Wow. I was sweating when you said you had to sprint through the airport. I’m sorry you went through all of that. The man agent at the counter who helped you gave you exceptional customer service. Happy that you were able to get to the plane. That was wild, exciting & crazy. Thank you for sharing.
Omg, I was so nervous hearing your story. These are the big scary things of Japanese travel and airports in the same city. I’ve transferred from international to domestic, changed airports in Tokyo, and during busier times tried to clear the customs hall in NRT. If ever we get back to travel, the key word is add extra time. Waiting an extra hour for a connection is better than being stressed. Glad you made it!
I was sweating & panting listening to your ordeal at home! RUclips videos are really tiring! I'm amazed at your patience & explaining all these in the video!
Lucky guy! My flight in April with BA arrives in T1 and forward with JAL to KIX and only have a 2 hour connection. Is the bus clearly marked to get to T1? Do you have to clear customs and Passport Control in T3?
Wow! What an experience. Thank you for taking the time to explain. I have a business trip next week from LAX to Tokyo and I fly into Haneda as well. I arrive at 5:05 AM and I have to catch a flight to Misawa, which is a northern Japan, through JAL and departs at 7:35 AM that same morning. Incidentally, I speak no Japanese. My concern is clearing Japanese customs and getting my checked bag then having to find the proper terminal for the domestic flight to Misawa. Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.
I think you have plenty of time, you won't be stuck in customs unless you brought something questionable, I personally experienced a very smooth customs and immigration clearance, while the luggage waiting took quiet some time which was about 10-15mins. If you have any doubts don't be afraid and ask questions from information table or the staffs, some of them has an ipad with google translate so you don't have to worry about not speaking Japanese or you can prepare what questions you want to ask before your trip just in case you get lost and have them translated in Japanese so its easier, otherwise do it in real time by connecting to airport wifi. safe travel and best of luck
Arrived in Japan in march 2022 and man oh man was it a nightmare at the Narita Airport.. It was just ridiculous. I mean first we were lined up in chairs for hours. Then visa check, then app check, then more paper work check, then I had to spit into a tube to check for covid, then vaccine check. Then 3-4 hour wait for my spit tube results, then luggage check, then another visa check, then customs… 10 hours I swear it was debilitating.. they had the whole airport terminals divided into checkpoints you had to walk to individually. If I would have known I would have just not came here. It was really bad
This, it’s a nightmare. I was at Narita for 5 hours lol. If you do pre registration though (after you get your zairyu card) you can skip it and it takes 20 mins… so make sure to pre register if you fly out and back in
@@colossusjak2 I couldn’t get mine because I’m from Canada. Or atleast I didn’t know I could get one before entering. I received my residence card at customs with no adress. Then had to go to my city hall and get a new one made with an address
@@saveir6601 the residence card is the zairyu card seems your good to go that’s what I did too, now u can preregister in the mysos app if you leave and come back
This reminds me flying back from Asia to the US, via Tokyo and Honolulu. Honolulu is the worst place to connect for long haul. Both legs are short, you can barely get any sleep after the meal/drink services.
I forgot which video on your channel stated that Japanese Health Insurance does not cover overseas travel. My understanding contradicted that statement that while it is covered, it is limited by what would normally be paid in Japan for similar medical service. I found the link associated with it from Kyokai Kempo which to my understanding is an entitlement for those whom are enrolled in Kokumin Kenko Hoken. Few issues of course--If something costs say $2000 in the U.S. that would costs $1000 in Japan, the coverage applies to the $1000. With the co-insurance, maybe 70% is paid back to you, so $700. So initially, you pay $2000 but you might get $700 back. There's also currency fluctuation that will happen between the time you paid and the time they pay you back. So it isn't recommended to rely on this, but it is useful to know in case you don't have any other coverage. It's an oversimplified example of course. I'm not sure if out of pocket maximum that applies to normal Japanese health insurance coverage for medical procedures performed in Japan applies or not. Another potential trap I can see is if you needed to be transferred by an ambulance outside of Japan. Within Japan, that will normally be free but in say the U.S., Ambulance is operated by private companies so they'll charge a ton of money even for relatively short distance. So I suspect overseas ambulance cost will not be covered at all. www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/g3/sb3120/r138/
How many of us here have similar horror tales like this to tell? Makes international travel such a dreadful experience, and worse now with different entry requirement on arrival imposed by different countries😖
Hey Mike I got a question I’m going to Thailand on August I kept to connecting flight at Japan do I need to get PCR test or not just connecting flight I have vaccine shot already all three of them
Two parts, one is the system, but the other is customer service. Luckily one made up for the inadequacy of the other. We always fly direct whenever possible these days even if it costs a bit more.
