Traveling through China question

[LSnBigBear 61]

I booked using Cheapoair.com. My fiancee is traveling Philippine Airlines to China, transfering over to American Airlines in China. Will her bags transfer to her POE in US?

I did not think about the baggage transfer when I booked...

Many thanks

Shawn

[Sam and Fen 41]

Yes. Just to be safe call Philippines Airlines to confirm.

[sld 5]

Luggage gets transfered automatically, to final destination.

If it is a connecting flight that is booked, then yes.

I will be going to the Philippines again to get my wife, and her belongings.

Been there for 2 wks in Sept ( 15 days), and again Dec 21-Jan10 (3 weeks), and am patiently waiting to go again.

[Enigma11561 336]

Her bags contain the final destination on the tags. They transfer automatically.

[Starflyer 59 16]

My wife (at the time fiancee) and I just recently took these exact return flights (Philippine Airlines to Shanghai - American Airlines to Chicago) and here was our experience:

In China, they DID force us to claim all of our bags on arrival and then re-check them at the American Airlines desk. I don't know what the luggage tag said for that first leg of the trip, but I do remember that after re-checking the bags the American Airlines agent gave us new tags with the final destination on them (I remember her asking me to confirm our final destination before she applied the tags).

We were surprised by this because, as the posters above stated, they don't usually make you do this for a simple layover. But China (and/or Philippine Airlines) sure did it to us. I don't know why because I've switched airlines internationally several times before, with several different combinations of airlines, and have never had to do this.

It was kind of a hassle because you arrive/claim bags on the gound floor and have to go up to the second floor to check-in/depart, so we had to fight to push our baggage cart into one of only two elevators they had, and it was very crowded in that area as everybody was attempting to do the exact same thing.

Also, at the Shanghai airport, you have to go through immigration to arrive, and again to depart - even just for a connecting flight. Be sure to have the arrival/departure cards filled out, even though the answer to most of the questions on the arrival card will be "none" or "N/A" for someone who is just connecting. They won't let you pass to your connection without filling them out. I found that out the hard way by only filling out a departure card at first, thinking they wouldn't require the arrival card from someone that was just passing through - I was wrong and had to step to the side at the booth to complete it. [On the arrival card for the question "At what address will you be staying in China?" I was tempted to put "Gate D19" Hahaha!]

It took us every bit of our three hour layover to do all of this and when we finally approached the gate of the American flight it was already boarding.

It's not my intention to scare or worry you, I just want to let you know what happened to us back in November. Mentally, be ready for this. If I had known to expect all of that, it would have been a lot easier to figure out what I needed to do, where I needed to go next, etc...

Good luck to you!

[side note: After that last trip, we decided that next time we would go through Incheon airport in Korea again. It's way smoother! You can get to the gate of your connecting flight in about 20 minutes there - no baggage claim - no immigration lines - just a security checkpoint that has always moved quickly in the previous three times I've been through there. The only reason we went through China last time was because the price was much cheaper].

[Hank_ 9,174]

... all goes to show, cheap is not better.

[Starflyer 59 16]

Very true, Hank! Very true!

[LSnBigBear 61]

My wife (at the time fiancee) and I just recently took these exact return flights (Philippine Airlines to Shanghai - American Airlines to Chicago) and here was our experience:

In China, they DID force us to claim all of our bags on arrival and then re-check them at the American Airlines desk. I don't know what the luggage tag said for that first leg of the trip, but I do remember that after re-checking the bags the American Airlines agent gave us new tags with the final destination on them (I remember her asking me to confirm our final destination before she applied the tags).

We were surprised by this because, as the posters above stated, they don't usually make you do this for a simple layover. But China (and/or Philippine Airlines) sure did it to us. I don't know why because I've switched airlines internationally several times before, with several different combinations of airlines, and have never had to do this.

It was kind of a hassle because you arrive/claim bags on the gound floor and have to go up to the second floor to check-in/depart, so we had to fight to push our baggage cart into one of only two elevators they had, and it was very crowded in that area as everybody was attempting to do the exact same thing.

Also, at the Shanghai airport, you have to go through immigration to arrive, and again to depart - even just for a connecting flight. Be sure to have the arrival/departure cards filled out, even though the answer to most of the questions on the arrival card will be "none" or "N/A" for someone who is just connecting. They won't let you pass to your connection without filling them out. I found that out the hard way by only filling out a departure card at first, thinking they wouldn't require the arrival card from someone that was just passing through - I was wrong and had to step to the side at the booth to complete it. [On the arrival card for the question "At what address will you be staying in China?" I was tempted to put "Gate D19" Hahaha!]

It took us every bit of our three hour layover to do all of this and when we finally approached the gate of the American flight it was already boarding.

It's not my intention to scare or worry you, I just want to let you know what happened to us back in November. Mentally, be ready for this. If I had known to expect all of that, it would have been a lot easier to figure out what I needed to do, where I needed to go next, etc...

Good luck to you!

[side note: After that last trip, we decided that next time we would go through Incheon airport in Korea again. It's way smoother! You can get to the gate of your connecting flight in about 20 minutes there - no baggage claim - no immigration lines - just a security checkpoint that has always moved quickly in the previous three times I've been through there. The only reason we went through China last time was because the price was much cheaper].

