Jul 5, 2017, 8:33 am
Last edit by: wolfpacktrojan
Transportation options from HGH to Hangzhou city center or PVG. Please add your name and your itinerary if you are interested in meeting other fellow FTers.
1) Taxi to Hangzhou city center, about 100 RMB ($15) for the entire party, not per person, walking from international terminal to domestic terminal (i.e., right turn after you get outside of the international terminal building), you will see taxi queue.
2) Shuttle bus, 20 RMB ($3), to Wulinmen CAAC Ticket Office or East Railway Station Line (two most popular options). The waiting hall for the shuttle bus is at Gate 10 (you can purchase ticket at Gate 14, too) Arrival Hall, on the first floor of the terminal building. Further details, see https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cit...ation.htm#hang
3) Shuttle from Hangzhou city center to PVG, 110 RMB, 3.5 hours: a) Wulinmen Ticket Office Central Hangzhou to PVG: (5:30, 6:10, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00)
b) Hangzhou Dragon Sports Center to PVG, 110 RMB, (7:00, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00 ). Further details, see https://traveladept.com/bus-pudong-hangzhou/
4) Train from Hangzhou East station to Shanghai Hongqiao; less than 100 RMB (~1 hr); then you can take Subway Line #2 to PVG, ~10 RMB and 2 hrs; or shuttle bus (Airport Line #1), about 1 hr, 30 RMB ($4.5), every 15 - 25 minutes. The Hangzhou East ticketing windows are located on 1st Floor, EAST Area of the station. Please allow 20-30 minutes for walking to 2nd floor departure, and security check. The frequency of Hangzhou-Hongqiao trains is as good as that of subways in many US cities.
5) Getting cash at HGH The international terminal at HGH (where you arrive) only has an exchange vendor with hefty fees that is open limited hours. However, the adjacent domestic terminal has a bank ATM. To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.
6 Getting TWOV without issues The advice is to print out your itinerary, hotel reservation, etc., to speed up the procedure at the entry point in China. At SFO, the check-in agents were clueless, so be prepared to get there very early and fight for your boarding passes. Please read the last few pages on this thread for first-hand experiences. Good luck. There is a thread on FT for further details. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...hread-231.html
ATM To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.
Travel information for Beijing and airport:
Beijing will have 2 hubs starting Sept 30,2019. PEK (Beijing Capital International Airport) is original main hub and will continue for Star Alliance flights and Cathay Pacific (including subsidiary Cathay Dragon Air). PKX (Beijing Daxing International Airport, will debut Sept 30, 2019) planned for airlines of the SkyTeam alliance and One World Alliance (AA, BA, etc. except Cathay Pacific) will be relocated to the new airport. Most flyers taking advantage of this China OJ deal will continue fly through PEK. Some people who use positioning flights through Beijing using non-Star Alliance airlines need to make sure you are flying into PEK, or else need 2hr ground transportation from PKX to PEK.
PEK allows TWOV within 24hr to stay inside security zone airside. This is more convenient for immediate turn than Shanghai-PVG, which force all passengers to exit immigration and customs, then re-check in from land side, even if you have immediate turn within 24hr.
Who are going? When for outbound and inbound? Routing from major hubs:
July 2017
August 2017
Quinlanty: Aug 3, ORD-HKG-HGH; Aug 7, PVG-LAX-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ (see post #284 for a brief report on TWOV procedure at HGH).
