NearMe is recommended for early morning flights from Narita Airport! Cheap and safe directions, registration and reservation methods [Coupons available]
- marupost
- May 10, 2024
- 7 min read
Hello, I'm Yui.
Low-cost LCCs often have flights departing from Narita Airport early in the morning. How do you get to Narita Airport in the early hours of the morning?
I used to stay at cheap hotels near Narita Airport, but now I use NearMe . I've used it more than 10 times, and I've come to the conclusion that it's the best for me in terms of both cost-performance and physical strength.
Because there are no buses or trains that arrive at Narita Airport from the city center at 6am, you have to either take a taxi or stay at a hotel near the airport the night before. However, NearMe is overwhelmingly cheaper than taking a taxi to Narita Airport, cheaper than staying at a hotel the night before, and more secure and safe than spending the night at the airport.
So, this time I would like to introduce you to NearMe, which I recommend for early morning flights from Narita Airport, from how to register to my actual experience using the service.
If you just want a 1000 yen discount coupon for NearMe , you can get the coupon by registering here.
◆What is NearMe?
NearMe is an airport shuttle that will take you door-to-door from your home or hotel to the airport with a simple application. There are shared and private shuttles, so you can choose according to your purpose and use. What's more, it's dramatically cheaper than a taxi.
If you apply, a car like this (or a larger one depending on the number of passengers) will come to pick you up in front of your home or hotel. Recently, it is common for cars from a taxi company to come to pick you up.
If you have ever used a shared airport shuttle in the United States, it may be easier to imagine it as a "Super Shuttle."
◆How much does NearMe cost?
The fare varies depending on the boarding location, the number of people, and the date of booking, but when I boarded alone from a location in Tokyo's 23 wards to Narita Airport, the fare was 5,980 yen.
When I first found out about it, I was surprised at how cheap it was!
This is because, although there are cheaper ways to get there during the day, this is in the early morning when there are no trains or buses. A fixed taxi fare would have cost 23,000 to 30,000 yen, but I was able to get there for 5,980 yen .
Until now, I've always stayed the night before at a hotel near Narita Airport.
The cheapest place was about 7,500 yen per night. On top of that, I took a 1,300 yen bus from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport, and then took the hotel's shuttle bus, which only runs once an hour, to the hotel.
In the morning, the shuttle bus only runs at limited times, so I couldn't eat breakfast at the hotel, and if the shuttle bus time didn't work out, I'd end up just making it to check-in, so it was a busy morning even though I was staying nearby.
Instead, I thought it would be easier to use NearMe, who would pick me up in front of the hotel even if I had to get up early in the morning, and arrive at the airport while I was relaxing in the car. Since then, I've been using NearMe every time I have an early morning flight from Narita Airport.
I think 5,980 yen is already cheap, but if you have a coupon you can get even more discount.
◆How to register for NearMe and get coupons in 3 steps
Now, we will introduce how to get NearME coupons and how to register.
① Access the registration page and register your email address. You can also register with a Google account, but this time I will tell you how to register with an email address. If you want a 1,000 yen discount coupon for your first purchase, please register using the link below.
② When you receive the email "Temporary registration completed", click "Confirm"
③Enter your phone number, name, and password, check "I agree to the terms of use," and then press → to receive your coupon.
How to make a reservation for NearMe?
This time, I'll make the reservation for about a month later, with the setting to arrive at Narita Airport at 6:00 .
①Reservations start
This time, I want to arrive at Narita Airport at 6:00, so I will choose "Airport Shuttle" on the far left.
②Enter the necessary information such as time and date
Here, enter seven items.
Arrival Airport
Terminal
Boarding point
date
Flight number or arrival time
Number of passengers
Number of luggage
Large pieces of luggage are free for one person. From the second piece onwards, an additional fee of 1,000 yen will be charged for each piece, but luggage that can be carried on one's lap does not count.
If the flight number is JAL, ANA, or SFJ (Starflyer) , you can earn miles by entering the flight number and mileage number. For other airlines, you cannot enter this information, so enter the desired arrival time at the airport calculated backwards from the departure time.
③Check the time and price
If you select "Next", a tentative departure time and fare will be displayed.
