15 hours at Shanghai airport Pudong. Help
Posted by al0678@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 20 comments
The layover time is awkward - from 5:00 to 20:00.
If I book a hotel, will I have to pay for 2 days even though it will private less than 12 hours there? If I add the cost of Chinese visa to get to the hotel it will be very expensive and the cheaper ticket almost not worth it.
Also, anyone familiar with the airport hotel? Apparently there is one, but it has the worst reviews - lost reservations, an hour on average to check in, staff do not speak any english...
Any advice?
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
The airport has a hotel, its between terminal 1 and terminal 2. There is a rail station though that goes into town, you can easily take that and see the town while you wait.
kotassium2@reddit
Do you need to get a visa and "leave" airport limbo to get to the airport hotel?
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
Yes. Because from there you can leave the airport. There is security between the center area and each terminal.
Careless_Nebula8839@reddit
Had a five hour layover that then got extended a couple of hours because of plane issues. Made worse by then boarding, sitting at the gate for a bit, then having to get off and wait some more before boarding again. And then waited for longer once again on the plane because an exhausted passenger fell asleep in the airport and they had issues locating them to reboard. I’d flown Heathrow - Zurich - Shanghai and was flying onto Auckland, NZ then onto Wellington. Long couple of days.
It’s the most boring airport I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to some small non eventful domestic ones in NZ) and thanks to it being China even things like social media access over wifi or cell data are limited. I will now gladly pay more for airfares that go through anywhere else.
I after walking the length a few times, getting something to eat and then trying to find different typos in menus I plonked myself down at the gate and listened to music, trying to not fall asleep so I’d sleep on the flight.
Even if you get access to a pay per use lounge, you’ll be able to rest your eyes on a chair & hopefully have a shower to freshen up. Just set an alarm on your phone so you wake up in time.
Similar_Concert_7691@reddit
i too had the most possibly boring 6 hours of my life in that airport recently, was searching to see if it's just me. how can a place so big have so little to do??? no wifi, no shops, 1 restaurant open, i swear time passed quicker on the 12 hours flight i took after...
Careless_Nebula8839@reddit
It really is a weird form of limbo. Also no real view because of the smog/air pollution.
pixiepoops9@reddit
Depends who you are flying with and who you booked with but you may qualify for a free transit hotel from the airline. Check your passenger class on your ticket and ask them.
GRJapan@reddit
And all the water fountains in the airport are warm. Pudong is a terrible airport, I gladly pay more to avoid it.
mister-jesse@reddit
You may be eligible for a free transit visa depending on your nationality. If you are, it can turn into a wonderful layover. Super easy to get into the city on normal subway or maglev train. And then can wander around and eat and relax a bit. And then head back out a few hours before your next flight
Zestyclose-Cap5267@reddit
We’ll be carful of the $20usd pots of tea. 😂
OpenImagination9@reddit
I’ve stayed in the airport hotel, it was fine. Plus hopefully they still have the same cook in their cafeteria that makes the best pork dumplings!
Tasty_Prior_8510@reddit
So as an Aussie you can get a transit visa. Get it a. Leave the airport. Go into Shanghai, go see the bund. Get private room in a hostel. The metro is easy, it's in English, use atm get some cash. If your on Vodafone use 5$ per day roaming, if your not on Vodafone change to it for the trip (if possible) I stayed in Shanghai for $50aud a few years back. Windowless room
Lepadidae@reddit
What's your nationality? Most foreigners can get a free transfer visa up to 144 hours. I had a 30 hour layover in Pudong last June. You can get to the city centre within an hour by taking the Maglev and then a metro. When I was at Pudong most shops were closed in the morning so there wasn't much to do.
al0678@reddit (OP)
That's good to know, thanks.
Do you think I'll have to book hotel for two days even though it's 12 hours stay in the hotel (or less) due to the awkward hours?
Lepadidae@reddit
Your best bet is to contact the hotel and ask them. Usually hotels have a check-in time of 3 pm but theres not harm in asking for an early check-in.
SalamancaVice@reddit
Sleeping in Airports has a section for Pudong;
https://www.sleepinginairports.net/sleep-guide/sleeping-in-shanghai-pudong-airport.htm
Although it's not exactly shoestring, maybe look into a pay-to-use lounge for the duration? If they have showers, somewhere more secure to bed down, it might be a viable option.
You might also want to apply for a 24hr free transit visa;
"Foreign citizens travelling to a third country or region through China by plane, ship or train may stay up to 24 hours in China without a visa. The application for a preliminary entry permit at the Chinese border is a requirement for the visa-free entry."
You can check eligibility and details here;
https://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-visa-free-travel-policies-2023-complete-guide/
al0678@reddit (OP)
Thanks, I did see that before posting here. There will be nowhere to lie down let alone sleep. My in between flights are monstrously long and exhausting in tiny economy.
TravelWellTraveled@reddit
That is a damn long layover. Do you have headphones, a latptop, and a charger?
How about spending some time at a cheap bar/restaurant watching episodes of your favorite show while you slowly eat or drink?
When you want to catch some zzzs go find a quiet,far corner of the airport, pile your luggage between you and the wall or even rent a locker for a few hours and stick it in there and then zonk out for a 5 hour nap?
If you are a reader, then get half of a good book read.
I've never done 15 hours at an airport, but I have done 12 and that's how I passed the time.
al0678@reddit (OP)
Thank you. The preceeding flight is 10 hours and the connecting flight is 14 hours. (From Australia to Europe)
If you add the 15 hour layover it's monstrously long and I'm not in great health. I'd not survive hanging out at the airport for that long between those inhumanly long flights in tiny economy seats.
Excellent-Pitch-7579@reddit
You can get like a 24 hour visa at the airport if you have a long layover like this. Maybe that will help. Try to sleep on the plane before you arrive.