China without a visa
Jun 19, 2017, 12:51 pm
#31
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Sorry. Yes, we have US Passports.
I was picking up pals in Boston and went a little early to talk to a counter agent. Mixed reviews - they didn't know all the TWOV rules (for instance he said it *had* to be the same ticket). But at least he said they would make it work if it could work.
I was picking up pals in Boston and went a little early to talk to a counter agent. Mixed reviews - they didn't know all the TWOV rules (for instance he said it *had* to be the same ticket). But at least he said they would make it work if it could work.
He is totally wrong - hopefully they get it sorted out before your departure.
Jun 19, 2017, 2:48 pm
#32
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Separate tickets every time, twice reward once revenue.
Jun 19, 2017, 3:12 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2014
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I actually second this recommendation.
Also to note, the 10-year visa is valid for 10 years even if the current passport expires before the 10 years is up. (You can enter with a new passport and the expired passport containing the visa for the full 10 years.)
~$160 is CHEAP peace-of-mind!
Also to note, the 10-year visa is valid for 10 years even if the current passport expires before the 10 years is up. (You can enter with a new passport and the expired passport containing the visa for the full 10 years.)
~$160 is CHEAP peace-of-mind!
Huge hassle: these threads and the threat of not making it due to uninformed agents or total peace of mind.
Back when the visas were one year, I could totally understand the rationale but since they've been upped to 10 years, it's pretty good insurance. Plus there's so many interesting Chinese sites outside the major cities (Jiuzhaigou, Hongcun, Huangshan)
Jun 19, 2017, 9:42 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2017
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$400 for 10 years for 2 people on a presumably much more expensive flight to me is a no brainer. To me it seems cheap and worthwhile. These threads pop up every few weeks because the employees don't understand the rules and get denied boarding or worse.
Jun 19, 2017, 10:55 pm
#35
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When the agent screws up and tries to deny you boarding make sure to politely suggest that they put Japan as the destination and PVG as the transit point into TIMATIC when they look up the rules. That makes a huge difference compared to them putting PVG as the destination and denying you boarding.
Jun 19, 2017, 11:01 pm
#36
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Here is the itinerary.
BOS to PVC (14 July -> 15 July, via EWR)
PVC to NRT (17 July)
NRT to GUM (18 July)
GUM to BOS (July 19, via HNL and SFO).
This meets the letter of the 144 hour transit and we'll be staying 2 nights in a Shanghai hotel. (And then one night in Tokyo and one night in Guam).
BOS to PVC (14 July -> 15 July, via EWR)
PVC to NRT (17 July)
NRT to GUM (18 July)
GUM to BOS (July 19, via HNL and SFO).
This meets the letter of the 144 hour transit and we'll be staying 2 nights in a Shanghai hotel. (And then one night in Tokyo and one night in Guam).
Jun 19, 2017, 11:04 pm
#37
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It's probably more advisable that the OP makes his own decision as how to spend his OWN money, especially for something that he doesn't need to purchase.
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
Jun 20, 2017, 2:43 am
#38
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My daughter just did a transit three weeks ago in China with absolutely no hassle.
I also did one last year on SFO-PEK-SIN UA/SQ without any problem.
I also did one last year on SFO-PEK-SIN UA/SQ without any problem.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Jun 20, 2017 at 2:59 am
Jun 20, 2017, 2:56 am
#39
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Jun 20, 2017, 2:59 am
#40
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Jun 20, 2017, 3:39 am
#41
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I did KIX-PVG-ORD-EWR/EWR-ORD-PVG-KIX. Transit visa both directions without issue. UA didn't say a thing. Out of KIX was on juneyao? No issue with them.
Jun 20, 2017, 7:20 am
#42
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It's probably more advisable that the OP makes his own decision as how to spend his OWN money, especially for something that he doesn't need to purchase.
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
Jun 20, 2017, 7:22 am
#43
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Jun 20, 2017, 10:47 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bay Area
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It's probably more advisable that the OP makes his own decision as how to spend his OWN money, especially for something that he doesn't need to purchase.
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
My wife and I have transited PVG about 5 times in the past few years and have spent several nights there w/o the need for a Chinese visa. The ONLY thing that they do require if transiting and continuing on a flight in a few hours is that the pax go to customs and retrieve their bags and recheck them in. All of this, and the trip to the transit desk, was with the escort of a Chinese group-leader who assisted ALL pax's transiting that day. Anyway, that's how we were handled, except for the times that we stayed for a few nights.
The first time we stayed in Shanghai I purchased about $300.00 worth of Mao Zedong lighters which I managed to bring back to Vegas in my checked luggage. They were a big hit since they played the Chinese national anthem, and everybody wanted more. The next year I went back over and purchased about $500.00 worth of them and put them in my carry on ----- WRONG---All of them were confiscated at security, by some of the most unfriendly dudes that I've ever encountered! My mom was really bummed out, but she finally got over it.
Anyway, back on subject --- The OP DOES NOT NEED A CHINESE VISA to do what he is planning, and if an uninformed t/a gives him a hard time, he needs to demand a ruling by someone higher up, and stay on top of it until you get your b/p's!
Telling someone on here to Pop for over $400.00 for unnecessary visa's (that he isn't required to purchase), just in case you happen to run into an uninformed/ignorant g/a is bad advise, IMO!
Jun 20, 2017, 11:21 am
#45
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^^ Its an OP decision. VISA is not necessary but everyone has their own preference to improve convenience and security. Some people don't like the hassle of public transit and take a taxi. Some people buy trip insurance for extra security. Some people pay for TSA pre to avoid security hassle. Some people book F to avoid the hassle of Y. Some people pay for UA Signature service to smooth things along. Its up to each person's preference, budget, and comfort level. For me, if I'm only planning to travel to china once and/or live far away from a visa office, I certainly won't get a visa.