PVG-CTU-AMS
 

Hello,

I have two different tickets, PVG-CTU and CTU-AMS. Unless I find a really, really helpful agent at PVG who can tag my bags on the two different PNRs (CA and then KL), I would have to recheck the bags.

I have 2h30min between flights. Will this be enough to recheck bags, even with a delay of 30mins (I always account for minor delays)?

You cannot check your luggage all the way as your first flight is domestic. You'll have to pass immigration and customs in Chengdu.
Enough time? Maybe.

Hm. I am find with passing immigration and customs, but I don't think having a first leg as domestic having anything to do with it.

At least both flights arrive in Terminal 2, so even if I have to recheck, I will be in the same terminal.

Thanks.

CA domestic flights arrive at F, G gates in T2, while all international flights leave from A gates in T1, on the opposite side so there's quite a bit of distance. There maybe an electric buggy that runs indoor between the two terminals.

please double check your travel details
 

If I am reading the airport's information correctly, your CA flight should arrive CTU T2 and KL departs CTU T1. These are not the same terminals. Last month I did the opposite, arriving on TG and then a domestic connection on CA. I'll share my experience.

Even though CA said that they have a domestic connection counter for international arrivals it was not open and there was a handwritten sign in Chinese saying proceed to the domestic terminal. If you already have a boarding pass you can take the shuttle bus, otherwise it is a 1 km walk outside between the two terminals, the distances are conveniently signposted. I did not have my connecting boarding pass, just an English printout of the itinerary and did not bother to argue since I wanted to walk some anyway.

While the two terminals seem to be physically connected airside I would not count on being able to access the international terminal airside without a boarding pass. And if you have to claim your luggage and recheck it you don't have a choice.

If you can be sure you arriving at the international terminal, you will be fine. Otherwise be prepared to grab a cart and keep moving as you will have ground to cover. You may want to check with KL for their check-in hard cut-off time, you should be OK if it is 60 minutes. If it is 90 minutes you will be cutting it close if you have any kind of delay out of PVG.

Thank you very much, but I decided not to take any chances (especially in China) and I changed my flight for previous day.