September 2017
Kmxu: 1 Sept, IAD-HNL-GUM-, 3 Sept, GUM-PVG; 4 Sept, PVG-SFO-ORD
Quinlanty; Sep 1, IAD-HNL-GUM; Sept 3, GUM-PVG, Sep 4, PVG-SFO-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Sept 1; SFO-HNL-GUM-HKG Sept 3rd: HKG-HGH, Sept 4th: PVG-SFO
X31: 8 Sept BTV-EWR-SFO-HKG-HGH; 11 Sept PVG-NRT; 12 Sept HND-SFO-IAH-EWR; 13 Sept EWR-YUL
Kmxu + 3: 9 Sept, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH; 12 Sept, PVG-SFO-IAD
techdarko: 12 Sept, SFO-HKG; 14 Sept, HKG-HGH; 16 Sept, PVG-SFO
Quinlanty: Sep 14; SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-YVR
bencanfly: Sep 14, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-IAD
tde211: Sept 17, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 18 - PVG-SFO-YVR
Fishleafer: Sep 20, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 26, PVG-SFO-YVR
X31: 21 Sept BTV-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG; 23 Sept HKG-HGH; 25 Sept PVG-SFO-IAH-EWR; 26 Sept EWR-YUL
985X: Sept 22, LAX-SFO-HKG; Sept 23, HKG-HGH; Sept 25, PVG-LAX; Sept 26, LAX-YVR
flyingstudent: Sept 23: SFO-HGH
netoreisinger: 30 Sept, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; 4 Oct, PVG-SFO-ORD-YUL
October 2017
gba: Oct 22, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 29: PVG-NRT-SEA-YVR
beyounged: Oct 24, SAN-SFO-HKG, Oct 26, HKG-HGH, Nov 8, PVG-HND-YVR
as219: Oct 26, LGA-ORD-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-SFO-EWR-YUL (+1)
X31: 26 Oct BTV-ORD-HKG; 28 Oct HKG-HGH; 30 Oct PVG-SFO; 31 Oct SFO-ORD-YUL
riphamilton +1: Oct 27, BOS-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-GUM-NRT; Oct 31: NRT-ORD-YUL
November 2017
Quinlanty: Nov 3, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; Nov 6, HGH-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Nov 19: BDL-ORD-HKG-HGH, Nov 27 HGH HKG-SFO-(YVR)
Davistev: Nov26, LAX-NRT-PVG
December 2017
Kmxu: Dec 1, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG; Dec 3, HKG-HGH, Dec 4, PVG-SFO-IAD
X31: Dec 1, YUL-IAD-IAH; Dec 2, IAH-LAX-PVG; Dec 4, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Dec 4, HNL-EWR-BTV.
January 2018
Kewldude21: Jan 14 IAH-EWR-HKG Jan 16 HKG-HGH Jan 22 PVG-SFO-IAH
mpiotrow: Jan 21, ORD-SFO-KIX; Jan 23, KIX-HGH; Jan 24, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL-DEN-YYZ
February 2018
March 2018
Davistev: Mar03, PVG-SFO-YVR
flyer777lr: Mar 20, DEN-HNL-GUM; Mar 23, GUM-KIX (NH)-HGH; Mar 26, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Mar 27, HNL-EWR-YYZ
Kewldude21: Mar 22 IAH-EWR-HKG Mar 24 HKG-HGH Mar 28 HGH-PEK-SFO-IAH
flyme2: Mar 28, BTV-ORD-HKG; Mar 29: HKG-HGH; Apr 17: HKG-EWR-YUL
JetSetDave: Mar 29, EUG-SFO-HKG-HGH; April 3, PVG-SFO-EUG
Coeur 05: March 31, bos-sfo-hkg-pvg; April 5, PVG-lax-ord-yow
April 2018
ttyl: Apr 01 BTV-IAD-EWR-HKG; Apr 02 HKG-HGH; Apr 04 PVG-SFO-IAD-LGA-YUL
Toronto1970: April 6, EWR-ORD-HKG-HGH; April 13, CTU-SFO-EWR-YYZ
Exiled in Express: April 18, ORD-HKG-HGH; April 30, WUH-NRT-SEA-YVR
X31: Apr. 28 : BTV-EWR-HKG-HGH; May 1st : PVG-KIX; May 15th : ITM-HND-YVR-YYJ
May 2018
Kewldude21: May 3 IAH-SFO-HKG May 13 PEK-SFO-IAH
October 2018
KMXU, Oct. 18, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH, Oct. 25, PVG-SFO-IAD
November 2018
KMXU, Nov. 14, ORD-HKG-XIY, Nov. 19, PEK-ORD
September 2019
xinliz Sept 4 SFO-NRT-PVG Sept 25 PEK-EWR-YOW
Flying Machine Sept 9 LAX-SFO-HKG Sept 10 HKG-HGH Sept 16 PVG-SFO-IAD
October 2019
kmxu: Oct 26, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG, Oct. 27, HKG-XIY, Oct 30, CTU-SFO-IAH
wolfpacktrojan: Oct. 26, EWR-SFO-PVG, Oct. 28, PVG-NRT-SFO-YVR
November 2019
kmxuand his colleague: Nov 9, IAD-PEK, Nov 12, PEK-NRT-HNL-SFO-YYZ
kmxu's colleague: Nov 13, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 16, PEK-ORD
kmxu: Nov. 20, IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 22, PEK-EWR-YYZ
kmxu: Nov. 23, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 26, PEK-ORD
aquanine Nov 28: LAX-SFO-KIX, Nov 30: KIX-PEK, Dec 2: PEK-SFO-YVR
December 2019
kmxu: Nov. 30, IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 2, PEK-ORD-YYZ
kmxu: Dec. 3, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 6, PEK-ORD
jskang Dec 5, EWR-PVG, Dec 8, PEK-NRT-IAD-YOW
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
1) Taxi to Hangzhou city center, about 100 RMB ($15) for the entire party, not per person, walking from international terminal to domestic terminal (i.e., right turn after you get outside of the international terminal building), you will see taxi queue.
