Haneda doing some serious business?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I was reading this article which has nothing to do with Japan but the last paragraph caught my attention.

Atlanta in the United States was the world's busiest airport in 2014 with more than 96 million passengers, followed by Beijing in second place, London's Heathrow in third and Haneda in Tokyo coming fourth, according to an Airports Council International statement in March.

[wagyl]

I can remember years ago, before they resumed international flights there, going to the bay next to the airport and seeing the unbroken stream of planes landing and taking off.
http://www.flightradar24.com/35.55,139.78/11

[matsuki]

Was pretty insane the last few times I've been there...the pick up/ drop off area doesn't have any/enough clear signs that indicate one floor is all buses and the other is for pickup/drop off. Was fun getting yelled at...

[yanpa]

I used to work in an office building somewhat to the south of Shinagawa station, when standing at the urinals you could look out of the window and be pretty much guaranteed to see a plane heading straight towards you, though luckily they always executed a smart left turn towards the runway.

[kurogane]

Isn't Haneda the new domestic regional, LCC and regional Asia hub? That's where everybody's coming from anyways, non? I like Haneda because the international arrivals is always dead when I arrive (8:30 pm-ish), it's 40 minutes to a good bar in downtown Tokyo (well, Oimachi/Samezu) and there is something about the old relic that reminds me of the Real Japan: the one that smells like old socks and looks like grubby derelict is the normal state of maintenance. But F'in hell it was steamy hot in there last arrival (September last). I don't remember that level of seat bath at either Narita or Kansai.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Haneda has certainly ramped up of late. My family flying out at summer holiday is from Narita but return Haneda. My flight 2 weeks later is all Haneda. This is after 15 years of Narita only and the flight times are the same.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

I've also noticed they've ramped up business. Emirates now flies into both Narita and Haneda. Think they've added a lot more flights to/from China as well. gotta keep them tax-free Japan tourists coming in...

[Bucky]

It's not all milk and honey for Delta at Haneda:
http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analy ... l-dal.aspx

[kurogane]

Without some external factor like a return to Canada of Japanese tourists and business I can't see the Vancouver-Haneda run lasting in its current form, and could easily see it going the way of the Van-Osaka direct route. I board last so I don't know how full coach is but busyness class is as empty as one of those Haikyo pics Coligny posts. Will the upcoming upgrade to a spanky new 787 actually bring in business? Or maybe they will just go back to a 767 or wtf they had before after they show off their fancy new toy a bit.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Though Haneda is closer to "downtown Tokyo" it's not necessarily more convenient than Narita depending on where you're staying. From where I live both are a straight shot on the train but Haneda saves me as much as 30 mins and there are more direct trains per hour which is nice. However, I still end up using Narita more often because departure times are generally more convenient. Plus if I have a morning flight, that reverse commute on an empty train to Narita is much nicer even if it is a bit longer.

[Russell]

Though Haneda is closer to "downtown Tokyo" it's not necessarily more convenient than Narita depending on where you're staying. From where I live both are a straight shot on the train but Haneda saves me as much as 30 mins and there are more direct trains per hour which is nice. However, I still end up using Narita more often because departure times are generally more convenient. Plus if I have a morning flight, that reverse commute on an empty train to Narita is much nicer even if it is a bit longer.

When arriving by Shinkansen from outside Tokyo, Haneda may be more convenient locationwise, I guess?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Though Haneda is closer to "downtown Tokyo" it's not necessarily more convenient than Narita depending on where you're staying. From where I live both are a straight shot on the train but Haneda saves me as much as 30 mins and there are more direct trains per hour which is nice. However, I still end up using Narita more often because departure times are generally more convenient. Plus if I have a morning flight, that reverse commute on an empty train to Narita is much nicer even if it is a bit longer.

When arriving by Shinkansen from outside Tokyo, Haneda may be more convenient locationwise, I guess?

Yeah, Shinagawa to Haneda by the Keikyu Line is a lot faster and cheaper than Tokyo to Narita by the N'EX.

[yanpa]

Though Haneda is closer to "downtown Tokyo" it's not necessarily more convenient than Narita depending on where you're staying. From where I live both are a straight shot on the train but Haneda saves me as much as 30 mins and there are more direct trains per hour which is nice. However, I still end up using Narita more often because departure times are generally more convenient. Plus if I have a morning flight, that reverse commute on an empty train to Narita is much nicer even if it is a bit longer.

When arriving by Shinkansen from outside Tokyo, Haneda may be more convenient locationwise, I guess?

Yeah, Shinagawa to Haneda by the Keikyu Line is a lot faster and cheaper than Tokyo to Narita by the N'EX.

