I echo moondog--try to avoid a connection like this at CAN. I wouldn't be comfortable with a scheduled 80 minute connection time + an inbound flight that is routinely delayed. CAN is not compact and user-friendly for transit passengers. I have nasty memories from 2009 of running a near-marathon through CAN and jumping into my onward flight moments before the door slammed shut. There are never any of those motorized buggy guys around when you need them the most at CAN.

If you've absolutely got to be in Singapore by a certain time--take the most direct flight from SYD to SIN even if it's in Y. No-brainer. Or if possible, fly CZ but leave SYD a day earlier so you've got some breathing room in case Plan B needs to be invoked.

Thanks for the advice!

I've been tracking the flight and yes, does not give me a bunch of hope in terms of reliability.

Now, here is a different question: What would be my chances of getting FIMmed onto a nonstop flight (hopefully in J?). My idea (Plan C, if you will) would be to go to the checkin counter, show the (likely) late inbound flight information, stats of past performance, and need to be rebooked onto another, non-stop flight.

I booked the super-trip (NYC-SIN via SYD) with the understanding and anticipation I will be skipping the CZ segments. However, I would love to get CZ to put me in SQ J (rather than cancel and book Y last minute)...

Is the ground handling staff in SYD sympathetic to such a predicament? Or, should I cancel CZ and book SQ early on to be safe?

Thanks again!

Maybe 1 in 100,000.

SQY it is. I still look forward to SYD :D Continent #6 :D

Hey bumping this thread once again for a transit question thru CAN.

I'm booked on CZ for CAN-DXB departing at 19:40 on 26/5 Thursday. I will be in HKG on 26th and am looking to get to CAN without China visa issues. There is a CZ flt HKG-CAN arriving at 19:10.
My question: Will CZ allow my to checkin for both flights HKG-CAN and CAN-DXB at HKG airport even though they are on sepeate tickets? Is less than 30mins enough for international-international transfer at CAN?

My alternative is to try to get a same day China Visa service (i am in HKG for around 24 hrs only), so i can get one of the trains from HKG - CAN. I really dread the visa headache and just want to take the flight HKG-CAN if at all possible.

Kindly advise....thanks in advance.

The 30 minutes is not enough to do the transfer, I'm sure it's well under the minimum connection time. I doubt that under this circumstance, CZ will allow you to check-in for both flights. If you had a legal connection on two separate international tickets, then yes, they probably would check you all the way through if you showed both tickets at HKG.

If you can't find another earlier flight HKG-CAN that gives you more connection time at CAN, then I'm afraid you've got to get a visa for the overland route.

Thanks Jiejie.

After digging around some more on the internet, I think I may have found a solution.

As I will be in China before leaving for Taiwan/HK, I have come across the Entry and Exit Administration Bureau Office in Guangzhou where I can possibly get a reentry (new) visa. As I will be in CAN for ~6 days, I should have enough time to try for the visa.

Thanks again.

Well, you can ask, but I hope your "digging around" wasn't on websites that have outdated information on re-entry permits. AFAIK, those re-entry permits went by the wayside, once they changed all foreigners on working/Z visas to multiple-entry residence permits. I haven't heard of those being issued in quite a few years...nor of anybody asking. Let us know what you find out. I'm still wondering why you even made a CAN-DXB ticket in the first place instead of HKG-DXB. :confused: Unless your plans later changed post-ticketing to add the HK/Taiwan loop.

ETA: Minimum connection time is 120 minutes at CAN, intl to intl.

One more bump of an old thread:

China Southern's website says MCT Int to Int is 75 minutes while the airport lists MCT as 120 minutes. Does China Southern have a way of speeding up the process for passengers that are originating and transfering on their own metal. I am looking at a potential itinerary with a 90 minute connection. Should I be worried?

I believe that they do. IME, CAN's major bottleneck is check-in. Assuming CZ can remove this hurdle for you, 90 minutes should be fine.

We connected LAX-CAN-BKK a couple weeks ago. Upon deplaning in CAN there was an agent with about 6-7 names on a paper. She escorted us from the plane through immigration and into the lounge (we were in J). It wasn't really necessary as we had plenty of time and could have done it ourselves.

CZ flat seats on the A380 are very nice, but their service sucks!

Can you tell me more about the service? Do you have a menu from your flight?

I may be flying ATL-LAX-CAN-PNH in June. How is the intl-intl transfer experience at CAN? I'm guessing I would still need to clear immigration & claim & recheck my baggage? I would have about 6 hours on the ground in CAN, so at least I shouldn't have to worry about missing my connection (and I can also do TWOV).

Intl transit experience is nothing horrible. There's usually a lane designated to shunt these passengers off and back to an expedited Immigration check, security check, and back airside. Yes, TWOV of up to 24 hours is in effect. CAN policy for intl transit passengers is normally to autoroute checked bags through to final destination so no need to handle, but double check with CZ (I'm assuming that's the carrier) in LAX when you check in and note the bag tagging. The main thing about CAN is that it's boring. Your transit time is too short to really go into the city and do any meaningful sightseeing. It will help if you have lounge access for the airside wait, otherwise be prepared to occupy yourself for a few hours.

Thanks for your reply, Jiejie. Yes I would be transiting through CAN on CZ, although I am not excited about the length of my potential connection. But I would have an overnight flight westbound, which I like, and it would be on an A380, which I have yet to fly. How much would it cost to get into a lounge at CAN?