Last edit by: JDiver
AA Ground Staff May Deny Boarding for China Transit Without Visa Issues
This thread is ONLY for discussion of American Airlines' ground staff dealing with Chinese TWOV issues. For further information, see:
FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Asia > China Forum
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
and / or
China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
The issue: though Chinese immigration authorities seem disposed to allow transit without visa for passengers going on to flights with connections in non-China, non-origin destinations, e.g. LAX-PVG <permitted TWOV> PVG-NRT-LAX, AA ground staff have denied boarding to passengers for the XXX-China leg.
Even if such a passenger were to secure alternate arrangements or reimbursement, there is still sure to be considerable inconvenience. Until AA informs ground staff such travel complies with China TWOV rules, purchasing such an itinerary currently entails some degree of risk, as evidenced in the following thread.
AA generally uses IATA Timatic to verify boarding eligibility. Link to Timatic Web provided courtesy of United Airlines; this form provides information on entry requirements, not departure policies as might be administered by any airline.
144 TWOV China- AA Issues/Questions
#676
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Actually, “playing it safe” is the wrong way of saying “I am now required to obtain a visa.” No ifs ands or buts. Your revised itinerary does not qualify for TWOV.
#677
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Agreed, but calling someone a troll or suggesting they're anti China is more than stating ones view of the facts. And of course, the facts are that occasionally people have difficulty with a number of airlines using TWOV or with Chinese immigration.
#678
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
It was about his postings in other threads which are cleatly Anti-Chinese. And then this nonsense here, which matches up with his history of trying to make people not considering visits to China. Call it as you like..
#679
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
I understand that the new itinerary requires me to get a visa. I had the option of pushing to have all the meetings in Shanghai - but given the troubles others say they have had with the AA interpretation of TWOV it's best not to risk it given I have the time (and reimbursement) to grab a visa using expedited service. This thread is very useful because without it I might have chanced it on the old itinerary (having some clients come meet me in Shanghai) and had a really bad situation Saturday when I couldn't get to China on time.
#680
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AAdavantage Member
Posts: 63
I actually almost got denied but I went to my airport which is smaller just to see if they were aware of TWOV and they thought I was some dumb lazy kid (I’m a young looking 25 year old) and luckily I had time to drive to Houston and get a visa but I emailed customer service and got 2 $150 e vouchers.
And we were trying to do PEK and HKG and they said we couldn’t do more than 24 hours in either since they are both China. So completely wrong there.
Last edited by Snorkel 378 TH; Mar 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm
#681
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Sure, but I didn't do either of those things. The trouble that people have with TWOV usually originates at check-in at airports outside of China. Check-in agents who don't know the rules are flat out wrong.
#682
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Let's not forget that the outcome of the original issue was that AA accepted responsibility for incorrectly interpreting the rules and the OP was made whole again with sufficient compensation.
The last few posts disputing the need for the transit to be of 'good intent' are indeed correct in doing so. The poster that made the claim has no basis to do so, and appears was doing so to unfairly discourage people from using TWOV, and causing enough doubt to force them to go to considerable additional expense and time to get a visa. (Or alternatively, get them to cancel their trip to China outright.)
The last few posts disputing the need for the transit to be of 'good intent' are indeed correct in doing so. The poster that made the claim has no basis to do so, and appears was doing so to unfairly discourage people from using TWOV, and causing enough doubt to force them to go to considerable additional expense and time to get a visa. (Or alternatively, get them to cancel their trip to China outright.)
#683
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 234
144 Hour TWOV question
Flying AA SAN-LAX-PVG. Staying in Shanghai 3 nights and then taking an 8-night cruise to Japan.
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
#684
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Flying AA SAN-LAX-PVG. Staying in Shanghai 3 nights and then taking an 8-night cruise to Japan.
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
And there's no way to get an OK from AA in advance, I would certainly not rely on the Twitter team or customer service email team to provide correct info regarding the TWOV rules. And even if they did come back and say "OK," it's unlikely that the AA dragon check-in rep that was causing problems would even consider it.
Really depends on how much you value those 3 days in Shanghai. Personally, if I were landing in PVG and going straight to a cruise I would never attempt it (and I've done China TWOV many times over the years). However, since you have a 3 day buffer, I would probably give it a go.
