joannecam

I am confused and the airline ticket services are just not helping so I am asking the Japan experts to answer this very basic question. If I leave Boston on March 13 at 9am, have a brief connection in Chicago and land in Tokyo at 3:20pm, is it March 14 or 15? Conversely, and more important for family reasons, if I leave Sapporo on April 3 at 2:15pm, connect briefly in Tokyo and arrive in Seattle at 1:20pm, is it still April 3 or now is it the 4th? I would greatly appreciate some help in clearing up this issue for me. Thanks in advance. Joanne

rkkwan

1. You arrive Tokyo March 14th.

2. You arrive Seattle April 3rd.

Kathie

rkkwan is correct.

When you look at an airline schedule, you will see a small plus sign and a number next to arrival times on some international flights. If it says +1 you arrive the day after you leave, if it says +2, you arrive two days after you leave. No number indicates that you arrive the same day that you leave.

I always love my return trip from Asia, as I leave Bangkok and arrive in Seattle a mere two hours later...

rkkwan

There are various ways to conceptualize it, but for myself, I simply figure out the time difference between origin and destination. This way, the date line doesn't come into consideration at all.

Using the OP's case, Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of Boston. When they depart 3/13 9am, it's already 3/13 11pm in Tokyo. 16 hours and 20 minutes later (flight and connection), it's 3/14 3:20pm.

Coming back, Japan is 17 hours ahead of Seattle. When they depart Sapporo at 2:15pm on 4/3, it's still only 9:15pm on 4/2 in Seattle. 16 hours and 5 minutes later (flight and connection), they arrive 4/3 1:20pm.

See, the date line plays no part in this way of calculating time zones.

joannecam

Thank you both very much. It is all clear to me now, at least for the time being..... Joanne

SirHalberd

On my flight itineraries the times and dates printed reflect the current local time at that location. There is no adding or subtracting for you to do for time zones - it's already printed for you!

When I leave Detroit for Narita, Japan the departure time and date listed at Detroit is Detroit local time and date. The time listed for arrival at Narita is Narita local time and date. Same for the return - whatever the time and date printed is local time and day for that airport!

When I travel overseas I wear a cheap Timex watch with two time zones. I keep time "2" always on my hometown time and make adjustments to the other display. On the plane the arrival time for the Tokyo airport will show up on TV or on the screen. Often the pilot will announce what the local time is and sometimes what day it is too! When you leave the U.S. adjust your time for Japan after you get on the plane. Do the same for your return home.

I kind of like leaving Asia on a particular date and arriving in the U.S. still on the same day! I have met travelers who didn't understand the dates and times on flight itineraries and missed flights by too much second guessing.

Good luck.

rkkwan

Correct. All times on timetables and itineraries are local.

And add to what Kathie says, if the arrival times has a "-1" on it, that means the flight arrives the day before it departs. [Yes, there are a few flights that do, like CO2 GUM-HNL.]

Neil_Oz

According to a Qantas staff member there was a passenger who boarded a flight at LAX for Sydney, departing late on a Monday night. When she asked a flight attendant about the arrival time she was told 6:30 am Wednesday. "But - I thought the flight only took 14 hours!" she said, aghast, whereupon the FA explained about the IDL. "What?" exclaimed the poor woman, "you mean Australia doesn't HAVE Tuesdays?"

Gpanda

Right now, I'm wishing Boston did not have Tuesdays. What a nighmare returning to work! Did anybody do anything while I was gone?

mrwunrfl

No, nothing. We've just been waiting for you to get back.

Congress hasn't done anything either. So there is some good news.

Gpanda

Was congress the one that destroyed the tapes of the waterboarding? Doing nothing can sometimes be a good thing. I'm a specialist.