This reservation is made about one month in advance, so the early bird discount was applied and the fare was 4,980 yen. The departure time ranges from 3:26 to 4:50, but the final time is not known until the day before departure.
④Final check
When you select "Proceed to booking", you will be asked to confirm the date, time and price. We recommend that you turn on "Wait until a seat becomes available" .
Normally, you will receive a reply by the next day letting you know whether your reservation can be accepted or not, but if you leave this setting set to "Off", you will often receive a reply saying "It could not be accepted."
If you turn this setting on, you will have to wait until you are matched with a customer who can share with you before your reservation is confirmed, but this will greatly increase your chances of having your reservation confirmed .
When I actually turn it on and make a reservation, the reservation is almost always confirmed unless it's a last-minute reservation.
⑤Enter your payment method only the first time
You will need to enter your credit card number the first time. After registering, you will not need to enter it every time. Cash payments are not accepted.
⑥Tentative reservation confirmation email
You will receive an email confirming your tentative reservation. Your reservation is not yet confirmed. As stated in the email, you will receive an email within 24 hours confirming whether your reservation has been confirmed or not.
⑦Reservation completion email
The next day, you will receive a confirmation email, so your reservation is confirmed. If you selected "Wait until a seat becomes available" in step 4, you may not receive a response even after 24 hours.
The time will be decided the day before your trip, so all you have to do is wait until the day before.
How to ride NearMe and my experience on the day
Here we will introduce how to drive a NearMe, including some personal experiences.
1. The day before boarding
You will receive an email with the confirmed pickup time, the time and approximate location for passengers, the car's license plate number for that day, and the driver's cell phone number.
The general location of where passengers will be picked up is written, but if you are worried about your passengers being able to identify your home address, it is recommended that you choose a location a little further away when making the reservation, or specify the nearest main road.
② On the day of boarding
First, you will receive an email about 30 minutes before your departure time informing you that the shuttle is on its way.
If you arrive before the meeting time, you will receive an email saying "We've arrived!"
How kind of you to contact me twice before my arrival!!
Thanks to this communication, I have never been late for the meeting time. And, of course, the driver has never been late. He always contacts me about 10 minutes before the meeting time to let me know he has arrived.
Just tell the driver the name you used when making the reservation.
There's no need to show the app screen.
Experience of riding in a NearMe car
The car arrived at 4:40 a.m. The photo was taken when we arrived at Narita Airport, but it was pitch black when we arrived in Achi.
The type of car changes each time depending on the circumstances at the time of reservation, but the cars I have ridden in so far have mostly been black, 8-10 seater types.
The inside of the car is spacious.
You can do lining and stretch your legs.
Due to the number of passengers, I sat in the passenger seat. The passenger seat also had plenty of legroom.
My passenger got on about 20 minutes away from where I got on.
I have taken the shuttle to the airport more than 10 times, and every time I have boarded the shuttle, I have had my companions board later.
So far I have had a variety of passengers, including families with small children, businessmen on business trips, women who look like they are traveling alone to a southern island, empty-handed men who don't seem to be traveling at all, foreigners who don't speak Japanese, and elderly Japanese couples.
NearMe has a really wide range of users, which I think is because you can ride with peace of mind. I think this every time, but the drivers are very kind. That's why I want to use it again and again.
Departure time is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from 4:40.
We arrived at Narita Airport 10 minutes earlier than scheduled.
I arrived early because I met up with the car 10 minutes before my pick-up time, and my passenger also got in early since I left early, so I arrived 10 minutes earlier than planned.
You don't have to pay when you get off, so you can check in as soon as you arrive. If you take a taxi, it takes time to pay when you get off.
◆Pros and cons of NearMe, recommended for early morning flights from Narita Airport
So, I've introduced you to the recommended way to get to Narita Airport when catching an early morning flight.
The benefits are
Much cheaper than a taxi
Cheaper than staying in a hotel the night before
Safer than staying overnight in the airport lobby
Direct access to Narita Airport from your home or hotel
You can ride without having to prepare cash
Disadvantages:
Sharing a ride with strangers
I don't know the departure time until the day before
Registration required
If you want a 1000 yen discount coupon for NearMe , you can get one by registering here. If you are heading to Narita Airport early in the morning, try using it.
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