BA and Shanghai 144-hour Transit Without Visa - any problems?
Mar 14, 2018, 12:19 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
However, I had issues in Shenzhen VOA when I was asked for the old passport, which I did not take with me on the trip, so it may prove useful to take the old one in case immigration officials ask for it.
Jan 21, 2019, 12:44 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: British Airways Gold, IHG Spire Elite, HHonours Gold.
Posts: 403
Hi all,
Received some good advice recently on the 144 hour TWOV provisions however my google searches have brought me to this thread.
i would hugely appreciate any feedback from others who have experience.
Flying LHR to PVG with a separate booking to SYD 2 days later.
1) Given BA will not know about my separate booking, I assume we may encounter some difficulty checking in 24 hours ahead and may have to do this at the airport?
2) I have seen from some searches that people reference going to the BA ‘visa check’ desk at LHR - if I am TWOV, why would I do this? Or could I still have an issue at boarding if I don’t?
Apologies for the questions on this but I seem to come across something else each time!
thanks again.
Received some good advice recently on the 144 hour TWOV provisions however my google searches have brought me to this thread.
i would hugely appreciate any feedback from others who have experience.
Flying LHR to PVG with a separate booking to SYD 2 days later.
1) Given BA will not know about my separate booking, I assume we may encounter some difficulty checking in 24 hours ahead and may have to do this at the airport?
2) I have seen from some searches that people reference going to the BA ‘visa check’ desk at LHR - if I am TWOV, why would I do this? Or could I still have an issue at boarding if I don’t?
Apologies for the questions on this but I seem to come across something else each time!
thanks again.
Jan 21, 2019, 12:56 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
Hi all,
Received some good advice recently on the 144 hour TWOV provisions however my google searches have brought me to this thread.
i would hugely appreciate any feedback from others who have experience.
Flying LHR to PVG with a separate booking to SYD 2 days later.
1) Given BA will not know about my separate booking, I assume we may encounter some difficulty checking in 24 hours ahead and may have to do this at the airport?
2) I have seen from some searches that people reference going to the BA ‘visa check’ desk at LHR - if I am TWOV, why would I do this? Or could I still have an issue at boarding if I don’t?
Apologies for the questions on this but I seem to come across something else each time!
thanks again.
Received some good advice recently on the 144 hour TWOV provisions however my google searches have brought me to this thread.
i would hugely appreciate any feedback from others who have experience.
Flying LHR to PVG with a separate booking to SYD 2 days later.
1) Given BA will not know about my separate booking, I assume we may encounter some difficulty checking in 24 hours ahead and may have to do this at the airport?
2) I have seen from some searches that people reference going to the BA ‘visa check’ desk at LHR - if I am TWOV, why would I do this? Or could I still have an issue at boarding if I don’t?
Apologies for the questions on this but I seem to come across something else each time!
thanks again.
Jan 21, 2019, 2:15 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,475
Hong Kong is not part of mainland China so is a 3rd country and so you can transit through HKG.
Jan 21, 2019, 2:48 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,106
The official Chinese line is something like "separate immigration rules" for the third country. Wouldn't want to admit HK is too separate (nor Macau) 
But anyway, HK counts which is very convenient.
But anyway, HK counts which is very convenient.
Last edited by flatlander; Jan 21, 2019 at 3:20 am Reason: INCEU60 is not as generous as I thought :(
Jan 21, 2019, 3:10 am
#22
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,158
Chinese immigration may also ask to see a copy of your hotel reservation so it is wise to bring printouts of all travel and accomodation confirmations. Apart from that I find the authorites efficient and friendly.
Jan 21, 2019, 3:19 am
#23
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
I think you have misunderstood the context of my post. What I was replying to was a comment saying "what wouldn't be allowed is to connect through HKG in both directions." so doing something like LHR-HKG-PVG-HKG-LHR. As you are not transiting China on to a third country in that instance you would not be able to use TWOV on such an itinerary.
Jan 21, 2019, 5:50 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: British Airways Gold, IHG Spire Elite, HHonours Gold.
Posts: 403
Jan 21, 2019, 8:21 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
In T5 at least I'm pretty sure you can't even get through security until you've had your visa check done. You would just be rejected and sent back to the check-in/visa check desks.
Jan 21, 2019, 8:49 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 466
We flew MH (KUL-PEK) and they took about 15 mins to confirm that we were eligible for TWOV. Hopefully BA are deal with British/EU passports more often than Malaysian.
Jan 21, 2019, 10:43 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,369
Just a heads up, one of the travel bloggers Josh Cahill was refused entry to China under the TWOV as a hotel on his previous visit hadn’t registered his stay or something, it seemed that the immigration and operating carrier were passing the buck and nobody seemed to know what to do before As his onward flight with another air,I’ve was in 5 days.
After overnight on the seats at the airport he was returned to his origin and bought another ticket on a separate carrier to return to China for his onward flight... Whilst the situation didn’t seem pleasant it could have been a lot worse in other countries and the footage is a little melodramatic IMO but if you want to see you can search for it on You Tube.
After overnight on the seats at the airport he was returned to his origin and bought another ticket on a separate carrier to return to China for his onward flight... Whilst the situation didn’t seem pleasant it could have been a lot worse in other countries and the footage is a little melodramatic IMO but if you want to see you can search for it on You Tube.
Jan 21, 2019, 11:04 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: British Airways Gold, IHG Spire Elite, HHonours Gold.
Posts: 403
Many thanks for these additional replies.
I’m actually doing two separate TWOV’s in the space of 3 weeks, with a separate ticket to SYD nested in between. PVG and the PEK either side. I’ll be sure to check that the first hotel register my stay after the above message.
I’m actually doing two separate TWOV’s in the space of 3 weeks, with a separate ticket to SYD nested in between. PVG and the PEK either side. I’ll be sure to check that the first hotel register my stay after the above message.
Jan 22, 2019, 12:11 am
#30
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Worth perhaps noting the title of this thread refers to a "144 hour visa" but the content is for Transit Without Visa 
One could seriously confuse people, at airport and in China, if one seems to be trying to get a visa on arrival.
One could seriously confuse people, at airport and in China, if one seems to be trying to get a visa on arrival.