MU flights to the USA. Time needed to change planes and still spend time in the lounge for a shower

[Dr Ralph]

Seeking feedback/advice from anyone with experience in the following situation. I have two options for upcoming flights to the USA.



Option 1 is with MU flying via Shanghai to LAX. This would allow me 1 hour 40 minutes between landing and the next flight taking off.



Option 2 is with MU flying via Kunming to SFO. This would allow me 2 hours 50 minutes between landing and the next flight taking off.



I'd prefer option 1, but option 2 is acceptable to me. My main concern is whether option 1 would allow me enough time in Shanghai to visit the lounge, shower and still make it to the next flight?



Anyone familiar with MU lounge in Shanghai and know if the facilities are busy, located a long way from the likely arrival/departure gate or anything else that I'd need to know before hand to make option 1 realistic?

And I'm assuming that the MU lounge facilities in Kunming aren't much to write home about?

 

[Quickstatus]

I don’t have any experience with MU either in the air or the lounges.

However, I get anxiety when the transit time is under 2 hours. Even in PVG I believe all passengers will need to attend to quarantine/immigration/pickup luggage then transfer hall.

 

[moa999]

Agree with Quickstatus I'd be more concerned with the Transit procedures.

Certainly in Shanghai there is no-shortcut for a transit only visa. It's a combined queue with the 24 and 144-hr TWOVs (and I've waited 90min in that queue of an evening).

China lounges generally aren't that great.
I think the MU PVG would be best described as decent. Not sure about KMG.

If those are the only options I'd be more inclined to take KMG.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just to clarify that China Eastern is all in Terminal 1 at Shanghai Pudong. Baggage will be through-checked and direct airside transfers are available. (This is in contrast to Terminal 2 where connections between most airlines, and even the same airline on occasions will require the collection of bags and 'entering China'.)

90 mins should be adequate for that at Terminal 1. Dunno how busy the showers will be, or even if they will be operating on the day

 

[jase05]

If it’s purely about lounges then PVG wins hands down.
KMG facilitates pretty ordinary IMO

 

[Dr Ralph]

If it’s purely about lounges then PVG wins hands down.
KMG facilitates pretty ordinary IMO

Thanks @jase05. I'm not concerned with the quality of the lounge. I am concerned about the amount of time between transfers.

 

[jase05]

Thanks @jase05. I'm not concerned with the quality of the lounge. I am concerned about the amount of time between transfers.

It’s all personal of course but I’m very uncomfortable about sub 2 hour transfers. I’m of the strong belief that there is just too much that can wrong. Even if everything goes fine I don’t like having to rush between flights. I think at the end of the day I’d take the poorer lounge and the extra hour of time

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In the event of IRROPS I'd rather be stuck in Shanghai than Kunming though.