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EDIT: The flight and transfer went very well. The transfer time was indeed short because China makes you undergo security scanning, biometry check (passport and photography) even if you are in a transfer and don't go out of the airport. I had little time but I didn't miss the connection.

I booked a flight through a reseller (Kiwi.com) for CDG-BKK through PEK, off-season (November). I plan on having no luggage. The transfer time in PEK is 1h20. I checked online and it seems like the two terminals are the same: I fly Air China and they only use Terminal 3. I am of French nationality.

It will be my first time setting foot in China so I expect to have to go through a complete check for fingerprints, photos, etc.

I read about transfer time online, and the opinions differ wildly (from "at least 4 hours are needed!" to "50 minutes are more than enough!").

I also read the following regarding Chinese airports and security:

  • Domestic to domestic: no control
  • International to domestic: security + immigration
  • International to international : security

I am quite conflicted, and frankly a bit stressed in advance, and I would like to know:

  • Is 1h20 enough to go from one plane to another on the same terminal?
  • Is there a specific route to follow in the airport?
  • What controls should I expect?
  • I believe passport + plane ticket should be enough (no visa, no additional documentation). Is this right?
C. Crt
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1 Answers1

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It all depends on whether this is a "real" connection (both flights on a single ticket) or a self-transfer (flights booked separately, even if you bought them at the same time).

Kiwi are infamous for pushing a lot of the latter, but they also sell "real" connecting flights, and given that the two flights are with Air China and the short connection time, I would think this is your case here.

For a real connection, since this is international-to-international, you shouldn't even need to go through immigration at all (though I'm not familiar with procedures in China, so I may be wrong). It's probably just a matter of deplane-transit security-go to gate, for which 1h20 should be plenty. There's a minimum connection time (MCT) for different types of connections taking into account the parameters of each airport, and airlines just won't sell connecting flights under that MCT. In short: if they sell it, they believe you can actually do it.

If you don't make it, they will have to rebook you on the next available flight, possibly pay for meals or a hotel if you have to wait long/overnight, and you may even be eligible for compensation (unless extraordinary circumstances etc.). So that gives them quite a bit of incentive to make sure you make it.

On the other hand, if this actually a self-transfer, I'd say just forget about it. While you could actually make it (given you have no checked luggage, and provided you can actually check-in online/on your mobile), but the risk is too great if there's a delay.

jcaron
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