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Hey so, my father has successfully entered Shanghai flying MU from JFK. I think technically you can’t choose your quarantine hotel but he was able to finesse something to get a decent spot. Happy to answer any Qs about that process.
In terms of return flights, he currently has a 25K USD MU return flight (PVG -> JFK) booked for December. I think that’s a ridiculous price to pay for business class but he really does not want to hop around planes for transfers. Would all Shanghai flights be innately more expensive? Thoughts on Beijing? Just to confirm, HK is not an option for US citizens right? I’m speculating that return flights are pricing so high rn due to the influx of Chinese students coming to the US. Would that be impacting the pricing of December flights now? He has an obscene amount of United PlusPoints and miles to redeem so open to any good redemption opportunities too. Sorry for all the Qs |
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33542130)
In terms of return flights, he currently has a 25K USD MU return flight (PVG -> JFK) booked for December. I think that’s a ridiculous price to pay for business class but he really does not want to hop around planes for transfers. Would all Shanghai flights be innately more expensive? Thoughts on Beijing? Just to confirm, HK is not an option for US citizens right? I’m speculating that return flights are pricing so high rn due to the influx of Chinese students coming to the US. Would that be impacting the pricing of December flights now?
He has an obscene amount of United PlusPoints and miles to redeem so open to any good redemption opportunities too. The flight out doesn't matter you can take whatever. Just need a covid test 3 days before entering the US |
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33542130)
Hey so, my father has successfully entered Shanghai flying MU from JFK. I think technically you can’t choose your quarantine hotel but he was able to finesse something to get a decent spot. Happy to answer any Qs about that process.
In terms of return flights, he currently has a 25K USD MU return flight (PVG -> JFK) booked for December. I think that’s a ridiculous price to pay for business class but he really does not want to hop around planes for transfers. Would all Shanghai flights be innately more expensive? Thoughts on Beijing? Just to confirm, HK is not an option for US citizens right? I’m speculating that return flights are pricing so high rn due to the influx of Chinese students coming to the US. Would that be impacting the pricing of December flights now? He has an obscene amount of United PlusPoints and miles to redeem so open to any good redemption opportunities too. Sorry for all the Qs Your dad can fly from HK if he’s willing to take the ferry from Shekou direct to HKIA or he can connect from the mainland through HK using Cathay and get to JFK that way. |
Originally Posted by gudugan
(Post 33541460)
Perhaps this is a bit off topic but to me this is too much. I get the quarantine, I get the tests during quarantine. I don't get the domestic tests and testing before entering a local facility. This is a sign that "zero covid" has failed and frankly this just sounds miserable, testing is not fun.
I hope y'all have fun. I'll be back in China when the quarantine is 7 days or less (home quarantine is still quarantine), getting a visa is relatively easy, and testing isn't required every 10 meters. See you then |
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33542130)
Just to confirm, HK is not an option for US citizens right?
|
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33542130)
Hey so, my father has successfully entered Shanghai flying MU from JFK. I think technically you can’t choose your quarantine hotel but he was able to finesse something to get a decent spot. Happy to answer any Qs about that process.
In terms of return flights, he currently has a 25K USD MU return flight (PVG -> JFK) booked for December. I think that’s a ridiculous price to pay for business class but he really does not want to hop around planes for transfers. Would all Shanghai flights be innately more expensive? Thoughts on Beijing? Just to confirm, HK is not an option for US citizens right? I’m speculating that return flights are pricing so high rn due to the influx of Chinese students coming to the US. Would that be impacting the pricing of December flights now? He has an obscene amount of United PlusPoints and miles to redeem so open to any good redemption opportunities too. Sorry for all the Qs There is no need to pay anything over $5000 especially if your dad has UA Plus Points. I would avoid HK. It's definitely more expensive.
Originally Posted by gudugan
(Post 33542058)
Originally Posted by UA_Flyer
(Post 33540933)
You have a lot of reading to do.
