China Eastern - QFF Reward Seats

[Rembrandt]

Hi everyone,

Like many others, I've decided to book alternative flights to Europe to avoid flying over the Arabian Gulf, as I'm not confident Qatar airspace will re-open in the next few weeks. However, finding reward seats on alternative routes has been challenging. I'm flying from Melbourne to Hong Kong via Hong Kong Airlines (Velocity Reward Seat). Then, I was able to secure the next leg of the trip with China Eastern, thanks to QFF economy reward seats that appeared early this morning. The flight will take me from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and then on to Istanbul. From Istanbul I'll pay for flights to Bucharest.

That said, I’ve encountered a potential issue with the China Eastern flights I booked. The transit time between flights is tight:

Hong Kong to Shanghai (MU 506): Arrives at 10:40 PM
Shanghai to Istanbul (MU 703): Departs at 1:20 AM

Both flights are on the same booking reference and were bundled as part of the reward seat, but It's unclear if my checked luggage will be automatically transferred from MU 506 to MU 703. With only a 2 hour 40 minute layover, I’m concerned I might need to clear customs and check in for the next flight which will leave very little room for any delay. The other frustrating thing was I could only find this particular reward seat from Hong Kong, if I searched from Shanghai there was not availability, very confusing indeed...

Has anyone had experience with this? Will my checked luggage be transferred automatically, or should I reach out to Qantas or China Eastern for confirmation?

Thank you

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone,

Like many others, I've decided to book alternative flights to Europe to avoid flying over the Arabian Gulf, as I'm not confident Qatar airspace will re-open in the next few weeks. However, finding reward seats on alternative routes has been challenging. I'm flying from Melbourne to Hong Kong via Hong Kong Airlines (Velocity Reward Seat). Then, I was able to secure the next leg of the trip with China Eastern, thanks to QFF economy reward seats that appeared early this morning. The flight will take me from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and then on to Istanbul. From Istanbul I'll pay for flights to Bucharest.

That said, I’ve encountered a potential issue with the China Eastern flights I booked. The transit time between flights is tight:

Hong Kong to Shanghai (MU 506): Arrives at 10:40 PM
Shanghai to Istanbul (MU 703): Departs at 1:20 AM

Both flights are on the same booking reference and were bundled as part of the reward seat, but It's unclear if my checked luggage will be automatically transferred from MU 506 to MU 703. With only a 2 hour 40 minute layover, I’m concerned I might need to clear customs and check in for the next flight which will leave very little room for any delay.

Has anyone had experience with this? Will my checked luggage be transferred automatically, or should I reach out to Qantas or China Eastern for confirmation?

Thank you

Baggage will be checked through and you will use the INT->INT transfer lines. No border control, but you will go through security.

2hrs40mins is oodles of time to transfer at PVG, even if you had to clear immigration (which you don’t have to).

(Even if there was a system issue and bags could on,y for some reason be tagged to PVG, plenty of time to complete all inbound formalities, check in, and complete all exit formalities. I arrived for my flight last week 1hr10mins before departure at PVG and had around 20 mins to spare before boarding!)

 

[Rembrandt]

Baggage will be checked through and you will use the INT->INT transfer lines. No border control, but you will go through security.

2hrs40mins is oodles of time to transfer at PVG, even if you had to clear immigration (which you don’t have to).

(Even if there was a system issue and bags could on,y for some reason be tagged to PVG, plenty of time to complete all inbound formalities, check in, and complete all exit formalities. I arrived for my flight last week 1hr10mins before departure at PVG and had around 20 mins to spare before boarding!)

Thank you so much for the informative post. It's put my mind at ease

 

[MelbFlyer]

Both flights are on the same booking reference and were bundled as part of the reward seat, but It's unclear if my checked luggage will be automatically transferred from MU 506 to MU 703. With only a 2 hour 40 minute layover, I’m concerned I might need to clear customs and check in for the next flight which will leave very little room for any delay.

If it's on the one booking / PNR with that transit time, your luggage should be tagged to your final destination.

The other frustrating thing was I could only find this particular reward seat from Hong Kong, if I searched from Shanghai there was not availability, very confusing indeed...

This is an example of married segment logic, it is annoying at times.

Speaking of MU reward seats - I used the "new" reward seat tool on the QF website and it came up with MU business reward seats to PVG from MEL - however when looking for it in both the regular search and multi-city tool, that same seat was no longer available.

 

[Rembrandt]

This is an example of married segment logic, it is annoying at times.

Speaking of MU reward seats - I used the "new" reward seat tool on the QF website and it came up with MU business reward seats to PVG from MEL - however when looking for it in both the regular search and multi-city tool, that same seat was no longer available.

Thank you for the explanation.

I too have used the new reward flight finder search, and this is how I managed to find the China Eastern reward seats. I had been using the standard search for a week and getting nowhere with it. I only found out about the new reward flight finder search earlier this morning via a FB post. It was godsend...

 

[05flyer]

Speaking of MU reward seats - I used the "new" reward seat tool on the QF website and it came up with MU business reward seats to PVG from MEL - however when looking for it in both the regular search and multi-city tool, that same seat was no longer available.

Worth calling to check if you're particularly keen on booking it. I've had past experience of MU availability not displaying online, despite ample availability being visible to call centre.

 

[madrooster]

If it's on the one booking / PNR with that transit time, your luggage should be tagged to your final destination.

This shouldn't be a default assumption.

Transferring at PVG, between carriers other than MU, often requires collection of baggage and clearing formalities.

 

[MelbFlyer]

This shouldn't be a default assumption.

Transferring at PVG, between carriers other than MU, often requires collection of baggage and clearing formalities.

In the OPs specific case, both flights are MU.

There would be no reason that it isn't through-checked to their final destination.

 

[madrooster]

There would be no reason that it isn't through-checked to their final destination.

MU until a few years ago, also made you pick up your baggage and clear formalities at PVG as well for ALL international to international connections. So again, default assumptions that same ticket means automatic through check is not completely wise.

 

[MelbFlyer]

MU until a few years ago, also made you pick up your baggage and clear formalities at PVG as well for ALL international to international connections. So again, default assumptions that same ticket means automatic through check is not completely wise.

If the OP receives 2 boarding passes and a luggage receipt upon check-in, then it's pretty clear cut.

OP - Please report back accordingly.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If the OP receives 2 boarding passes and a luggage receipt upon check-in, then it's pretty clear cut.

OP - Please report back accordingly.

It is confirmed that currently, MU->MU means transfer of baggage and you proceed through the transfer channel.