Originally Posted by donnywong
(Post 28844331)
I'm planning a trip from LHR to HKG and am thinking of starting in PEK for a few days. The best fares seem to be on CX at the moment.
But for purposes of the TWOV program, even though I am starting at LHR and only transiting via HKG to get to PEK, because I will be going back to PEK afterwards does this mean I am no longer eligible for TWOV? And if I put the PEK leg at the end, since there are no CX flights from PEK to LHR, it will have to transit via HKG anyways, so again would this mean I just can't fly CX to take advantage of TWOV for a few days in China? The topic here is strictly AA ground staff denials of China TWOV. Thank you, Moderator |
Good thread but confused
Hi -- thanks in advance. I am reading this thread and remain confused. I have a roundtrip award ticket from ORD-PEK on AA. I bought a separate roundtrip ticket PEK-HKG on CX that leaves a couple hours after the AA flight lands and on the return to PEK I have about 10 hours.
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Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 29043933)
Hi -- thanks in advance. I am reading this thread and remain confused. I have a roundtrip award ticket from ORD-PEK on AA. I bought a separate roundtrip ticket PEK-HKG on CX that leaves a couple hours after the AA flight lands and on the return to PEK I have about 10 hours.
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Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 29043933)
Hi -- thanks in advance. I am reading this thread and remain confused. I have a roundtrip award ticket from ORD-PEK on AA. I bought a separate roundtrip ticket PEK-HKG on CX that leaves a couple hours after the AA flight lands and on the return to PEK I have about 10 hours.
IF your Nationality allows for TWOV.. ! |
Originally Posted by YuropFlyer
(Post 29044013)
No problem at all. For TWOV, the areas of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are considered valid Non-Mainland destinations.
IF your Nationality allows for TWOV.. ! |
I've got SFO-LAX-PVG booked and then three days later PVG-NRT-LAX-SFO on a separate JAL ticket which should satisfy TWOV for Shanghai
Has anyone had any experiences with the LAX AA staff recently on these TWOVs for a situation like the above? Reading some of this thread is starting to make me nervous... |
Originally Posted by lds89
(Post 29517819)
I've got SFO-LAX-PVG booked and ... Has anyone had any experiences with the LAX AA staff recently ...
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Originally Posted by SJOGuy
(Post 28743956)
It will work as far as China is concerned. For TWOV purposes, they look at the itinerary as being YVR-PVG-SFO (Canada-China-USA). They care only about the actual plane that brings you to China and the one that takes you out of China. Where you were before and where you'll be after don't matter. The Wiki in the very long relevant thread in the FT China forum goes into great detail about this.
The problem identified in this not-as-long thread are gate agents and check-in agents outside China who don't understand how this works. Admittedly, it does sound odd, but China is perfectly willing to allow this. |
It appears TIMATIC has been updated since the prior incidents. Previously, one would have to "trick" it in order to display the TOWV exemptions by forcing China to be a transit point. Now those VISA exemptions are displayed when China is entered in as the destination as one would logically do when using the tool to verify travel documents for certain itineraries like the one listed above.
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Originally Posted by kaka
(Post 29518262)
ymmv but this is against the rules for twov if you do not have good intent (transit in canada)
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Unfortunately, an honest discussion of this topic can be difficult since some posters seek to intimidate others. Such intimidation limits the discussion of information and might lead those who use FT as a source of information to not have the full picture. Usage of the word "troll," for example could be seen by others as a way of intimidating people from commenting on this thread.
That being said, there is a TWOV thread in the China forum with good information, although it may be limited because of the intimidation factor. It appears that in most cases, Chinese immigration authorities interpret the term "transit" differently than the common interpretation. As one of the posters above noted, Timatic has been updated and may be more clear than before. From a ignoring intimidation perspective, there are occasional reports on FT and elsewhere of people who have had difficulties with TWOV, even though they meet the guidance in the TWOV thread on FT.. Additionally, while most people appear to not have problems, you can find a number of reports where individuals are denied visas or entry to China when they otherwise might appear eligible. For example, working at a media company -- even in a non-reporting capacity -- might result in a denial of a visa or entry. Thus, if you want to be certain, you should consider simply applying for a visa in advance, Otherwise, there are a couple of posters here who will comment on what usually works. |
Originally Posted by C17PSGR
(Post 29519067)
Unfortunately, an honest discussion of this topic can be difficult since some posters seek to intimidate others. Such intimidation limits the discussion of information and might lead those who use FT as a source of information to not have the full picture. Usage of the word "troll," for example could be seen by others as a way of intimidating people from commenting on this thread.
That being said, there is a TWOV thread in the China forum with good information, although it may be limited because of the intimidation factor. It appears that in most cases, Chinese immigration authorities interpret the term "transit" differently than the common interpretation. As one of the posters above noted, Timatic has been updated and may be more clear than before. From a ignoring intimidation perspective, there are occasional reports on FT and elsewhere of people who have had difficulties with TWOV, even though they meet the guidance in the TWOV thread on FT.. Additionally, while most people appear to not have problems, you can find a number of reports where individuals are denied visas or entry to China when they otherwise might appear eligible. For example, working at a media company -- even in a non-reporting capacity -- might result in a denial of a visa or entry. Thus, if you want to be certain, you should consider simply applying for a visa in advance, Otherwise, there are a couple of posters here who will comment on what usually works. |
Originally Posted by mvoight
(Post 29519213)
I think the basic issue is people who are doing this quick transit are doing elite status runs and don't want the extra time or expense required to get a Chinese visa.
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Everyone - thanks for the input. Given this is a work trip; I now have to go to Beijing in addition to Shanghai, and work will pay for expedited visa services; I've just played it safe and gone the visa route. Cancelled the ticket into PVG and am flying into PEK instead. Will be good to hopefully get the 10 year multi entry business visa so I don't have to worry about TWOV again.
From what I understand, the main issue is "interpretations" by US airline staff who do not want to issue BPs, not the authorities in China. |
I disagree with the posters who are using the term "intimidation" here. China has very clear rules about the way it applies its TWOV scheme. Pointing those out is not "intimidating" anybody. It's simply stating the facts.
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