Same day turnaround @ PVG; suggestions, tips?
 

First, let me begin by noting that I have tried to find an answer to my questions below by (1) checking the threads addressing turnarounds involving PVG and (2) private messaging 2 FTers who seemed like they might have helpful information...but I haven't yet received a reply to either PM. I am an AA ExPlat doing a MR from SFO to PVG via DFW with a same day turnaround. My inbound flight (AA #127) arrives PVG a little more than 3 hours before my return flight (AA #128) departs. I already have a 10 year visitor's visa for China. Also, I may be able to obtain a boarding pass for my return flight before leaving DFW since it will be less than 24 hours before AA #128 (PVG->DFW) leaves Shanghai. My questions are: (a) is there a "transit desk" at PVG like there is at HKG, SIN, etc.? (b) if there is no transit desk thus requiring me to exit the sterile area, how should I fill out my arrival paperwork (e.g., should I write "transit" for my "address" in China)? (c) is there anything else I need to know about negotiating this turnaround at PVG? Thanks in advance for any help/insight you can provide.

You must have a Chinese visa. You cannot transit China without it, unless continuing onto a 3rd county. 72 or 144 hours transit without visa requires a 3rd country destination.

If you have a Chinese visa, there is a transit desk where you can secure your boarding pass, but it doesn't eliminate your having to go through Chinese process. The process is only slightly less than if you are originating.

So does 24 hour TWOV. Even for very short "stays" you cannot do out and back without a Chinese visa.

I already have my China visa (good for 10 years). So, if I understand you correctly, I can/should go to the transit desk and expect a modestly abbreviated immigration/customs/security process. Do you know how I should fill out my entry paperwork since I won't be staying anywhere in China? Should I write "Transit" for my "address" in China?

You're not transiting.

Maybe turnaround?

:confused:

I realize I'm not, technically speaking, "transiting" (= going on to a different country) but I've never heard of writing "turnaround" in the field on the arrivals form where it asks for one's address in China? Given the language barrier and the fact that there will be no AA employees in Shanghai, I desperately want to minimize the likelihood of any misunderstanding.

How many hours are you there? Just write Grand Hyatt Shanghai and if someone asks say you're gonna have lunch there.

You do not really need the entry document. I would have it filled out and ready, just in case. You never know when you might need it. If you don't have it, it becomes a pain to find one.
If it is a quick turn, you don't want to go through entry and exit.

Exit and re-enter?
 

I'd love to not have to "go through exit and re-entry" (as @ SIN) but others in this forum have indicated that, even though there is/may be a transit desk, I still would have to exit and re-enter the sterile area. Does anyone know (from previous visits to PVG) what the exact procedure is? To reiterate, I have a little over 3 hours "on the ground" between AA #127 landing and AA#128 (same plane) taking off.

Providing incorrect information
 

To reiterate, I will be on the ground a little over 3 hours between AA127 landing and AA128 (same aircraft) taking off. From what I can tell, it would be pretty much impossible to actually get to the Grand Hyatt Shanghai and back in this time. Couldn't this raise questions? I really don't want to falsify any official documents (especially in a Communist country where I don't speak the language and where there will be no AA employees on the ground...seems too risky) but don't know how to fill out the "local address in China" line on the arrival form. Another FTer has suggested writing "turnaround" but I'm not sure whether that will be understood at immigration? Has anyone done this trip as a MR before? I have to believe someone reading this has gobbled up one of these sub-4CPM trips for an AA MR before the mileage earning formula changes mid-year. Help, please!:confused:

Just write the name of ANY hotel in that field. The entry people don't really care about the details of your departing flight (since you aren't availing of TWOV).

If you are really that worried I'd use the Da Zhong Pudong Airport Hotel Shanghai its in between both terminals. A 5 minute walk from either place.

You may find this thread enlightening, particularly with respect to transfer desks and the need to go through immigration.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...-transfer.html

I've not done a turnaround at PVG, but the times I have had a connection at PVG, I have had to clear immigration and then go upstairs and go through passport control. YMMV, though.

A handful of airline combinations support efficient transfers (e.g. nz/vs comes to mind), but the list is always changing to the extent that you should always plan on entering and exiting China.

Can I (USA passport) TWOV thusly:

TYO-PVG-HKG-TYO

??

Yes, till 2019.

Yes. HKG is considered a separate country for TWOV purposes.

I'm doing a similar routing next month on AA: SEA > DFW > PVG > DFW > SEA with 3 hours and 25 minutes in PVG between flights. I already have a valid 10 year visa for China, so that isn't an issue.

I'm wondering if anyone has any additional insight into what to write on the immigration form (i.e. Transit/Turn Around/Etc...). I just flew into PVG last week and had to fill out and submit the form at immigration.