2) Shuttle bus, 20 RMB ($3), to Wulinmen CAAC Ticket Office or East Railway Station Line (two most popular options). The waiting hall for the shuttle bus is at Gate 10 (you can purchase ticket at Gate 14, too) Arrival Hall, on the first floor of the terminal building. Further details, see https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cit...ation.htm#hang
3) Shuttle from Hangzhou city center to PVG, 110 RMB, 3.5 hours: a) Wulinmen Ticket Office Central Hangzhou to PVG: (5:30, 6:10, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00)
b) Hangzhou Dragon Sports Center to PVG, 110 RMB, (7:00, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00 ). Further details, see https://traveladept.com/bus-pudong-hangzhou/
4) Train from Hangzhou East station to Shanghai Hongqiao; less than 100 RMB (~1 hr); then you can take Subway Line #2 to PVG, ~10 RMB and 2 hrs; or shuttle bus (Airport Line #1), about 1 hr, 30 RMB ($4.5), every 15 - 25 minutes. The Hangzhou East ticketing windows are located on 1st Floor, EAST Area of the station. Please allow 20-30 minutes for walking to 2nd floor departure, and security check. The frequency of Hangzhou-Hongqiao trains is as good as that of subways in many US cities.
5) Getting cash at HGH The international terminal at HGH (where you arrive) only has an exchange vendor with hefty fees that is open limited hours. However, the adjacent domestic terminal has a bank ATM. To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.
6 Getting TWOV without issues The advice is to print out your itinerary, hotel reservation, etc., to speed up the procedure at the entry point in China. At SFO, the check-in agents were clueless, so be prepared to get there very early and fight for your boarding passes. Please read the last few pages on this thread for first-hand experiences. Good luck. There is a thread on FT for further details. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...hread-231.html
ATM To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.
Travel information for Beijing and airport:
Beijing will have 2 hubs starting Sept 30,2019. PEK (Beijing Capital International Airport) is original main hub and will continue for Star Alliance flights and Cathay Pacific (including subsidiary Cathay Dragon Air). PKX (Beijing Daxing International Airport, will debut Sept 30, 2019) planned for airlines of the SkyTeam alliance and One World Alliance (AA, BA, etc. except Cathay Pacific) will be relocated to the new airport. Most flyers taking advantage of this China OJ deal will continue fly through PEK. Some people who use positioning flights through Beijing using non-Star Alliance airlines need to make sure you are flying into PEK, or else need 2hr ground transportation from PKX to PEK.
PEK allows TWOV within 24hr to stay inside security zone airside. This is more convenient for immediate turn than Shanghai-PVG, which force all passengers to exit immigration and customs, then re-check in from land side, even if you have immediate turn within 24hr.
Who are going? When for outbound and inbound? Routing from major hubs:
July 2017
August 2017
Quinlanty: Aug 3, ORD-HKG-HGH; Aug 7, PVG-LAX-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ (see post #284 for a brief report on TWOV procedure at HGH).
