Hotels FAQ

Question:

Ah yes, the vaunted NW quick transfer at Narita.  Be prepared for an interesting experience if you’ve never done this.  It is neither very quick or very comfortable.  It’s amazing how NW manages to jam the entire human contents of about 12 or 13 747’s into a very small circular terminal.  When you arrive at Narita everybody and every bit of carry-on is off-loaded into the tiny terminal.  For some unknown reason, even though you just got off an airplane, you are sent through a metal detector and security gate.  This can take a while.  If you want to look at the duty free shop continue along the moving walkway past the first detecto gate and take a left at the end.   From what I’ve heard, you can exit the transit area into the main terminal without having to pay the exit tax (Y2000=$20) when you reenter.  I’m not sure how to do this, but I think it involves some sort of piece of paper. Also, allow quite a bit of time to get back through immigration.  There is a bit more to look at outside the transit terminal.  In the middle part of Terminal 1 on the 2nd level towards the back is a cafeteria area with about 10 little vendors of noodles, bento, etc.  Cheap prices and great views of the planes.   If you stay in the transit area, there is a little snack stand with expensive beer, etc.  Don’t expect to find a comfortable place to sit what with all the crowds.  There are a few TV’s around playing CNN.   You might think about anticipating your connecting flight being overbooked and the NW folks asking for volunteers to give up their seats.  This is a great deal.  This happened to me last year.  They gave me a check for $400 US and a night and 3 meals at the ANA airport hotel.  They also gave me a seat on the next flight out the next morning.  I ended up arriving in Bangkok the next day at 1pm after a great night’s sleep and a relaxing breakfast flight on Thai Airways.  The NW flights into Singapore and other Asian cities don’t get in till around midnight which can be really awful so I was more than happy to "volunteer" my seat. Have fun,  Jim

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: I am travelling from Detroit to Tokyo on flight #11 and then from Tokyo to : Singapore on flight #7 : Any information on any of these flights (service, times, meals, aircraft etc) : will be appreciated.  Also, any hints on transferring in Tokyo Narita?  I am : not familiar with the airport..how easy is it to change flights there … As long as transfering from NW to NW at Narita, it’s easy. At Narita NW11 may arrive at a bus gate (Narita airport has been under construction for 30 years, lack of walkway gates.), but NW7 will departs from the same terminal No.1 (Narita has 2 terminal). And half portion of Terminal 1 is under renovation. So Terminal 1 is very small, you will find NW7 gate without problem. As you can find many negative comment against NW in this news group, you cannot expect good services on NW flight, there are few polite FA. The fleet of NW11 is 747-400. Hideki Kuwamoto

Response:

I flew NW from San Francisco to Tokyo then on to Bangkok. The flight was great and the service was great. Changing planes in Tokyo was no problem. Just be prepared for one  heck of a long flight. I believe it was 11 hrs from SFO to NRT then about 8 more to Bangkok. Whew! All the planes were 747’s.

Response:

I need some information on travelling to Singapore on Northwest airlines. I am travelling from Detroit to Tokyo on flight #11 and then from Tokyo to Singapore on flight #7 Any information on any of these flights (service, times, meals, aircraft etc) will be appreciated.  Also, any hints on transferring in Tokyo Narita?  I am not familiar with the airport..how easy is it to change flights there …anyone who has done this flight before please let me know via email. Any info is welcome. Thanks in advance. -Y.D.

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