Originally Posted by
Cap'n Adventure
I've got an under-24-hour overnight layover in PEK on a BKK-PEK-SFO award ticket (TG/UA metal). The rules on the Chinese consulate website indicate that I'm going to need need a Transit (G) Visa if I want to leave the airport ($130 per person), and the Chinese consulate has told me the same. However, there are several reports on this thread that a transit visa is not needed for a layover similar to mine. Any recent experiences? Does anyone know of a recent rule change?
I don't know about leaving the airport, but just did a similar routing successfully (SFO-PEK-BUS) w/o a transit visa, and w/o having a BP for the PEK-BUS leg until after arriving in Beijing. Depending on the timing and length of your layover, and since you are 1P, you might want to check out the 'sleeping rooms' in the Air China business lounge in the new international terminal. They looked comfy and private, and I'd estimate there are about 8-10 of them, none were occupied when I went through about a week ago. Or did you want to make a quick hop into Beijing to see the night life?