United’s unlocked- luggage policy at Narita

Preparing to fly back to the US from our second trip to Japan in 2014, my husband, Clyde, and I were at Narita International Airport on Dec. 16. While waiting for the United Airlines check-in counter to open, we saw a new rule posted above each of United’s couple dozen check-in stations: all checked luggage had to be left unlocked, even bags with TSA locks.

This caused us much concern until we spoke to an agent at the check-in desk and learned of an easy solution.

Using the computer check-in system at Narita, follow all the same steps as in the past and print out your boarding pass. When you finally speak to an agent, indicate that you want to send your checked bags through locked. 

After the agent weighs and tags your bags, you will be sent to the “Oversized Baggage” room, where your luggage (all sizes) will be scanned. If your suitcases pass this inspection, you may secure them with your TSA locks and turn them over to the Oversized Baggage agents, who will send the bags on their way. 

By the way, our flight was scheduled for 5:55 p.m., and, because rain was forecast, we left Tokyo for Narita early, intending to while away our time in the Presidents Club lounge enjoying soup, sushi, desserts and drinks before our flight. 

However, United’s check-in counter didn’t open until 12:30 p.m., and we ended up waiting for an hour and a half in the Departures hall before being allowed to check in. This cut into our time for relaxation before boarding.

JANE B. HOLT

Hinesburg, VT 

ITN emailed the Security Department of the Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) and received the following in response on Feb. 17: “At Narita Airport we do not have any common rule for checked luggage because, in Japan, the operation of passenger screening (including checked luggage) is carried out by an airline’s authority. The requirement will be different depending on the airline. We’re not sure when the requirement began, but United Airlines still requires passengers to keep their checked baggage unlocked.”

ITN could not confirm that any airlines other than United were following this same policy at Narita Airport.

Curiously, when ITN called United Airlines, the representatives found no record of a policy requiring checked bags to be unlocked on flights to the US out of Narita. The reps instructed ITN to contact the US Transportation Security Administration, whose rep, of course, told ITN that the TSA had no information about security procedures at airports outside of the US. Asked if there were any airports or airlines in the US that required checked baggage to be left unlocked, either on arrival or departure, the rep said that there were not. (TSA agents have keys to open TSA-branded locks, and any other lock may be forced open if it is necessary for an agent to inspect a bag.)