BA, the Chinese transit-without-visa provision, and multiple tickets
Sep 28, 2015, 8:21 am
#1
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BA, the Chinese transit-without-visa provision, and multiple tickets
I have a 75 hour transit at PEK coming up which I am assured is allowed under a strict interpretation of the new Chinese transit-without-visa provisions. The journey is LHR-PEK-HKG-...-NRT-PEK-LHR.
However, the journey is on several tickets. I am doing a LHR-PEK-LHR return, thirty days apart; but continuing onto HKG on a fresh ticket 75 hours after my arrival (within the "three day" period set out below). Then on the way back I am doing NRT-PEK the night before my PEK-LHR flight.
Am I likely to face any trouble at the BA visa desk for this? As far as I can see, the Chinese authorities are not bothered as long as I have evidence of my onward flight, whether or not it's on the same ticket. Has anyone had any trouble doing this?
Here's the relevant TIMATIC information if you're interested:
However, the journey is on several tickets. I am doing a LHR-PEK-LHR return, thirty days apart; but continuing onto HKG on a fresh ticket 75 hours after my arrival (within the "three day" period set out below). Then on the way back I am doing NRT-PEK the night before my PEK-LHR flight.
Am I likely to face any trouble at the BA visa desk for this? As far as I can see, the Chinese authorities are not bothered as long as I have evidence of my onward flight, whether or not it's on the same ticket. Has anyone had any trouble doing this?
Here's the relevant TIMATIC information if you're interested:
Code:
Information as of 28SEP15 / 1414 UTC National United Kingdom (GB) Embarkation United Kingdom (GB) Transit China (People's Rep.) (CN) Destination Hong Kong (SAR China) (HK) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW China (People's Rep.) (CN) TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Holders of confirmed onward airline time of 24 hours. Transit incl. multiple stops within China (People's Rep.), with a total transit time of max. 24 hours, is permitted. (SEE NOTE 43503) - Not applicable at Fuzhou (FOC) and Yanji (YNJ). NOTE 43503: Not applicable to holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas) , who are required to hold a Returning Resident Permit, together with their Hong Kong ID. - Visa required, except for Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen holding confirmed onward airline tickets to a third country, if arriving in and departing from the same city: - at Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Chongqing (CKG), Dalian (DLC), Guangzhou (CAN), Hangzhou (HGH), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Tianjin (TSN), Wuhan (WUH), Xi'an (XIY) or Xiamen (XMN) for a max. transit time of 72 hours, starting from 00:01 on the day following the day of entry. - at Guilin (KWL), Harbin (HRB), Kunming (KMG) or Shenyang (SHE) for a max. transit time of 72 hours; - All transiting passengers are subject to a check by immigration. Passengers in transit must hold passports or passport replacing documents that are accepted for entry into China (People's Rep.). For more details on document requirements, please enter China (People's Rep.) as a destination. - Not applicable at Beijing (PEK) if staying in the international transit area. - Leaving the transit area is allowed. (SEE NOTE 43503) NOTE 43503: Not applicable to holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas) , who are required to hold a Returning Resident Permit, together with their Hong Kong ID.
Last edited by Calchas; Sep 28, 2015 at 8:29 am
Sep 28, 2015, 8:34 am
#2
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That's fine. The key fact here is that you're continuing onwards so it's transit rather than going back to the same airport after three days. No one will look at the underlying LHR-PEK-LHR as long as you continue to NRT within the three day window.
Sep 28, 2015, 8:40 am
#3
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Good ^ but will BA be satisfied with that on the outbound?
Sep 28, 2015, 8:48 am
#4
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They should be, but it wouldn't hurt to have TIMATIC and a copy of your onward itinerary printed out just in case...
I had to read it a couple of times to reconcile the 74hr transit and the 72hr allowance. The 'starting from 0001 the next day' didn't immediately click with me. I'm guessing you'll get a 'hang on a minute, oh, okay' response from the document checker.
I had to read it a couple of times to reconcile the 74hr transit and the 72hr allowance. The 'starting from 0001 the next day' didn't immediately click with me. I'm guessing you'll get a 'hang on a minute, oh, okay' response from the document checker.
Sep 28, 2015, 8:52 am
#5
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Should be fine, I have done similar thing twice already. Chinese immigration did ask for a printout of confirmed ticket/seat, but I had that on me so no problem.