Do you have a valid visa (issued after March 2020)? All visa issued before are voided. I had to apply a new visa. here is one link for reference: ????????????????????????????? On the arrival quarantine: There are local guidance in addition to national guidance and also subject to changes based on local outbreaks. For example, I did 14+7+7 quarantine when I arrived in July. 14 days isolation. 7 days of restricted quarantine before able to go to Beijing. Once in Beijing, subject to local district restrictions and reporting. Also learn to get used to do PCR tests frequently once you are in China: I have done PCR tests three times in the 14-day isolation, 2 more tests during the subsequent 7 days, and 2 more in Beijing. Another example: I wen to Shenzhen two weeks ago, I needed to do one PCR test 48 hours before the flight, and then another PCR test upon landing at the Shenzhen airport. One more example: I am going to an industry event this weekend, and I need to do anther PCR test and show negative result before I can enter the exhibition hall. Get all the necessary Apps installed and ready to scan before you enter every single building. Embrace contact tracing in China. I had been in China for 13 months during this trip, and toured 23 provinces, 70 cities and over 100 tourist sites ranked 5A. Stayed at Marriott hotels for 400 nights which helped me to reach life time Platinum status. Of course, I am about to make Marriott Ambassador. After I completed 14 days government forced quarantine, I was set free to stay at Shanghai and nearby cities in hotels since I don't have a place to live in China. Amazingly, I have avoided PCR tests for the whole year. Two during the quarantine, one before boarding the plane back to USA. I have been to all places where there were COVID outbreaks, but always managed to leave before the outbreaks. I was very lucky. The trick to bring TWO cell phones and always shut down one works well for me. After arriving at a new safe city with green health codes, turn on the offline phone. It erased all past 14-day history when you traveled to low risk area but in a city where there is a moderate risk district. People in China are paranoid about COVID. Officials and citizens are afraid to die. They shot down a city when where is one case. Officials are trying to control this at ALL costs, or they will be persecuted for not doing enough. I had been to numerous site seeing places where only handful tourists were visiting, while in a normal day you can see 50,000 people. People are super scared of COVID. |
Originally Posted by kb1992
(Post 33542637)
It is very easy to get upgraded on UA 858 PVG-SFO. Y fares are between $2000-$5000. I paid $3500 and got upgraded easily.
There is no need to pay anything over $5000 especially if your dad has UA Plus Points. I would avoid HK. It's definitely more expensive. Thank you. Actually I am aware of everything you said, having just left China few days ago on UA 858. I had been in China for 13 months during this trip, and toured 23 provinces, 70 cities and over 100 tourist sites ranked 5A. Stayed at Marriott hotels for 400 nights which helped me to reach life time Platinum status. Of course, I am about to make Marriott Ambassador. After I completed 14 days government forced quarantine, I was set free to stay at Shanghai and nearby cities in hotels since I don't have a place to live in China. Amazingly, I have avoided PCR tests for the whole year. Two during the quarantine, one before boarding the plane back to USA. I have been to all places where there were COVID outbreaks, but always managed to leave before the outbreaks. I was very lucky. The trick to bring TWO cell phones and always shut down one works well for me. After arriving at a new safe city with green health codes, turn on the offline phone. It erased all past 14-day history when you traveled to low risk area but in a city where there is a moderate risk district. People in China are paranoid about COVID. Officials and citizens are afraid to die. They shot down a city when where is one case. Officials are trying to control this at ALL costs, or they will be persecuted for not doing enough. I had been to numerous site seeing places where only handful tourists were visiting, while in a normal day you can see 50,000 people. People are super scared of COVID. |
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33542993)
How far out did you get upgraded? I don’t want him to fly economy for a flight this long but don’t want to pay $25K for a J flight if I don’t have to. Thnx.
