Mar 12, 2017, 2:05 pm
Connecting / airport transit inside PEK Beijing Capital
Jan 30, 2015, 5:27 am
#391
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: Accor Platinum,Aeroplan,BA,Marriot Rewards, Alaska Airlines, Amex Platinum, SPG
Posts: 190
First of all, you didn't had to go "through the visa stuff" when you went landside, you simply got a TWOV (transit-without-visa) stamp.
Second: You'll get your passport checked (Chinese authorities are less Laissez-faire than their Malaysian counterparts prior to MH370..) but that's usually rather fast, no need to fill out arrival cards etc.. After than, you'll descend one level, have a security check, and then you're departure airside. I've had those checks without any queue in the past, or with rather significant queue as well (taking 30min both together)
1 hour 50min in perfectly fine for that (assuming your incoming flight is not more than 30min delayed) and you can even make the connection with a delay of up to 1 hour, however I would hurry (walk fast and cut queues with your boarding pass in hand etc.) if your departure is already within 1 hour once you've landed.
And yes, luggage is checked through.
PEK is usually not very complicated to transit, actually I prefer it over quite a few airports by now.
Second: You'll get your passport checked (Chinese authorities are less Laissez-faire than their Malaysian counterparts prior to MH370..) but that's usually rather fast, no need to fill out arrival cards etc.. After than, you'll descend one level, have a security check, and then you're departure airside. I've had those checks without any queue in the past, or with rather significant queue as well (taking 30min both together)
1 hour 50min in perfectly fine for that (assuming your incoming flight is not more than 30min delayed) and you can even make the connection with a delay of up to 1 hour, however I would hurry (walk fast and cut queues with your boarding pass in hand etc.) if your departure is already within 1 hour once you've landed.
And yes, luggage is checked through.
PEK is usually not very complicated to transit, actually I prefer it over quite a few airports by now.
Thanks for the reply!
May 4, 2015, 5:17 pm
#392
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 62
1:40m connection Domestic to International on T3 terminal
I have an upcoming flight on CA 1506 FOC-PEK , then UA 850 PEK -ORD.
my connection time is 1Hr40Min within T3 terminal. What would you think about this connection time? CA 1506 has 75% ontime performance. thanks.
my connection time is 1Hr40Min within T3 terminal. What would you think about this connection time? CA 1506 has 75% ontime performance. thanks.
May 5, 2015, 1:46 am
#393
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
If you don't mind some extra time in PEK (rerouting via another airport, or later direct flight, probably both resulting in more miles as bumped up booking classes) I would go for it. Especially if you've status and will have priority etc.
Sep 5, 2015, 3:08 pm
#394
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E35 / Marriott Gold
Posts: 45
Air China let me book an 1h30 D-I in T3... Will this connection be possible?
CAN-PEK-YUL-YYZ
CA1310-CA879-AC417
16% on time arrival for CA1310.
Don't know about the on time departure for CA879 - new CA Route.
If I miss the flight, there is a PEK-YYZ direct flight AC32 5h05 later (which is also codeshared on CA)
Will CA be able to book me on it if I misconnect?
I will be flying the PEK-YUL on a Tuesday; next PEK-YUL is a Friday.
CAN-PEK-YUL-YYZ
CA1310-CA879-AC417
16% on time arrival for CA1310.
Don't know about the on time departure for CA879 - new CA Route.
If I miss the flight, there is a PEK-YYZ direct flight AC32 5h05 later (which is also codeshared on CA)
Will CA be able to book me on it if I misconnect?
I will be flying the PEK-YUL on a Tuesday; next PEK-YUL is a Friday.
Last edited by azhang24; Sep 5, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Sep 21, 2015, 5:59 pm
#395
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
Is there a place to store a carry-on? A friend of mine will be transiting PEK for about 12hrs and wanted to go into the city but didn't want to drag the carry-on around.
Sep 21, 2015, 7:13 pm
#396
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/service...econsign.shtml
I recommend that he place it in the terminal he will be departing PEK from (if his arrival and departure are in different terminals). Cost depends on size of the carry-on ranging from RMB 20-50 per day. He should lock it and not leave valuables inside, take those with him in a daypack. Most Left Luggage is counter service, Terminal 3 has some lockers.
Sep 22, 2015, 9:14 am
#397
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
Absolutely. Left Luggage is available on the nonsecure side of each terminal. Signage directing to same is in Chinese and English.
http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/service...econsign.shtml
I recommend that he place it in the terminal he will be departing PEK from (if his arrival and departure are in different terminals). Cost depends on size of the carry-on ranging from RMB 20-50 per day. He should lock it and not leave valuables inside, take those with him in a daypack. Most Left Luggage is counter service, Terminal 3 has some lockers.
http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/service...econsign.shtml
I recommend that he place it in the terminal he will be departing PEK from (if his arrival and departure are in different terminals). Cost depends on size of the carry-on ranging from RMB 20-50 per day. He should lock it and not leave valuables inside, take those with him in a daypack. Most Left Luggage is counter service, Terminal 3 has some lockers.
