Last edit by: 1353513636
United does not have a lounge in PVG. There is a Star Alliance Gold lounge near Gate 71 (United flights leave from 80s gates typically), which are <5 minute walk. Lounge is up escalator and past a food court and perched over the landside part of the terminal. It has no views.
Entry floor has a bar with a decent selection of liquor. Upper floor has buffet food with limited selections. Wifi and newspapers available. Showers available (4 stalls at least).
related thread
Connecting / airport transit inside PVG Shanghai Pudong
Entry floor has a bar with a decent selection of liquor. Upper floor has buffet food with limited selections. Wifi and newspapers available. Showers available (4 stalls at least).
related thread
Connecting / airport transit inside PVG Shanghai Pudong
Consolidated PVG connections / connection time / logistics / lounges
#136
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
I like the PVG Air China lounge. Upstairs and through the hamster tube near Gate 71 thereabouts? Go upstairs once inside for the food. It's better than any UA lounge I've ever seen (caveat: haven't been in any 1st or Polaris lounges). IMO, the PVG lounge food selection is on-par with the bigger SQ, LH and LX lounges. I don't remember any nice beers on tap. No whisky bar like LX at ZRH. No gourmet chocolate demo like SN at BRU. Food's not as nice as the bigger QF and NZ lounges--those guys take their gastronomy quite seriously.
I've gotten airside by about 7 or 8pm before the after-midnight PVG-SFO flight. Never tried earlier.
I've gotten airside by about 7 or 8pm before the after-midnight PVG-SFO flight. Never tried earlier.
#137
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
Appears the UA check-in counter at PVG, closes an hour before departure and reopens 3 hours before departure. So it does not stay open after the earlier flight.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 22, 2019 at 2:45 pm
#138
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Golden, CO USA
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 762
Appears the UA check-in counter at PVG, closes an hour before departure and reopens 3 hours before departure. So it does not stay open after the earlier flight.
#139
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: Hilton Diamond, UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 133
As others have said, the check-in opens 3 hours prior to departure, no earlier.
You should get access to the Air China First Class Lounge above gate 71. I found it to be pretty spacious with comfortable chairs and a nice buffet selection (mix of Chinese and western) and an ok drink selection. There was enough seating, which is always important IMO. I think the lounge works well practically and makes for a decent pre-flight meal. If you you have rich tastes and want an ultra-luxury and exclusive atmosphere, this is probably not the lounge.
You should get access to the Air China First Class Lounge above gate 71. I found it to be pretty spacious with comfortable chairs and a nice buffet selection (mix of Chinese and western) and an ok drink selection. There was enough seating, which is always important IMO. I think the lounge works well practically and makes for a decent pre-flight meal. If you you have rich tastes and want an ultra-luxury and exclusive atmosphere, this is probably not the lounge.
#140
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
#141
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,927
#142
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 458
Recently flew through PVG and had access to the Air China lounge as I was flying SQ business - I only had Air China business class lounge access, not sure if GS gets you into the First Class lounge but I don't think you'd have access with Polaris alone.
IMO while the seating and space was nice, the food, etc. was pretty horrible. It felt more like a United Club (albeit more food options - just nothing that tasted palatable) than a business class lounge and definitely not in the same universe as the Polaris lounges. I had ~2 hours there which was about an hour and a half too much...
IMO while the seating and space was nice, the food, etc. was pretty horrible. It felt more like a United Club (albeit more food options - just nothing that tasted palatable) than a business class lounge and definitely not in the same universe as the Polaris lounges. I had ~2 hours there which was about an hour and a half too much...
#143
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
The Business Class section has two floors. The food is on the upper floor but in the summer that upper floor is way too warm. So, now, my wife and I just sit in the lower floor and bring the food from upstairs. I don't know if that's really allowed but they did not tell us anything and we have seen other people doing it too.
Many newspapers in English. I really like that for the long flight home.....
Last edited by StuckinITH; Aug 22, 2019 at 7:27 pm
#144
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)
Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC
Posts: 162
So what happened, I hear you all ask? No? I'll tell you anyway. I arrived about 12.30p for my 7.20p flight. As I expected, the United check in desk was open as they must have a bunch of flights leaving to the US all day. I asked to see if I could get airside well before the 3 hour limit.
Short story is I was in the airside lounge within 15 minutes.
Long story is that I beelined for the gold tie guy cause I'm UA GS and he briskly pulled the desk manager in to work over the shoulder of a desk attendant to push everything through. Now I wasn't checking in baggage which was helpful. I asked if I was checking baggage would they still let me check in this early and they said it would be more difficult cause they would have to get approval from the baggage crew. I was going to ask if they were doing this for me cause I was GS but didn't want to get overheard and end up on a DYKWIA thread.
I was in the lounge in <15 mins partly cause ABTC for immigration and partly cause business class has its own security line. I was given access to the Air China lounge near gate 71. Even with a Polaris ticket and GS, I was not invited to the first class lounge side, just the *A gold side. Agree with the comments that downstairs is cooler than upstairs in this heat. Food assortment pretty good with quality closer to a PL than a UC, WiFi download speed of just under 5Mbps, and a decent bar downstairs. So now its time for some JD and catchup on the UFC from last weekend cause I was flying to SIN at the time.
