We had discussed this at one point, but looking at the website for the visa, it seems like they require you to use the embassy based on your home state. Not sure if how much of a requirement it is or not, but they had a list of what office to use based on the state where you live and had a note that if you sent it to the wrong place, it would not be accepted.

Have you ever paid the extra money to get it back the same day? I'm planning to go to the DC office next week and am hoping to pay the extra money and save myself a trip back to DC, as well as more time off work by picking it up that afternoon. We'll see how that works out :)

I'm still going to get my visa

But

Airfare is still pricing at over 1700
:(

i've done the same day thing before; still 2 trips to the consulate.

if you're really nice to them and give them a pre-stamped priority mailer (along with a story about how hellish your job is, perhaps), they will almost surely oblige your request. a little charm goes a long way!

here's my (initial) list
 

since you asked:

-sunday brunch (my vote would be 4 seasons)
-go karting
-park 97 + guandi
-pegasus (that's a thursday night affair)
-all you can eat japanese (probably 海之幸 near the donghu hotel); that's where we often have our crazy stanford club dinners
-ja lounge (supposedly it has bad fengshui, but who cares); very close to the hilton and portman
-that bathhouse in gubei that all the concierges seem to like; we usually go there after brunch to undo the champagne buzz
-st. regis at night (you can see the airport sometimes)
-face (for happy hour, perhaps)
-钱柜 (cashbox); i'm not a big fan, but it is a staple insofar as shanghai nightlife is concerned
-hot pot king (or maybe that taiwanese hot pot place across from the hilton)
-paulaner on monday, but be sure to go the 1/2 price location
-urban planning museum
-aquarium
-dublin exchange (has to be on week day, and probably only if mjm is in attendance)

that's all i can think of for now. with the exception of hot pot king, there are no chinese restaurants on my list. for more ideas, you can consult the shanghai restaurant thread i started earlier this year:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=310106

drop me a line. i will do everything in my power to help you rectify that problem.

Tickets purchased today ... upgrades confirmed :cool:

2/16 -- IAD-SFO Seat 2C (overnight)
2/17 -- SFO-PVG Seat 15H
2/24 -- PEK-ORD Seat 9H
2/24 -- ORD-IAD Seat 2C

... and for just under $700 too (thanks to the Corrine, an FA who provided me with a F&F coupon).

Now I just need to figure out the PVG-PEK flight for Monday morning.

I'm booked in the Westin for Shanghai & the St Regis for Beijing (at least for the moment).

Who has shopping on their agenda?
 

From today's San Francisco Chronicle

"Only the finest fakes," eh? :D

I'm not a shopaholic, and not particularly into designer (or pseudo-designer) stuff, but I do enjoy shopping overseas for typical, locally-made, handcrafted items. And in case you thought Shanghai was not the place for that, here's a tip: in the French concession, there is the Shanghai Lan Lan Chinese Hand Printed Blue Nankeen Co. Ltd store. They sell goods made of hand-dyed blue and white cotton cloth and are the source of some of the party favors ("exotic Chinese treasures") I gave out at the Venice FlyerTalk Meet.

Of course, I realize that a lot of people seem to want China to modernize to the point where anything "old" and traditional is completely obliterated, but I for one value things that are handmade and beautiful and have centuries of history behind them.

seems like a request for ample shopping time !

Try AC via YVR and should price out at just over US$1,000.

UA's Winter Fare Sale
 

I just found $762 all incl for SFO-SIN and they list JFK-HKG for about the same fare. Good through 3/20/05 but I think it needs to be booked by 12/26, so hurry.

On UA's home page, click on "DEALS" at top and click through Winter Fare Sale to Asia.

Of course, I only paid $500 RT all incl but I purchased in 8/04. AA's Osaka fare sale.

No Backing Out Now ...
 

excellent ! i'll do a quick roll call on the confirmed status then...looking forward to spending a weekend in both Jan (SIN) and Feb (PVG) with most of you !

rbAA
Magic111 and Jerrie
SanDiego1K
Sean and me
GoingAway
Sweet Willie
Vulcan & Sondra
mntblue
KathyWdrf
mhtaipei
Mad4Miles
jan_az
kluau88
SeeYa

rolling out the red carpet..

moondog

sorry if i missed anyone, got to dash for work :)

Confirmed and upgraded

SAN FRANCISCO
Date: THU 17 FEB
Time: 2:10P
Terminal: I

Arrives: SHANGHAI/PUDON
Date: FRI 18 FEB
Time: 7:30P

UNITED 858
Departs: SHANGHAI/PUDON
Date: MON 21 FEB
Time: 1:45P

Arrives: SAN FRANCISCO
Date: MON 21 FEB
Time: 8:20A
Terminal: I

Booked and confirmed too on SQ via HKG and ICN.