9h Transit at Airport

Hi,

I am flying from Singapore to Vancouver on Northwest. My route is:

Singapore - Narita - St Paul - Vancouver

The transit at St Paul is 9 hours. According to my ticket, I%26#39;m not allowed to get out of the airport.

I do however, have to collect my luggage, which means that I%26#39;m assuming that I have to check in again?

According to my travel agent, many of her clients on this same class ticket (cheapest) who fly British Airways to London (I know, it%26#39;s not the US) are told that they are not allowed to exit the airport as well. However, whenever they reach London, they ask approach airport staff and are able to do so - i.e. take a city tour.

Has this happened to anyone before? I don%26#39;t want to spend one night, just do a city tour, after all, I have a 9h transit!

If this is not possible, is there an airport transit hotel where I can rest/sleep/shower?

I went on the MSP airport website but can%26#39;t find anything.

9h Transit at Airport

I don%26#39;t understand why you would not be able to leave the airport unless it is related to customs/immigration.

Is it possible that your ticket is overstating the restriction?

Unfortunately there are no hotels at the airport itself. The best alternative to a hotel taht can think of would be to get a day pass to the NW World Club. But, if you were stuck in the customs area I am not sure that you would be able to access it.

I jsut don%26#39;t see how they can restrict you to the airport unless they keep you behind customs

9h Transit at Airport

I believe when you land from Narita, you%26#39;ll have to clear customes %26amp; immigration, then there will be a bag re-check desk for continuing flight, and then given the option to go to the gates, without having to go thru security again.

once you are in the gate area, you would be free to leave the airport - but would have to clear security again so keep your boarding passes %26amp; ID handy.

you can easily take the light rail from the Lindberg MSP airport station either to the Mall of America (a few stops south), or north to downtown Minneapolis.

metrotransit.com/rail/Hiawatha_map_freq.pdf

I found one company that does tours of the Twin Cities -- there may be others

http://www.twincitiestours.com/

I live in Minneapolis have many times arrived at MSP from an international destination, terminating here and continuing on as well. At the arrival hall you will collect your bags and take them thru Customs. Just past Customs you will re-check your luggage and then enter into the main terminal at MSP. You can easily take the Light Rail from the airport to Downtown Minneapolis (20 mins) or to the Mall of America in the opposite direction (5 mins). There are many hotels around the airport and mall in all ranges from Motel 6 $29.95 to Holiday Inn, Sheraton etc... You will have no problem getting a room for a few hours for a shower and still have plenty of time for a nice dinner, shopping and looking around. Taxis are readily available and you can get just about anywhere of interest in 20 mins from the airport. Other than rush-hour this city is very easily negotiated. MOA is a worth a look if you have never been, DT has lots of shopping and great resturants. You can%26#39;t miss either way.