I'd second most of the above (well the stuff relating to China ) Most of them are OK these days...5+ years ago it was a different matter.

If cost doesn't matter connecting thru PEK may indeed be a better idea (no airport transfer), but otherwise thru Shanghai you can get a chance to take the Maglev train - to connect from PVG to SHA (for the local flight) is no big deal.

For the loacl flight - if you're in the back, suggest hang around and board last - often the flights are not 100% full (BB we must be on different flights!) and you can just walk to the back and grab an empty row. Don't take the first row in Economy - it may look empty but usally has the sky marshal (sleeping) in it