Has anyone actually done a same day turn around in PVG that can share about their experience?

I wrote transit when I did the transfer AUH-PVG-LAX (it was two separate ticket). I left the airport, had lunch and came back in again. If you have a 10 year visa it should be pretty easy. Definitely enough time too, if the plane is not delayed coming in.

Custom control in PVG is pretty easy, I have yet to see anyone get stopped or asked more than 1 question yet. I guess making a lot of sentences in English and then having to understand the answers is too much trouble for them

Thanks, pl840502! Really appreciate the help.

I have ORD-PVG-ORD booked in April with 2 hours 10 minutes turn, will see what happens :D

Just came back from PVG with 2 one-night MRs in the last 2 weeks, here's what you need to prepare for from deplane to boarding for (all observed via AA flights from Terminal 2 at peak arrival hours of 3-4pm)

Deplane: from walking off gate to entering immigration hall, this can be done in 5-10 minutes walking if your plane arrives on time. If the plane gets in early/late and get a remote stand, this process can take 30+ minutes. You wait for a bus to arrive, and even if you do get on the first bus with other F/J passengers, it will not leave until the bus is full. The bus then circles the entire T2 and back at a speed of about 20-30km/hr to get to the stop right below the immigration hall.

Immigration: First the line to slowly squeeze through the temperature check station (3-5mins) then line up for immigration agent. If you have automated passport (3-5 mins) otherwise it can be 20 minutes or more.

Custom: Assuming no bags this is just slowing going out the final door with a long queue of people again (3-5 min) with agents randomly picking bags to screen via Xray.

Back to departure hall: Head right and pass the very long wall of people on both sides and take the escalator up, AA will be right in front. This is about 5 minutes walking behind people.

Boarding pass: Use the kiosk (3-5 minutes or less if there no line) or priority line

Immigration again: No automated machine here, have to wait and usually about 10-20 minutes.

Security check: Another 10-20 minutes wait, depending on the line.

In sum, I think it's feasible but the criteria is that one must get to landside asap to print the boarding pass before 60 minutes cut-off. The most time-consuming part is the deplaning and immigration, afterwards it's a simple process and it's relatively easy to get back to airside by 60 minutes before departure (but then no lounge or relax time). You can sort of jump the queue on immigration and security if you beg and show them the boarding pass if you're seriously late.

Thanks for sharing. Never done this, but just wondering if I could suggest, if getting a pass T-60 is the biggest hurdle, perhaps paying for a small amount of internet on the plane to check in and print the pass or having a friend/family member check in for you would be an option?

The kiosks seem to print tickets up to departure as long as you're checked in, but I've only done that domestically.

Technically, for a same day turn from USA-PVG, one should be able to check in on the ground at USA for the return flight from PVG since it's under 24 hours, but not sure if the kiosk at US airports will have that option, may have to try the agents and see.

I'm currently in the middle of a same day turnaround to PVG and wanted to confirm that everything JIX mentioned was spot on. In less than an hour, I had deplaned, cleared immigration/customs, got my boarding passes, went through security again, and made it to the gate.

I was able to check in online for my return flights before I left the US, but wasn't able to print those boarding passes from the kiosk in DTW...it would only let me reprint the BP for my flight from DFW to PVG.

I was able to print the boarding pass and check in online via aa.com for the return trip. I now have ORD-PVG-ORD boarding passes on hand for the MR.

OK final update after a completed ORD-PVG-ORD turn at 2 hours 10 minutes, which arrived early-ish at around 2pm just before the peak time.

I think AA 288/289 uses gate 77 most of the time in PVG T2, the walking from gate to immigration hall is 1 minute and I stepped off the plane door at 1:50 and was back to AA check-in counter by 2:00pm. Security and exit immigration took much longer (about 10-15 minutes each) and I was air side by 2:30pm, which gave about 1 hour until boarding time.

Use lane 23 for exit immigration (located in the center), it's for VIP and super late passengers if you can manage to beg them. There is a large poster noting the use of the lane.

Side note, it seems that AA now uses Air China lounge at T2 (on top of gate 71) and it's much better than the CX lounge with shower and sleep rooms available in both business and first section. One has to have an invitation card tho, so the kiosk printed boarding passes will not do and only check-in agents can issue those.

Have done turnaround ar Pvg before, stayed abt 4 hrs.

You will need to enter the country as normal, transit in China means enter and depart. Self printed boarding pass is not good to depart Pvg, and even though the next flight is within 24 hours, you might not be able to get your return boarding pass, I didn't at least.

Pvg is famous for air traffic control, but you should be alright for the connection as your inbound flight is unlikely to be delayed, but the return trip......

Anyway, China is not a easy country to do turnaround, Hkg or sin is way easier and reliable