Shanghai 144 hours VISA FREE
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 406
Shanghai 144 hours VISA FREE
I am planning a trip with the family this coming November and want to get some clarification on the 144 hours VISA FREE policy from China.
Flying non-stop from LAX to PVG, PVG to BKK, BKK to LAX. Going to stay in PVG for 6 days, so I can skip the process of obtaining VISA. However, one of the requirement is that I must have a ticket flying out of Shanghai to another country.
MY question is the following:
Booking multi-city flight from LAX to PVG & BKK to LAX on Chase UR, since the rate is quite favorable. Then, I am going to purchase separate ticket from PVG to BKK. By purchasing a separate ticket from PVG to BKK instead of combining in the multi-city flight, will this impose any issues for me? Will I be rejected for the 144 hours VISA free policy?
Any help is greatly appreciate.
Flying non-stop from LAX to PVG, PVG to BKK, BKK to LAX. Going to stay in PVG for 6 days, so I can skip the process of obtaining VISA. However, one of the requirement is that I must have a ticket flying out of Shanghai to another country.
MY question is the following:
Booking multi-city flight from LAX to PVG & BKK to LAX on Chase UR, since the rate is quite favorable. Then, I am going to purchase separate ticket from PVG to BKK. By purchasing a separate ticket from PVG to BKK instead of combining in the multi-city flight, will this impose any issues for me? Will I be rejected for the 144 hours VISA free policy?
Any help is greatly appreciate.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Technically you qualify on separate tickets. The issue is the airlines are so wary of being fined that they have trained front end employees to refuse boarding to anyone that could potentially be rejected even if the basis for this isn’t real. There is another thread that this will be folded into where there have been many stories of being denied because the agents wont read past the first two lines of TIMATIC to the details of what qualifies.
I went in November and decided to get the visa to avoid issues. To clarify, your return does not connect in China, correct?
I went in November and decided to get the visa to avoid issues. To clarify, your return does not connect in China, correct?
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,015
Master thread (where this thread will get moved to)
---->China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china-613/
---->China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china-613/
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 406
Technically you qualify on separate tickets. The issue is the airlines are so wary of being fined that they have trained front end employees to refuse boarding to anyone that could potentially be rejected even if the basis for this isn’t real. There is another thread that this will be folded into where there have been many stories of being denied because the agents wont read past the first two lines of TIMATIC to the details of what qualifies.
I went in November and decided to get the visa to avoid issues. To clarify, your return does not connect in China, correct?
I went in November and decided to get the visa to avoid issues. To clarify, your return does not connect in China, correct?
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Are you doing PVG-BKK-LAX or PVG-BKK, few days in BKK then BKK-LAX? If the latter then you should have no issues. Print out TIMATIC and highlight the section relevant section in case you need to Prove your point at the airport.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 406
Thanks for the help!
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,022
Your PVG-BKK flight cannot connect in mainland China. Nonstops are obviously good, but connecting in HKG or TPE is also fine.
Most nonstops are pretty cheap, but flying 9C or HO on a red eye is not so fun.
Most nonstops are pretty cheap, but flying 9C or HO on a red eye is not so fun.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Then you should be fine. I did TWOV in CAN recently on a MAN-CAN//BKK-MAN WY ticket with a separate TG CAN-BKK. No issues apart from WY making me sign a waiver saying it's not their fault if I am refused entry to China.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Your LAX=PVG must also be nonstop, with no stops (direct flight) or connection in mainland China or in Korea.
There's a big authoritative sticky thread on this in the China destination forum.
Note also that you cannot leave the Shanghai area while in China if you do the 144 hour TWOV.
There's a big authoritative sticky thread on this in the China destination forum.
Note also that you cannot leave the Shanghai area while in China if you do the 144 hour TWOV.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,022
Your LAX=PVG must also be nonstop, with no stops (direct flight) or connection in mainland China or in Korea.
There's a big authoritative sticky thread on this in the China destination forum.
Note also that you cannot leave the Shanghai area while in China if you do the 144 hour TWOV.
There's a big authoritative sticky thread on this in the China destination forum.
Note also that you cannot leave the Shanghai area while in China if you do the 144 hour TWOV.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 406
I found a flight from PVG to HKT (layover in Hong Kong) via CX. Will this cause any issue for the 144 hours VISA? I read in multiple articles that Hong Kong for the purpose of Visa, is counted as a different country.
Anyone with experience to this flight or schedule? I am booking a one way flight from PVG to HKT (hong kong layover) and want to ensure the layover is allowed and in accordance to the 144 VISA policy.
Thank you!
Anyone with experience to this flight or schedule? I am booking a one way flight from PVG to HKT (hong kong layover) and want to ensure the layover is allowed and in accordance to the 144 VISA policy.
Thank you!
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,022
1. There are no 144 hour visas
2. You can transit without a visa as long as you come directly from one country, and go directly to a different country
3. In spite of the fact that HK is part of China, it counts as a different country for this purpose
2. You can transit without a visa as long as you come directly from one country, and go directly to a different country
3. In spite of the fact that HK is part of China, it counts as a different country for this purpose
#14
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
Right, it is called a "Temporary Entry Permit" but it is a sticker they put in your passport like any other visa.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,022