In PVG, you will need to pickup luggage and re-check it at the regular domestic departure counter even with a *A connection. Also, the walk between T1 and T2 are really long. You will probably need at least 3 hr connection time.

2 years ago, UA sold me an itinerary with a connection to CA at PVG. The connection time was 2 hours. At around 18 hours before departure, a guy from their Indian call center called and told me that my connection time was not long enough and tried to change my connection flight over the phone. I could not understand what he was talking about, and he said to call back. I called back and the US-based agent told me that it was true. She then got me a seat with MU without any fee.

It turned out that my flight from LAX to PVG arrived 1.5 hr early, then I went to UA counter to change the connection flight to the original one without fee. I was silver at that time, I was surprised and glad that they called and allowed me to change the tickets 2x without fees.