I had the bright idea of trying the AA LAX-PVG service as an alternative to NRT for transit to SE Asia. Here was my experience:

I flew MIA-LAX-PVG (AA) with MU connection to BKK 11/6/13. My luggage was checked thru only to PVG. I had to fill out a form for immigration & clear in PVG. (I had no visa, but that was no problem). There was a "transit desk" but it isn't open. At immigration I asked an officer at the line entrance & was directed to a special booth (NO SIGNAGE). Then I had to collect luggage and make the 15-minute walk with my luggage from Terminal 1 -> 2. I missed my connecting flight, had to overnight in PVG (unanticipated).

Return 11/16/13 I flew REP-PVG-NRT (MU) with AA connection NRT-LAX-MIA. MU could NOT check my luggage thru either to NRT or LAX. I had to repeat the same process in PVG as my outbound: immigration form, clear PVG immigration & customs, upstairs to check-in counter to recheck my luggage for onward travel.

Narita so much more convenient. I won't do THAT again. I was shocked that MU couldn't treat me as transit pax in PVG. But then, perhaps China is like the USA with non-citizens...


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...l#post21826636

I made that same mistake when I decided to transit at PVG on my way home. Even though my bags were checked all the way through to my destination, I found out when I got to the immigration desk that I was supposed to get my luggage and recheck it again- to make a long story short, I decided never to go through PVG again.

was this two separate tickets? how much time did you leave for the connection?

Its not only PVG - but PEK as well. Its all on one ticket - but you still must clear immigration / luggage and recheck in for connecting flight.

AA and MU are not same alliance. That's why AA could not check in MU flight, while MU could not check in AA flight.

If it's on two separate tickets, you bear far greater responsibility for having a too tight connection. Given the two airlines involved, I am wondering if perhaps the OPs arranging a short connection, not the airport, is to blame

Mine was in the same ticket, and same alliance, Cathay and AA. The tags on my luggage were checked all the way through to final destination. Overall, my impression is that PVG is not a transit friendly airport, IMHO

This sums it up very well. Many non-US citizens/residents avoid transiting USA airports for this precise reason.

1) 2 separate tickets
2) 2-hrs. 10-mins connection

But still, on the one ticket, REP-PVG-NRT, all on MU, luggage couldn't be thru checked to NRT.

And there was a later flight on MU from PVG-BKK. However, when I arrived (an hour late) in PVG, i cleared customs & walked from T-2 -> T-1 because my luggage was tagged thru to BKK. I had no idea I had to collect luggage in customs -- which I found out upon arrival at MU desk! So, I traipsed back to T-2, got back into customs, collected luggage, walked back to T-1 and missed the last flight to BKK. This was after already about 20 hours of travel -- I was exhausted.

So, why bother with PVG? NRT transit so much simpler...

I think a lot of folks here would agree you'd be asking for trouble with a two hour connection on two separate tickets flying through NRT as well. My guess is the reason you didn't connect only through NRT was the same reason you bought two separate tickets: price

You're exactly right. And I've learned my lesson. I could have picked the later PVG-BKK flight at 22:20 to give me more of a cushion.

This is of future concern as I read that AA will switching capacity from Japan -> China in the future:

American Airlines, Delta and United are de-emphasising Japan in favour of other Asian countries

http://centreforaviation.com/analysi...untries-134208

Airside transit is only available between LH, LX, VS and NZ in PVG T2. Not 100% sure about T1. I think MU to MU should be okay in T1. You will definitely need to clear Customs between terminals.

It's a completely different story at PEK where at least with all flights between Star Alliance flights, bags will be transferred automatically.

Nope! Not my experience. Return I flew REP-PVG-NRT (MU) with AA connection NRT-LAX-MIA. MU could NOT check my luggage thru either to NRT or LAX. I had to repeat the same process in PVG as my outbound: immigration form, clear PVG immigration & customs, upstairs to check-in counter to recheck my luggage for onward travel.
And my connection was thru T-1 on both MU flights.

I had been thinking about a transit in PVG, so thanks to the OP for the heads up. Unless it's the destination, sounds like NRT, HKG or SIN should be picked for hassle-minimising transits...

OP, thanks for sharing.
Your post alerted me to change my routing plan.