China Transit without visa via Delta
Jan 6, 2019, 10:33 am
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2015
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Posts: 184
China Transit without visa via Delta
Booked a roundtrip DTW-PVG (non-stop both ways) via Delta and another PVG-NRT via ANA (non-stop both ways). I would like to take advantage of the 144h transit without visa (TWOV) program to visit Shanghai for 72 hours on the outbound. On the return, the layover is long but less than 24 hours so I'll just stay at the airport. I've done a lot research so my flights should be OK according to China's rules for the program. What I've read online is that the most common problem is the airlines themselves not allowing passenger who comply with TMOV rules to board their flights because they lack a visa and the gate agents are confused about the TMOV program. Have you used the program via Delta? Did you encounter any problems? Given the recent tension between Canada/US and China, it would also be helpful to hear about the experiences of recent travelers to China using the TMOV regardless of airline.
Jan 6, 2019, 10:43 am
#2
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Yes and yes. My theory is that somehow with DL the GA swipes the ticket rather than entering information, and then the problem is that China appears as the destination rather than the transit point. DL employees "believe" that everyone (USA citizen) needs a visa for China and refuse to consider any evidence to the contrary. They also claim to have their own version of TIMATIC.
Jan 6, 2019, 11:40 am
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,040
Booked a roundtrip DTW-PVG (non-stop both ways) via Delta and another PVG-NRT via ANA (non-stop both ways). I would like to take advantage of the 144h transit without visa (TWOV) program to visit Shanghai for 72 hours on the outbound. On the return, the layover is long but less than 24 hours so I'll just stay at the airport. I've done a lot research so my flights should be OK according to China's rules for the program. What I've read online is that the most common problem is the airlines themselves not allowing passenger who comply with TMOV rules to board their flights because they lack a visa and the gate agents are confused about the TMOV program. Have you used the program via Delta? Did you encounter any problems? Given the recent tension between Canada/US and China, it would also be helpful to hear about the experiences of recent travelers to China using the TMOV regardless of airline.
Jan 6, 2019, 3:39 pm
#4
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The main sticking point is airline employees try and use the airline definition of "transit," which is under 24 hours. They need to understand that China defines transit as either 144 or 72 hour (depending on the city).
Jan 6, 2019, 4:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Iowa...Delta Charter Diamond, now Gold
Posts: 2,066
i was denied boarding on a SIN run in december because my passport expired in 5 months(not 6)...i wasn't leaving airport with the 5 hour turnaround in SIN.
I know that is a different scenario that you but thought it might be close enough to convey (to show the agent wouldn't budge).
BTW it took 23 days to get new passport (just normal mail in processing, no rush or expedited use)
I know that is a different scenario that you but thought it might be close enough to convey (to show the agent wouldn't budge).
BTW it took 23 days to get new passport (just normal mail in processing, no rush or expedited use)
Jan 6, 2019, 4:59 pm
#6
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.....or they look at the fare construction and fare components to decide whether you can have a transit. For example, IME with a triangular trip that uses a RT fare that allows one stopover, they might be willing to consider the stopover to be a transit, but not the destination according to the fare construction.
Jan 6, 2019, 5:03 pm
#7
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.....or they look at the fare construction and fare components to decide whether you can have a transit. For example, IME with a triangular trip that uses a RT fare that allows one stopover, they might be willing to consider the stopover to be a transit, but not the destination according to the fare construction.
Jan 6, 2019, 5:12 pm
#8
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I had no problem doing this in the past, and I suspect for the vast majority of people this works fine. Otherwise we'd be hearing a lot more complaints here than the one or two examples that get trotted out repeatedly.
Of course you never know when you'll get a bad agent...
Of course you never know when you'll get a bad agent...
Jan 6, 2019, 5:17 pm
#9
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Jan 6, 2019, 5:57 pm
#10
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While FT is far from the universe of people who use the TWOV scheme, it has been a while since there have been posts asserting that one carrier or another has denied boarding on a China-bound flight on the ground that the inbound to and outbound from China did not meet standard IATA definitions. Perhaps someone at IATA has flagged this or Chinese authorities expressed their displeasure to the assembled carriers?
