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Why Smart Travelers Prefer Flying to Tokyo Haneda
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Beginning as early as summer 2020, a handful of US-based carriers will launch new service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND), in some cases shifting flights over from the larger Narita (NRT) hub. Delta's even planning to end service to Narita entirely, scrapping its NRT-Singapore (SIN) flight in the process.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) finalized its route approvals in August, giving the formal OK for the following flights to Haneda:
- American Airlines: Dallas/Fort Worth; Los Angeles
- Delta Air Lines: Seattle; Detroit; Atlanta; Portland, Ore.; Honolulu
- Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu
- United Airlines: Newark, N.J.; Chicago O’Hare; Washington-Dulles; Los Angeles
Some of the more interesting proposals didn't make the cut — American's Las Vegas-Tokyo suggestion, for example — though, when all is said and done, most flyers will now have an opportunity to fly their preferred carrier across the Pacific with at most one stop.
With the route assignments now final, they'll join the handful of existing routes US airlines already flew to Haneda. By summer 2020, the map of US airline routes to Haneda will go from looking like this:
To this:
If you're a frequent Tokyo visitor, the shift from Narita to Haneda makes perfect sense, while anyone who has yet to visit Japan's capital city might be left scratching their heads — sure, I trust that the airlines know what they're doing here, but what's in it for me?
Truth is, quite a lot. Cheaper transportation to and from Tokyo, for one, but also more time to explore the city's Instagram-worthy temples, or chat up the chef at a sushi bar, or shovel down a bowl of delicious ramen. HND is located just 12 driving miles from Tokyo Station, while Narita's a full 40 miles, with one-way transfers taking in excess of two hours during peak times.
Just how much will you save? Well, if you're booking an Uber, quite a lot. Depending on the time of day, a one-way trip from Haneda to the famed Park Hyatt Tokyo will run you around $75:
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Not bad. But the same trip from Narita? More than $250.
Of course, public and shared transportation will save you a bundle from both airports, with bus transfer times to the Park Hyatt taking as little as 45 minutes from Haneda and from two and a half hours from Narita, and trains running roughly 55 minutes from Haneda and a bit over 90 minutes from Narita, including a moderate walk.
While Haneda is clearly the more convenient option for travelers visiting Tokyo, Narita offers more connections throughout Asia, so passengers flying through the city may prefer NRT instead. HND is a stronger pick for domestic transfers, though. So US flyers continuing on to other destinations in Japan may find better onward options there, so it'll always be worth comparing options once these new Haneda flights launch in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Featured image by Getty Images
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.