We had the same thing, flying from Jakarta to Haneda, light meal at first, only 2 hours before landing they served breakfast.... Luckily, me and my wife and kid have no problem sleeping...
We flew on JAL from SFO to Singapore and back via Haneda in May/June. Fortunately, it did not involve having to go through immigration into Japan itself. However, it was rather chaotic at Haneda during the transit. For the outbound flight from SFO-HND, transit passengers were held on the plane for 30 minutes while passengers entering Japan were let off immediately. But there was no explanation of that. The secondary security check was quite fast. But then we had to settle in for an 18 hour overnight layover in the airport. And by the time we finally made it past the security check, all but one restaurant was closed and that one didn’t serve much other than small sandwiches. We have Priority Pass for the ANA Lounge there, but since our ongoing boarding pass was for the next day, they didn’t allow us in. So, we slept in the terminal. Thankfully, we knew of an area that had lounge-seats, so we weren’t on the seats at the gate. Next morning, we were able to use the lounge for food and a shower. The return flight had a 10 hour layover, fortunately all daytime. But the disembarkation procedure was the exact opposite…..transit passengers were taken off first, but there was huge confusion at the security checkpoint because instead of the usual four lanes, only one was open. What took five minutes on the first flight took 45 minutes on the return. I’m surprised that the company that got you the tickets got ones that required “entering” Japan to transit airports. JAL had a flight like that from SFO to Sing or Bangkok where you had to transit from HND to NRT. Booking that would be asking for trouble. I won’t be booking any kind of non-cancel label reservations to any country that requires a pre-test or a test-on-arrival. Booking those is not just asking for trouble…..it’s begging for it.
Hello! I have a 30 hour overnight layover coming up soon (they canceled my first flight and rebooked me for an earlier day but only for the first flight). Can you share how to get to the area with the lounge chairs?
Omg really fraught with difficulties. A tip to always clarify which departure terminal in advance; I think it's possible to check that online a day before. And I wouldn't have trusted the coach driver because, well, they're not the airport experts. I wouldn't have trusted the airport police either because it's not their job to be proficient in air travel knowledge, always safe to check in advance. The Starflyer staff who helped you at the end is really fantastic!
Hi Mike, I want to visit Japan where ai lived with my obachan, ojichan and obasan when I was a child. But I cannot walk more than 1/2 block. So I bought a small travel scooter. , small seat little handles, foot peddles , battery operated. I understand that there are less accommodations for disabled in Japan, i.e.elevators in train stations and other sights I want to see, like temples- would I be able to ride this scooter up to the temple, then I can walk inside, same with onsen ? I really want to go to Japan, especially temples and villages . What do you think? By the way, both my kids are proud Roosevelt grads ! Go Rough Riders !
First time I traveled outside the country I have a stop over in Japan and I’m fresh off the boat , it was a nightmare for me looking for my Terminal , the airport workers doesn’t speak English . Looking back I don’t even know how I manage to get to my Terminal 🤣, every time I inquire some question they would answer me back in Japanese .
I think there is a long tunnel between terminals 1 and 2 at Haneda that only savvy Japanese like my wife know about. We once walked the whole tunnel just because she wanted to eat a restaurant in the other terminal. You are lucky you didn't have a heart attack from all that exertion. I had a really bad experience in Haneda too. It was all United Airlines's fault for leaving SFO three hours late. I missed my connection. The ground personnel was very unhelpful and even at one point told me to stand in a certain spot and they would get back to me. They never did. I finally went to a counter and was told I would have to sit in Tokyo for three nights because there were no seats available to my destination until then. I was put in a cheap hotel which came with a poor breakfast. I made the best of it by seeing some of the sites. When I returned on the appointed day to the airport, the ground staff tried to talk me out of my seat with some story about the weather being bad and the plane might have to turn back. Well, we made it just fine.