From Chez Yanpa, out on the west of the 23-ku, Narita takes just 10 minutes longer to get to. OK it costs 3 times as much to get there, but the Skyliner is comfortable and serene.

[kurogane]

That's because Narita and Nerima are about as equally urban, non? Brothers of the Daikon!!!!!!!!!!!
JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I read that the vast majority of Haneda traffic is shorter haul international and domestic: it's Obahans dragging back their duty free and Real Kimchi. and commuting daytripper salary persons. Many international business commuters I have talked to hate Haneda, but only because the flight schedules are so fecked for their needs. Arrive at 8:30 pm or later, fly out at 9 pm or later. Having no schedule per se I love it. It gives me more time to count.............buwahahaha

[matsuki]

Though Haneda is closer to "downtown Tokyo" it's not necessarily more convenient than Narita depending on where you're staying. From where I live both are a straight shot on the train but Haneda saves me as much as 30 mins and there are more direct trains per hour which is nice. However, I still end up using Narita more often because departure times are generally more convenient. Plus if I have a morning flight, that reverse commute on an empty train to Narita is much nicer even if it is a bit longer.

When arriving by Shinkansen from outside Tokyo, Haneda may be more convenient locationwise, I guess?

Yeah, Shinagawa to Haneda by the Keikyu Line is a lot faster and cheaper than Tokyo to Narita by the N'EX.

From Chez Yanpa, out on the west of the 23-ku, Narita takes just 10 minutes longer to get to. OK it costs 3 times as much to get there, but the Skyliner is comfortable and serene.

If you go by car, Narita has more parking options as well....a big plus when you have a ton of stuff coming back with you.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

That's because Narita and Nerima are about as equally urban, non? Brothers of the Daikon!!!!!!!!!!!
JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I read that the vast majority of Haneda traffic is shorter haul international and domestic: it's Obahans dragging back their duty free and Real Kimchi. and commuting daytripper salary persons. Many international business commuters I have talked to hate Haneda, but only because the flight schedules are so fecked for their needs. Arrive at 8:30 pm or later, fly out at 9 pm or later. Having no schedule per se I love it. It gives me more time to count.............buwahahaha

Tokyo to Dubai is pretty long haul, and the Haneda schedule suits me perfectly. It departs just past midnight, and the inbound is in the morning. Plus, emirates will do the chauffeur drive if you're going in/out of Haneda.

Depending where you're going, (and of course this is just my preference) a later evening departure for long haul is much more convenient. If you're in Tokyo on business, it gives you the whole day to get last minute things wrapped up.

[kurogane]

The first time I read my 9 pm departure time from Haneda to Vancouver I had to check it twice to make sure it wasn't 9 am, which would be pretty tight for as non-morning a person as I. I adore the 9 pm slot, and would be just as happy until about 1 am. It makes the last day in Tokyo a leisurely joy, the ANA business lounge is quite comfy and has showers and an automatic tilting draught beer machine, the food is perfectly edible, and like I said before the efficient grubbiness of Haneda fills my My Japan heart with a simple happiness. As a bonus, avoiding Narita allows my Inner Trotsyite to stand as one with the brave peasants that opposed it. Anybody remember the phalanxes of shiny black clad Imperial Storm Troopers that used to guard the entrances to Narita circa 1987? Cool helmets and riot batons, but that shiite shocked the shiite outta me.

I should look into this Emirates Air idea, though I doubt they fly anywhere I need at this point. I have heard good things about them.

[dimwit]

From Matsuyama, Narita used to be a serious inconvience. But since they picked up a Jet Star connection it is both cheaper and better for getting to Toronto. Used Vancouver to Haneda last Christmas and I ended up having to spend an extra night in Tokyo.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

I should look into this Emirates Air idea, though I doubt they fly anywhere I need at this point. I have heard good things about them.

Everything with Emirates has to route through Dubai, which is also a very comfortable airport, but I'm 15 years and over 2 million miles with them and very happy with them. They had my back when KIX wanted to deny me entry, and helped me out again when a friend was also denied entry and told he had to return to his home country (UK) and no other carrier would take him. Right after the germanwings thing, they were even kind enough to let me have a word with the pilot and ask about their policies on pilots leaving cockpit. The crew also come from 120 countries, and often their prices are way better than anyone else's for Europe-Asian travel.

[wagyl]

And any airline which, when you choose the fruit platter meal option, will give you as a between meal snack an eighth of a papaya and even goes as far as to serve it with a wedge of lime, gets my undying gratitude.

(Full report: same flight, sux to be the standard meal people. Breakfast was a choice of omelette, or eggs. So maybe I was lucky and maybe there is a range of experiences)

[Cyka UchuuJin]

And any airline which, when you choose the fruit platter meal option, will give you as a between meal snack an eighth of a papaya and even goes as far as to serve it with a wedge of lime, gets my undying gratitude.