September 2017
Kmxu: 1 Sept, IAD-HNL-GUM-, 3 Sept, GUM-PVG; 4 Sept, PVG-SFO-ORD
Quinlanty; Sep 1, IAD-HNL-GUM; Sept 3, GUM-PVG, Sep 4, PVG-SFO-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Sept 1; SFO-HNL-GUM-HKG Sept 3rd: HKG-HGH, Sept 4th: PVG-SFO
X31: 8 Sept BTV-EWR-SFO-HKG-HGH; 11 Sept PVG-NRT; 12 Sept HND-SFO-IAH-EWR; 13 Sept EWR-YUL
Kmxu + 3: 9 Sept, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH; 12 Sept, PVG-SFO-IAD
techdarko: 12 Sept, SFO-HKG; 14 Sept, HKG-HGH; 16 Sept, PVG-SFO
Quinlanty: Sep 14; SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-YVR
bencanfly: Sep 14, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-IAD
tde211: Sept 17, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 18 - PVG-SFO-YVR
Fishleafer: Sep 20, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 26, PVG-SFO-YVR
X31: 21 Sept BTV-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG; 23 Sept HKG-HGH; 25 Sept PVG-SFO-IAH-EWR; 26 Sept EWR-YUL
985X: Sept 22, LAX-SFO-HKG; Sept 23, HKG-HGH; Sept 25, PVG-LAX; Sept 26, LAX-YVR
flyingstudent: Sept 23: SFO-HGH
netoreisinger: 30 Sept, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; 4 Oct, PVG-SFO-ORD-YUL
October 2017
gba: Oct 22, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 29: PVG-NRT-SEA-YVR
beyounged: Oct 24, SAN-SFO-HKG, Oct 26, HKG-HGH, Nov 8, PVG-HND-YVR
as219: Oct 26, LGA-ORD-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-SFO-EWR-YUL (+1)
X31: 26 Oct BTV-ORD-HKG; 28 Oct HKG-HGH; 30 Oct PVG-SFO; 31 Oct SFO-ORD-YUL
riphamilton +1: Oct 27, BOS-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-GUM-NRT; Oct 31: NRT-ORD-YUL
November 2017
Quinlanty: Nov 3, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; Nov 6, HGH-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Nov 19: BDL-ORD-HKG
Davistev: Nov26, LAX-NRT-PVG
December 2017
Kmxu: Dec 1, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG; Dec 3, HKG-HGH, Dec 4, PVG-SFO-IAD
X31: Dec 1, YUL-IAD-IAH; Dec 2, IAH-LAX-PVG; Dec 4, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Dec 4, HNL-EWR-BTV.
January 2018
Kewldude21: Jan 14 IAH-EWR-HKG Jan 16 HKG-HGH Jan 22 PVG-SFO-IAH
mpiotrow: Jan 21, ORD-SFO-KIX; Jan 23, KIX-HGH; Jan 24, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL-DEN-YYZ
February 2018
March 2018
Davistev: Mar03, PVG-SFO-YVR
flyer777lr: Mar 20, DEN-HNL-GUM; Mar 23, GUM-KIX (NH)-HGH; Mar 26, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Mar 27, HNL-EWR-YYZ
Kewldude21: Mar 22 IAH-EWR-HKG Mar 24 HKG-HGH Mar 28 HGH-PEK-SFO-IAH
flyme2: Mar 28, BTV-ORD-HKG; Mar 29: HKG-HGH; Apr 17: HKG-EWR-YUL
JetSetDave: Mar 29, EUG-SFO-HKG-HGH; April 3, PVG-SFO-EUG
Coeur 05: March 31, bos-sfo-hkg-pvg; April 5, PVG-lax-ord-yow
April 2018
ttyl: Apr 01 BTV-IAD-EWR-HKG; Apr 02 HKG-HGH; Apr 04 PVG-SFO-IAD-LGA-YUL
Toronto1970: April 6, EWR-ORD-HKG-HGH; April 13, CTU-SFO-EWR-YYZ
Exiled in Express: April 18, ORD-HKG-HGH; April 30, WUH-NRT-SEA-YVR
X31: Apr. 28 : BTV-EWR-HKG-HGH; May 1st : PVG-KIX; May 15th : ITM-HND-YVR-YYJ
May 2018
Kewldude21: May 3 IAH-SFO-HKG May 13 PEK-SFO-IAH
October 2018
KMXU, Oct. 18, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH, Oct. 25, PVG-SFO-IAD
November 2018
KMXU, Nov. 14, ORD-HKG-XIY, Nov. 19, PEK-ORD
September 2019
xinliz Sept 4 SFO-NRT-PVG Sept 25 PEK-EWR-YOW
Flying Machine Sept 9 LAX-SFO-HKG Sept 10 HKG-HGH Sept 16 PVG-SFO-IAD
October 2019
kmxu: Oct 26, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG, Oct. 27, HKG-XIY, Oct 30, CTU-SFO-IAH
wolfpacktrojan: Oct. 26, EWR-SFO-PVG, Oct. 28, PVG-NRT-SFO-YVR
November 2019
kmxuand his colleague: Nov 9, IAD-PEK, Nov 12, PEK-NRT-HNL-SFO-YYZ
kmxu's colleague: Nov 13, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 16, PEK-ORD
kmxu: Nov. 20, IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 22, PEK-EWR-YYZ
kmxu: Nov. 23, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 26, PEK-ORD
aquanine Nov 28: LAX-SFO-KIX, Nov 30: KIX-PEK, Dec 2: PEK-SFO-YVR
December 2019
kmxu: Nov. 30, IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 2, PEK-ORD-YYZ
kmxu: Dec. 3, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 6, PEK-ORD
jskang Dec 5, EWR-PVG, Dec 8, PEK-NRT-IAD-YOW
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
UA, USA to China OJ from $303 ai
Sep 15, 2017, 6:06 pm
#511
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: UA
Posts: 54
Due to limited PTO, can't leave a day earlier. I could come back a day later but I would have to drop the SFO-YVR segment because I would have to be at work. Any issues with dropping the segment aside from less PQM?
