Trip to China - advice

[MEL_Traveller]

Crikey claz - Pudong is a long way from Beijing? We might need to give you a new list of things to do!

But at least now you will get to go to Xin Tian Di!

pudong is a long way from Shang Hai!!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

pudong is a long way from Shang Hai!!!

Damn right - 3 golden rules must be kept in mind for Shanghai accommodation:
1. Puxi
2. Puxi
3. Puxi

For those unfamiliar with Shanghai - Puxi is the 'old Shanghai' on western side Huangpu River - Pudong is the 'reclaimed swamp' on eastern side Huangpu River.

 

[clazman]

For those unfamiliar with Shanghai - Puxi is the 'old Shanghai' on western side Huangpu River - Pudong is the 'reclaimed swamp' on eastern side Huangpu River.

Better pack my gum boots

 

[clazman]

As long as you're not flying on a Wednesday!! (KA896 is operated by an A320)

Outbound are Sunday and return are Friday

 

[Christoo]

I have stayed in Pudong many times. My favourite hotels that side of the river are the Grand Hyatt and the Shangri-la. Wherever you stay you should try the buffet at the Shangri-la.

On the other side of the river I usually stay at the Intercontinental, but I am also a big fan of the Westin.
Happy to help with any shanghai questions you may have.

 

[teamhamsandwich]

Pudong is a backwater that should never be stayed in, regardless of where you need to be in shanghai. I know, I travel to Pudong from Puxi everyday for work.

 

[smit0847]

Im in Beijing right now. Ive noticed a lot of locals staring at my feet. Is this normal?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Im in Beijing right now. Ive noticed a lot of locals staring at my feet. Is this normal?

errr... what are you wearing??

(no... it's not normal...)

 

[smit0847]

errr... what are you wearing??

(no... it's not normal...)

Both nice ($$$) sneakers and thongs. I do have size 13 feet...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Both nice ($$$) sneakers and thongs. I do have size 13 feet...

The cost of the sneakers and thongs would not normally even register in China... plenty of money there and high-value branded goods are common (and even good fakes!).

Shoes size? Hmmm... maybe, but 13's not that big...

 

[smit0847]

The cost of the sneakers and thongs would not normally even register in China... plenty of money there and high-value branded goods are common (and even good fakes!).

Shoes size? Hmmm... maybe, but 13's not that big...

I know- thats why I thought it was weird

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I know- thats why I thought it was weird

I posted your issue on wechat... it's done the rounds... but no serious explanations were forthcoming (only the usual school yard banter... sigh)

(of course people might now be staring at you cause you're that wechat guy )

 

[seanpodge]

I've never seen a shoe shop that has size 13 shoes for my size 13 feet. I order online from the US or UK.

 

[clazman]

I normally walk into shoe or sports stores and say what do you have in 15....... when i do find the size i buy a couple of pairs.

Dress shoes Florrsheim always have the sizes

 

[smit0847]

Oh come on - its only a 2.5 hour flight! How else am I supposed to get from HKG-PVG using my QF points?



The options at the moment are either a 65 min transit or a 150 min transit. Obviously the the 150 would be far more sensible. This is both leaving PVG early evening connecting to the midnight HKG-MEL departure. I actually wanted to leave PVG early the next morning and then do the same day MEL-HKG flight but no flights leave PVG early enough to make a same day connection because I'd like to do a CX long-haul J day flight for a change. I could fly up PVG-HKG the night before to then take the next morning HKG-MEL but I dont want to pay for a HKG hotel lol.

Id actually be quite happy if we chose the 65 min transit, missed the HKG-MEL flight and they put us up in a hotel overnight to take the following morning HKG-MEL flight but thats making a lot of assumptions about loads, policies etc.

An update to this- flew last weekend.

Arrived at PVG to be told my flight was delayed by 40 mins. Check in agent had outstanding English. Proactively offered to be moved to the flight 30 mins earlier as this was not delayed. Not sure if they offer this to everyone or if it was because of my OWS status on my BP? (Was travelling J on QFF points). Immediately thinking of this very thread I asked 'proivided its not an A320!'. It was an A330 so we moved.

KA lounge is quite nice for an outstation. PVG was far more calm and organised than i was expecting. Well behaved pax.
HUGE priority boarding queue- do they let all MPC members board priority? Onboard very pleasant - I had worried that the regional J seat looked very cramped from the photos but it was very comfortable and far better than the VA/QF 737 J seat on flights of a similar length. J cabin only 50% full. Australian captain advised us thay ATC were holding us at the gate for approx 40 mins and it was 'extremely common here'. Crew uniforms very smart.

Nice one-tray dinner served promtly. Reclined and rested for a bit. The seat is like a really good Y+ longhaul seat. Arrived prob 40 mins late into HKG. Stand off bay which was initially annoying but the benefit is the bus takes you right to immigration so very quick to exit the airport.

Overall extremely happy with first time on KA and will travel with them again!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An update to this- flew last weekend.

