NRT Customs Question...
 

Quick question. I'm flying a leg to NRT from PDX and I'm scheduled to layover and deadhead back. Has anybody just turned around and deadheaded back on the same plane? I'm assuming I'll have to clear customs, get my shore pass, go through security and go through customs again to drop off my shore pass. Is there anything else I should do? I was going to stay in uniform and check in online. I just want to make sure I don't miss anything. Thanks!

Last time I went through NRT (probably 10 years ago and as a pax) there was a "transfer" area where you never really "cleared" customs if you were just connecting onward out of Japan. Not sure if that still exists or applies to working crew or not but if available, it definitely saves you the shore pass shuffle.

All that said, I HAVE heard of people doing the iron man as you described so it is doable.

Cool. Thanks for the info.

Yes, just go thru the transfer area that says "International connecting Flights". We do it all the time, and is very easy in uniform. Once thru, at either end of the long terminal that ends in circular gate areas you can use a kiosk to check yourself in with your passport. Just make sure you've booked your DH seat via the deviation selection in iCrew prior to the leg to NRT.

That helps a ton. Thank you very much.

Ironman? maybe bronze man. the true ironman was Atlanta Mumbai nonstop....and then dh 18hrs right back
:eek:

Ooof! Sounds brutal.

As a positive space passenger in a Delta One seat, you are admitted to the Sky Club in Narita. Enjoy a beer and some sushi before the flight back.

But ohhhhhhhh so worth it for the Business Elite seat, chicken tikka masala and those "amazing" breath-freshener packets of seeds and dried flowers so dry it made you gag. 😩

I just non-reved to SIN through NRT. Get off the plane, and go up the escalator with all the other connecting pax and go through security, then down the escalator and you're back in the gate area. Oh, remember to keep your seat request card as you will need that to screen. If you lose it there are kiosks available. The agents are very helpful as well.

OP describes a type of deviation. One of few available techniques that can add a day to your life. Worth the effort, for sure.

I'm non- current, but in the past NRT has been tricky regarding how you get onto the correct Gen Dec and how your shorepass is handled. Also remember your call to C.S. to advise of deviation ( who would ever use sat comm???)

NRT d.h.deviations became a high profile issue in SEA a few years back and memos were produced. I'd suggest a call to SEA base ops for the latest gouge. They are on your side, and want it to work with zero repercussions. For actual on-scene assistance, a call to NRT "Inflight" can be very helpful (yes, that's a " thing" that scopes beyond flight attendants in NRT). If you're at the NRT Radisson earlier in your rotation, the hotel operator will make the connection for you. Having been the guy trying to explain the concept of " change of plans" to a Japanese immigration officer when the papers are not in order, I highly recommend the advanced leg work that you seem to be delving into. Good luck!

All good info in this thread. The NRT turn-and-burn is as easy as it comes, my PR is 24 minutes from IN to OUT and that's not even base the record. Good luck!

So, everything here on the forum was accurate. It was extremely easy to go through the process. I just went to "connections" instead of customs. Went through security (was in uniform so very easy) and I was back in the terminal for my flight home. Took all of 10 minutes. Thanks for the intel!