UA->MIAT-Mongolian Airlines (IATA OM) Experiences
Jun 27, 2018, 7:13 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
I've been to ULN. Two pieces of advice. One, go thru ICN. Either take carrier of choice to MIAT or fly KE the whole way. Second, prepare for travel frustration on a whole new level. I've never seen a city with less access to taxis. There is no uber either. People get around by hitchhiking with cash in hand. And English language signs are few and far between. English speakers even rarer despite claims that English is replacing Russian as a second language. So in other words, prepare to hike around using google maps or make arrangements for a private driver (which we eventually did, because it was taking 45 minutes to get a taxi at the ShangriLa)
Jun 27, 2018, 7:15 am
#17
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
+1 on the 10 hour delay, where I was stuck at the airport, due to weather delay in PEK and the inbound CA plane was held. However, the OM flight to PEK did take off. The airline did arrange for a free meal from the employee cafeteria.
Jun 27, 2018, 7:39 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,041
I think it was in the TWOV thread mentioned above that the biometric data was being collected by immigration on entry to China.
Jun 27, 2018, 10:15 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
But isn't that separate from getting your Visa? Doesn't every country (ok not every but almost every) collect biometric upon entry? It's become the standard practice...
Jun 27, 2018, 10:23 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,041
Jun 27, 2018, 10:28 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I have some family members who got a visa in March of this year, and they had only to provide the usual photograph. (Of course, some biometrics potentially could be extracted from the photograph, but I assume that is not what anyone is discussing.) Some Chinese airports are collecting fingerprints on arrival, but indeed that is not directly related to getting a visa.
Jun 27, 2018, 11:22 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BWIADCA
Posts: 1,902
MSC is not relevant for travel from/to USA. DOT state the baggage policies of the first marketing carrier on the ticket covers the entire trip.
Only if you are transiting to specific countries, but would have to check the TWOV rules to check this specific situation.
Only if you are transiting to specific countries, but would have to check the TWOV rules to check this specific situation.
Same thing goes when I fly to Dubai with United/Swiss. On the outbound I have 2x 70lbs on the return I have 2x 50lbs.
On my recent flight IAD-NRT-BKK and back I had the same thing. On the outbound 2x 70lbs on the return 2x 50lbs.
What gives?
Jun 27, 2018, 11:38 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
UA gives you an extra allowance (70 lbs vs 50 lbs) related to your status with them. Other carriers aren't required to match that, but merely to match UA's policy for non-status travelers -- 1 bag at 50 lbs on those routes. Star Alliance Gold status then gives you one extra bag beyond United's base allowance.
Jun 27, 2018, 1:15 pm
#24
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,852
Both DOT rules and MSC (not applicable in this case) refer to ticket benefits. The DOT requires the ticket bag benefit of the first marketed flight to apply to all subsequent bag check-ins. The ticket bag benefit to RUH in economy is 2x50 -- that is the minimum you should get regardless of who you check in with.
However, UA does offer an extra (non-DOT required) benefit to UA elites if checking in with UA and in your case you will be allowed a 3x70 bag allowance in economy as UA *G.
Note LH in economy is normally 1 bag and you get an additional bag as *G, so 2x50 -- the same as the ticket benefit.
Jun 27, 2018, 5:43 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
I get the sense that no all consuls are requiring this -- and perhaps the information I got about NY is incorrect -- but of all of the people to pass this along, he is one of 10 or so I would trust by default.
In any event given the word about flight delays from ULN-PEK and vv perhaps it's all entirely moot anyway
Jun 27, 2018, 7:10 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / SFO
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,215
I wanted to jump on the bandwagon of calling this in-person fingerprinting BS, but the visa agency I always use (CVSC) recently added a note on this to their page.
"Personal appearance at Chinese Embassy may be required for fingerprinting. Please call for details."
(from http://www.mychinavisa.com/visas/business)
(from http://www.mychinavisa.com/visas/business)
Jun 28, 2018, 1:29 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: perth
Programs: SPG(LTG), QANTAS gold, Korean, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,500
I've been to ULN. Two pieces of advice. One, go thru ICN. Either take carrier of choice to MIAT or fly KE the whole way. Second, prepare for travel frustration on a whole new level. I've never seen a city with less access to taxis. There is no uber either. People get around by hitchhiking with cash in hand. And English language signs are few and far between. English speakers even rarer despite claims that English is replacing Russian as a second language. So in other words, prepare to hike around using google maps or make arrangements for a private driver (which we eventually did, because it was taking 45 minutes to get a taxi at the ShangriLa)