Beijing Airport Warning

[Emil 0]

On my last trip to LOS, United routed me through Beijing as I flew on United from SFO to Beijing and then on Thai Air to BKK. Not all bad as this route had me arriving at BKK at 10 PM instead of the usual 11:30 PM when I go the traditional way through Narita, Japan.

 

The problem happened as I was finding my way from the arrival gate to the departure gate. At all other Asian airports that I have had a connection all you had to do was pass through another security check point on your way to your departure area. At Beijing I had to go through a special immigration area adjacent to all other arrivals who were staying in China. I needed to have the arrival card filled out which I didn't but that wasn't a big problem as I was the only person in line and I've filled them out many times. The problem was that I also needed a boarding pass to get past her and that I didn't have. When I checked in at Sacramento at the United desk all I had was the Sac boarding pass and the SFO boarding pass and was told that their computer didn't talk to Thai Airlines. When I arrived at SFO I tried again thinking I would have more success at a large international airport and again no luck. Still I didn't think much of this as When I flew another time with United they routed me through Inchon with the final leg on Singapore Air and I picked up the boarding pass after arrival.

 

The Immigration offical called her supervisor and told her that I didn't have the boarding pass. they told me to step aside while they waited on others. After 40 minutes of still waiting I was begining to feel like the Tom Hank character in Terminal and was starting to worry about making my connection. A few minutes later anoter couple arrived and were in the same predictament as me and then a few minutes later another lady arrived with the same problem. I started to feel better as misery loves company and I felt with 4 of us we should get results. Finally the supervisor came back and we were allowed to pass. We actually had our passports stamped. We then wandered around the airport trying to find the main lobby so that we could check in and get our boarding pass but before we got that far we had to go through customs and fill out those forms. Myself and the other couple had no problem getting our boarding pass but Tahi Air couldn't find the ladys name on the flight and with us running out of time we had to leave her there as we didn't really know where we were heading. We had to then go back through immigration and fill out a departure card, pass through security and find our way to the gate. we got there just as they were boarding and I never did see the lady get on the plane so I think she spent the night in China.

 

I called the United customer service desk and reported the problem. Told them that if they do that to other customers that they need to ensure that either a United agent or Thai agent needs to meet the passenger as they get off the plane and give them a boarding pass for their next flight.

 

If your get routed this way make sure that you can get all your boarding passes from where you depart or that an agent will be there when you arrive in China.

[pattayachip 0]

thank you mak mak there emil,that i didn't know,i could see where that could be a major problem,i'm glad things worked ou for you

[BigDUSA 71]

Thanks for the 'heads up' as I fly UA and I expect they will start trying to route me through Beijing on my way to LOS.