Arrived at PVG to be told my flight was delayed by 40 mins. Check in agent had outstanding English. Proactively offered to be moved to the flight 30 mins earlier as this was not delayed. Not sure if they offer this to everyone or if it was because of my OWS status on my BP? (Was travelling J on QFF points). Immediately thinking of this very thread I asked 'proivided its not an A320!'. It was an A330 so we moved.

KA lounge is quite nice for an outstation. PVG was far more calm and organised than i was expecting. Well behaved pax.
HUGE priority boarding queue- do they let all MPC members board priority? Onboard very pleasant - I had worried that the regional J seat looked very cramped from the photos but it was very comfortable and far better than the VA/QF 737 J seat on flights of a similar length. J cabin only 50% full. Australian captain advised us thay ATC were holding us at the gate for approx 40 mins and it was 'extremely common here'. Crew uniforms very smart.



Overall extremely happy with first time on KA and will travel with them again!

your experience is entirely normal! Delays and 'roll-forwards' are common... status doesn't make all that much difference. If there's a seat available they'll move you.

PVG is a nice airport! I haven't seen anything there other than it being well orgainsed and pax well behaved. The videos you see are the exception, not the rule

Priority boarding lines are often very long... it's an elite heavy route + Marco Polo entry level (green) are entitled to priority boarding. While it may not seem to make sense to have such a long priority queue, they won't usually start processing the regular economy queue (particularly at outstations) until the whole of the priority queue is done. So even the last person in priority will get dibs on overhead space before the first person in the economy line. (As there is effectively dual boarding of the priority lane it also moves very quickly).

If the KA flight is offering First class, or if you're an MPC Diamond (or Diamond +) they will often call you forward for priority within priority!

Delays once on board also common. But equally as common will be an ATC spot opening at short notice allowing immediate push-back. If a delay is expected to be over 90 mins they will sometimes serve the meal on the ground.

 

[clazman]

Thanks for all the advice,

Mini trip report,

Perth - HK in CX J, as good as always, but disappointed they ran out of main I wanted, arrived in HK 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

HK - Shanghai, and as always with connecting flights opposite ends of the airport, our flight left at gate 503, arrived 5 minutes ahead of scheduled boarding time. to be advised by the gate staff that the flight had been delayed by 3 hours, so we headed to the lounge. Finally boarded the Dragonair flight 3 hours later, uneventful flight, had choice of western food in J but no IFE.

Arrived at Shanghai airport and wow it is massive.... must have walked 5k's from gate to passport control and customs.
Unfortunately one of our parties bags didn't arrive and was told cargo was full and it would be on the next flight, you would think J bags would have preference over Y bags.
Met by driver and interpretor who took us to Ritz Carlton at Pudong

Ritz Carlton is a excellent hotel and was really impressed with the customer service, food, quality of the rooms and location.
If in town you have to try the sky bar at the Ritz Carlton and roof top bars across the river at the Bund (taxi fare was AU$6 )

AG bag turned up on the second day in Shaghai

Returning to the airport we took the maglev train, 7 minutes from the city to the airport at 430klm, a experience

Shanghai to Shenzhen - China Southern in J, once again flight was delayed by 3 hours, off to the lounge. Hmm the lounge would be the worst I have been into, they served warm drinks and the toilets were disgusting.

Our booking agent made a mistake with our group of 4 travelers, grrrrr
CJ was flying with CS from the other airport in Shanghai at 8:30pm
CS was flying CX to HK and had to drive back to Shenzhen
AG and myself had the same flight, but delayed by 3 hours

Booked into the Grand Hyatt in Shenzhen, once again a beautiful hotel with excellent service, quality fit out and sensational breakfast bar

Shenzhen is a modern version of Hong Kong and very westernized, had a great time.

Returning home with CX, we drove to HK which was about a hours drive and the first time i have seen HK by day

CX171 back to perth was uneventful, but once again they ran out of mains, so i went without

Notes on China:

My perception of China has been completely changed and cant wait to go back for pleasure

I thought the people were very reserved but in hindsight they were more bashful

Zebra crossing, cars have right of way

Driving is a experience as cars seem to follow no rules, but there is no road rage and it just works

At all times I felt safe

When flying with CX in J book as far forward as you can to get a full choice of mains

The only strange thing about the trip was when going to the toilet, they looks at your equipment and in some places they looked at your feet, groin and then face

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Driving is a experience as cars seem to follow no rules, but there is no road rage and it just works

At all times I felt safe

They appear to follow no rules... but at the same time everyone follows the rules, so it seems to work

China is a very safe place in terms of crime against the person. I feel totally safe walking anywhere at 4am in China... not so in many Australian cities.

 

[hummel]

China is a very safe place in terms of crime against the person. I feel totally safe walking anywhere at 4am in China... not so in many Australian cities.

I agree wholeheartedly...but more so Asia in general. Currently in SGN and love it for that aspect.

A real shame I can't feel the same way in my own country.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am surprised at CX running out of mains. Never experienced this before in J.

China has an intricate system. It's a well honed culture.