I come from Bangkok. I love ANA and travel to Japan, but I''m hardly transit via ANA since they only open the direct flight to Tokyo, not Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoaka, Nagoya or else. To bad that they lost this oppotunity for many airlines instead. You know that people don't want to waste time on morning for customs and transit haha.
Hello sir, I am a USA citizen fully vaccinated with a booster doing a two hour layover in Narita Tokyo Japan headed to Manilla, Philippines 🇵🇭 do I need to a RT-PCR test for a short layover ? Tnx Reynaldo D FRY North Carolina USA 🇺🇸 FEEDBACK MOST APPRECIATED
So I’m going through the You Tube rabbit hole and I saw this masked man and I thought, “Gee that guy looks just like my Willamette classmate”. And it is!
Oh, what an experience you had! Good that you still can run! What if it happens to me, for sure I won't make it! But I prefer to take Haneda Airport cause I live in Kawasaki and it's just around 15 mins by train.
@@mikethompson3534 I'll dumb it down for you .........we laughed, meaning we enjoyed his story because it's so relatable, as in experienced travellers can relate to his story. Got it now? 🤔
I m from bkk but lives in Sydney. Once i was on my own for the first time travelled from Sydney to Fukuoka to see my daughter there. All flights went well excepted for the booking for hiring pocket wifi. For the last confirmation was sent to me while i was on the plane ( there were too many times i had to confirm about this) . So i didn't , i didn't expected that. !!!! . When i arrived at the air port ,then went to pick up my pocket wifi. Guess what !!!! Yeah... NO WIFI, NO INTERNET FOR ME.!!! DAMN ! But i was smart on that trip😉😉, i went to most cities around Kyushu island without using internet happily. 😁😁😁
I flew to Haneda from Chicago this March with Japan airlines, they fed us with only one main meal on a 13 hours flight. After arriving at Haneda I had to walk through countless procedures and waited for roughly 3 hours to leave the airport.
All of these "nightmare in Japan airport" videos are very distasteful. There are so many lives and plans that have been ruined because of covid because of Japan's covid policies. Just the fact you still have the freedom to come and go whenever you want in Japan makes all of your complaints null and void. None of what you said is that big of a deal when countless numbers of people would do anything to go to Japan the same way as before.
So you are complaining because you weren't prepared. You didn't do your due diligence about your flight schedule. You figured you could just walk into the airport and people would cater to you because you are American which you seem to keep repeating to everyone you meet. Got it!
It is weird to have so many mistakes though. Departure information is usually plastered on monitors all over airports and available on the airport's website for look-up. With the flight number, if someone would have just taken the time to calmly look up the information instead of guessing and hoping for the best, a lot of stress could have been saved. This sounds like a case of 急がば回れ (running around in circles).
Wow. I was sweating when you said you had to sprint through the airport. I’m sorry you went through all of that. The man agent at the counter who helped you gave you exceptional customer service. Happy that you were able to get to the plane. That was wild, exciting & crazy. Thank you for sharing.
Omg, I was so nervous hearing your story. These are the big scary things of Japanese travel and airports in the same city. I’ve transferred from international to domestic, changed airports in Tokyo, and during busier times tried to clear the customs hall in NRT. If ever we get back to travel, the key word is add extra time. Waiting an extra hour for a connection is better than being stressed. Glad you made it!
Its a good idea to sent a best compliment for this agent.
Love the story. I have an overwhelming need to return to Japan! If I do, I hope to meet you!
Glad to hear you got back home safe
I was sweating & panting listening to your ordeal at home! RUclips videos are really tiring! I'm amazed at your patience & explaining all these in the video!
Oh wow, glad you made it!
What a thrilling Catch a Flight Story.
You had me on the edge of my seat.
Lucky guy!
My flight in April with BA arrives in T1 and forward with JAL to KIX and only have a 2 hour connection.
Is the bus clearly marked to get to T1?
Do you have to clear customs and Passport Control in T3?
Wow! What an experience. Thank you for taking the time to explain.
I have a business trip next week from LAX to Tokyo and I fly into Haneda as well. I arrive at 5:05 AM and I have to catch a flight to Misawa, which is a northern Japan, through JAL and departs at 7:35 AM that same morning.
Incidentally, I speak no Japanese.
My concern is clearing Japanese customs and getting my checked bag then having to find the proper terminal for the domestic flight to Misawa. Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Thank you.
