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- - Current China Entry policy (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/2016837-current-china-entry-policy.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer (Post 34234543)

While his politics prior - both regarding covid and general leadership - are clearly those of a great statemen.

This “great statesman” has managed to make his country the laughing stock of the world. He’s up there with the Donald now.

My Trip to China

April 30, BOS-EWR-SFO. Checked in Sheraton San Jose. $99 night+tax. As a Marriott Ambassador, I got upgraded to a suite. Good deal.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8a70320d53.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bc2802c7e8.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3eeadc1679.jpg

Stayed 8 nights. Did PCR on day 1, Day 6, Antibody S/N and rapid Antigen on Day 6.

Due to 40% capacity restricted imposed by CAAC, many pax on my flight got tickets canceled. My 35K XN ticket survived but PP upgrade was still pending. Called GS at T-24 to see if they can clear my upgrade. Answer: upgrade must be done at the gate. This is a special flight.

Got all test results negative, but applying for health code was a nightmare. The MFA website kept informing me my application was not complete even though I uploaded everything. There is a system bug that if you preview your upload, the files would be auto removed. After 3 failed attempts, I finally successfully got my blue code.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...081e443ec6.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...445c385efc.jpg

Since I didn't have my upgrade, I can only visit this United Club at SFO G concourse. Not many people there. It was old RCC I believe.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dcc153f3ac.jpg

I arrived 70 min prior to departure at the gate. I had a sweet talk with the agent and asked if I could have 15A if my upgrade clears. The agent was quite nice, and called my name after few minutes and handed 15A BP to me. I was the first to board, probably I was the only GS on this flight. Everyone on upgrade list cleared.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...404faafb1b.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a7214df977.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2d3556a92b.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d47b4d31b1.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...afbd985a80.jpg

J cabin was 44/60 and Y cabin had less than 100 pax. Every Y passenger could have a row. FA greeted me and said nice things. Short rib was fairly good. I had a glass of champagne to congratulate myself :-) Inflight Wi-Fi was horrible. Can't do much other than talking to friends in China via WeChat.

The flight was uneventful. 857 took longer to get there to avoid Russian air space. Changed crew at ICN, then continued to Shanghai.

Will update Shanghai quarantine hotel tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992 (Post 34238153)

Will update Shanghai quarantine hotel tomorrow.

Awesome trip report, thanks! One heck of a deal for only 35000 miles! 👍🏼
Something tells me that the next hotel won't be as nice as the one in the first three pics! 😂

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik (Post 34238180)

Awesome trip report, thanks! One heck of a deal for only 35000 miles! 👍🏼
Something tells me that the next hotel won't be as nice as the one in the first three pics! 😂

It could be a world record for 35K miles in exchange of a $20,000 J ticket.

You might be surprised. My Q hotel in Shanghai is actually pretty nice. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992 (Post 34238283)

It could be a world record for 35K miles in exchange of a $20,000 J ticket.

You might be surprised. My Q hotel in Shanghai is actually pretty nice. ;)

I bet they didn't give you a suite upgrade for the duration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 34238469)

I bet they didn't give you a suite upgrade for the duration.

I almost got a suite. In fact, my initial Q hotel assignment was a suite. But there was a close contact in that hotel, so I was moved to a different hotel (similar quality) where suites are full. Instead, I got a corner room which is very nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992 (Post 34238283)

It could be a world record for 35K miles in exchange of a $20,000 J ticket.

You might be surprised. My Q hotel in Shanghai is actually pretty nice. ;)

Wow, 57¢/RDM! That beats my F cabin upgrade on the UA 744 (before they were retired) which gave me a value about 25¢/RDM through questionable math (I wouldn't have paid more than $10k for F cabin tickets in the first place) by more than 100%. I paid for J just so I could upgrade and sit in the nose cone in seat 1A of the 744. My ultimate destination was PVG (went for the Disney park grand opening) but I flew on UA 837 to NRT first just so I could go in the UA F lounge above the UC at NRT, which I had never been to before. I was disappointed that I couldn't see the runway with my own eyes when we took off and landed because I had to keep my seat belt on, and could only see it by holding my phone up to the window and watching the screen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by angetenar (Post 34221472)

The current thinking in China is that there isn't any hope of zero covid ending before the CCP Congress later this year.

Why am I not surprised?

Thanks for the trip report - I suspect there aren't that many people entering China (esp. Shanghai) these days.

From the BBC:

Quote:

Shanghai moves to impose tightest restrictions yet

Shanghai officials will over the next few days further restrict access to food and hospitals in the most severe phase of the city's extended lockdown.

The new rules don't allow commercial food deliveries. Access to hospitals for all but emergencies must first be approved.

[...]

Confirmed cases have fallen significantly from their peak, but authorities have not yet been able to hit the target of what they call "societal zero", where no cases are reported outside of quarantine facilities.

Despite the tougher measures, Shanghai officials insist that people living in half the city's districts are now free to leave their homes and walk around.

State media has shown propaganda videos of departing medical workers visiting city landmarks together and taking photographs.

Shanghai moves to impose tightest restrictions yet - BBC News

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992 (Post 34238153)

Called GS at T-24 to see if they can clear my upgrade. Answer: upgrade must be done at the gate. This is a special flight.

Glad you got you green code and made your way to China:tu:.

Did you call at T-72 to request clearing upgrade? My understanding is agents cannot clear any flights at T-24. When it is less than 24 hours, the control goes to the airport not at the GS agents level.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992 (Post 34238283)

You might be surprised. My Q hotel in Shanghai is actually pretty nice. ;)

Okay, I am now officially never going to talk to you ever again! <insert-jealous-emoji>

:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA_Flyer (Post 34240055)

At T-72 every booking class was zeroed out. Same as T-24.

The agent said because of J0, she can't push the upgrade through.

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik (Post 34240124)

Okay, I am now officially never going to talk to you ever again! <insert-jealous-emoji>

:D

I'll show my Q hotel pictures later. In China, connection is important :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by YariGuy (Post 34239695)

Thanks for the trip report - I suspect there aren't that many people entering China (esp. Shanghai) these days.

Almost all pax on my flight are PRC citizens. Very few Americans.

I'm guessing odds aren't too great that a year from now things will be back to normal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiley90 (Post 34241297)

I'm guessing odds aren't too great that a year from now things will be back to normal?

Every year since Covid started the procedures to get back into China have gotten more and more ridiculously difficult. I’d be less surprised with a complete border closure by next year than I would be with a return to normal.