Star Alliance - *A lounge in PVG??

Flying soon in F on UA PVG-LAX. The *A website lounge finder tool isn't working and a search here showed no current info. So, I'm left wondering whether there is a *A lounge in PVG these days and, if so, what it's like.

Looks like a contract lounge.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5324/pvgmap.png (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/pvgmap.png/)

I have not personally been there but if you can wait until May 8th, I can give you a report!

Yes, there is a *A first class lounge. Up the escalator to the second floor, across from the business class lounge. Don't expect much, just basic snacks, sofas, and a good view of the runway.

It's the Shanghai Airlines lounge. You will be sharing it with SkyTeam flyers. The horror...

I confirm, the Shanghai Airlines lounge...and it's very basic!

All lounges in China are very basic... what's new?

More discussion here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/436763-consolidated-ua-lounge-access-shanghai-pvg-thread-merged-9.html) in the UA forum.

You will have access to the FM (Shanghai Airlines) lounge. It is a typical Chinese airport lounge. The business side will be quite crowded at times, F not so much. But set your expectations low so you will not be disappointed.

Thanks to all for the responses. If my expectations are low enough, perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

There are some above standard things. Sleeper rooms are much more common. However, first class showers would shock you as if you are in a bad motel.

Yes, there is a *A first class lounge. Up the escalator to the second floor, across from the business class lounge. Don't expect much, just basic snacks, sofas, and a good view of the runway.
This doesn't sound like the lounge DL uses at PVG. The location is roughly what is marked on the map, on mezzanine level and open to the terminal below with the DL gates, but the FC section is within the main lounge. You show your credentials at the counter and are directed to either the FC area, which is small and right ahead after you turn left at the reception counter, or the bigger business class area, to which you veer to the left after the left turn at the counter. The FC area has larger and nicer seats and IME more periodicals.

Worldtraveler73, anxious to read your review. Thanks.

I will be in transit at PVG in less than one week (F class) on my way from ORD to BKK. I am wondering about lounges at PVG. Sounds like there is a smallish one that I will be able to use.

I read on another internet site that you must claim your bags upon arrival at PVG and then re-check them. Is this true??? Hope not! Hoping bags go from ORD to BKK in a seamless manner, just as they do when I transit through NRT or HKG.

I will be in transit at PVG in less than one week (F class) on my way from ORD to BKK. I am wondering about lounges at PVG. Sounds like there is a smallish one that I will be able to use.

I read on another internet site that you must claim your bags upon arrival at PVG and then re-check them. Is this true??? Hope not! Hoping bags go from ORD to BKK in a seamless manner, just as they do when I transit through NRT or HKG.

I have not had any success in getting bags checked through when transiting PVG. Maybe this has changed, although I doubt it, especially if you are changing carriers. Some have reported success (in the China forum, I think) if your travel is all on China Eastern.

Wow... thanks for that reply, 1kBill.

I'm coming in on UA and leaving PVG on Thai. I guess I won't need to worry too much about lounges if I have to reclaim/recheck bags.

Does this mean leaving airside and re-entering thru security?? Glad I've got a couple of hours at PVG.

Just changed my ticket to avoid PVG all together. Now it's ORD-NRT-BKK, saver award in F. No more worries about having to collect and re-check bags! No worries about having proof of my onward ticket out of PVG within hours...

Now, if I can just get my husband's ticket changed too!! He will join me in Bangkok about 5 days later. His flight date is not showing anything available in F (saver) just yet. I'll keep watching though. I know that availability will often pop up within a couple of days of flying.

Worldtraveler73, anxious to read your review. Thanks.

Ok - I'm 6 months late to the conversation but I did visit.

Link to review here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18858267-post27.html)

Not a lot of fancy liquor on offer but the setting was nice.

I got my husband's ticket changed this morning, so he is also avoiding PVG. All that baggage claiming/rechecking, immigration, security, etc sounded a bit too much for us old folks. So glad we are now travelling through Narita instead. We know Narita very well, and know that it is a smooth transition from arrival to departure.

Thanks for the report worldtraveller73 on the lounge. Do you know if they offer showers for business class passengers?

Cheers

*A (aka FM) lounge at PVG does offer showers. Just ask an attendant at the lounge check-in desk. Be forewarned: they are very basic, not even a hint of luxury. Motel 6 level, really. But they do the job.

Thanks for the report worldtraveller73 on the lounge. Do you know if they offer showers for business class passengers?

Cheers

I believe that they do - it would be consistent with the sleep rooms that were on offer among other things. However, I did not actually see the rooms themselves.

All lounges in China are very basic... what's new?

Perhaps I shouldn't quote something so old, but the thread has been going on, so why not go for it? (Apologies if this is wrong)
But have you been to the CA lounge in PEK? I think it is one of the best *G lounges in the system. A restaurant with delicious made to order food, and rooms with beds for sleeping, it is brilliant!

I haven't been to the international PEK lounge... but the domestic PEK lounge was not so hot.

The food was pretty regional , and China isn't known to be one of the culinary capitals of the world.

Breakfast was limited to congee, hard boiled eggs and some instant noodles.

I could be flamed here, but I was super happy when I got airplane eggs on my flight out of PEK after my lounge visit there. This was the PEK domestic business lounge. . .