I would think the only problem you may encounter is an agent at LHR who does not read TIMATIC properly...
I would think the only problem you may encounter is an agent at LHR who does not read TIMATIC properly...
Sep 28, 2015, 8:55 am
#6
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And just to let you know and save time, in PEK you can go straight to the immigration counter, no need to 'pick-up' visa(or any special TWOV stamps) at the visa counter; this TWOV is done by a large stamp in your passport at the immigration directly.
Sep 28, 2015, 9:30 am
#7
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I have just done London-Helsinki-Beijing-Pyongyang and return with separate tickets on Finnair and Air Koryo. I had no problems getting the 72 hour visa waiver which is valid up to midnight on the last day even with the Air Koryo e-ticket being just an e-mail from the Beijing office Hotmail account.
Sep 28, 2015, 3:25 pm
#8
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I have also done entry into PEK and onward TWOV, in on BA out on JAL on separate tickets and it works fine.
At PEK go to either the signed transit counter or if not open the Diplomat/APEC counter. The general counters can't handle TWOV.
At PEK go to either the signed transit counter or if not open the Diplomat/APEC counter. The general counters can't handle TWOV.
Sep 28, 2015, 4:03 pm
#9
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The one thing somewhat tricky here is the exceeding of 72 hrs, but it SHOULD work . assuming the agents are capable of reading the information correctly.
I have never had any problems in using this at PEK - just have a printout of the onward ticket.
I have never had any problems in using this at PEK - just have a printout of the onward ticket.
Sep 29, 2015, 1:08 am
#12
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I've done it from there (or rather DUS), on one occasion they couldn't work out what the bleep meant, and just stared at the passport, then in T5 they wanted to see the itineraries. Second time I told the DUS agent and she took my word for it, cleared down the message saying "you seem to know what you are doing".....
And for the OP: no problem at all with mixed itineraries, BA and CX know the score, other airlines tend to get a bit nervy about it, so allow extra time on them so that various staff can push your paperwork to ever more senior agents.
Sep 29, 2015, 1:09 am
#13
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I had issues at LHR with BA's agent unable to interpret TIMATIC. What's more, there's a visa helpline they can ring and whoever was staffing that seemed equally unaware of the 72hr visa - and this was just a couple of months back.
In all fairness the narrative on the screens the BA check in staff have isn't all that clear. If you don't know how the system works, it is confusing!
So I would say count on it taking 30 minutes at the desk. I reckon it was about 15 minutes for us and the agent's final attitude was "well, if you think it's OK...." I guess he wasn't the one who would get thrown into a salt mine with his wife & kids for 5 years hard labour if it went wrong.
In all fairness the narrative on the screens the BA check in staff have isn't all that clear. If you don't know how the system works, it is confusing!
So I would say count on it taking 30 minutes at the desk. I reckon it was about 15 minutes for us and the agent's final attitude was "well, if you think it's OK...." I guess he wasn't the one who would get thrown into a salt mine with his wife & kids for 5 years hard labour if it went wrong.
Sep 29, 2015, 1:17 am
#14
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Sep 29, 2015, 2:57 am
#15
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I flew LHR-PEK-HND on 2 tickets a few weeks ago with 2 nights in Beijing. No one at BA verified my onward ticket at all! I had all the documentation printed, but no one asked for it!
When I was there, the 72 hour visa desks are on the far right hand side, with the 24 hour visa on the left hand side. I was stamped in very quickly then taken to a side desk where I had to fill in a form with my details and had a photo taken of me. They wanted a printed hotel confirmation that I didn't have. Of course Gmail is blocked in China so I was a bit stuck. luckily I know the address in Chinese so was eventually let out. PRINT YOUR HOTEL CONFIRMATION! This had changed from when I used the TWOV 2 years ago. It might have had something to do with the 70th Anniversary war parade?
When I was there, the 72 hour visa desks are on the far right hand side, with the 24 hour visa on the left hand side. I was stamped in very quickly then taken to a side desk where I had to fill in a form with my details and had a photo taken of me. They wanted a printed hotel confirmation that I didn't have. Of course Gmail is blocked in China so I was a bit stuck. luckily I know the address in Chinese so was eventually let out. PRINT YOUR HOTEL CONFIRMATION! This had changed from when I used the TWOV 2 years ago. It might have had something to do with the 70th Anniversary war parade?