Looking for some advice regarding a connection in Shanghai (PVG). I'm flying in from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on Malaysian Airlines, arriving at 2:10p and then connecting on AA to ORD departing at 4:10p. I'm a bit worried that the 2-hour connection time may not be sufficient. Both arrival and departure are at Terminal 1. But will I need to collect my luggage and/or clear customs etc.? Would greatly appreciate any advice from folks familiar with connecting through PVG.
I'd be comfortable with that connection. I believe 45 mins is AA's official check-in deadline at PVG, but when bookings are heavy, that figure occasionally morphs into 60 minutes. But, even 60 minutes (based on your 2 hours total) is more than enough time to comfortably make it from your first flight to the AA check-in counter (PVG only has one operational terminal btw). Furthermore, ime inbound delays for regional international flights are not all that common.
Also, on the remote chance that you are flying on a single ticket, I dare say you have nothing at all to worry about because there are a lot of flights on which you could be protected (UA to ORD, AC to YVR/YYZ, MU to NYC, etc).
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I've only done one int'l to int'l connection at PVG, but based on my experience that time you will have to go and collect your bags and go through customs and immigration. IIRC someone (perhaps moondog even, though maybe not) had mentioned that PVG was working to simply transfer procedures and would eventually not require the same immigration process as if you are entering PRC, but I don't know if that is implemented yet.
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Thanks, all, for the great advice. Just wanted to update and say that I made the connection through PVG with no problems. I may have been lucky, but I breezed through immigration, quickly collected my luggage, breezed through customs, and had no line at the AA desk. Got to the gate with plenty of time to spare.
In fact, the entire process was about 10x smoother than the process of collecting my luggage in BOS at the end of the trip, ugh.
IIRC someone (perhaps moondog even, though maybe not) had mentioned that PVG was working to simply transfer procedures and would eventually not require the same immigration process as if you are entering PRC
That may or may not have been me, but I am pleased to report that PEK has already started to move in this direction. They now have transfer counters that allow pax to transit airside as long as they are flying out on CA metal. Not the greatest arrangement, I know, but a good start nonetheless. Furthermore, I'm willing to go on the record in predicting that, by the time the "pumpkins" open for business early next year, we'll be within striking distance of NRT and ICN in terms of int-int convenience. Unfortunately, until the Chinese figure out how to clear their airways during rush hour (I've heard that the PLA is largely to blame for this frequent phenomenon), those afternoon delays will continue, particularly on the PEK-HKG sector (all destinations in between --Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Shenzhen, Guangzhou-- and beyond --SIN, BKK, SGN-- also apply).
Hi,
I am planning to connect from a SQ flight arriving from Singapore to a Air China Flight. I have 1 hour and 50 minutes till the Air China flight depart to Tokyo. Do you think I should be able to clear everything on time to get to the gate? Flight from SIN arrives at 3:15 PM and the Air China flight departs at 5:10 PM.
Glad to see the OP made it. However, here are some more considerations for a 2 hour connection at PVG based on my limited (~8 international flights so far and ~3 domestic flights at PVG):
Your flight may have 300 people on it. Your luggage may take 30 minutes if you are unlucky.
Customs and immigration have always been very fast/efficient for me. (~under 10 minute to pass through both)
Your arrival terminal may be different than the departing terminal (1 and 2). They are a good 10 minute walk. If you have luggage, or trouble walking, plan for more time.
The check-in wait line (queue) may be very very long. On my last flight using China Eastern, I waited over 30 minutes. On a previous NWA international flight, I wait between 20 to 40 minutes.
Add those times together and you will see that you are at risk to miss your flight!
Once you got your boarding pass, you are pretty much ok, because from the security gate to your flight is probably under 10 minutes. (Security is very efficient, even with the crap that some people try to pull.. My last crossing, I saw someone with a frozen chicken with a frozen bottled water jammed inside it to keep it cooled. The funny thing was - After security cut the chicken in half (they have a big cook's knife!) took the frozen water bottle out, they packed the chicken back up and gave it back to the passenger! I wonder what it will smell like when she get to her final destination....
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sanji
Hi,
I am planning to connect from a SQ flight arriving from Singapore to a Air China Flight. I have 1 hour and 50 minutes till the Air China flight depart to Tokyo. Do you think I should be able to clear everything on time to get to the gate? Flight from SIN arrives at 3:15 PM and the Air China flight departs at 5:10 PM.
By coincidence, I am taking the 5pm CA flight to NRT today!
I think you should be OK, as long as the SQ flight is on time.
Your arrival and departure flights are from the same terminal, Terminal 2, at PVG. Try to get SQ to tag your luggage (if you have anything checked) all the way to NRT.
When you get into the terminal, you have a long walk from the gates SQ use to immigration. When you get to the stairs down into the immigration hall, do not take them. Instead walk past them. Just after that, on the left hand side, are some International Connections desks. These are usually available for connections on Star Alliance airlines, but are not always staffed.
If the connections desks are staffed, then they should be able to give you your CA boarding pass and verify your SQ baggage tag numbers. You then go through a security check and upstairs into the international gate area. If there are no Air China staff on duty, they can call for someone to come and process you. This takes a little longer but you should still have time. It is helpful to have a printout of your itinerary or at least the eticket number, in case of queries.
If the desks are not staffed at all, or if you have luggage that is only tagged to PVG, then you need to go through immigration and customs (should be fast at that time of day) and then upstairs to check-in. Note that Air China have separate domestic and international check-in areas, so keep an eye on the signs. Also, note that international check-in for Air China at this time of day can be a zoo. If you are running close to 1 hour to departure, go to the Business of First Class desks and ask either them, or the supervisor sitting next to them, to check you in.
Once you are checked in, it is easy. Through security and getting to your gate should take 15 minutes or less.
