Originally Posted by
NZLMAN
SHA is a fine airport as far as transitting, and probably better from a food option perspective on the concourse. The lounges aren't great at either airport while flying Skyteam. I would say the main issue at SHA is that, in my experience, delays can be much worse. I've been delayed for 8 hours before, and can't ever remember departing on schedule. PVG isn't necessarily 'on-time', but seems to be a little better. Others may offer a different opinion.
Domestic to international or vice versa at SHA is not as simple as PVG. The enormous SHA domestic terminal (T2) is on one side of the airport grounds and across the runways on the far end is the much smaller international terminal (T1). They are even different stops on the subway. For all its warts, international to domestic at PVG is contained within the same terminal if you stay on the same airline and is more straightforward. Only some intercarrier connections at PVG would require a change of terminal which can be navigated by the underground walkway or a shuttle bus. I am not sure how any of this applies to the OP though since he mentions a hotel in Shanghai.
Originally Posted by
flyerCO
I understand Shanghai traffic. For these trips though there's no need to switch airports. (Although that is an option if I wanted). I'm basically trying to find out how SHA compares to PVG. I'm not worried about traffic, and the hotel is stay at in Shanghai us actually closer to SHA, then PVG. Thus not worried about overnight needing to sleep.
I will save I'm impressed that even on shirt haul routes MU runs wide bodies to SHA, when they run single aisle to PVG. Alone that gives SHA an edge. However if it's a heckish airport especially for I-D and D-I connections then that doesn't matter.
SHA has the bulk of domestic flights for Shanghai so all three major carriers put wide bodies on some of the their trunk lines. In fact, the only time I have flown on a 747-8 was an Air China flight from PEK to SHA.
You mention a hotel but also seem to say you are transiting. It's not so clear what you are trying to do. International to domestic (and vv) at SHA and some intercarrier connections at PVG require a change of terminal. You need to allow more time. But if you are overnighting then I would go with SHA for a domestic flight, closer to your hotel, far more flight options if something goes wrong, and more passenger facilities for domestic travelers. Domestic security at PVG when heavy is much worse than SHA.
As to which airport has more delays, that's hard to say! I fly HX a lot from Shanghai to HKG and their one daily flight in the evening from SHA has a far better on time record than any of the several daily from PVG. My worst domestic delay (MU) have been from PVG, not SHA. But I have had many, many delays from SHA. So, for me, it's a coin toss.
