Originally Posted by mot29

Remote stands are a pain -- I also experienced it on the JFK-PVG flight, arriving about an hour early -- maybe they use the remote stand to kill time so you don't get to the terminal before immigration is fully staffed. Even with the wait and drive around, we were at transit security 40 minutes before it opened.
At least for the JFK-PVG flight there was a special bus for business class pax.
My connecting flight later that day -- PVG-TPE was also a remote stand, but no special bus for the business pax.
But I've also had remote stands at AMS (mostly intra-EU), CDG (although its been a while), and even LAX (also been a while and to the old AA remote terminal).
You could think about it as the DL 'picked me up in a bus.' You do get to see a lot.