2.5 hour layover in Beijing but?
 

This summer, I'm flying from Kunming to Copenhagen through Beijing with a 2.5 hour layover. The problem is the first leg of the trip has a 54% on time rating... And I'm going during the rainy season. There's another flight going through Moscow with an 8.5 hour layover that's on time 94% of the time, but I don't feel very comfortable spending that much time in an airport (I'm only 16 so going into the city for an hour or two, which my parents are adamantly against, isn't really an option). Which flight would you recommend?

Spend a night in Beijing... no ifs, ands, or buts.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTkxNzQzNTI=.html

(Apologies for all of Youku's ads.)

Yeah except not only am I not legally allowed to check into a hotel, I need to be in Sweden by around 8:30 AM and the Dubai flight would get me in around 7, while the Beijing flight would get me in the afternoon before.

Surprised Moondog didn't say it, but I would not choose an option involving a 2.5 hour layover in PEK that involves a domestic flight at the front end. That 54% is probably high, as Chinese domestic flights are notoriously delayed. It could be you'll get there close to on time, but you could also miss the connection by a lot. There's a high degree of risk involved, and general best practice is to fly in the day/night before, or fly internationally on first leg (i.e., no domestic connection).

Are you sure you can't check into a hotel in China?

I didn't say it because both of the proposed options are bad. I would like to know more about the hotel legality issue before advising on this topic. How can any expat be denied a hotel room in China?
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Age, I assume. OP says he/she is 16.

I'm confused. In your original post you said you are flying to CPH but now you need to be in Sweden. Unless there have been some real estate deals in Scandinavia recently, CPH is not in Sweden. You mention choices of marginally connectable-Beijing or lengthy-Moscow, now somehow traveling through Dubai has entered the picture. Frankly, all of these sound unappealing.

You may be only 16, but clarity in writing, learned early, will be of great assistance in Life. So once again, where are you starting from and when, and where do you need to end up by when. I have to believe there are more options than just what you've mentioned, and possibly some that don't involve having to register at a hotel. For instance, what about KMG-BKK-ARN on TG?

Sorry, I should have clarified this. I'm flying into Copenhagen and then immediately heading to Malmo. Also, the Thailand flight involves an even longer layover (10 hours). Also I don't even know what I was thinking with Dubai. I meant to say Moscow, I was just being an idiot.

Beijing
 

First of all - do you have a multi-entry visa? If not, end of discussion. You are going no where but the terminal. Second, let me tell you what happened to me. When I arrived from Manila, the transfer desk was closed. To even get to the main terminal I had to exit and reenter. If I had not had a multi-entry visa I would have been SOL. It also took forever to re enter. It felt like all of China was trying to enter the terminal and to top it off one of the security people was making everyone that entered entirely unpack their carry on luggage. It was 2 hours to re enter. Take the 2 1/2 hour layover.

Do you know what airport and Terminal are you connecting through in Moscow? I once had a 3 hour connection in Sheremetyevo Terminal F, and that was the worst 3 hours of my life - smelly and dirty toilets, no AC or air circulation in the heat of summer, 1 food vendor offering overpriced and unappetizing deli sandwiches (which btw closes after hours), no FX exchange desk (shops only accepted Rubles and Euros), inadequate signage for connecting flights, lack of seating, etc. I've heard other terminals are better, but you may need a visa to exit the connection area. I would rather take my chances with PEK, even if it means I have to sleep at the airport in case of a missed connection.

Can you take an earlier flight from Kunming to PEK to give yourself ample time in case of delays?

Kunming is in China.

Interesting. I honestly don't know whether or not there are age restrictions that apply to hotel guests in China, but I'd be willing to bet that, even if there are, work arounds are not especially challenging.

In any event, based on the updated fact set, I now recommend the 2.5 hour layover in PEK if the following conditions are met:

1) same terminal
2) single ticket
3) willingness to risk not arriving in Sweden the following morning

Thanks for all the replies. I have two questions. They might be really stupid, but this is my first time flying alone internationally as well as my first ever connecting flight.

1. How do I find out what terminal the flight leaves from?
2. Do I have to go through customs or security or anything like that?

Edit: In reply to moondog, Ideally I would be in by noon the next day but it's not the end of the world if I'm not. The flight to Copenhagen is scheduled to arrive at 5:00 PM the first day so that should leave plenty of time. Also, it would be on the same ticket with Air China.

NM
 

NM LOL