Jan 14, 2016, 9:20 pm
#399
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
I have a through ticketed flight with Air China from Bangkok to Heathrow with a transit in Beijing, however the transit time in Beijing is at the minimum time allowed at that airport of 1 hour, which is barely doable, but add the upcoming Chinese Festivities, I am told I am very unlikely to make that connection. I contacted Air China regarding this and the fact that most onward flights to Heathrow appear fully booked I offered to take an earlier flight to Beijing to alleviate the problem. Communication with Air China has been disjointed, but they appeared to have 'held' a seat on the preceding flight which will give me plenty of time.
What I am unsure about is the status of a 'held' seat. Will they ask me to pay extra when I arrive at Bangkok Airport? or having sold me the ticket with only the limited time is it their responsibility to get me on the connecting flight and my offer to take an earlier flight is good will on my part for which I should not be charged.
What I am unsure about is the status of a 'held' seat. Will they ask me to pay extra when I arrive at Bangkok Airport? or having sold me the ticket with only the limited time is it their responsibility to get me on the connecting flight and my offer to take an earlier flight is good will on my part for which I should not be charged.
Apr 3, 2016, 7:05 pm
#400
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
3 hr TPAC to domestic?
Arriving from DFW on AA, looking to clear customs and board CA flight to Xi'an. Is 3 hrs enough assuming carry on only but separate PNR's?
First time in PRC and I've no knowledge of Mandarin, FWIW.
First time in PRC and I've no knowledge of Mandarin, FWIW.
Apr 3, 2016, 7:16 pm
#401
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
Yeah. 3 hours should be fine in that case. (It's the reverse direction that requires a bit more caution.)
Apr 5, 2016, 2:18 am
#402
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
Apr 5, 2016, 2:45 am
#403
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
But it depends during which time of the day you're getting there. During no-rush hour or when taking the airport express, 2hrs will easily be fine. During rush hour, always plan some extra time on top of the anyway increased travel time, "just in case".
If you're flying into PEK on the same day on a different ticket, I'd take quite some hours reserve.
I've done it on 2hrs, but that was borderline crazy.
You'll have to pick your luggage up, and recheck it (often not possible more than 3hrs before your flight) - while that isn't really a big deal, I would simply prefer an overnight connection. Otherwise you'll either be too early (like, having booked 6 hours in between) and just have a few hours at the airport landside or really pray for no delay.
The Hilton and the Langham both are very decent choices, and you'll have zero stress.
Apr 19, 2016, 10:30 am
#404
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 9
First timer and coming to the experts for some help navigating through PEK on an upcoming trip. I have been reading some nightmare tales of transferring through PEK, that it's one of the worst airports in the world??? Is this true? In my last 5 years of flying to Southern China bi-yearly I have only flown EVA: LAX-TPE-HKG ... which has been pretty much as organized and tranquil as it gets at least in my traveling experience.
Outbound Air China LAX-PEK-CAN (Guangzhou) - Business class, with US passport and 10y business visa. I'm not so concerned about this leg since arrival at PEK is 15:10 and flight to CAN is 18:00 so this should be enough time.
However the return trip will be Friday on the eve of the Chinese Labor Day weekend CAN-PEK-LAX with a 18:40 arrival (if it's on time, a big if) at PEK and 21:00 flight to LAX. This is the one I would hate to miss.
My questions are;
1. If I'm flying Air China straight through will I need to recheck bags both inbound and outbound journeys?
2. Are the signs clear for queuing at all the checkpoints?
3. Any perks or advances in queues due to having the business visa and/or flying business class?
Thanks in advance. Let me know if any questions, I am not too familiar with the flyertalk lingo yet!
Outbound Air China LAX-PEK-CAN (Guangzhou) - Business class, with US passport and 10y business visa. I'm not so concerned about this leg since arrival at PEK is 15:10 and flight to CAN is 18:00 so this should be enough time.
However the return trip will be Friday on the eve of the Chinese Labor Day weekend CAN-PEK-LAX with a 18:40 arrival (if it's on time, a big if) at PEK and 21:00 flight to LAX. This is the one I would hate to miss.
My questions are;
1. If I'm flying Air China straight through will I need to recheck bags both inbound and outbound journeys?
2. Are the signs clear for queuing at all the checkpoints?
3. Any perks or advances in queues due to having the business visa and/or flying business class?
Thanks in advance. Let me know if any questions, I am not too familiar with the flyertalk lingo yet!
Apr 19, 2016, 1:24 pm
#405
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 353
If you transit through PEK by CA they will check through your bags in both ways (I think you are on 1 ticket?).
Otherwise if you have a seperate domestic ticket from PEK to CAN it depends if this tickets will show up in LAX at check in (I have different experience with that with CA with flights from Germany to China via PEK).
Otherwise if you have a seperate domestic ticket from PEK to CAN it depends if this tickets will show up in LAX at check in (I have different experience with that with CA with flights from Germany to China via PEK).