Standby Ticket for Transit Visa

I am an airline employee that is flying from DFW to PVG to HKG. My stay in PVG will only be about 2 hours. Will I need to purchase entry permit for this? Everything I've read says no but everything also references a "confirmed" ticket. I will not have a confirmed ticket because my leg from PVG to HKG is standby.

Also, I will be making the same connection on my return flight a week later. Is there any difference in your answer for going one way versus the other?