but several hours apart.
With one caveat below, you should have no issue with checking your bags all the way through to the US from wherever you are originating in Asia. Virtually all airlines have <i>baggage transfer</i> agreements. Don’t confuse airline alliance programs or code sharing arrangements, where airlines share equipment and routes with certain airlines, with baggage transfer agreements in which they agree to transfer passenger’s baggage between them for free. (The only airlines which to my knowledge may not have this agreement is British Air for some UK transfers, and certain airlines within in India. In 20 years of connecting internationally in Asia, I have never had an issue with baggage transfer.).
If you are flying different airlines, you will not be able to get a boarding pass for the Tokyo-US portion of the flight from your originating airline, so when you land in Tokyo, the first thing you have to do is go the transit area and get a boarding pass for your onward flight. (There can sometimes be lines for this, but usually moves quickly.) Then you would proceed out to Immigration to go into Tokyo. You also have to go back through Immigration when you return, so build in time for this for your layover.
Most airlines only consider you to be “in transit” if your connecting flight is within 12-18 hours or so of your arriving flight. So if you have more time than that between flights, your baggage may not be transferred. The amount of time permitted between flights depends on the airlines, the airport and the fact that you are flying TO the US, where rules are often different and cut off times are often shorter. So check with the airlines and the website for the Tokyo airport.
In any event, there are coin operated lockers and a manned luggage room at the airport, see http://www.narita-airport.jp/en, click on “Airport Guide” and then “Facilities & Services”. You may want to store hand luggage there.
I also would just mention that trying to “see” Tokyo on a layover may not be ideal. First of all, it is over an hour each way by train to Tokyo. Secondly, there is not a whole lot to “see” in Tokyo other than just the city streets themselves, which may not be a whole lot of fun. There are a few museums (not sure you have time for them, will they be open on your one day, etc), the fish market (only good in the very early morning hours, so probably you will be too late for that) and the Asakusa area and the Sensoji temple, which again you may not have time for. It does have some temple complexes but it really does not offer a whole lot in terms of cultural sights at least IMO. (Frommers #1 site recco is the fish market, that may tell you something.) Third, it’s a rather expensive city. Fourth, while the subway system is quite good (you don’t want to take taxis if you can avoid it because of the cost), it can be quite confusing to figure out, and I am not sure it is worth it for such a short trip. (I am not sure it is worth figuring out the train to the city from the airport for such a short trip.) I personally would not arrange a whole trip just to try to have 5-6 hours in Tokyo. You really won’t see the city at all. I would try to spend a few days in the city or skip it.
With one caveat below, you should have no issue with checking your bags all the way through to the US from wherever you are originating in Asia. Virtually all airlines have <i>baggage transfer</i> agreements. Don’t confuse airline alliance programs or code sharing arrangements, where airlines share equipment and routes with certain airlines, with baggage transfer agreements in which they agree to transfer passenger’s baggage between them for free. (The only airlines which to my knowledge may not have this agreement is British Air for some UK transfers, and certain airlines within in India. In 20 years of connecting internationally in Asia, I have never had an issue with baggage transfer.).
If you are flying different airlines, you will not be able to get a boarding pass for the Tokyo-US portion of the flight from your originating airline, so when you land in Tokyo, the first thing you have to do is go the transit area and get a boarding pass for your onward flight. (There can sometimes be lines for this, but usually moves quickly.) Then you would proceed out to Immigration to go into Tokyo. You also have to go back through Immigration when you return, so build in time for this for your layover.
Most airlines only consider you to be “in transit” if your connecting flight is within 12-18 hours or so of your arriving flight. So if you have more time than that between flights, your baggage may not be transferred. The amount of time permitted between flights depends on the airlines, the airport and the fact that you are flying TO the US, where rules are often different and cut off times are often shorter. So check with the airlines and the website for the Tokyo airport.
In any event, there are coin operated lockers and a manned luggage room at the airport, see http://www.narita-airport.jp/en, click on “Airport Guide” and then “Facilities & Services”. You may want to store hand luggage there.
I also would just mention that trying to “see” Tokyo on a layover may not be ideal. First of all, it is over an hour each way by train to Tokyo. Secondly, there is not a whole lot to “see” in Tokyo other than just the city streets themselves, which may not be a whole lot of fun. There are a few museums (not sure you have time for them, will they be open on your one day, etc), the fish market (only good in the very early morning hours, so probably you will be too late for that) and the Asakusa area and the Sensoji temple, which again you may not have time for. It does have some temple complexes but it really does not offer a whole lot in terms of cultural sights at least IMO. (Frommers #1 site recco is the fish market, that may tell you something.) Third, it’s a rather expensive city. Fourth, while the subway system is quite good (you don’t want to take taxis if you can avoid it because of the cost), it can be quite confusing to figure out, and I am not sure it is worth it for such a short trip. (I am not sure it is worth figuring out the train to the city from the airport for such a short trip.) I personally would not arrange a whole trip just to try to have 5-6 hours in Tokyo. You really won’t see the city at all. I would try to spend a few days in the city or skip it.
Jul 1st, 2010, 07:05 PM
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rhkkmk, I am sorry but I disagree. I fly on different airlines internationally in Aisa all the time. I am doing so in about a week to go from HK to the Maldives. One leg on Cahtay Pacific to Singapore, next on Singapore Air 2 horus later. These airlines are not code share (they are competitiors) but transfer bags no problem. This is just routine for airlines to transfer bags. DO NOT confuse code share with baggage share.
Jul 1st, 2010, 07:19 PM
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Bob, I'm not sure where/when you've had an experience of two airlines not being willing to transfer baggage. Other than Air Asia and other budget airlines, I've never had an experience of airlines being unwilling to transfer baggage, even with separate tickets.
Jul 1st, 2010, 07:24 PM
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BTW, shee, I do agree with Cicerone that trying to see Tokyo on a very short layover is not very practical, nor would it be much fun. I've hesitated to do even a two day layover to make a short visit to Tokyo as I don't think it's long enough. You will spend most of your time getting to/from the city and will have little time there because of transport time and the amount of time to need to get to the airport before your flight. I would guess if you had an 8-10 hour layover, you could get into Tokyo to have lunch, but not much else.
