Transit Visa Issue - PEK
 

Traveling IAD-ORD-PEK-ULN departing 06 February. Arrive PEK 1625 on 07 February via UA. MIAT flights to ULN booked until the following day, so my flight for ULN departs PEK at 2030 on 08 February (all in Terminal 3 PEK). This was a last minute change due to weather cancellations, etc. However, I understand Chinese transit visa is required for any stay in the airport greater than 24 hours. I appear to be stuck with a 28-hour stay. I was planning to just hit the transit hotel in T3, but I think I have a bigger problem.

Tickets are issued, but will I be refused UAL boarding at IAD or ORD due to lack of transit visa? Or will the real problem come at PEK? Chinese Embassy in DC closed for holiday through Monday, so actually getting a transit visa pre-flight is impossible. I am afraid I know the answer, but any guidance or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you. I had reviewed that thread, which seems to focus more on the 48-hour exception at Shanghai, but certainly had some valuable insight on PEK, also. In retrospect, perhaps I should have posted a reply in that thread.

I'd be willing to bet that if less than 24 hours elapses between entry and exit (border control), you'll be fine on the China side, but that doesn't solve the UA check-in problem.

Fortunately, there is a very easy solution to your problem that happens to apply to your case:

-get UA to switch you to the IAD-NRT-PEK flight; it arrives at 1015p.
-in light of the situation, you should compel them to open up inventory in the event your fare class is zeroed out
-by all means, head into town; it's boring here this week, but you can still do a lot of cool things during your 22 hour visit

What are your interests and what's your hotel budget?

Actually, I think though your post title is generic, your problem is unique enough to warrant its own post.

What is your passport? Can we assume that it is USA, since you are starting out from the US? Let's start with the transit visa bit: for most nationalities, the transit visa is an anachronism that isn't much used anymore--because it is the same price as a regular visa, it makes more sense for most travellers (at least those from First World nations) to just get a standard Chinese visa for the same price. For US citizens, this is generally given for 12 months for multiple entries. There are some nationalities that are eligible for Chinese visa-on-arrival--so if you were travelling on one of those passports, that would solve your issue. (Not US passport though.)

Now to your problem, assuming a US passport. I think you definitely have one since your connection is over the 24-hour PEK allowance. And no hope of getting a rush visa since you are travelling over the Chinese New Year holiday. IMO, you have one hope only and it is very slim: if your original flight itinerary had you travelling in and out of PEK within the 24 hour limit, but IRROPS changed it at the last minute through no fault of your own and now you are over limit...you might have an opportunity to talk your way through this. Which would have to be done twice: with your boarding airline(s) and then with Chinese immigration at PEK. You cannot just stay airside after deplaning and escape Chinese immigration, even though I think they are more likely to be understanding than your airline.

Is there an Air China flight leaving earlier on Feb 8, that your airline can change you over to so you fall within the 24 hour limit? There used to be one around 11 am-noon. Can they reroute you through ICN? It's a busy time for transpac travel, so even if your ticket booking class and/or status allowed for some flexibility, there may not be any other seats available. Is postponing trip for a couple of weeks an option, to get yourself sorted?

It's a UA ticket so changing the UA portion (like I suggested) makes the most sense and should be really easy.

Since posting, I actually thought of an --arguably-- better option:

-fly NH001 connecting to NH955 (if UA allows it; they codeshare on the former)

This would give the OP exactly 24 hours in Beijing and NRT is infinitely nicer than ORD IMO. The only crappy part is that NH955 is operated by a 737 these days... not nearly as nice as UA's 777.

Under the circumstances, I think the OP getting picky about aircraft on a regional flight is the least of his worries. Good idea for another option though.

Thanks, everyone. No chance of postponement. Need to be in ULN next week ASAP. I changed my routing to IAD-LAX-SFO-PEK-ULN, which gets me out of IAD later and, thus, into PEK on the afternoon of the 8th. So, I'll only have a 5-hour layover at PEK with no need for a visa. All segments except LAX-SFO were upgraded, so not a bad solution. And, I pick up an additional 1,200 EQMs. :)

jiejie's suggestion was a good one, but I thought the 1130 Air China flight to ULN was sold out on the 8th. It wasn't, but I only found that out after making my change. That would have been ideal, as I would get into ULN at a much more reasonable hour.


Thank you all again.

Why didn't you go for one of the NRT flights (there are usually half full)?

Couldn't upgrade exchanging my existing UA ticket.

Personally, I would have gone with Y via NRT in favor of your double connection because:

-E+ --let alone exit rows-- on 777s is bearable
-you probably wouldn't be very tired any way
-5+ hours less en route
-the night + day in Beijing would surely be pleasant

But, it seems your only real problem at the moment is that LAX connection. If UA were the least bit civil, they would permit you to fly n/s to SFO from IAD (both hubs!); this would cut your travel time by ~3 hours... competitive with the NRT routing.