Long story is that I beelined for the gold tie guy cause I'm UA GS and he briskly pulled the desk manager in to work over the shoulder of a desk attendant to push everything through. Now I wasn't checking in baggage which was helpful. I asked if I was checking baggage would they still let me check in this early and they said it would be more difficult cause they would have to get approval from the baggage crew. I was going to ask if they were doing this for me cause I was GS but didn't want to get overheard and end up on a DYKWIA thread.
I was in the lounge in <15 mins partly cause ABTC for immigration and partly cause business class has its own security line. I was given access to the Air China lounge near gate 71. Even with a Polaris ticket and GS, I was not invited to the first class lounge side, just the *A gold side. Agree with the comments that downstairs is cooler than upstairs in this heat. Food assortment pretty good with quality closer to a PL than a UC, WiFi download speed of just under 5Mbps, and a decent bar downstairs. So now its time for some JD and catchup on the UFC from last weekend cause I was flying to SIN at the time.
#145
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: DUS
Programs: United-1K+2MM, Bonvoy-LifetimeGold,IHG-Diamond-Ambassador
Posts: 354
transit international to international
I recently booked an award :FRA-PVG on CA936 in I and PVG-SIN on SQ835 in O. The time at PVG is 6Hours.
Did someone a transit like this at PVG?
Did someone a transit like this at PVG?
#146
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,825
I'm hard pressed to think of worse ways to travel between Germany and Singapore. At the very least, you could slot in a longer layover because six hours is too long to spend at or near PVG, and a bit too short to go anywhere enjoyable.
#147
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
This is why you got it. The last 2 times I was departing from PVG, I got there early and politely asked if I could be checked in. Told they could do it if I was GS, but I'm only a lowly 1K.
I did have a bag to check, so that wouldvhave made it more difficult as that seems to be a major hang-up there. I guess the baggage crews load up any bags they get on whatever plane happens to be at the gate regardless where the bag is supposed to go.
I did have a bag to check, so that wouldvhave made it more difficult as that seems to be a major hang-up there. I guess the baggage crews load up any bags they get on whatever plane happens to be at the gate regardless where the bag is supposed to go.
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,359
So what happened, I hear you all ask? No? I'll tell you anyway. I arrived about 12.30p for my 7.20p flight. As I expected, the United check in desk was open as they must have a bunch of flights leaving to the US all day. I asked to see if I could get airside well before the 3 hour limit.
Short story is I was in the airside lounge within 15 minutes.
Long story is that I beelined for the gold tie guy cause I'm UA GS and he briskly pulled the desk manager in to work over the shoulder of a desk attendant to push everything through. Now I wasn't checking in baggage which was helpful. I asked if I was checking baggage would they still let me check in this early and they said it would be more difficult cause they would have to get approval from the baggage crew. I was going to ask if they were doing this for me cause I was GS but didn't want to get overheard and end up on a DYKWIA thread.
I was in the lounge in <15 mins partly cause ABTC for immigration and partly cause business class has its own security line. I was given access to the Air China lounge near gate 71. Even with a Polaris ticket and GS, I was not invited to the first class lounge side, just the *A gold side. Agree with the comments that downstairs is cooler than upstairs in this heat. Food assortment pretty good with quality closer to a PL than a UC, WiFi download speed of just under 5Mbps, and a decent bar downstairs. So now its time for some JD and catchup on the UFC from last weekend cause I was flying to SIN at the time.
Long story is that I beelined for the gold tie guy cause I'm UA GS and he briskly pulled the desk manager in to work over the shoulder of a desk attendant to push everything through. Now I wasn't checking in baggage which was helpful. I asked if I was checking baggage would they still let me check in this early and they said it would be more difficult cause they would have to get approval from the baggage crew. I was going to ask if they were doing this for me cause I was GS but didn't want to get overheard and end up on a DYKWIA thread.
I was in the lounge in <15 mins partly cause ABTC for immigration and partly cause business class has its own security line. I was given access to the Air China lounge near gate 71. Even with a Polaris ticket and GS, I was not invited to the first class lounge side, just the *A gold side. Agree with the comments that downstairs is cooler than upstairs in this heat. Food assortment pretty good with quality closer to a PL than a UC, WiFi download speed of just under 5Mbps, and a decent bar downstairs. So now its time for some JD and catchup on the UFC from last weekend cause I was flying to SIN at the time.
This is why you got it. The last 2 times I was departing from PVG, I got there early and politely asked if I could be checked in. Told they could do it if I was GS, but I'm only a lowly 1K.
I did have a bag to check, so that wouldvhave made it more difficult as that seems to be a major hang-up there. I guess the baggage crews load up any bags they get on whatever plane happens to be at the gate regardless where the bag is supposed to go.
I did have a bag to check, so that wouldvhave made it more difficult as that seems to be a major hang-up there. I guess the baggage crews load up any bags they get on whatever plane happens to be at the gate regardless where the bag is supposed to go.
Last edited by fumje; Oct 7, 2019 at 7:41 am Reason: typo
#149
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: DUS
Programs: United-1K+2MM, Bonvoy-LifetimeGold,IHG-Diamond-Ambassador
Posts: 354
Is it the same procedure as transit international to international in the US. (enter the country and then normal checkinn)
And are 6 hours enough ?
And are 6 hours enough ?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 7, 2019 at 3:31 pm Reason: repaired quote
#150
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,825
The procedure is similar to the US in term of logistics, but I find it to be quite a bit kinder. Anything north of 2 hours is pretty safe if your inbound is from Europe or North America, and ~3.5 hours for most other arrivals.