Baggage Transfer Returning
 

I will be returning from ICN on KE & connecting to CO to EWR

through PVG (Pu Dong) on Dec 5 all on CO tix in 1st (up front)

Can my bags be checked through from ICN to EWR without

my claiming & rechecking in Pu Dong

And what choice (if any) might there be for lounge access

I am lifetime CO President's Club (I heard conflicting club info)

Thanks for any help

People ask similar questions all the time, and none of us -- even those who have tried or failed in the exact same situation in the past -- know for sure.

A few random comments:
-CO flies ICN-EWR n/s
-if you are flying biz class on CO, then you get lounge access, regardless of PC membership
-PVG's lounges are a pretty miserable bunch

I would in any case be prepared to re-check the luggage at PVG. Plus have a Chinese entry visa at hand for immigration as you will likely have to do the whole check-in procedure landside.

The only rather enjoyable lounge at PVG is the Cathay/Dragonair combo, IMHO. But even there no showers, for example.

Domestic totally agree. International ones are NOT that bad. I think some DL SC are much more miserable...

May I ask why? He could take advantage of the visa-free transit regulation, couldn't he? :confused:

Transit in PVG: re-check luggage?
 

I've a similiar question regarding this. I did use the search-function, but it seems that there are also contradicting information available.

In two weeks time I've the following itinerary upcoming: ZRH-(LX/F)-PVG-(OZ/C)-ICN-(OZ/C)-SYD. According to the transit visa regulations I do not need a visa for PVG as long as I've a confirmed flight within the next 24/48 hours; perfectly for me as my flight to ICN leaves within four hours after my arrival in PVG.

However, what's about my luggage? LX in ZRH will certainly be able to interline and tag the bags through to SYD, but will it help in PVG? In another thread on the LX forum a user posted that "Only the LX/NZ connections are NOT requiring to pick up you bags and check them in again in PVG. For all other international connections you have to do it US style". Does this still hold true? So in the end it doesn't matter if the bags are tagged trough and after immigration I have to wait for my bags and pick them up so that they can be rechecked on the departure level?

Sorry for asking, but it's my first time doing an international transit in PVG... ;)

To make the "transfer" quick and hassle free. It's not always that obvious when you're there on the ground...

The Real Skinny
 

Just returned Sunday from ICN through PVG to EWR

Only a landing card is required (no entry visa for InTransit)

ALL bags must be claimed & rechecked

2 tremendous terminals about a half mile apart with

a shuttle bus to do the elevated loop (easily done)

Very comfortable "Shanghai Lounge" in T2 with many

nice amenities & pleasant food & drink offerings

Wide array of seating arrangements & free wireless

but some site blocking (mostly on sending)

Highly recommend utilizing PVG for transfers with

sufficient connection time (not for short turns)

Great selection of shopping & food service options

2 mirror image hotels between the terminals

Happy to answer any PMs

I'm glad it worked out for you, but many of us disagree with your assessment.

Please List
 

You seem to speak for some transfer club

Kindly use other options

Thanks

What's a transfer club? In any event, I think PVG is a pretty dreadful airport by most counts, especially when you compare it with other viable transit options in the region: ICN, NRT, HKG, HND... I'll stop short of saying SIN due to its out of the way location.

As Of When
 

When were you there last (date)

11/06.

No Wonder
 

Clearly you were in the old terminal

Now they have 2 nearly mirror image HUMONGOUS terminals

A whole different world from what you experienced (& well done)

PM if you care for more details

As others have stated above, PVG is the worst major transit airport in the region.

The fact that you had to go through immigration, collect your bags, go through customs, go outside of the terminal, take a bus to the other terminal, recheck your bags, go through security and go through exit immigration/customs are all testaments to how bad of a transit airport PVG is. Very few of the steps listed above would be needed at NRT/ICN/HKG etc.

The PVG terminals are very clean/newish but are quite desolate amenities-wise and most of the lounges are very very poor vs what is on offer at NRT/ICN/HKG etc. About the only thing I like about PVG are the Japanese toilets in some of the lounges.

Its great that it worked out for you but PVG really is a horribly inefficient place to connect, which is a real shame given the potential connections which exist there.


My opinion is based on years of traveling to/from PVG, in both the original terminal and the new one (not that there is much difference).