Hello. Arriving into PVG on a biz class (C) award travel using UA miles.
Arrive from BKK into PVG at 7am. Depart PVG for SFO same day at 12:40pm (about 6 hours later)

Will there be a UA desk agent available around 7am to check us in and check our bags so we can high tail it to the lounge?...or will I need to wait for the UA desk to open which may not happen until 10:40am (2 hours before flight) or whatever?...

My understanding is that I cannot check bags and get BPs all the way from BKK to SFO...I need to clear customs and re-check bags in PVG.

Also, have been through PVG before and seem to remember getting there early to check in at the desk and having to wait a while for anyone to be there. I don't think UA has any flights out of PVG before the SFO one.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can share on this situation.

PS: I have called United and they informed me I can check bags all the way from BKK thru to SFO. I have also had people on flyertalk tell me that in PVG they will rip off my bag tags that say SFO, make me retrieve them, and then put on a new tag that says SFO. So, am dealing with some conflicting information...perhaps b/c processes have changed over the past few years for the better or for the worse.