(Full report: same flight, sux to be the standard meal people. Breakfast was a choice of omelette, or eggs. So maybe I was lucky and maybe there is a range of experiences)

which airline is this?

[wagyl]

And any airline which, when you choose the fruit platter meal option, will give you as a between meal snack an eighth of a papaya and even goes as far as to serve it with a wedge of lime, gets my undying gratitude.

(Full report: same flight, sux to be the standard meal people. Breakfast was a choice of omelette, or eggs. So maybe I was lucky and maybe there is a range of experiences)

which airline is this?

Emirates. Sorry I didn't make that clear. I think the kitchens from Sao Paulo did put in a little more effort, except for the eggs or eggs breakfast option.

[Wage Slave]

From Japan to Europe I am baffled by the willingness of people a) to go the long way - as we used to do before the planes could fly more than about 8 hours and before the Russkies and Chinese allowed travel through their airspace.

And b) the willingness of people to travel through the Gulf - great airport or not.

I've done plenty of it but these days you can be at a European destination in 9 to 11 hours and you don't have to go anywhere near the sandpit. It's all about the minimum number of hours in the air and in airports. No amount of fresh fruit or shopping opportunity changes it.

[wagyl]

From Japan to Europe I am baffled by the willingness of people a) to go the long way - as we used to do before the planes could fly more than about 8 hours and before the Russkies and Chinese allowed travel through their airspace.

And b) the willingness of people to travel through the Gulf - great airport or not.

I've done plenty of it but these days you can be at a European destination in 9 to 11 hours and you don't have to go anywhere near the sandpit. It's all about the minimum number of hours in the air and in airports. No amount of fresh fruit or shopping opportunity changes it.

In many ways I would agree, and in many ways what we are dealing with here is a difference in basic assumptions. My experiences through the Gulf have been on transglobal travel, East Asia to South America, Australasia to Europe, where you have to transit somewhere, and anywhere is about as inconvenient as any other. Reasons to choose the Gulf are in the wide range of destinations when you are headed for a less than major centre, as well as the price. I personally regard Dubai itself as a disneyland which is in danger of imploding since the entire workforce is unhappy and reluctant and the only thing that keeps them there is the tax free income. That said, Emirates, despite having much the same workforce, seems to be doing things right, and that may well be because rather than train a fresh workforce they seem to rely on poaching staff from a wide range of other airlines, and with a wide range of experiences.

Another plus with the Dubai model is that the schedules seem to have a lot of flights arriving in a cluster, and then departing in a cluster, so the opportunities for a wide range of destinations and a short transit time are greater. It also means that transit can get very crowded and it is the only time in my life I have seen queues for male toilets.
The other comment would be: guys, I got the distinct feeling that having facial hair was of benefit. You are more likely to be seen as a brother.

[Coligny]

I should look into this Emirates Air idea, though I doubt they fly anywhere I need at this point. I have heard good things about them.

Everything with Emirates has to route through Dubai, which is also a very comfortable airport, but I'm 15 years and over 2 million miles with them and very happy with them. They had my back when KIX wanted to deny me entry, and helped me out again when a friend was also denied entry and told he had to return to his home country (UK) and no other carrier would take him. Right after the germanwings thing, they were even kind enough to let me have a word with the pilot and ask about their policies on pilots leaving cockpit. The crew also come from 120 countries, and often their prices are way better than anyone else's for Europe-Asian travel.

Without any will to sound disrespectful , would you mind selling the movie adaptation rights for these ?
Chokonen, bring the camera gear uphill we need to make the RapeVan look like a plane flightdeck...
And do you have a redhead Slavic Hafu in your lemurpool ? Around 20 yo max, sorry need to sacrifice realism, not doing a biography afterall...

"Anna Chapman's High altitude mutliracial sekspionnage, the d00bai files" (working titul)

[wangta]

Choko's another one who's been silent for a while. I think he also deleted his posts. Any news on him Coligny or Matsuki?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Choko's another one who's been silent for a while. I think he also deleted his posts. Any news on him Coligny or Matsuki?

Too bad there's no search function that will let you see who's posted lately.

[Russell]

Choko's another one who's been silent for a while. I think he also deleted his posts. Any news on him Coligny or Matsuki?

I am deeply sorry to tell you that Choko is not anymore.

[kurogane]

He's not pining for the fjords????

[wangta]

Choko's another one who's been silent for a while. I think he also deleted his posts. Any news on him Coligny or Matsuki?

I am deeply sorry to tell you that Choko is not anymore.

Oh no don't tell me he's not around anymore - literally....