Change of airports in Shanghai - luggage checked to final destination?
Mar 16, 2024, 1:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 9
Change of airports in Shanghai - luggage checked to final destination?
I have a transit through Shanghai that involves a change of the airports (arriving PVG, departing SHA). All flights are international.
I have assumed I will need to get my luggage in PVG and check it in again in SHA, but surprisingly the bag was checked to the final destination (luggage tag saying TO final destination VIA PVG"). The check in agent assure it will go through but somehow I'm still skeptical.
Is this a real thing, will someone really move the bags between Shanghai airports? Or is it a mistake and I should rather try to find my bag at PVG carousel? Will it even appear there if it's checked further?
I have assumed I will need to get my luggage in PVG and check it in again in SHA, but surprisingly the bag was checked to the final destination (luggage tag saying TO final destination VIA PVG"). The check in agent assure it will go through but somehow I'm still skeptical.
Is this a real thing, will someone really move the bags between Shanghai airports? Or is it a mistake and I should rather try to find my bag at PVG carousel? Will it even appear there if it's checked further?
Mar 16, 2024, 7:08 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: PVG
Programs: MU Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 829
If it were me I would definitely check the carousel. And since the MU app (I assume it's MU, with Japan, Korea, or Taiwan as the final destination) doesn't allow you to check luggage status, I would also check with the luggage desk near the carousel.
Mar 16, 2024, 2:25 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
Although the OP is the first time I've heard of such an arrangement, based on his/her description of the luggage tag, I will cast my vote in the "probably true" column.
Not having to deal with luggage is something that would definitely enhance the appeal and viability of the airport link project, so maybe the airlines are getting a head start.
Not having to deal with luggage is something that would definitely enhance the appeal and viability of the airport link project, so maybe the airlines are getting a head start.
Mar 16, 2024, 3:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,264
I still believe that an ignorant checkin agent did this - I would love to be proven wrong.
Mar 16, 2024, 8:45 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 9
Update: I talked to a gate agent before boarding a flight to PVG, she also was skeptical this could work and changed something in the system so that the bags would be only checked to PVG. I got the bags on the carousel in PVG without any issues.
This wasn’t even MU, it‘s an interline ticket between LHG and KE, so pretty much zero chances of this going right unless it’s some very well established thing in Shanghai (and it apparently isn’t).
Thanks everyone!
This wasn’t even MU, it‘s an interline ticket between LHG and KE, so pretty much zero chances of this going right unless it’s some very well established thing in Shanghai (and it apparently isn’t).
Thanks everyone!
Mar 16, 2024, 9:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
Although the OP is the first time I've heard of such an arrangement, based on his/her description of the luggage tag, I will cast my vote in the "probably true" column.
Not having to deal with luggage is something that would definitely enhance the appeal and viability of the airport link project, so maybe the airlines are getting a head start.
Not having to deal with luggage is something that would definitely enhance the appeal and viability of the airport link project, so maybe the airlines are getting a head start.
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
Mar 17, 2024, 12:59 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
PVG => SHA luggage transfers are real and seem to have been around for a while:
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
.
Mar 17, 2024, 1:04 am
#10
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
PVG => SHA luggage transfers are real and seem to have been around for a while:
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
Wow, amazing! Nice find.
Although this wouldn't have applied to OP, as:
1) Seems to be only for MU ---> OP is not
2) Seems to be only for D to I or I to D ---> OP is I to I
3) Is ~13 years old ---> is it still a thing today?
Mar 17, 2024, 1:37 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
). I guess we can return to eagerly anticipating the new train; to my untrained eye, it's coming along quite nicely.
Mar 17, 2024, 3:33 am
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
There is NO way the instances of lost luggage wouldn't increase exponentially, IMO.
It's hard enough to get luggage from a plane onto a towed luggage cart; from that luggage cart to a receiving area at the arriving airport; and from that receiving area onto the correct baggage carousel.
To add a cross-town trip in there seems a recipe for disaster, especially if international travel is involved at one or both locations: serious security issues and lost luggage issues would go through the roof.
Mar 17, 2024, 3:38 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
Perhaps the Chinese can master the art of cross-town transfer of baggages, but certainly many other places can't.
I can only imagine all the problems if AF tried to do a link between ORY and CDG. Schengen or non-Schengen ? Which of half dozen Halls/Terminals ? Theft ? And oh yeah, the péripherique of Paris, totally predictable conditions of traffic. And when something goes wrong, the airline is on the hook.
I can only imagine all the problems if AF tried to do a link between ORY and CDG. Schengen or non-Schengen ? Which of half dozen Halls/Terminals ? Theft ? And oh yeah, the péripherique of Paris, totally predictable conditions of traffic. And when something goes wrong, the airline is on the hook.
Mar 17, 2024, 5:11 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,887
PVG => SHA luggage transfers are real and seem to have been around for a while:
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/s/2011-...837628229.html
I find the idea absolutely ludicrous myself.
There is NO way the instances of lost luggage wouldn't increase exponentially, IMO.
It's hard enough to get luggage from a plane onto a towed luggage cart; from that luggage cart to a receiving area at the arriving airport; and from that receiving area onto the correct baggage carousel.
To add a cross-town trip in there seems a recipe for disaster, especially if international travel is involved at one or both locations: serious security issues and lost luggage issues would go through the roof.
There is NO way the instances of lost luggage wouldn't increase exponentially, IMO.
It's hard enough to get luggage from a plane onto a towed luggage cart; from that luggage cart to a receiving area at the arriving airport; and from that receiving area onto the correct baggage carousel.
To add a cross-town trip in there seems a recipe for disaster, especially if international travel is involved at one or both locations: serious security issues and lost luggage issues would go through the roof.
Mar 17, 2024, 11:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
I find the idea absolutely ludicrous myself.
There is NO way the instances of lost luggage wouldn't increase exponentially, IMO.
It's hard enough to get luggage from a plane onto a towed luggage cart; from that luggage cart to a receiving area at the arriving airport; and from that receiving area onto the correct baggage carousel.
To add a cross-town trip in there seems a recipe for disaster, especially if international travel is involved at one or both locations: serious security issues and lost luggage issues would go through the roof.
There is NO way the instances of lost luggage wouldn't increase exponentially, IMO.
It's hard enough to get luggage from a plane onto a towed luggage cart; from that luggage cart to a receiving area at the arriving airport; and from that receiving area onto the correct baggage carousel.
To add a cross-town trip in there seems a recipe for disaster, especially if international travel is involved at one or both locations: serious security issues and lost luggage issues would go through the roof.