See this for Sept. 5 PVG-SFO. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ea296c5409.jpg J class is 27/60 booked, and 14 people on waitlist. Again, all will be cleared except that they probably will not get lounge access because the BP will be reissued at the gate. UA.com is using weird term, First Class and Biz Class to refer to actual Polaris class and Premium Y class. I called UA to push my upgrade through 3 days before the flight so can select my desired seat. |
Originally Posted by kb1992
(Post 33543082)
UA has this nasty practice of clearing 858 upgrades at the gate. You can observe every flight to take a look. Basically most flights ALL people on upgrade list would eventually be cleared.
See this for Sept. 5 PVG-SFO. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ea296c5409.jpg J class is 27/60 booked, and 14 people on waitlist. Again, all will be cleared except that they probably will not get lounge access because the BP will be reissued at the gate. UA.com is using weird term, First Class and Biz Class to refer to actual Polaris class and Premium Y class. I called UA to push my upgrade through 3 days before the flight so can select my desired seat. |
Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33543276)
Thanks man. I will book my dad a United economy ticket first and see how things go. Is PVG to SFO the only United option into the states? Also, do you think it’s worth applying Global Service PlusPoints here over 1K PlusPoints?
If there is a domestic connecting flight such as SFO-EWR/IAD/BOS, then 1K points may not clear him. GS points are preferred. For UA, the only flight from China is PVG-SFO. |
Originally Posted by kb1992
(Post 33543585)
For UA, the only flight from China is PVG-SFO.
UA 87 PVG-EWR starting 31 Oct UA 836 PVG-ORD starting 31 Oct UA 199 PVG-LAX starting 31 Oct Since the flight is in December maybe check back next month? |
Originally Posted by gudugan
(Post 33543621)
United has the following loaded into the website:
UA 87 PVG-EWR starting 31 Oct UA 836 PVG-ORD starting 31 Oct UA 199 PVG-LAX starting 31 Oct Since the flight is in December maybe check back next month? Next summer? Who knows. It largely depends on how China views US as a threat regarding COVID. I am not optimistic since 1/3 of the US population are too stubborn to believe in science and get vaccinated. It would possibly be another 3 years for China to open the door for Americans. Or longer. |
Originally Posted by gudugan
(Post 33543621)
United has the following loaded into the website:
UA 87 PVG-EWR starting 31 Oct UA 836 PVG-ORD starting 31 Oct UA 199 PVG-LAX starting 31 Oct Since the flight is in December maybe check back next month? |
Originally Posted by kb1992
(Post 33543724)
It largely depends on how China views US as a threat regarding COVID.
I am not optimistic since 1/3 of the US population are too stubborn to believe in science and get vaccinated. It would possibly be another 3 years for China to open the door for Americans. Or longer. The first necessary step is recognizing that a vaccine (or recovery from the illness) confers some proportion of immunity. Not necessarily total but much better than nothing. The next step is treating those individuals differently and giving them preferential access. Neither of these are true at the moment. Arguably getting a vaccine makes it more annoying to get in because you have to make sure the antibody and N protein tests are agreeable. It also doesn’t change the quarantine period. In addition, my understanding is that once within China, vaccination gives you no additional privileges (e.g. skipping PCR tests). Getting a Chinese vaccine makes it slightly easier for a visa application but no easier for the testing and quarantine process. Sure you could argue that there is some politics involved with the US. UAE has 88% of the population with at least one vaccine and Portugal has 86%. Even if these were 100% the door would not instantly be flung open. However, I do agree with your conclusion that it may take years. |
Originally Posted by kb1992
(Post 33543082)
UA has this nasty practice of clearing 858 upgrades at the gate. You can observe every flight to take a look. Basically most flights ALL people on upgrade list would eventually be cleared.
See this for Sept. 5 PVG-SFO. J class is 27/60 booked, and 14 people on waitlist. Again, all will be cleared except that they probably will not get lounge access because the BP will be reissued at the gate. UA.com is using weird term, First Class and Biz Class to refer to actual Polaris class and Premium Y class. I called UA to push my upgrade through 3 days before the flight so can select my desired seat. |
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