Sep 15, 2017, 6:15 pm
#512
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
First timer.
Considering this: http://www.google.com/flights/#searc...YVR0NH116;eo=e
How likely will I miss my same day connection to HGH?
If I have to over night in HKG, I have a really narrow window between arriving in HGH and leaving from PVG. Will UA possibly rebook me from HGH on the return?
Can I ask them to rebook me on the return from HKG instead, claiming the delay caused me to miss my scheduled appointments resulting in all of them being canceled and I do not need to travel to HGH?
I plan to book a one way YVR-SFO on AC. Will UA compensate if I don't end up in YVR as scheduled?
Considering this: http://www.google.com/flights/#searc...YVR0NH116;eo=e
How likely will I miss my same day connection to HGH?
If I have to over night in HKG, I have a really narrow window between arriving in HGH and leaving from PVG. Will UA possibly rebook me from HGH on the return?
Can I ask them to rebook me on the return from HKG instead, claiming the delay caused me to miss my scheduled appointments resulting in all of them being canceled and I do not need to travel to HGH?
I plan to book a one way YVR-SFO on AC. Will UA compensate if I don't end up in YVR as scheduled?
If you do somehow miss the HKG-HGH flight, I'm sure you can convince UA to put you on the direct HKG-SFO or something similar, since it would not be physically possible to complete your itinerary even if you took a later HKG-HGH flight. All of this is assuming you have at least some UA status, since I'm not sure how the overseas call center would treat you if things went south.
Sep 15, 2017, 6:34 pm
#513
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: UA
Posts: 54
I'll chime in, and say this should be ok depending on your flexibility. If all goes well, then yes, you'll make the flights, and your Tokyo surface transfer should be do-able. I can't tell if you're based in SFO or YVR though. If SFO, why not just connect there coming back and throw away the SFO-YVR segment?
If you do somehow miss the HKG-HGH flight, I'm sure you can convince UA to put you on the direct HKG-SFO or something similar, since it would not be physically possible to complete your itinerary even if you took a later HKG-HGH flight. All of this is assuming you have at least some UA status, since I'm not sure how the overseas call center would treat you if things went south.
If you do somehow miss the HKG-HGH flight, I'm sure you can convince UA to put you on the direct HKG-SFO or something similar, since it would not be physically possible to complete your itinerary even if you took a later HKG-HGH flight. All of this is assuming you have at least some UA status, since I'm not sure how the overseas call center would treat you if things went south.
I don't have to worry about repercussions for throwing away the SFO-YVR segment?
Sep 15, 2017, 7:01 pm
#514
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
In my opinion, the prudent thing is to only take the trip if you intend to complete it as ticketed.
Sep 15, 2017, 7:17 pm
#515
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
According to the contract of carriage, UA has the right to charge you for the actual value of the trip you took if you drop the SFO-YVR. Or it might cancel your account. Or it might not let you earn any miles for the trip. Or it might take legal action.
In my opinion, the prudent thing is to only take the trip if you intend to complete it as ticketed.
In my opinion, the prudent thing is to only take the trip if you intend to complete it as ticketed.
