AA: Boston -> DFW -> Shanghai March 15 same day RT 567$
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Posts: 18,877
I answered these questions with a link in this post upthread.
China has 2 or now 3 main TWOV - 24 hour and 72, which will be extended to 144 (3 days to 6 days)
You must arrive in China from one country (and HKG counts) and depart to different one
See wiki for excellent info
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...hread-117.html
You must arrive in China from one country (and HKG counts) and depart to different one
See wiki for excellent info
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...hread-117.html
Suggestion: Perhaps anyone posting MRs that include stops to or through Mainland China, should include the link to the FT thread.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
If I post a MR to BKK should I link to the Thailand forum? Does SIN MR deserve a warning about spitting, chweing gum or the strict drug policy............It would never end.
I don't disagree but the cynic in me says perhaps anyone who is going to buy a plane ticket to someplace they have never been should do some googleing first. These aren't short lived fares, people have the time to educate themselves.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NYC/Paris
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Lifetime Platinum, BusinessExtra, Global Entry
Posts: 21
No China Visa Needed
This run is in the past but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Last edited by alawrencenyc; Mar 23, 2016 at 11:04 am
#20
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
This run is in the past but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
While it is very easy to transit PEK, even without a printed boarding pass, it is technically not permitted.
The potential issues will be on the ground in the U.S. where AA representatives will not want to issue a boarding pass. They may only do so if you can prove transit to a third country or have a visa, as this is what TIMATIC will tell them is required.
So yes, you don't need a visa, but there is a chance you won't be allowed to board because your ticket doesn't meet the requirements for TWOV. Just because you managed to pull it off doesn't mean others will be able to do so.
I would advise to simply route this flight through Tokyo or Seoul, which often can be done at the same rate as the normal routing. This fulfills the requirements for PRC TWOV.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 46
This run is in the past but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Also, I would not recommend anyone do this, but if you are stuck with a RT ticket, you can book a refundable ticket to a third country and present that itinerary to get your 72 hour transit visa. Once back in the airport, simply board the flight to the US and cancel the other flight.
#22
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
Poster got lucky - every time checkin folks check my passport they rifle through to look for visa. No visa or onward ticket, no go.
#23
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
That has been my experience; the one time I have used the visa waiver-a little business in PVG, then onwards to SIN-the AA system forced me to do a counter check in and required a little explaining to the agent here in San Antonio. It did appear that the agent had to respond to the system (or at least she was typing while I explained the provision).
#24
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
This MR is not in the past it has been around for a while and will probably come back. Also, there may be FTers who have booked something similar that are still making their travel plans and looking to FT for information
As other posters have mentioned up-thread your all-caps claim of not needing a visa is not true. You played with fire and got LUCKY. Not only do you need to follow the TWOV rules but AA shouldn't have even let you board the plane. Your Visa or onward travel plans should have been checked at check-in in LGA AND at boarding in DFW. Setting AA's massive document check failure asside, nothing stopped the Chinese from checking your documents in PEK. I'll reiterate you got LUCKY!
...but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
Plus BOS-DFW-PEK-DFW-BOS is still available for $568-$573 as a walk up fare for the next month. My Easter options looked uninspiring so I'm heading over tomorrow and coming back on Monday. Wangfujing seems as good a place as any to spend the weekend.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: DL ✈️
Posts: 638
that's 17k miles... considering it gives 34k to Plat, it's like paying about $200 out of pocket for the 4 500-mile upgrade. Whoah. You break even, and get some interesting EQMs!
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,824
This run is in the past but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,824
While I'm sure it's possible to do this, I wouldn't recommend relying on. AA agents are required to check visa status, and will generally give you a hard time. Even the 72 hour transit exception requires a bit of advocacy (although at least you can rely on it).
Also, I would not recommend anyone do this, but if you are stuck with a RT ticket, you can book a refundable ticket to a third country and present that itinerary to get your 72 hour transit visa. Once back in the airport, simply board the flight to the US and cancel the other flight.
Also, I would not recommend anyone do this, but if you are stuck with a RT ticket, you can book a refundable ticket to a third country and present that itinerary to get your 72 hour transit visa. Once back in the airport, simply board the flight to the US and cancel the other flight.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
This run is in the past but an important thing to note is that you DO NOT need a visa if you are flying in to Shanghai or Beijing and DO NOT leave the airport. Another words, on a turnaround you are not leaving the international area of the airport and no visa is required. However, you may not even find a place to smoke (if that is a desire) without leaving the international area, so be careful.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
Just to confirm, I did this in November 2015 on a run, LGA-DFW-PEK r/t with no problem in LGA and no questions or problems in PEK.
It is not considered transit without visa to depart and arrive from the same country.
Last edited by ThreeJulietTango; Mar 26, 2016 at 2:27 am