I think you have plenty of time, you won't be stuck in customs unless you brought something questionable, I personally experienced a very smooth customs and immigration clearance, while the luggage waiting took quiet some time which was about 10-15mins. If you have any doubts don't be afraid and ask questions from information table or the staffs, some of them has an ipad with google translate so you don't have to worry about not speaking Japanese or you can prepare what questions you want to ask before your trip just in case you get lost and have them translated in Japanese so its easier, otherwise do it in real time by connecting to airport wifi. safe travel and best of luck
@@Synbronze Hey there, thank you for the great information and suggestions! Much much appreciated. Thank you again.
Arrived in Japan in march 2022 and man oh man was it a nightmare at the Narita Airport..
It was just ridiculous. I mean first we were lined up in chairs for hours. Then visa check, then app check, then more paper work check, then I had to spit into a tube to check for covid, then vaccine check. Then 3-4 hour wait for my spit tube results, then luggage check, then another visa check, then customs… 10 hours I swear it was debilitating.. they had the whole airport terminals divided into checkpoints you had to walk to individually.
If I would have known I would have just not came here. It was really bad
OH crap, im about to go to nrt next week from lax to sgn stop over in nrt, i hope they dont do that to me next week.
This, it’s a nightmare. I was at Narita for 5 hours lol. If you do pre registration though (after you get your zairyu card) you can skip it and it takes 20 mins… so make sure to pre register if you fly out and back in
@@colossusjak2zairyu card is only for the people that live there, but we are just stopping over there and move on tho.
@@colossusjak2 I couldn’t get mine because I’m from Canada. Or atleast I didn’t know I could get one before entering. I received my residence card at customs with no adress. Then had to go to my city hall and get a new one made with an address
@@saveir6601 the residence card is the zairyu card seems your good to go that’s what I did too, now u can preregister in the mysos app if you leave and come back
Any plan of joining the Amazing Race :) ?
This reminds me flying back from Asia to the US, via Tokyo and Honolulu. Honolulu is the worst place to connect for long haul. Both legs are short, you can barely get any sleep after the meal/drink services.
I forgot which video on your channel stated that Japanese Health Insurance does not cover overseas travel. My understanding contradicted that statement that while it is covered, it is limited by what would normally be paid in Japan for similar medical service. I found the link associated with it from Kyokai Kempo which to my understanding is an entitlement for those whom are enrolled in Kokumin Kenko Hoken. Few issues of course--If something costs say $2000 in the U.S. that would costs $1000 in Japan, the coverage applies to the $1000. With the co-insurance, maybe 70% is paid back to you, so $700. So initially, you pay $2000 but you might get $700 back. There's also currency fluctuation that will happen between the time you paid and the time they pay you back. So it isn't recommended to rely on this, but it is useful to know in case you don't have any other coverage. It's an oversimplified example of course. I'm not sure if out of pocket maximum that applies to normal Japanese health insurance coverage for medical procedures performed in Japan applies or not. Another potential trap I can see is if you needed to be transferred by an ambulance outside of Japan. Within Japan, that will normally be free but in say the U.S., Ambulance is operated by private companies so they'll charge a ton of money even for relatively short distance. So I suspect overseas ambulance cost will not be covered at all.
www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/g3/sb3120/r138/
How many of us here have similar horror tales like this to tell? Makes international travel such a dreadful experience, and worse now with different entry requirement on arrival imposed by different countries😖
I'm so exhausted and tired just hearing your story !!!!!
Hey Mike I got a question I’m going to Thailand on August I kept to connecting flight at Japan do I need to get PCR test or not just connecting flight I have vaccine shot already all three of them
Oh what the heck i was just thinkinv to visit japan if ig is like this and too much hassle hmmm forget it id rather go to europe or philippines
Is a PCR test required in Tokyo if I only be in Haneda for layover for less 2 hours? I’ll be on the same Airline (ANA) but in different flight. Thanks
+1 exactly the same question brooo
No, PCR test will not be required. Go to ANA official website to confirm. They have detailed info for all flight situations.
Two parts, one is the system, but the other is customer service. Luckily one made up for the inadequacy of the other. We always fly direct whenever possible these days even if it costs a bit more.
We had the same thing, flying from Jakarta to Haneda, light meal at first, only 2 hours before landing they served breakfast.... Luckily, me and my wife and kid have no problem sleeping...
