I have flown into PVG and then done the transit onto a PVG-MNL flight.

SUMMARY: Compared to a standard transit in HKG (best) or NRT (okay), the PVG route is much more tedious transit. PVG is not set up to do easy transits.

1. You may need to change terminals, depending on who you are flying on the PVG-MNL leg. This will entail collecting any hold luggage, exiting security, walking across the pedestrian bridge, checking in yourself, checking in any hold luggage, processing through security again, and doing customs and immigration.

2. You will very probably need a China visa. If you already have multiple-entry one in your current passport, great. If not, check very, very carefully before accepting the word of the airline or travel agent who says you do not.
- If you change terminals, you will definitely go through customs and immigration and then emigration checks.
- If you do not change terminals, you may still have to do so.

3. Airlines running the PVG-MNL route are not going to give you lots of OneWorld options like CX through HKG or JL through NRT.

4. If the above through reasons are not enough to deter you, and you consider the need for variation and adventure sufficient to take you through PVG and include a stopover, remember that PVG is built way-the-heck out of town in a swamp/marsh, and the trek into town for a hotel will consume lots of time and sweat both going into Shanghai and coming back to the airport.

My personal preference for Asian gateways into MNL coming transpac from North America based upon ease of transit and decent transit airport facilities would be:

1. HKG
2. NRT (tie)
2. ICN (tie)
4. BKK
5. SIN
6. PVG

HKG obviously is the easiest transit, CX is the best carrier, the Wing/the Pier are the best lounges, and the train into Hong Kong proper makes an overnight relatively painless.

For BKK and SIN, you are back-tracking, but both airports beat PVG for ease of use.

ICN has a nice Hyatt right at the hotel, which means you don't have to slog into Seoul proper for an overnight.

I wouldn't stop in NRT, and the slog into Tokyo proper is again a real drag.

Finally, the real adventure-seeker ought to fly Air Mike at least once and do the GUM Micronesian milk run.