Change in Shanghai Pudong - no recommendation
The fact that global aviation alliance systems are constantly being improved is good and important. And we realized just how much information about the itinerary was needed before boarding the flight on a trip from Taipei via Shanghai to Frankfurt. Air China has been a Star Alliance partner since 2007 and therefore also a Lufthansa partner. Nevertheless, at check-in in Taipei it was not possible to get a boarding pass for the Lufthansa flight from Shanghai to Frankfurt, not even the baggage could be checked through. "Sorry, different system", was the friendly response, but in no way reduced my incomprehension as to how a long-standing partnership could fail to achieve such a thing. But it gets even better.
Changing planes in Shanghai does not mean that you stay in the international area of the terminal like in Singapore or Bangkok and walk to the next flight. Another big surprise: no information at check-in that you have to enter and leave China. But the reporter does not have a visa for China! Well, there is a new regulation, the baffled traveler found out by chance, that you can stay in China for up to 72 hours as a transit passenger. All right. Air China takes off on time and surprises us with really good and friendly service to Shanghai. The transfer time is four hours. Once there, there are hardly any English-speaking employees who can tell you what to do next. You find the passport control, fortunately only a short wait. Fill in the entry form, indicate onward flight. Lo and behold, you get a transit visa for 24 hours, not 72! Then to the Lufthansa check-in. Wait 45 minutes until it opens. Passport control, security check, followed by the search for the Shanghai Airlines Lounge, which incidentally is no longer a member of the Star Alliance. All this takes time.
Conclusion: it worked. But: We cannot recommend changing planes at Shanghai Pudong Airport. The infrastructure of the terminal is very good, but the biggest negative aspect is that you don't get any information at all when booking your flight about the hurdles involved in changing planes in Shanghai.
Kurt Hofmann
July 2013
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/3/csm_Karibik_Kachel_Website_bd14d92320.png "[Translate to en:]")
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/c/csm_csm_Burj_Khalifa_6aa4204cda_c60dbba775.png "[Translate to en:]")
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/6/csm_2_prb23_0733_web_230fecf93e.jpg "[Translate to en:]")
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/3/csm_Karibik_Kachel_Website_4fa96af5ad.png "[Translate to en:]")
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/c/csm_csm_Burj_Khalifa_6aa4204cda_6e24649320.png "[Translate to en:]")
![[Translate to en:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/6/csm_2_prb23_0733_web_8dbd0bd4df.jpg "[Translate to en:]")