Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > United Airlines | MileagePlus
Reload this Page >

Consolidated PEK connections/logistics/lounges domestic/international

Consolidated PEK connections/logistics/lounges domestic/international

Old Jul 30, 2013, 2:20 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Consolidated PEK connections/logistics/lounges domestic/international

I am looking for one way award ticket from WUH to SFO at ua.com and I see there is CA1342 arriving at PEK 10:20am and UA888 leaving PEK at 12pm (on a lot of days).. however, this combo does not show up if I search from WUH to SFO directly, is the roughly 1:30hour not enough to be considered for international transfer? I thought as long as the schedule is booked under one ticket, the luggage can be checked at WUH directly to SFO (am I wrong?), so without the hassle of dealing with baggage, the 1:30hour gap should be enough?

Any chance that I can talk to UA agent to book such flight?

Thanks
susieling is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2013, 2:30 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,951
DOM-INT MCT is 120 min for PEK T3.

http://www.airchina.com.my/en/my-transfer.html
sinoflyer is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2013, 2:32 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: DAL
Posts: 3,385
1:30 is not a legal connection. Minimum is 2 hours.

However if it was a legal connection your bags would be checked to SFO and there would be no pickup in PEK.
ual744777sta is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2013, 2:52 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
PEK is the worst major aiport in the world for flight delays.


SunLover
SunLover is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2013, 3:11 pm
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,651
LOL, nope, no way, wouldn't do it.

4 hours minimum at PEK/PVG for me.
mduell is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2013, 3:32 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF (ex-UA)
Posts: 588
I would look into connecting at NRT or maybe ICN.

Also, you could just get a ticket to PEK or PVG and take the train to Wuhan. There's high-speed service the whole way now.

Even if 90 minutes were legal I wouldn't try it, too many things that could go wrong.
gailwynand is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 3:38 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PEK/NYC
Programs: UA Gold / *A Gold
Posts: 153
Originally Posted by gailwynand
I would look into connecting at NRT or maybe ICN.

Also, you could just get a ticket to PEK or PVG and take the train to Wuhan. There's high-speed service the whole way now.

Even if 90 minutes were legal I wouldn't try it, too many things that could go wrong.
I generally agree that PEK is not great place to cut it close. Its seriously capacity limited, and its domestic flights, like any other Chinese airports, do have (sometimes horrid) delays. Might be tricky to avoid PEK, as CA hub is PEK, and I don't think their is much choice for *A out of Wuhan. That said, within *A, their are lots of ways to get you to PEK from SFO. Their are however, lots more options out of NRT and PVG (or HKG).

Of course, it never hurts to limit any hand luggage that might need to be re-screened and/or gate checked. You might also want to have your China departure card filled out already, so you can go right to the passport exit control station without stopping to pick up a departure card. If you don't have one, please send me a PM, and I'll send you one (I am in PEK now, always have a few extras).

Last edited by dhelman; Jul 31, 2013 at 3:45 am
dhelman is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 7:13 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF (ex-UA)
Posts: 588
Originally Posted by dhelman
I generally agree that PEK is not great place to cut it close. Its seriously capacity limited, and its domestic flights, like any other Chinese airports, do have (sometimes horrid) delays. Might be tricky to avoid PEK, as CA hub is PEK, and I don't think their is much choice for *A out of Wuhan. That said, within *A, their are lots of ways to get you to PEK from SFO. Their are however, lots more options out of NRT and PVG (or HKG).
NH has service to a lot of tier-2 Chinese cities. I've used them a lot in the past.
gailwynand is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 7:35 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
Originally Posted by dhelman
I generally agree that PEK is not great place to cut it close. Its seriously capacity limited, and its domestic flights, like any other Chinese airports, do have (sometimes horrid) delays. Might be tricky to avoid PEK, as CA hub is PEK, and I don't think their is much choice for *A out of Wuhan. That said, within *A, their are lots of ways to get you to PEK from SFO. Their are however, lots more options out of NRT and PVG (or HKG).
+1 on this arrangement. It's not just capacity controls, it's CAAC air traffic control for domestic flights that means there's a high risk your WUH-PEK flight will be late. As it is, 90 mins is very tight (could be done, despite MCT of 120m), but with the risk of delays you probably don't want to do this. Typically international flights are sent on their way in a timely manner, thus connecting at other-Asia hubs reduces risk substantially.

Checking ITA I can see the problem if you're *A loyal. The best option would be to fly through Seoul, but that's Korean. It looks like there's a flight on UA from PVG that has a longer connection time with less risk of misconnect.

Another option is to fly to Beijing the night before. Or be willing to take the later Air China flight to SFO.
drewguy is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 7:49 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF (ex-UA)
Posts: 588
Originally Posted by drewguy
Another option is to fly to Beijing the night before.
Agreed, this is probably the best approach.
gailwynand is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 8:00 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, DL, AA, AS
Posts: 305
Agree with the other posts--but also want to add that recently we were on a CTU-PEK Air China flight connecting to PEK-SFO on UA on one ticket. The Air China desk in CTU said she could not forward the bags onto the SFO flight in PEK but that we had to claim the bags and drop them off again (before you exit baggage claim in PEK) despite having the 2 flights on one ticket.. I think we had to clear security again too. We had 3.5 hours for the connection so there was no problem. We ended up having about 1.5 hrs to spare. There is a great CA lounge in PEK to spend your time. So definitely 90 minutes is too short.

Last edited by sfonorth; Jul 31, 2013 at 8:45 am
sfonorth is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 8:28 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA*G, UA 1MM
Posts: 1,277
Heck, depending on where your domestic flight docks, it can feel like it takes 90 minutes just to walk to the terminal...
woodway is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2013, 8:42 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,882
If you really want to take WAH-PEK-SFO, you can arrive at Beijing the day before and spend a night in Beijing. Those award flights show up if you increase the search display list from 25 to 50.
Kmxu is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2013, 5:25 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 924
Consolidated connections/logistics domestic/international at PEK

A few quick questions that I'm helping I can get some help with.

1. How easy is it to transit between UA and Air China at PEK?
2. Is 1 hour and 50 minutes too tight?
3. I'm connecting to HKG and staying there for a week. As a US citizen, I won't need a visa, correct?
EWRFlyerAL is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2013, 5:42 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA *S, BA Fanboy
Posts: 401
Originally Posted by EWRFlyerAL
A few quick questions that I'm helping I can get some help with.

1. How easy is it to transit between UA and Air China at PEK?
2. Is 1 hour and 50 minutes too tight?
3. I'm connecting to HKG and staying there for a week. As a US citizen, I won't need a visa, correct?
You'll have a brief immigration check and they'll stamp your passport even though you are in transit, but staying in *A shouldn't be to big of a problem, and you will not need a visa.

1hr 50 should be fine, but it's China, so anything can happen and another hour wouldn't hurt. (I'd say the same thing about a 6 hour layover)
Red Raider LV is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.