Oh my goodness ,thankfully to the guys helping you ,he is very good person
When are you going to vietnam henry?
So glad you made it.
We flew on JAL from SFO to Singapore and back via Haneda in May/June. Fortunately, it did not involve having to go through immigration into Japan itself. However, it was rather chaotic at Haneda during the transit. For the outbound flight from SFO-HND, transit passengers were held on the plane for 30 minutes while passengers entering Japan were let off immediately. But there was no explanation of that. The secondary security check was quite fast. But then we had to settle in for an 18 hour overnight layover in the airport. And by the time we finally made it past the security check, all but one restaurant was closed and that one didn’t serve much other than small sandwiches. We have Priority Pass for the ANA Lounge there, but since our ongoing boarding pass was for the next day, they didn’t allow us in. So, we slept in the terminal. Thankfully, we knew of an area that had lounge-seats, so we weren’t on the seats at the gate. Next morning, we were able to use the lounge for food and a shower.
The return flight had a 10 hour layover, fortunately all daytime. But the disembarkation procedure was the exact opposite…..transit passengers were taken off first, but there was huge confusion at the security checkpoint because instead of the usual four lanes, only one was open. What took five minutes on the first flight took 45 minutes on the return.
I’m surprised that the company that got you the tickets got ones that required “entering” Japan to transit airports. JAL had a flight like that from SFO to Sing or Bangkok where you had to transit from HND to NRT. Booking that would be asking for trouble.
I won’t be booking any kind of non-cancel label reservations to any country that requires a pre-test or a test-on-arrival. Booking those is not just asking for trouble…..it’s begging for it.
Hello! I have a 30 hour overnight layover coming up soon (they canceled my first flight and rebooked me for an earlier day but only for the first flight). Can you share how to get to the area with the lounge chairs?
@@estherc.6697 It’s down at the end of the departure hall past Gate 114. There are, as I recall, about a dozen or so seats that you can relax on.
I'm wondering why you did not just put the flight code to google on your phone... This way you get the airline and terminal information instantly.
Boy that was a workout!! I remember when i was running from terminal to terminal too
Thats why i take the shinkansen 😃😃 no connecting flights
Omg really fraught with difficulties. A tip to always clarify which departure terminal in advance; I think it's possible to check that online a day before. And I wouldn't have trusted the coach driver because, well, they're not the airport experts. I wouldn't have trusted the airport police either because it's not their job to be proficient in air travel knowledge, always safe to check in advance. The Starflyer staff who helped you at the end is really fantastic!
Their flight from BKK at 10:00 a.m. is MUCH better for timing purposes Mike. Worth the extra!
Great/horrific story! Glad it worked out in the end.
Hi Mike, I want to visit Japan where ai lived with my obachan, ojichan and obasan when I was a child. But I cannot walk more than 1/2 block.
So I bought a small travel scooter. , small seat little handles, foot peddles , battery operated. I understand that there are less accommodations for disabled in Japan, i.e.elevators in train stations and other sights I want to see, like temples- would I be able to ride this scooter up to the temple, then I can walk inside, same with onsen ?
I really want to go to Japan, especially temples and villages . What do you think?
By the way, both my kids are proud Roosevelt grads ! Go Rough Riders !
First time I traveled outside the country I have a stop over in Japan and I’m fresh off the boat , it was a nightmare for me looking for my Terminal , the airport workers doesn’t speak English . Looking back I don’t even know how I manage to get to my Terminal 🤣, every time I inquire some question they would answer me back in Japanese .
Do you need PCR for connecting flight through Japan I'm not entering the country
From what I read no. You just wait in the international terminal until your flight. This is as of 07/06/2022
I think there is a long tunnel between terminals 1 and 2 at Haneda that only savvy Japanese like my wife know about. We once walked the whole tunnel just because she wanted to eat a restaurant in the other terminal. You are lucky you didn't have a heart attack from all that exertion. I had a really bad experience in Haneda too. It was all United Airlines's fault for leaving SFO three hours late. I missed my connection. The ground personnel was very unhelpful and even at one point told me to stand in a certain spot and they would get back to me. They never did. I finally went to a counter and was told I would have to sit in Tokyo for three nights because there were no seats available to my destination until then. I was put in a cheap hotel which came with a poor breakfast. I made the best of it by seeing some of the sites. When I returned on the appointed day to the airport, the ground staff tried to talk me out of my seat with some story about the weather being bad and the plane might have to turn back. Well, we made it just fine.
