Haneda International Flights
 

Haneda airport in Japan opened to International Flights in October 2010. There are some positive things and a very surprising transfer to Narita that happened.

On the positive end; - I took a JAL flight into Haneda airport and had a connecting flight to Akita airport. There's a lounge with showers at Haneda for arrivals that rented for 800yen per half hour. Though, there isn't much food available if you have allergies to shellfish (after 10PM). I had a long wait till my connecting flight also from Haneda; - though not long enough to warrant getting a hotel room. So, the lounge service is a plus. And, there are ATM's in English to withdraw yen at this airport. I would not use the money exchange window again since I think I gave up nearly 40% between the exchange fee and the exchange rate. Additionally, the airport employees said that Haneda is the most secure airport.

When I left in mid-December 2010, I was quite surprised. I had a domestic flight on JAL from Akita (AXT) to Haneda. My connecting flight out of Japan was from Narita airport. I was quite surprised that in order to transfer airports;- that I had to pick up my luggage at Haneda, purchase a 3000yen (approx $33USD) one way bus ticket to Narita airport, and then check in my luggage and wait at Narita until the flight departed. It was the Shuttle Bus service that really surprised me. I don't think I've ever had a surprise like that before.

I didn't take a train during my trip because everywhere I was headed was best accessible by bus or car. So, if I had to do this again and I could land in Tokyo and get out of the airport and onto a train to Akita before the rail closes; - the rail pass is worth the time of waiting for the connecting flight alone. And, a JR East pass would give me a backup option of travel. So, it's a toss up depending on the flight arrival and departure times. I travel alone, so this was ok for me. If you have children, this could be difficult since there isn't much entertainment at Haneda airport.

You need to talk to whoever booked your return arrangements. You should have been able to leave Japan without changing airports in Tokyo. (Just been through my own similar travel bookings, and it takes work involving both ANA and JAL schedules.)

Not sure why the OP should be surprised by the hassle of a HND-NRT transfer. It's been an issue for travelers since Narita opened in 1978.

Yes you need to talk to the idiot who booked the flights for you and set up your travel itinerary. And then kick yourself in the butt for not checking before you ever left.

I tknow that this happened directly through JAL.
I also didn't have a special diet meal for the 9hr 45 min flight to Tokyo from Honolulu that was booked directly through JAL site. Though they did get 2 slices of cantaloupe to me. No pretzels on this flight.
Even the flight attendents thought that this flight was booked through some service, not. This was all through JAL.
And, the Haneda International flights are new since Oct. 2010. So, I personally was unprepared for this.

The Bus service assistant told me that it has to do with when the International flights arrive and depart from Haneda, as to the Narita or Haneda transfer. So, I'm guessing its some strange programming thing online due to flight arrival & departure times on the International end.

So, for anyone doing booking independently;- try to arrive in Tokyo well before 9PM so you can get luggage, customs, and catch a bus or taxi to the train or hotel. Departing, should be easier too.

I don't think you can blame that on the JAL website; on the available flights page you can select either a HND or NRT connection for the flight to HNL. Perhaps the HND flight was sold out for the date you wanted or you selected a less expensive choice?