Japan Airlines is now offering to drop off travelers’ suitcases at their hotels for a fee. But the new program isn’t just about providing good customer service; it aims to ease the burden on Tokyo’s overcrowded public transportation system.
Passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport can pay 4,500 yen ($30) per suitcase to have their luggage taken directly from the arrivals hall to their hotels in the capital, eliminating the hassle of carrying their suitcases on Tokyo’s crowded trains, buses and subways have to sit. The airline promises to deliver the bags the same day, barring weather or traffic-related delays.
“The ‘baggage-free’ travel service from Haneda Airport aims to address social issues such as public transportation congestion and locker shortage, providing tourists with a more convenient travel experience,” Japan Airlines (JAL) said in a statement.
Travelers do not have to fly JAL to use the service, and the service is also open to Japanese residents. However, the program is limited to hotel delivery, meaning people cannot have their bags delivered to an Airbnb, rented apartment, private home or other type of accommodation.
JAL flyers who use the service will have 50 frequent flyer points credited to their account.
The service is available every day between 4:00 AM and 6:00 PM in the arrivals hall of Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3.
Delivery can be arranged to hotels in 14 of Tokyo’s 23 wards, including popular tourist areas such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Chuo (home to the Ginza district).
The airline says it wants to expand its delivery offering in the future.
Overtourism has been a major problem in Japan since the country reopened after the pandemic.
According to Japan’s National Tourism Organization (JNTO), about 3.3 million foreign tourists visited Japan in July 2024, a record high.
Officials have encouraged visitors to spread out and travel to less-visited regions in Japan.
Earlier this year, JAL announced it would offer free connecting flights within Japan for customers flying from North America.
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