Dear all,
I will be leaving UB with MIAT to Beijing and from there continue to another flight Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur. Since i will need to change from Terminal 3 (MIAT) to T2 (MAS), is there any problem if i dont have China visa/transit visa, i knew that people who hold onward ticket and stay less than 24 hours can get visa free transit stamp but will MIAT will allow be to board the flight if i dont have the China visa ?
Thanks,
Yes, they should allow you to board. MIAT by now would have seen many people accessing UB via its Beijing connection, many of which are only transiting to/from. I can't believe they would not be aware of China's visa-free transit policy. If you are uncomfortable, you might either contact them to confirm this awareness. Changing terminals does not matter.
Also: if MIAT says OK to transit but you can't leave the Beijing airport, don't argue or press the matter. Just smile and board and then once in PEK, do whatever you need to. (In fact you can leave the airport if you have time, and technically, from T3 to T2 you have to leave airport property to make the switch.)
Last year I did this, with the same carriers and route. It was ineresting. The guy in UB gave me my boarding pass and passport back at check in. Then, as we finished, he asked for my passport and Chinese visa. Without listening to me he just tore the boarding pass up and told me to take my bag. That was it.
So I had to find someone who looked like they were in charge and told them the story that less than 24 hours in Beijing = no visa. But for half an hour, their tone did not change. I showed my connecting flight, but at first it did not matter. Visa. Where's the visa? You need visa. Eventually, all of a sudden, he says, "ok, your bags are going directly to KL". And that was it. Second last on the plane. All good!
#2: Hopefully you served as the guinea pig and now MIAT in UB knows what's what, so the OP won't have the same reception.
Yes, they let me board from UB without a Chinese visa last june without asking any questions and I had to wait for 12 hours in Bejing for my transfer.
If you can leave the airport, head to the Beijing Art area near airport on outer ring of the city, stroll galleries and enjoy the cafes and art scene, taxi back.
I would always advise anybody with a 12 hour transit at PEK to get out of the airport and see/do something. Understanding that if those 12 hours are in the evening and night, sightseeing and activity options will be curtailed. It's obviously more useful to have an 8 am -8 pm layover than an 8 pm - 8 am layover!
I've traveled to UB a couple of times for business connecting in Beijing from Air Canada. What seems to work the best is when you arrive head to the "Special Lane" at customs rather than the general foreign nationals line. If your airline does not have a transfer agreement with Miat (like Air Canada) you will have to claim your bags in Beijing and recheck them with Miat. It is also important on your flight out of UB to ensure Miat only tags your luggage to Beijing if it does not have a baggage transfer agreement with your connecting airline. They were going to originally tag my bags to Canada from UB, but apparently Miat would not have transfered my bags Air Canada since they didn't have a transfer agreement.
The "special lane at customs" referred to above, is I believe actually the special International Transfer/Transit desk for immigration. If arriving on Air Canada, that would be Terminal 3 arrival at PEK, the special desks are just before the regular immigration desks. If transferring to MIAT, you almost certainly won't have your boarding pass so show the desk officer your confirmed onward itinerary (leaving less than 24 hours later). Then go forth and pick up bags and recheck with MIAT--if too early to recheck, take with you to hotel or (for daytime transits), stick temporarily in Left Luggage for a small fee. MIAT is also in T3.
I believe MIAT does not have interline agreements with too many other airlines, so there is a good chance when connecting to or from this airline to another, you'll be doing a manual baggage pickup and recheck for onward. Make sure for your other airline, you know what terminal it arrives to/leaves from.
Although this is an old thread, I have useful information on checking baggage through to and from UB via Beijing. If you are flying MIAT to/from UB you CAN check your baggage through to the final destination and DO NOT need to pick it up in Beijing. I know this works in both directions with Air China to/from JFK (I did it just last month) and United (a travel companion did it).
The check-in agent at JFK may say it can't be done, but it can and should. INSIST that they check your baggage through to UB! Get a supervisor if necessary. The agent may still say that you have to pick up your baggage in Beijing anyway. This is wrong! It WILL be transferred to the MIAT flight.
You will still have to stop by the International Transfer Desk at Beijing to pick up your boarding pass, but that is an easy process and takes only a few minutes when you present your baggage claim check. Make sure you have it available. Don't lose it! There were no lines at all when I was there.