I flew once with United.
Never again!
If i have an international layover there, do i have to do a pcr test also? will be coming from america going to vietnam
Me too, im going next week from lax to sgn with stop over in nrt, i hope they dont pull that crap on us.
What an adventure you had!
I come from Bangkok. I love ANA and travel to Japan, but I''m hardly transit via ANA since they only open the direct flight to Tokyo, not Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoaka, Nagoya or else. To bad that they lost this oppotunity for many airlines instead. You know that people don't want to waste time on morning for customs and transit haha.
Hi Mike
Hello sir, I am a USA citizen fully vaccinated with a booster doing a two hour layover in Narita Tokyo Japan headed to Manilla, Philippines 🇵🇭 do I need to a RT-PCR test for a short layover ? Tnx Reynaldo D FRY North Carolina USA 🇺🇸 FEEDBACK MOST APPRECIATED
So I’m going through the You Tube rabbit hole and I saw this masked man and I thought, “Gee that guy looks just like my Willamette classmate”. And it is!
Oh, what an experience you had!
Good that you still can run!
What if it happens to me, for sure I won't make it!
But I prefer to take Haneda Airport cause I live in Kawasaki and it's just around 15 mins by train.
Ah! What a story!
Hahahah, my wife and I laughed all through this video, while we ate breakfast! 👍
What is so funny about this poor guys experience that is horrible of you to laugh at someone else miserable experience
@@mikethompson3534 I'll dumb it down for you .........we laughed, meaning we enjoyed his story because it's so relatable, as in experienced travellers can relate to his story. Got it now? 🤔
Sounds like me at Haneda last Friday afternoon - including running!
I m from bkk but lives in Sydney.
Once i was on my own for the first time travelled from Sydney to Fukuoka to see my daughter there. All flights went well excepted for the booking for hiring pocket wifi. For the last confirmation was sent to me while i was on the plane ( there were too many times i had to confirm about this) . So i didn't , i didn't expected that. !!!! . When i arrived at the air port ,then went to pick up my pocket wifi. Guess what !!!! Yeah... NO WIFI, NO INTERNET FOR ME.!!! DAMN !
But i was smart on that trip😉😉, i went to most cities around Kyushu island without using internet happily. 😁😁😁
I flew to Haneda from Chicago this March with Japan airlines, they fed us with only one main meal on a 13 hours flight. After arriving at Haneda I had to walk through countless procedures and waited for roughly 3 hours to leave the airport.
OMG! What a story! Get yourself a scotch and water and enjoy.👏☺️
The problem in japan "NOT ENOUGH ENGLISH SUB ON EVERTHING !!!!" i've been trough same stupid shit on Haneda!
It was bad enough travelling before
This is worse than a nightmare makes me not want to travel anywhere anymore seriously damn
Moral of the story don't use ana use the same airlines
Japan is the pain in the ass, they wouldnt let me on the plane in lax because i need a visa if my layover is over 24hours.
kishida will make japan poor society.
Next time don’t smoke so much weed you got the munchies man
Maybe next time you can go on JAL instead 😂
Bureaucratic Insanity.
You should write a book. Way to much talking
Story Too long i got tired
All of these "nightmare in Japan airport" videos are very distasteful. There are so many lives and plans that have been ruined because of covid because of Japan's covid policies. Just the fact you still have the freedom to come and go whenever you want in Japan makes all of your complaints null and void. None of what you said is that big of a deal when countless numbers of people would do anything to go to Japan the same way as before.
So you are complaining because you weren't prepared. You didn't do your due diligence about your flight schedule. You figured you could just walk into the airport and people would cater to you because you are American which you seem to keep repeating to everyone you meet. Got it!
I don't think he is complaining.. he just let us know not to make the same mistake like he did..😊 thank u for sharing...
Expected from Americans
He’s not complaining, just telling the story. Grow up
People want to know
It is weird to have so many mistakes though. Departure information is usually plastered on monitors all over airports and available on the airport's website for look-up. With the flight number, if someone would have just taken the time to calmly look up the information instead of guessing and hoping for the best, a lot of stress could have been saved. This sounds like a case of 急がば回れ (running around in circles).