#685
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Flying AA SAN-LAX-PVG. Staying in Shanghai 3 nights and then taking an 8-night cruise to Japan.
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
Return to the same cruise port from Japan then flying out that evening PVG-LAX-SAN.
I have been told that my trip qualifies from the 144 hour TWOV exemptions (USA-China-Japan then Japan-China-USA). However, I am also aware that some have had problems with AA and have been denied boarding. Our flights aren't for a few months, FWIW.
I have a very tight connection in Los Angeles and really don't want any hassles over not having a Chinese Visa. Do you think I could get jacked up by AA given this itinerary? It is risky to do this without a Visa, or not so much? Is there any way to get an okay from AA in advance, so if I am jacked up, I can just show them the message? Thank you in advance!
The potential complication is no onward air ticket (but cruise).
The rules are pretty easy though and the main TWOV thread here on FT has the full extract of TIMATIC. You may want to print that out from the wiki so that if there are any problems, you can show the check-in staff where to look (TIMATIC is long and has many parts. Knowing where your exact part is can help.)
Allow as much time as you can at your originating airport in the USA. You could in theory head to a ticket desk at SAN next time you're out there and show them all the documentation. If they agree it's TWOV then you have a pretty good idea you're good to go. The call centre or social media channels are not as reliable. They're not front line.
#686
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Though I’m not an advocate of purchasing tickets one will not use for most reasons, I’d say this might be a case to have a fully refundable, cancelable and obviously TWOV qualifying air ticket departing PVG under 144 hours after your arrival - and cancelling it prior to boarding your cruise ship. Ship’s personnel will likely handle the China departure formalities with migration staff.
#687
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
Though I’m not an advocate of purchasing tickets one will not use for most reasons, I’d say this might be a case to have a fully refundable, cancelable and obviously TWOV qualifying air ticket departing PVG under 144 hours after your arrival - and cancelling it prior to boarding your cruise ship. Ship’s personnel will likely handle the China departure formalities with migration staff.
I hope the other regulars here join me in, in saying that your comment - especially coming from a moderator - is about the worst advice you could give about TWOV.
With 3 days in Shanghai, I'd just go ahead and not worry about anything. If AA fails again, they'll have to compensate you on a later stage and you reach China one day later, and from all I heard it wasn't too bad of an outcome for the FTer involved. Chances are very slim that might happen (every day, hundreds or even thousands travel via China on TWOV), since even AA might learn and train their staff better.
#688
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 234
Though I’m not an advocate of purchasing tickets one will not use for most reasons, I’d say this might be a case to have a fully refundable, cancelable and obviously TWOV qualifying air ticket departing PVG under 144 hours after your arrival - and cancelling it prior to boarding your cruise ship. Ship’s personnel will likely handle the China departure formalities with migration staff.
Still, I've dealt with AA before and they are not always so reasonable or logical. My ex-GF injured her ankle (2x normal size) and not only did AA refuse her per-boarding, but they did a retaliatory gate check of her nice carry-on bag, with the counter woman running over to insist that it be checked, even when it clearly fit in the sizer.
Last edited by Stockjock; Apr 5, 2018 at 11:27 am
#689
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Many of the itineraries that get discussed here are not obvious "transit." For example, some flies from LAX to PVG with a connection in NRT and stays in PVG for three days and then returns to LAX with a connection in KUL. The TWOV advocates state that PVG immigration will normally treat PVG as a "transit" in that scenario for purposes of TWOV even though most of us would not consider that to be a transit and there are stories of various airlines from the Australia, Europe and the US denying boarding. Your itinerary seems more obvious -- you're just going to Shanghai as a traditional transit point to get on your cruise although I'm not sure how the going to/from Japan works so I'll leave that issue to the TWOV advocates.
#690
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
Many of the itineraries that get discussed here are not obvious "transit." For example, some flies from LAX to PVG with a connection in NRT and stays in PVG for three days and then returns to LAX with a connection in KUL. The TWOV advocates state that PVG immigration will normally treat PVG as a "transit" in that scenario for purposes of TWOV even though most of us would not consider that to be a transit and there are stories of various airlines from the Australia, Europe and the US denying boarding. Your itinerary seems more obvious -- you're just going to Shanghai as a traditional transit point to get on your cruise although I'm not sure how the going to/from Japan works so I'll leave that issue to the TWOV advocates.