Any one fly by the way of Shanghai Pu Dong, China (PVG)

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Hello all. I have my eye on a flight by way of Shanghai Pu Dong, China (PVG). Departing from Manila to Shanghai Pu Dong, China

then to LAX. Has anyone flown this route before from the Manila? The layover in China is 6 hours. Any experinces or input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[TeddyHoney 42]

I personally have not flown that particular route. Usually there are available direct flights from Manila to SFO, LAX, SEA(I don't know the code for Seattle's airport so this one might be wrong). Or was this one you have your eye on significantly cheaper because of the layover? What timeframe are you looking at? Back in December 2011 just before Christmas (the most terrible time to get a good fare for any flight!!) I book for Chie for January 5, 2012 direct from Manila to SFO for around $1,100.00 including taxes and fees. But that was then.

The 6 hour layover is a bummer, but if the savings are significant then it may be worth it. But what about your fiancee? Has she flown before? Is this her first time to fly and/or experience connecting flights? It's no big deal if she hasn't. I'm sure she can handle it if she hasn't before. For Chie, who was a first time flier, I avoided the connecting flight options. At the time I was searching the price different was minimal.

What are you using to search?

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Thanks for your response. Yes, this is her first time flying. The flight is

significantly cheaper, about $500 less than other current airfairs. We are still

waiting for her visa to be in hand before booking. Of course the flights are more

expensive last minute. One of her concerns was that she will have plenty of time to

connect her last flight to Denver at POE (probably LAX or SFO)This flight combination

was the only one I could find that had a 3 hour layover at POE. All the others had

only 1- 1.5 hours layover. She is worried that she will not have enough time to connect

to the last flight if she gets delayed at immigration and customs for more than 30 min.

Which I can understand. Thank you.

[TeddyHoney 42]

Ah, okay. I did not know she would be connecting to Denver, also. She is wise to be concerned about the time between flights and the immigration processing in between. Even 3 hours may be cutting it close, as you never can tell what the volume is going to be going through immigration.

Anyway, good luck and God bless!

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Thank you so much. I did not realize so much time was needed at POE.

The only other flight I found with an extended POE layover was Delta

airlines. 5.5 hour layover in Detroit. Thank you again.

[TeddyHoney 42]

Well, again, you never know. Chances are that 3 hours is plenty. You clearly have your fiancee's comfort and best interest at heart and with that I would try to stay with your option to LAX or SFO because that is a considerably shorter flight. I'm sure the one to Detroit is several hours longer OR has more stops. Both less desirable options considering your fiancee's first flight and all. Just keep in mind that when she gets to her POE she will have to get her luggage before going through customs and immigration and then check in again with her luggage for her connecting flight to Denver. She won't have to do that in China or other international connections, I'm pretty sure.

Since she has to get luggage after getting to POE and then check in again for her connecting, you may want to try to price fares this way: Her flight from Manila to LAX/SFO even via China or Hong Kong or whatever as one fare. Then you can choose a seperate fare from LAX/SFO to Denver, one departing late enough for your comfort level that she will have plenty of time to get through immigration and to her next flight to Denver, but of course not too long cuz you don't want to her be in the airport by herself too much longer than neccessary but longer waiting is better then too hurried and cutting too close and risk her missing her connecting flight. I don't know if you have proced fares that way or not but if you haven't wouldn't hurt to see what prices you get. It may be more expensive this way versus purchasing one fare straight through from Manila to LAX/SFO to Denver, but might be worth the effort to compare. This is what I did and was the only way to make all of our flgihts coordinate (even though PAL kind of spoiled all my plans, but they didn;t know).

Trust me I know the frustration of this (okay, nothing like the waiting NOA2 and Medical and interview and waiting the VISA because all that is over now), but I know because I went through and worse as I was trying to coordinate my flight to meet her in SFO and our flight back here togther! One would think that would not be so difficult, but it was.

Anyway - good luck!

[Rosie_Todd 8]

I went through Shanghai in 2008, from what I remember it was just a mad dash from one gate, through security, and on to the next gate because I only had a short layover (maybe 1 hour)...but it seemed like an efficiently run airport

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Well, again, you never know. Chances are that 3 hours is plenty. You clearly have your fiancee's comfort and best interest at heart and with that I would try to stay with your option to LAX or SFO because that is a considerably shorter flight. I'm sure the one to Detroit is several hours longer OR has more stops. Both less desirable options considering your fiancee's first flight and all. Just keep in mind that when she gets to her POE she will have to get her luggage before going through customs and immigration and then check in again with her luggage for her connecting flight to Denver. She won't have to do that in China or other international connections, I'm pretty sure.

Since she has to get luggage after getting to POE and then check in again for her connecting, you may want to try to price fares this way: Her flight from Manila to LAX/SFO even via China or Hong Kong or whatever as one fare. Then you can choose a seperate fare from LAX/SFO to Denver, one departing late enough for your comfort level that she will have plenty of time to get through immigration and to her next flight to Denver, but of course not too long cuz you don't want to her be in the airport by herself too much longer than neccessary but longer waiting is better then too hurried and cutting too close and risk her missing her connecting flight. I don't know if you have proced fares that way or not but if you haven't wouldn't hurt to see what prices you get. It may be more expensive this way versus purchasing one fare straight through from Manila to LAX/SFO to Denver, but might be worth the effort to compare. This is what I did and was the only way to make all of our flgihts coordinate (even though PAL kind of spoiled all my plans, but they didn;t know).

Trust me I know the frustration of this (okay, nothing like the waiting NOA2 and Medical and interview and waiting the VISA because all that is over now), but I know because I went through and worse as I was trying to coordinate my flight to meet her in SFO and our flight back here togther! One would think that would not be so difficult, but it was.

Anyway - good luck!

Thank you for the great insights and information. Yes her and I are both concerned about her comfort and ease of travel. I was definately was getting the feeling I was goint to have to start looking into reserving seperate flights due to the very limited layover for POE at most bundled flight packages. So that will be the next. Thanks. Your right, I thought this would be the least difficult of all the things we have already encountered, but it seems to be very challenging in itself.

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

I went through Shanghai in 2008, from what I remember it was just a mad dash from one gate, through security, and on to the next gate because I only had a short layover (maybe 1 hour)...but it seemed like an efficiently run airport

Ok thank you I appreciate the information. It seems that not many people have experience with this airport.

[TeddyHoney 42]

Thank you for the great insights and information. Yes her and I are both concerned about her comfort and ease of travel. I was definately was getting the feeling I was goint to have to start looking into reserving seperate flights due to the very limited layover for POE at most bundled flight packages. So that will be the next. Thanks. Your right, I thought this would be the least difficult of all the things we have already encountered, but it seems to be very challenging in itself.

You're welcome. I hope it helps God bless to you both!