How much time should we allow at Narita?
 

One more train question... We will be going from Hakone to Narita on our last day. We have decided to take a taxi from the Hyatt to Odawara station. I'm looking at train times, and am inclined to choose one that gives us about 2.5 hours before our flight.

Is two and a half hours before the flight enough time at Narita? We will be in first, so that always helps. I don't know how complicated check in and security is, but I do know it's a long walk. I'd rather (of course) have too much time at Narita than not enough. Advice?

It's plenty of time. Plenty.

Unless of course you shop lol

Thanks! That is very reassuring to hear from the experts.

Your airline likely has requirements, usually 3 hours for international flights. That's primarily for clearing passengers and bag matching.

Go to the Royce store(s) in Narita and get the Nama confectionaries you can't get in the US (outside NYC). Narita has its fair bit of shopping. Unfortunately, the potent potables are available in a lot of small shops instead of one or two SERIOUSLY LARGE duty free shops.

> Your airline likely has requirements, usually 3 hours for international flights.

I don't know of any airline that requires you to check in 3 hours before a flight, except possibly El Al. I'm sure that Kathie knows better, though. (And definitely no need to allow extra time for the lounge. The Star Alliance F lounges at NRT are perfectly ok, but nothing out of the ordinary.)

Wow, Russ, I've never heard an airline require 3 hours for international flights. I'm flying United, so I went to the United website. I have flown the Seattle Narita route many times, and I always aim to get there 2 hours before the flight. The United site says that for international flights, they require check-in and baggage check completed not later than 60 minutes before the flight. They also say that at peak hours, processing at Seattle can take up to two hours, so that may be where you got the three hours. I'm a million-miler, so I get priority security check and even at the busiest time it has never taken more than 30 minutes.

United doesn't give a peak processing time at Narita, and their requirement for check-in and baggage check is 60 minutes.

Have you had a different experience at Narita?

Thanks for the shopping tips. I'm not a big airport shopper. And United won't allow even sealed alcohol duty free liquor on board any more, so no more XO Cognac purchases any more - Alas!

We were posting at the same time, Don. Thanks for the confirmation.

Don and kathie-When we flew to Egypt several years ago from JFK, we were required to check in 3 hours before the flight.

On American from CDG they recommend 3 hours also.

Although now I use HND, on many trips leaving from NRT it was pretty painless. :)

shellyk, I believe that you misunderstood, or were given the wrong information. Egyptair (the only airline that flies non-stop to Cairo from JFK) says the following about check-in time:

"The best time to check in for all EGYPTAIR flights is: ... For international flights: three hours before scheduled time of departure. Closing time for international flights is (60) minutes before scheduled time of departure, effective the 1st of June 2009."

The "recommended" check-in time (for Egyptair, 3 hours) is the time that's convenient for the airline, but that's almost always different from the required check-in time (for Egyptair, 1 hour).

Shelley, I think that counts. I know it's just recommended (as per Don's post), but that is what they tell you.