departure from PVG
 

Will be departing from PVG this weekend after first trip to China.

What sort of things need to be gone through before getting on the plane? Is there anything I need to know or have on hand to present (aside from plane ticket and passport of course!)?

I am also wondering about changing any RMB I have remaining into American dollars. I have heard about people having problems with this?

And where do I need to go in the airport to change money?

I have been withdrawing my money from an HSBC ATM while I have been here. Will it be necessary to have my latest ATM receipt on hand?

Thanks for the info everyone!

The departure procedure is painless enough to qualify as a non-issue (i.e. there's really nothing interesting to be said). As far as your money is concerned, you can change it at the airport as long as you can present receipts (ATM or otherwise) in an amount greater than or equal to the amount you wish to convert. But, if the odds of you (or anyone close to you) returning to China are significant, I wouldn't bother because in the medium and long term, continued RMB appreciation against the dollar is all but guaranteed (the Economist predicts a 7:1 exchange rate by the end of the year).

agreed, although it needs to be said that, if u keep ur rmb, but neither u nor anyone else u know is going to china in future, then most usa-based banks are unlikely to give anything as good as 8:1 (perhaps not even 9:1) when converting rmb to usd at the moment, even assuming that they're prepared to touch rmb in the first place.

do the rules about no liquids or gels in hand luggage apply, if they are in bottles of more than 100ml?

ian. :)

There's a currency change booth just to the left after you pass through security.

Same TSA/EU liquids rules. US-bound passengers get the "privilege" of special immigration/security lines at PVG.

A total non-issue.

I haven't flown out of there since the liquid ban insanity so I can't comment on that but otherwise it's a triviality.

There used to be an airport tax but they finally got that into the tickets instead so you don't pay it on departure anymore.

The only thing one bit odd is there is a customs x-ray on the way out. More than once I've seen the screen unmonitored.

I've never had the slightest problem there, the only time I've even seen anyone having trouble it was a Russian who was having language problems and asked me for help in very broken English. He couldn't figure out the box on the departure paperwork asking for flight number. (The paperwork is Chinese/English, it doesn't have any Russian. Fortunately he did understand the word "ticket" and from that point I could communicate by pointing.)

After flight check-in, there are special security lines to the far right, facing the gates, for US-bound passengers only. It is very well marked along the way. From AA and UA is it a hike, use a cart for carry-ons and allow another 10 minutes maybe. Then, if you are on NW, you walk all the way back and then some. Figure you are getting all the aerobic you need today and tomorrow. There are carts on either side of security, just look for them.

The prices, by airport standards, are way high in the refreshment areas, and the airport lounges are nothing special, if you qualify. So fill up in Shanghai and bring along some cookies, nuts or whatever. The shops are not bad to burn yuan if you still need some gifts. Yes, overpriced by Chinese standards, but still within budget US-wise.

I'm regularly bringing Chinese anti-aging cream for my widely travelled and discriminating mom. About 70 yuan per packet but only available in one of the tax free shops.

For breakfast, noodles, sticky dumplings and Cantonese dim sum are overpriced but passable at the generic landside restaurants on 2F. "Western" breakfast is a joke and best avoided. Good tea but so-so coffee.

I've used some of the lounges and early morning seems best foodwise. Especially enjoyed salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, OJ and a Cappucino for brekkie at the China Eastern lounge recently.

I found the 50RMB fee for changing money at the departure rather steep, given that I only had about 150RMB. :td: It looked even worse when I got to Tokyo and found I could change RMB into yen without a fee and at a good rate.

They are going to search your luggage for liquids as you board your flight.

Unlike Tokyo where the search is prefunctory, in China they will actually unzip, open and look through your bags. They will confiscate all liquids bigger than 100ml, including un-opened water or other drinks that you buy on the airside of security!

I flew out of PEK yesterday, and by the time I got my bags searched, there was a small pile of soft drinks and water bottles behind the guys doing the searching!

I think this is only done on flights bound for the US (and maybe the United Kingdom) so if travelling to other destinations no need to partake in this circus.

I've had mixed results; made it through with a bottle of Gatorade last week (but have been snubbed in the past). On a related note, I love the zip-locks they hand out at PEK.

[QUOTE=woodway;7949138]They are going to search your luggage for liquids as you board your flight.

QUOTE]

Stick a couple of Tsingtao's in your pockets..for a preflight cocktail. Zai jian..China!

At several airports I have been though in the last three weeks - and we'll see how PVG today goes - they are also looking for flammable liquids and confiscating t hem. One person had a small aerosol taken, and I have seen folks have to give up their hand sanitizers (e.g. Purell,) regardless if they were under 100 ml.

China has been after flammables for a long time. It makes a lot more sense than our war on liquids.

(Trying again after being bounced by CyberPatrol.)

You are absolutely right, Loren.

Departing Terminal 2 at PVG today, my netbook had to come out of its sleeve in security.

At the AA checkin counter, the x-ray machines (they may not be manned, but they are being monitored remotely) detected my wife's foldable cane and I was required to retrieve and open the bag for additional inspection in the Baggage Check room. I was asked if the handle was a dagger handle. (No.)

Ohter than that, it was all pretty straightforward - one entry for those to Hong Kong and other International, another for other destinations, including Taiwan (I did not spend much time reading - merely went to my queue.) Inside, there are paths for those with things to delcare and those without.

Immigration was smooth - though some forgot or lost their departure forms and were required tofill out new forms. Security was as described above - efficient, no snarkiness, no problems for most. My wife's "Kip" bag was looked at cursorily (no flammables.)

I'm posting frome the KA / CX Lounge (used now for all oneworld airlines,) and I like Terminal 2 - a good move.