Flying through PEK (Star Alliance)
 

Hello,

I don't fly through PEK very often. Was hoping for some logistical advice.

I have two separate reservations.

UA: EWR-PEK
TG: PEK-BKK
*layover ~3hrs?

1. It appears that UA and TG fly in and out of the same terminal: T3E?
2. Is there a TG transit desk in T3E for ticketing?
3. Do I deplane, go to transit desk, back through T3E security and up to the DEP gates?
4. At anytime, do I ever need to go through Immigration if my flight is same-day?

Last time I flew through PEK I had the worst transit fiasco. Wasn't prepared on how to get to TG T3E to Hainan in T2, with no language skills and oops, no tickets or printout of my Hainan itinarary! Hello 4-hour Immigration line. When it was my turn, the Immigration Officer checks my reservation on her computer and says to me, "You look like you lost weight?" I immediately thought this was grounds for being detained ;)

-Cheez

Transiting through Pek is one of my least favourite experiences and all too regular! They have 2 transit desk stations conveniently located outside the normal traffic zones so you often walk past them oblivious to their existence and from whichever direction you have disembarked its usually the furthest one that you need to go to. Firstly try to get UA to give you the TG boarding pass at your departure, never know your luck. If not the transit desks on both sides at PEK are prior to walking through the health checkpoints (they have body temperature scanners then you get to immigration). If it is not the first transfer desk you need to continue walking past immigration and the opposite health check to the second transfer desk area.

Once you have boarding pass you need to go to the far left area of immigration to go through and get stamped at the transit section of immigration, proceed downstairs and queue to get stamped again at the security checkpoint, then proceed to pass thru security.

UA will not be able to issue you a TG BP. That said, its pretty easy to transit in PEK. Just don't follow the crowds but carefully look at the signage.

Thanks for the info, all! Cheers, Cheez

Pretty sure that UA issued me a TG boarding pass last year at EWR. I remember it well because I was on a UA EWR-LHR GF and TG LHR-BKK F itinerary, and my TG seat was changed last minute. Turned I was TG'ed at LHR when they swapped from the new to the old generation 744 F metal. :(

As for transiting PEK it is my least preferred option in Asia. Worst major airport in the world when it comes to delays. But I agree it is a straightforward process; just be prepared to embrace the bureaucracy.


SL

I don't see how UA could get you a BP when it's on a complete separate reservation.

Yikes! You are correct here :o but then couldn't interlining checked luggage become an issue?


SunLover

I think interlining is different because it's giving flight #s and times on where to move the bags. Not pulling up your ticket and reservation, seat assignment etc.

I've had no problems doing TG-SK and LH-UA baggage checks on different tickets.

I interline on separate tickets regularly in Beijing and previously on many different cities across alliances and have never had a problem. Never done it on LCCs but have done it with many regular airlines on international routes. Why does everyone try and make it out as a big problem? There are it seems a few carriers that make it a problem and I dont ever choose to fly them.

OP here, I did this leg last year and doing it again this year. There is a few things I can't recall:

I have two separate reservations (all carry-on):

UA: ORD-PEK
TG: PEK-BKK

Will TG allow me to print my own BP from the States before I leave? I inquired in an email and they said "yes" either iCheckin or Mobile Checkin. I don't believe them, though, last time I didn't (or couldn't) and had to wait at the transfer desk area.

Cheers,
Cheez

If you have been through Pek you will know the Chinese like to stamp your boarding pass at least 3 times in the transfer process. If United wont print one for you on your initial checkin get one at the transfer desk which isnt a big detour.

If OP has checked luggage, s/he should try to get UA to tag it all the way through to final destination. Otherwise, OP will have to go through the full immigration/customs routine and then recheck bags at TG counter.

If bags are checked all the way through, then only need to obtain TG BP (online check in, maybe?), from UA or transit desk, then clear transit document check and security. No matter what, OP should have UA bag tag and print out of TG reservation so transit desk can find it easily.

Thank you, yup, cannot print TG BP ahead of time. Have to go to transit desk in PEK. Cheers!