jiejie

Glad it worked out. The agent on jetbridge/escort was exactly what they should be doing for passengers in your situation, but with CA, I never assume/guarantee they will do this for every flight.

flyert

Hi all! I'll soon be transiting in PEK and I'm confused about what I've read here. I won't be leaving the airport, just connecting from incoming flight AY 51 (HEL-PEK) to outbound flight CX 347 (PEK-HKG) with a 3 hour layover between flights. As a USA citizen, I'm eligible for the so-called 72 hour visa-free waiver program, but I'm not sure how to proceed during the transit. Do I have to fill out some paperwork at a special 72-hour visa-free information desk before going through immigration, or do I go straight through immigration where they look at my onward flight ticket and let me through?

Any help appreciated!

sscywong

You won't be utilizing the visa-free program as you are just there for transit... The visa-free program is for one to visit BJ for 72 hours if one is transiting at PEK

You should just go ahead to the transit counter when you land PEK... (But that counter is always unmanned so you may need to wait for some while...)

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

I did a similar routing in November 2016 ( LHR-PEK on BA then PEK-HKG on Cathay dragon)

There was a separate passage way to a international transit desk where they stamp your boarding pass then you got placed in the line after the main emmigration booths and before the booths prior to security.

No paperwork needed

Including security it took around 30mins from leaving the BA flight to being back airside in the departures hall.

Regards

TBS

cxfan1960

This is not a question on CX. I am moving the thread to the CN forum.

cxfan1960
CX CoMod

lax2010

Don't go through the immigration counter. At the end of the immigration counters, off to the side, there is another line for transit passengers. Get on that transit passenger line and get a stamp on your onward boarding pass from one or two on-duty agents then you are off to downstairs for the security line to get back to the air side for your connecting flight.

GinFizz

Just to clarify the reply from lax2010, if you are facing the immigration counters, the line you need is on the far-left. From left-to-right at present the set-up is: transit within T3 - e-gates - 72hour TWOV lane/s - foreigner lanes - chinese lanes - e-gates (plus maybe some other special lanes on the right hand side that I can't remember).

The one you should take is marked in big yellow writing something like "International Transit within 24 hours" - though what the lane is actually for is international transit within terminal 3".

If there is no-one manning that counter just go and stand there anyway - either the control desk or the person manning the lanes will see you and either tell you to go to a different lane, or more typically someone will come along to check your paperwork (passport and onward boarding pass).

After passing that counter you take a lift/elevator down to the departures level and there is also the usual hand luggage security check - I can't remember though where this happens (I think after taking the elevator down one floor)- I live here in Beijing and have only once had to pass though this channel when there was not enough time to make a trip home between trips).

JPDM

Both flights are in terminal 3. Check this video. It shows where you go at 55 seconds.

flyert

Thanks to all for your detailed responses! Looking forward to my trip

Ludzik1993

Hi everyone!

I have a question about transfer flight form international to domesctic in PEK.
I;m going to land at Terminal 3 and as well go further to Chengdu form same terminal.
As i know when i landing I have to go to the security control, fill the Arrival Card, and then use the train to go on the other side of Terminal 3 to get to the control for domestic flights?

I have only 1 hour and 30 minunts to make that change, and I'm little bit affraid if I can make it in that short time. I bought all ticets toogether so i assume that the agancy who sell it, can sell it only if the passenger can make it. Meybe is there someone who can share some information about how it looks, and if is that 1,5 hour fine?

Thans in advanced!
Sorry for not the best English

YuropFlyer

Its a bit different..

First you pass the immigration. Then you ride the train to the main terminal. There you pick up your luggage. Now DONT go landside. On the left hand side (as seen from arriving by the train) there is domestic recheck of luggage. AND a shortcut to domestic departure area (fed directly into the security check). 1hr 30min is very tight. You can do it IF luggage comes out reasonably quick and immigration lines arent longer than that. The recheck area is small and efficent. If you make it there before the flight closes for checkin you made it.

JPDM

You may not have to pick up luggage. Check with the airline. If it is the case, then after immigration, you take the train and in the luggage pick-up area look for the sign that says "domestic transfers", pass security and look for your gate.

miklcct

The last time I tried to fly through Beijing failed and I would not attempt to connect thru Beijing again - maybe I will fly Aeroflot to Europe in the future.

I booked flights with 9 hours between and the result was diversion after 5 hours delay for the 1st flight - which I missed the 2nd flight and had to bought another route immediately since the 2nd flight only flew once per 2-3 days. Flights to PEK are seldom on time, most notoriously flight CA116 which is almost always delayed by 4+ hours and 25% chance of cancelling.

YuropFlyer

Guess what happens if you miss a connection in Moscow that only has a 3x weekly flight.. at least in PEK you can go explore the city.

Bad stuff happens, getting a diversion happens round the globe.

Guess what happens if your flight is a bit late to land at most German airports? You'll be diverted to some regional 24hr open airport.. if you're unlucky (non-Schengen) you're "locked up" over night there.. won't happen in PEK. Does happen in FRA, MUC...

If you're flying on a "thin route", and really hitting all the unlucky spots, then yes, sometimes you just take the short straw. Doesn't have to do much with PEK, though. Flying int-int or int-dom via PEK never is an issue. Dom-Int, while I'd advise to get a longer layover, also never failed for me.

Delays and diversions are part of worlds flying. Nothing that PEK has exclusively booked. Flying this week through PEK, and MUCH more afraid of something going bad on my further connection in HKG due to their frequent typhoons..

JPDM

Flights to PEK are seldom on time??? Flights out of Beijing are often late but if incoming flights are late isn't that due mostly to the departing city?