In my experience HKG flights didn't ever get this treatment, even at the height of the H1N1 scare. It only seemed to be flights from Japan, Korea and Western Countries that had this treatment.
wrong. after the thing escalated, all flights from outside, including HK, Taiwan, etc. are in for the On board inspection.
I was on a flight from HKG to PVG on May 27 and got the treatment.
I was on NW27 from NRT to PVG on May 16, and heard that was the first day US planes coming in from Japan got the on board treatment.
So I guess prior to that, only flights directly coming from US were getting the special treatment.
Can anyone report on their more recent experiences?
July 25, flew PNH-CAN. No guys in biohazard suits. Deplaning as normal, had to line up at a health checkpoint and hand in health forms given out pre-arrival on the plane. Nearly all returning Chinese on this plane though, only about 10 foreigners.
August 18, flew BKK-PEK. 5 minute delay upon landing to remain seated, while a single uniformed health officer (no biosuit) walked through plane with clipboard and pen. Deplaned as normal, then quickly ran into a health checkpoint set up to do an initial look over and stamp same health forms. Second checkpoint to hand in forms (saw machine temperature scanners in operation), looked like they had some officials ready to swoop down on fever mongers or the obviously ill. This took about 5 minutes to get through but my flight was quickly followed by a couple of more incoming int'l flights and I saw the lines get a little bit backed up, maybe 15 minutes to get through if your timing was unlucky. After than, on to entry/immigration as normal. Plane about 2/3 Chinese, rest were other Asian and western foreigners.
This seems to square with what others are currently reporting, when entering China from flights within Asia. Not sure what's happening on the flights coming from North America, or outside Asia region.
On my SFO-PVG flight in late July, some health guys in normal clothing showed up at the gate on arrival and had a brief but animated discussion with the FA's at the door. They didn't come onboard and we all disembarked with no further formalities at the gate.
Will be doing SEL-PEK in about three weeks, if it matters, can report on that.
Did LGW to PVG yesterday, had a form to fill out for immigration regarding potential symptoms, got the usual "stay in your seat" command, a team showed up at the aircraft door, asked in chinese if anyone was "reportable" was told by the flight crew that no one showed any signs of illness (even though the guy sitting in front of me was sneezing like there was no tomorrow!), no one walked the plane.
After deplaning we passed through a temperature monitor which sounded an alarm when I stepped through it, no one stopped me or questioned me, nor for the guy two people behind me, Seems like the days of the biohazard suits might be over with for now.
From HKG to SZX (air-side via Fuyong).
At arrival @ Fuyong, passengers selectively (ot everyone) got the temp taken at the forehead. Health form required. Fast & simple.
For those who did not know, from Fuyong (ferry pier), a shuttle bus takes you to SZX in 15 minutes.
arrived in PEK on CO89 from EWR Aug 27. Filled out the health form and passed to the person at booth who barely looked at it. Seemed to be temperature sensors as we passed through. No one boarded plane on arrival.
Hi folks, my wife and her friend are fly EWR-PVG tomorrow. Does anyone have an update on the screening process/delays at PVG? They are flying BF on CO.
Thanks!
Jake
Here is an update on the procedure in PVG. My wife took the Continental EWR-PVG flight. Once they arrived, a health official came on board and asked one of the flight attendants who was chinese, in chinese if anyone on board was showing symptoms of flu. The answer was no.
They then filled out a health form and disembarked and walked through a machine that seemed to be designed to check for temps, but it wasn't on.
They then proceeded to a counter and dropped off the health form and headed to Immigration.
Hope this helps with upcoming travel to PVG.
Jake
- no on-board temperature checks (FM flight from Macau)
- first body heat check before going down escalator to immigration (one guy sitting behind a desk, i doubt the machine was on)
- second body temperature check and checking of CIQ Health Forms (while i was in the immigration line after already having passed through the temp. check, the machine went off. loud beeping and three guys in white coats came running with a portable temperature checking device. they stopped the line immediately and ran the scanner by everyone's body that was still in the area. one guy (from my flight) got taken out of the line and escorted away. i later saw another guy in white coat at the luggage carousel offloading one piece of luggage and taking it back in the direction of immigration. i can't confirm whether he was later released.
if you're showing symptoms of fever, take a tylenol 1-2 hours prior to landing just to be safe. no fun being stuck in quarantine!
