travelinmanS

In both of the above instances, if the flights into PVG are on time it will be no problem to clear customs, collect luggage and make connections in time. If the arriving flights are delayed then you'll be stuck in Shanghai for a while and dealing with irregular ops is not a speciality of the Chinese. I'd look for a re-route that avoids PVG or get on an earlier flight to give you more of a cushion.

NRT-PVG is generally an on time flight but HKG-PVG is generally delayed.

kash

Thanks everyone for your help. I realized that I should have gave an update yesterday. As PTahCha pointed out, connecting (sorry about the term) flights in PVG requires going through custom and immigration. It is tight but I made it. I believe if you are flying one of the China airlines, it maybe be okay.

I guess I got lucky, my flight touched down a few minutes early. Even though I need to take the ground shuttle to get inside the airport, the line for immigration is relatively short and I walk past custom without anything to declare. Once I got out, I just need to check in like every local passengers do.

One thing important is I should have my itinerary with me. Fortunately, I have it on my phone but it was tight. As the immigration expects me to have a ticket which I don't. Cathay won't issue it, even though United supposed to be its OneWorld partner.

Another thing is that if you are bringing anything not allowed or subject to duty in China. I don't know how that would work out. Fortunately, it does not apply to me.

Now I have a stamp in my passport saying that I have been to China. I don't know if it is because of that, my luggage went through extra inspection in US custom.

Kacee

Glad it worked for you!

UA is in Star Alliance, not OneWorld. CX has never been able to print a UA boarding pass for me.

kash

Oops. My mistake.

But I've tried online check-in with United the day before. After entering ticket number, it told me I need to print boarding pass with its partner airline.

Speedis1

This seemed like the most updated thread on PVG connections, so I wanted to reach out to you all and any who's had experience.

In a few days, I will be going LAX-PVG (layover 6 hrs)-SIN in to PNRs
The lax-pvg PNR is UA, and PVG-SIN PNR will be SA.
I'm pretty sure I can have UA in LAX to check my bag all the way through, but from the replies and experiences above, and reading PVG's website, it still appears once I arrive PVG, I have to collect my checked baggage and then go through immigration and re-check the bags, correct?

Thank you for any insights!

K

transportprof

Do you mean SQ - Singapore airlines, for the PVG-SIN itinerary?

Or does South African Airways really fly from Shanghai to Joburg via Singapore?

Speedis1

Hahaha good catch. SQ is what i meant

goodeats21

I have my first connection at PVG coming up next month. Just want to clarify the transfer process with carry-on only bags.

UA to TG with 2.5 hours of connection time.

Anyone with experience on how this works?

My guess is immigration stamp and security screen. Is there a dedicated area for this that bypasses customs/baggage claim?

I assume 2.5 hours is plenty of time (assuming UA can arrive on time)? This will be late afternoon 2:50PM to 5:20PM.

Thanks for any advice/experiences.

bocastephen

Which raises a good question, and I apologize if this is a *A Lounge Access 101 question. I am a paid UC member, but flying China Southern from PVG, can I use my UC membership card to get into the new Air China lounge, or do I need to fly *A regardless of paid lounge status to get into a *A lounge?

WineCountryUA

UC membership AND departing *A BP is required for admission to *A (non-UA) lounge.
Star Alliance Lounge Access Policy

moondog

In addition to what WineCountryUA said, the bigger issue is that CZ and UA use different terminals at PVG so there is no way to use the CA lounge in conjunction with a CZ flight.

warakorn

This is news to me. Since when has CZ moved terminals at PVG?
I remember that CZ flies into Terminal 2 (same as UA does).
Terminal 2 has a domestic departure/arrival section (the lower floor), an international arrival section (the middle floor) and an international departure section (the upper floor).
As a normal passenger you cannot just switch between these floors easily.

its not clear, whether you fly out to a domestic or international/HK/Macau/Taiwan destination.
If you fly domestic, you will never have a chance to get to the shiny new international CA lounge.
There is still the domestic Air China lounge in Terminal 2. But if you fly CZ, I do not think they will give you access.

moondog

Ah, you're right. I was getting them confused with MU/FM (Monday brain freeze).

bocastephen

Rats - I hope I can find something to do at PVG without lounge access.

Flying Machine

Does anyone have a link for the Air China Lounge at PVG. Do *Gold Members in Coach have access as well? Thanks and Safe Travels