Thank you so much for the great details. Yeah I went cheap as I got "P"d off at Orbitz when I went to book her through Japan all the way on Delta. Orbitz showed the famous "One ticket remaining at this price" for two weeks that I watching. 3 different type of segments all ranged from $855 to $940 which I was okay with. UNTIL I filled everything out and received the "Your price has changed" and then $1249. After I tried all three that had the ranges I threw a fit and went over to cheapoair and booked her for cheaper. She does have a 8 hour layover so her going through the above time wise will not be an issue. I will review your information with her. Many thanks again...

... all goes to show, cheap is not better.

Lesson learned. Stay calm when booking tickets

[Starflyer 59 16]

That's good news about the 8 hour layover. At least she can take her time and not be stressed out during all the wickets one has to go through in that airport.

I booked my flight through Orbitz, but didn't use the internet. I called them to speak to a representative because I was buying a one way ticket for me and then two return one way tickets for me and my fiancee. I did get to go through my favorite route (Korea) on the way there, but for the two return tickets to come back that way it was going to be four times the price as the China path!?!? So I gave in when the rep suggested going through China.

She'll do just fine. Best of luck to you all.

[Hank_ 9,174]

This is a journey of "firsts"... we all learn as we go. There is a long layover so it won't be rushed which is good.

All the best!

[GODgavemeYou<3 0]

Thank you so much for the great details. Yeah I went cheap as I got "P"d off at Orbitz when I went to book her through Japan all the way on Delta. Orbitz showed the famous "One ticket remaining at this price" for two weeks that I watching. 3 different type of segments all ranged from $855 to $940 which I was okay with. UNTIL I filled everything out and received the "Your price has changed" and then $1249. After I tried all three that had the ranges I threw a fit and went over to cheapoair and booked her for cheaper. She does have a 8 hour layover so her going through the above time wise will not be an issue. I will review your information with her. Many thanks again...

Lesson learned. Stay calm when booking tickets

Good thing she has plenty of time for her layover there to familiarize herself at the airport. Have a safe travel!

[Darnell 8,478]

post #5 is actually normal behavior at Shanghai.

[actob99 156]

I booked using Cheapoair.com. My fiancee is traveling Philippine Airlines to China, transfering over to American Airlines in China. Will her bags transfer to her POE in US?

I did not think about the baggage transfer when I booked...

Many thanks

Shawn

As long as both flights are on the same Itinerary. If you booked two seperate flights they won't..

[actob99 156]

Yeah I went cheap as I got "P"d off at Orbitz when I went to book her through Japan all the way on Delta.

Next time try looking at the same flight on the Delta website.. Usually it's lower.. Orbitz has to make money too.

[actob99 156]

My wife (at the time fiancee) and I just recently took these exact return flights (Philippine Airlines to Shanghai - American Airlines to Chicago) and here was our experience:

In China, they DID force us to claim all of our bags on arrival and then re-check them at the American Airlines

desk. I don't know what the luggage tag said for that first leg of the trip, but I do remember that after re-checking the bags the American Airlines agent gave us new tags with the final destination on them (I remember her asking me to confirm our final destination before she applied the tags).

We were surprised by this because, as the posters above

stated, they don't usually make you do this for a simple layover. But China (and/or Philippine Airlines) sure did it to us. I don't know why because I've switched airlines internationally several times before, with several different combinations of airlines, and have never had to do this.

It was kind of a hassle because you arrive/claim bags on the gound floor and have to go up to the second floor to

check-in/depart, so we had to fight to push our baggage cart into one of only two elevators they had, and it was very crowded in that area as everybody was attempting to do the exact same thing.

Also, at the Shanghai airport, you have to go through immigration to arrive, and again to depart - even just for a connecting flight. Be sure to have the arrival/departure

cards filled out, even though the answer to most of the questions on the arrival card will be "none" or "N/A" for someone who is just connecting. They won't let you pass to your connection without filling them out. I found that out the hard way by only filling out a departure card at first, thinking they wouldn't require the arrival card from someone that was just passing through - I was wrong and had to step to the side at the booth to complete it. [On the

arrival card for the question "At what address will you be staying in China?" I was tempted to put "Gate D19" Hahaha!]

It took us every bit of our three hour layover to do all of this and when we finally approached the gate of the American flight it was already boarding.

It's not my intention to scare or worry you, I just want to let

you know what happened to us back in November. Mentally, be ready for this. If I had known to expect all of that, it would have been a lot easier to figure out what I needed to do, where I needed to go next, etc...

Good luck to you!

[side note: After that last trip, we decided that next time

we would go through Incheon airport in Korea again. It's way smoother! You can get to the gate of your connecting flight in about 20 minutes there - no baggage claim - no immigration lines - just a security checkpoint that has always moved quickly in the previous three times I've been through there. The only reason we went through China last time was because the price was much cheaper].

Its been a while since I have been through PVG, sounds like it has changed a bit- and not in a good way... Surprised they make every single person clear immigration even transit customers. Typically always you need to go through a security checkpoint..

I fly through Narita and Nagoya and they are the best I have transited through in asia... ICN is ok too, HKG sucks!!!!!!