If you do this a handful of times, without making a systematic pattern, the general consensus on FT seems to be that there's really no harm. Everyone has different risk tolerances, but personally, unless I was doing hidden-city ticketing on the same route each and every week, I'd be fine taking that risk.
Last edited by pushmyredbutton; Sep 15, 2017 at 8:38 pm Reason: spelling
Sep 15, 2017, 8:19 pm
#516
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
Sep 16, 2017, 11:09 pm
#518
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 12
So just got back from my SFO->HKG->HGH/PVG->SFO->YVR run. Definitely going back to Shanghai, but not flying through HGH again. Took almost an hour to get through immigration - they seemed to have problems handling the TWOV - wound up needing more than just my printed flight reservation, also my hotel reservation and my travel plans in China. They were nice about it, but caused me to miss my train and be stuck in Hangzhou East Station for 4 hours.
As a heads up for those flying through HGH, take printouts of everything with you to be safe.
As a heads up for those flying through HGH, take printouts of everything with you to be safe.
Sep 17, 2017, 4:36 am
#519
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I am glad that you are back. On the evening of September 10, KAflyer and coeur 05 breezed through the TWOV at HGH in less than 20 min. They spoke no Chinese. What was the holdup for you? Were there many people on the line? Or were they suspicious of some incomplete documents? I agree that Shanghai has a lot more to offer than Hangzhou.
Sep 17, 2017, 7:23 am
#520
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: YUL
Posts: 61
I am glad that you are back. On the evening of September 10, KAflyer and coeur 05 breezed through the TWOV at HGH in less than 20 min. They spoke no Chinese. What was the holdup for you? Were there many people on the line? Or were they suspicious of some incomplete documents? I agree that Shanghai has a lot more to offer than Hangzhou.
Just smile, be polite and appreciate that this is the way bureaucracy works in China. Definitely do not make plans for anything after landing in HGH. You don't have to worry about transportation late at night: there are 24h buses and taxis (I don't recommend taxis) at the domestic terminal, and flights are landing through the night.
Sep 17, 2017, 1:38 pm
#521
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,230
I was also stuck at HGH immigration for one hour. If you have the proper documentation (as said before: flight itinerary and hotel reservations with hotel contact info), they will let you through, but they will be really slow about it - you will not be their #1 priority.
Just smile, be polite and appreciate that this is the way bureaucracy works in China. Definitely do not make plans for anything after landing in HGH. You don't have to worry about transportation late at night: there are 24h buses and taxis (I don't recommend taxis) at the domestic terminal, and flights are landing through the night.
Just smile, be polite and appreciate that this is the way bureaucracy works in China. Definitely do not make plans for anything after landing in HGH. You don't have to worry about transportation late at night: there are 24h buses and taxis (I don't recommend taxis) at the domestic terminal, and flights are landing through the night.
Sep 17, 2017, 2:27 pm
#522
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Sep 17, 2017, 2:36 pm
#523
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: YUL
Posts: 61
Maybe during the day there are more lanes open in HGH ?
Sep 17, 2017, 2:59 pm
#524
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 12
I am glad that you are back. On the evening of September 10, KAflyer and coeur 05 breezed through the TWOV at HGH in less than 20 min. They spoke no Chinese. What was the holdup for you? Were there many people on the line? Or were they suspicious of some incomplete documents? I agree that Shanghai has a lot more to offer than Hangzhou.
In my experience, this is true in PVG, but not in HGH. When KA622 landed, I can confirm that there were no TWOV counters but only foreigner/local lines. The guy at the booth knew very well what a TWOV was, but still had to call a supervisor who escorted me in a special room to complete some paperwork and take pictures.
Sep 17, 2017, 6:35 pm
#525
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO/ATL
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 14
Experience getting from HGH to Shanghai was fairly routine. I couldn't figure out how to get the airport bus shuttle to the railway station -- was told at the airport there wasn't one, which I don't think is true but probably a language limitation. I opted for a cab and showed the driver (who also spoke no english) a photo of the high speed train that I had on my phone and said "train to shanghai". he nodded and said "okay". And we were off. My only real advice is to make sure you have cash on you because my international credit card was not accepted the train station in Hangzhu. In all, from plane to my hotel in Shanghai took less than 4 hrs. The high speed train was very nice and comfortable.
Now I'm off to explore Shanghai for two days! PM me if you have any must-sees or must-dos.