What to do during a 10 hour layover at Beijing airport
May 25, 2017, 4:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: CONTINENTAL ONE PASS
Posts: 65
What to do during a 10 hour layover at Beijing airport
My boss is flying from SIN to PEK tonight arriving at PEK at 5:50 AM.
His flight from PEK to EWR does not leave until 3:35 PM on Saturday.
He does not have a visa so he can't leave the airport.
He's flying in Business class but he said that there isn't a United Lounge at the airport.
Any suggestions on what he can do for 9 hours 45 minutes at the airport?
His flight from PEK to EWR does not leave until 3:35 PM on Saturday.
He does not have a visa so he can't leave the airport.
He's flying in Business class but he said that there isn't a United Lounge at the airport.
Any suggestions on what he can do for 9 hours 45 minutes at the airport?
May 25, 2017, 4:43 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
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Air China lounge is the place to go if he does not want to take a train to downtown area. If he has never visited Beijing, he should take train/subway to visit the Tiananmen Square area and Wangwujin street. Good luck.
May 25, 2017, 4:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Pax qualifies for transit without visa (TWOV) and can leave PEK airport. Instruct pax to look for the TWOV desk (it's literally a desk) at the far end of the immigration counters upon arrival. There might be a long line, but one should be through with the process within an hour.
May 25, 2017, 4:50 pm
#4
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Location: Austin, TX
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Pax qualifies for transit without visa (TWOV) and can leave PEK airport. Instruct pax to look for the TWOV desk (it's literally a desk) at the far end of the immigration counters upon arrival. There might be a long line, but one should be through with the process within an hour.
May 25, 2017, 5:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KHH, FUK, SNA
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Posts: 1,181
I think Singapore , Japan a few very small nations passport holders do not need visas. US passport gets 72hr transit with out visa within the city.
May 25, 2017, 5:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: United 100K, Etihad Gold, Marriot Platinum, Hilton Gold
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If you can get a transit visa the great wall is nearby, or you can catch a taxi to the forbidden city. Taxi's are freakishly cheap.
Beijing airport sucks, I do not recommend hanging out there for a long layover. Hopefully the Tom Brady Bar is finally open atleast... unless he is from Atlanta
Beijing airport sucks, I do not recommend hanging out there for a long layover. Hopefully the Tom Brady Bar is finally open atleast... unless he is from Atlanta
May 25, 2017, 5:47 pm
#8
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Please follow the thread as it moves to FlyerTalk's China forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.
May 25, 2017, 7:46 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: aeroplan
Posts: 158
Private guides are really inexpensive compared to some other destinations. 10 hours should be plenty of time for a quick looksee in the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square (adjacent and it is a big square so does not take hours so could be done first thing before FC opens) and possibly even the National Museum of China which is very close by to both the Square and FC (although that packs a lot in a very short period of time). I would def recommend a private guide though. It is such a short period of time that figuring out logistics is just not worth it. We hired guides over many days to see specific things and it was money well spent.
May 25, 2017, 11:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Posts: 3,622
He can get a public taxi to Tiananmen Square and look around and then walk to the forbidden city when it opens (at 8:30 a.m.)?
He should beware of taxi scams and touts and only take either a public metered taxi or a pre-arranged taxi, not a "private taxi" offered by a tout at the airport.
He should beware of taxi scams and touts and only take either a public metered taxi or a pre-arranged taxi, not a "private taxi" offered by a tout at the airport.
May 26, 2017, 10:13 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: CONTINENTAL ONE PASS
Posts: 65
His Air China flight from SIN to PEK is Fare Class: Business (C)
and his United flight from PEK to EWR is Fare Class; United Polaris business (P)
Can he use the Air China lounge at PEK with a ticket in these fare classes?
and his United flight from PEK to EWR is Fare Class; United Polaris business (P)
Can he use the Air China lounge at PEK with a ticket in these fare classes?