Jan 6, 2019, 6:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
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While FT is far from the universe of people who use the TWOV scheme, it has been a while since there have been posts asserting that one carrier or another has denied boarding on a China-bound flight on the ground that the inbound to and outbound from China did not meet standard IATA definitions. Perhaps someone at IATA has flagged this or Chinese authorities expressed their displeasure to the assembled carriers?
The users of this system should not be expected to know what various rules are. They should plug an ITN/passport/,,, in and get an answer. That was not always happening in the past. But you are correct, no recent complaints of this so very possible the system has been fixed.
Jan 6, 2019, 6:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM HH Diamond
Posts: 119
I did this once a few years ago, luckily had a knowledgeable gate agent, showed her my return via ICN
think about getting the visa though when you can, it’s a 10 year visa and was a fairly pain free experience. The ‘security’ of having the visa rests my mind when Im in China. IMHO It adds a sense of ease and legitimacy, China can be an intimidating experience the first few times around.
enjoy your trip!
think about getting the visa though when you can, it’s a 10 year visa and was a fairly pain free experience. The ‘security’ of having the visa rests my mind when Im in China. IMHO It adds a sense of ease and legitimacy, China can be an intimidating experience the first few times around.
enjoy your trip!
Jan 6, 2019, 7:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 597
I did this once a few years ago, luckily had a knowledgeable gate agent, showed her my return via ICN
think about getting the visa though when you can, it’s a 10 year visa and was a fairly pain free experience. The ‘security’ of having the visa rests my mind when Im in China. IMHO It adds a sense of ease and legitimacy, China can be an intimidating experience the first few times around.
enjoy your trip!
think about getting the visa though when you can, it’s a 10 year visa and was a fairly pain free experience. The ‘security’ of having the visa rests my mind when Im in China. IMHO It adds a sense of ease and legitimacy, China can be an intimidating experience the first few times around.
enjoy your trip!
Jan 7, 2019, 4:20 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,754
Take print outs of both your onward connections and the 144 hour rules (from Chinese embassy website). The agents will likely refer to the TIMATIC documented rules, but these are complicated and the part with the 144 hour entry rules is right at the bottom (below parts that say a visa is required).
My experience flying from Europe to Shanghai (obviously not on Delta) was at both check-in and the document check on boarding we were first told 'not allowed to travel - you need a visa', and it took showing the documents (with the 144 hour rule) and being referred to a supervisor to both check-in and later board the plane.
At the immigration desks in Shanghai there are separate lines for those entering on the 144hour rule - again print outs of documents (flights and hotel reservation) helped.
All that said, I would do it again. Much easier (for a frequent traveller) than getting a visa....
My experience flying from Europe to Shanghai (obviously not on Delta) was at both check-in and the document check on boarding we were first told 'not allowed to travel - you need a visa', and it took showing the documents (with the 144 hour rule) and being referred to a supervisor to both check-in and later board the plane.
At the immigration desks in Shanghai there are separate lines for those entering on the 144hour rule - again print outs of documents (flights and hotel reservation) helped.
All that said, I would do it again. Much easier (for a frequent traveller) than getting a visa....
Jan 7, 2019, 5:14 am
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,040
Take print outs of both your onward connections and the 144 hour rules (from Chinese embassy website). The agents will likely refer to the TIMATIC documented rules, but these are complicated and the part with the 144 hour entry rules is right at the bottom (below parts that say a visa is required).
My experience flying from Europe to Shanghai (obviously not on Delta) was at both check-in and the document check on boarding we were first told 'not allowed to travel - you need a visa', and it took showing the documents (with the 144 hour rule) and being referred to a supervisor to both check-in and later board the plane.
At the immigration desks in Shanghai there are separate lines for those entering on the 144hour rule - again print outs of documents (flights and hotel reservation) helped.
All that said, I would do it again. Much easier (for a frequent traveller) than getting a visa....
My experience flying from Europe to Shanghai (obviously not on Delta) was at both check-in and the document check on boarding we were first told 'not allowed to travel - you need a visa', and it took showing the documents (with the 144 hour rule) and being referred to a supervisor to both check-in and later board the plane.
At the immigration desks in Shanghai there are separate lines for those entering on the 144hour rule - again print outs of documents (flights and hotel reservation) helped.
All that said, I would do it again. Much easier (for a frequent traveller) than getting a visa....