I've been looking at going to Australia next month and have been looking at entry requirements for Australia and Japan (since it looks like I may have to transit through Tokyo to make it work). Does anybody have experience non-reving through Japan or Australia? Is not having a confirmed return or onward ticket an issue for entering either of these countries (I hold a valid US passport)? Any tips or tricks you guys know? I'm hoping the APC brain trust can impart some wisdom to help this trip go smoothly.

 

I don't know about Australia, but I just went into and out of NRT by jumpseat with no problems. In fact, I've done a ton of international jumpseating and nonrevving and not having a confirmed return ticket has never been a problem. I would caution you about MNL though, they seem to want to see your return "eticket" confirmation. Just list and then print the confirmation.



Bored

 

You might actually need a visa for australia, it was a requirement at one point because too many american kids were heading down there on vacation and then staying on to become beach bums/illegal food-serice workers.

I think you can go to japan with just your passport.

 

American citizens need a 90 day tourist visa for to enter Australia. If you're transiting through Japan, you won't need a visa to do so.

 

Is that the same thing as the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) that you do online? If I recall the ETA is good for one year, multiple reentry and stays of up to 90 days.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

1 thing to be aware of going through Japan on a Non-Rev if you are connecting to another flight you have to clear security and they want to see a ticket/boarding pass for your departure out of Japan. I recently Non-Reved to MNL and from MSP I was straight through so wasn’t a big deal but coming back from MNL went to Nagoya then to Narita and coming through Narita they wanted to see an onward ticket that I didn’t have from Narita to Detroit. But with the help of my ID badge and claim ticket for my 1 checked back it got me through Security with a little conversation and explaining that I was non-reving and Standby to the US. I didnt stay in Japan just passed through going and coming. Just be friendly and cooperative toward there security and will do just fine.

Like bored said..going to MNL they want to see you will be leaving so just list yourself and have a ticket agent print your itinerary for the trip back to show to the Customs agents there and they where happy with it when I did it. If going to MNL I would recommend getting a ZED just for a back up plan. Learned the hard way spent an Extra night in MNL...NWA only has 2 departures a day 640a and 8a...

Also just be aware you have to pay a tax for leaving international destinations incase you didn't know that. For me it was like $50 roundtrip to MNL and back.

Have fun and if you have any questions about MNL shoot me a PM would be happy to answer

Recommendation: if you can get Business/First class for the long haul DO IT...I was standby for WBC and it was full both ways so stuck in Coach but hey its a realitivly free ride so can't complain. But had WBC from NRT - MNL and it was way better than Coach.

 

Changing planes in NRT was one thing I was concerned about. My girlfriend is going to have paid tickets but I will be using ZED passes. Luckily we have about 6 hours in NRT both ways to get it sorted out I think having the itinerary and/or a standby boarding pass is a good work-around.

I hear ya on the Business/First class. We're going through NRT so that we can hopefully get BusinessFirst on CAL between IAH-NRT. Sure makes a difference on a 14 hour flight.

 

So if you connect through NRT do you have to pay taxes in Japan and Australia?

 

I believe so. Small price to pay yo not get stuck in coach for 14 hours each way.

 

We went this way last year as well. ATL-NRT-CNS-SYD. We didn't need any visa for Japan, but you do need the ETA for Cairns and they asked for the confirmation number as we went through customs.

I would highly suggest you have all your ZED/ID90 fares purchased before reaching Japan. We needed one additional one for the NRT-CNS flight and it took the gate agents at NRT about 2 hours to figure it out and give us one.

This way definately beats coach all the way from LA.