TMK, all checkin agents have access to TIMATIC, so you shouldn't need to bring any supporting documents at all apart from your onward eticket receipts.

Ok, thanks!

I will fly BA (F) LHR-PVG with a 1 hour 55 min connection onwards PVG-HKG on KA (C). I assume by what I have read that I will have to pass through immigration and check-in again, so I was was wondering if the following actions would save me some time:

1. Print out boarding pass for KA flight beforehand.
2. Travel with hand luggage only.

I would assume that I then could go straight through securtity without checking in, since I'd already have the boarding pass and only hand luggage.

(Also, does anyone know if flying First Class helps me in this case?)

That is a very tight connection (I think below MCT). I would rebook a later KA flight now (leave yourself 180 minutes and you should be fine).

There are no later flights.

I'll go for action 1 and 2 and hope for the best.

Hello. I am quite new here as I am not so frequent flyer yet. The topic actually concerns me now and I followed all posts in that thread and the more I've read the more worries came up . We are 3 pers. family, that temporary lives in Shanghai and we already used our entries at our visa's.

Our flight back to Europe is booked on 30.1.2013 at 23.15 PVG-IST-CPH by Turkish Airlines as the 2nd part of return ticket and our passports are from Shengen zone.
Presently we are considering trip to Australia - Melbourne in January 2013, with return just before departure to Europe from PVG on 30.1, to comply with TWOV within 48 hours in Shanghai.

I am not using miles to travel yet, so I am looking for most considerable connection PVG-MEL-PVG , as an alternative for price,date, travel time and maybe to see something on the way while transferring. So I prefer to ask here before I book next flies to OZ. I checked for options and would like to choose from:

1.Qantas PVG-SYD-MEL-SYD-PVG arrival PVG 29.1.2013 at 18.30 so I suposse should not have a problems to go out with the stamp to see Shanghai within 48h before PVG-IST-CPH? .... that is most pricey for now

2. China Southern PVG-CAN-MEL-CAN-PVG(or SHA) , with possible 1-2 overnight stopover in Guangzhou ( is it possible go out for a city or hotel there the same lik99
5e in Shanghai ?) arr. PVG 30.1.2013 at 16.20 or arr. SHA 29.1.2012 at 22.20 ...medium pricey option

3.Philippine Airlines PVG-MNL-MEL-MNL-PVG, with 21 hours stopover in Manila on the way return for eventual sigtseeing(what would be very nice), but not too good ,that arr. to PVG is 28.1.2013 at 15.15, so 56h before departure to Europe PVG-IST-CPH. (so is there theoretical option to sleep by the airport hotel in PVG after arr. from Manila and go out to Shanghai on 29.1 within 48h or could there occur problems while check in MEL with no CH visas). I can imagine that could be too risky or maybe totally imposible, but I am not sure. This option is cheapest and includes Manila visit.

For sure nr 1 seems easiest and most reasonable to use TWOV in Shanghai. What would You suggest as more experienced flyers?

Thanks for Your comments.

Option 1 is workable.

Option 2 only works if your arrival time in CAN on the way back from SYD is less than 24 hours before your flight leaving PVG (the 48 hour rule only applies to certain passport holders for both entering and exiting China in Shanghai; the default for anything else is 24 hours with two stops inside China). On the way out you could add a stopover in CAN though.

Option 3 is not workable. The airline will not let you board the flight (56 > 48).

What are you defining as a cheap option? Maybe worth also considering flying back through Hong Kong and getting new visas there? You might be able to offset the cost of the visas with a better price (for a 2 week trip in Jan I am seeing 7800RMB for PVG-SYD-MEL-HKG-PVG on Quantas).

Its pretty easy to get a chinese visa in Melbourne and not expensive if you allow a week.

Provided you are a resident of Melbourne with a residents card yes- otherwise I don't think it is easy at all.

From consular website: Non-Australian passport holders, besides meeting the above points, should provide valid Australian visa as well as entry record, both the original and the copy. Applicants who are in Australia free of visa or with ETA and electronic visa, Australian entry record should be provided, both the original and the copy.

Doesnt sound too onerous. I recently had a trip to Thailand with my wife from Ulaan Bataar and her return flight home was via Beijing which was the starting point of a previous holiday. I booked her Bangkok to Beijing with China Southern then realised that part of the journey would be domestic. As she is Ukrainian I organised a last minute visa in UB of which she isnt a resident without a problem.

When visas dont cost too much its often worth getting a visa and having the extra flexibility to not have to meet a 1 or 2 day deadline.

Agreed completely about the visa.

I would be careful where non-resident as PRC consulates have been changing their mind quite frequently.

In October in BKK the answer was initially "No" and then was "Yes" but only if the applicant went in person- a significant change from even September.

In Milano for example it used to be possible without a permanent residence card- now absolutely not- they will not even consider an application at the moment.

Anyone else aware of this:

11 Dec 2012
________________________________________
China: Shanghai, Beijing authorities to implement new visa regulation for transit passengers from 1 January 2013
The Shanghai authorities on 9 December announced plans to revise visa regulations to allow 72-hour visa free travel for transit passengers passing through the city's Hongqiao (SHA) and Pudong ( PVG) airports; the move comes three days after officials in the capital Beijing issued a similar proposal. The proposed change will allow citizens from 45 countries, including the US, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Qatar, and most EU countries, to travel within Shanghai and Beijing cities for a period of 72 hours without prior visa approval; Shanghai authorities currently allow visa-free transit for 48 hours for citizens of 32 countries.
Travellers using the visa-free facility must be in possession of adequate documentation, including proof of an onward ticket to another destination. The visa change is expected to take effect from 1 January 2013 in both cities.
Travel Advice
� Visa regulations for both tourist and business visas vary depending on the nationality of the traveller and the nature of their visit to the country; personnel should be aware that this new proposal will only apply to transit passengers and only for certain nationalities.
� Travellers should check requirements with their local Chinese embassy or consulate well ahead of their intended visit.
� Personnel should ensure that they are aware of their specific visa rules and abide by all visa regulations; carry all relevant documents to present to the authorities where required.
� Personnel should obtain a proper China visa for all visits. If caught with an incorrect visa, or overstaying a visa, personnel may face immediate deportation or temporary detention.
� Carry identification at all times. Copies of residence permits and the identification and visa pages of passports should be accepted in most cases. Consider carrying a card stating your particulars in Chinese (in characters, not romanised form).

I have heard rumors about this new proposal- which is still called a proposal- I wouldn't jump on the bandwagon to test it out on 01JANUARY however as I really doubt the airlines will be updated by then on the changes (especially as they are still in proposal format). If this is correct- it is great- will reduce VISA requirements for many many business visitors.

Could somebody provide me the current link to Timatic for the PVG transit without visa rule? I want to have a copy with me when I board in Thailand. The united.com link I tried (I'm flying UA out of PVG) has some weird questionaire that doesn't seem to pop up the correct information.

Thanks.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/servi...sa-and-health/

or

http://www.oneworld.com/airports-des...h-information/

or

http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/