Originally Posted by
LHR/MEL/Europe FF
Do you have a visa for China? If you are relying on transit without visa (TWOV) you may be refused entry if your stay is considered 'too short'. Eight hours is mentioned in the TWOV thread here on FT, although the early arrival may skew that (not a lot to do in Shanghai at that time of the morning, and the maglev doesn't run until 7 or something).
This thought didn't occur to me, but is definitely cause for concern if he doesn't have a visa. If I were in his shoes, I'd get a visa (easy since he's in NY). If that isn't possible, I'd book one of the airport hotels, and prepare to explain (i,e. plead) why resting in a hotel bed is essential to the immigration people.