worry/concern about 72 hour situation

Question

Hi. I already I know I'm eligible for the 72 hour free Transit, as I'm flying from Russia to Hong Kong with a 12 hour layover in Beijing.My concern/worry is, I've read articles where passengers weren't allowed to board the flight to China because the airline had never heard of the 72 Hour Free Transit policy, and denied them on board the airplane because they had no visa. I would hate for this situation to happen to me.Is there a way that I could get some paperwork beforehand, either via the Chinese consulate or the airline company, that I could use in case this situation happens to me? Basically I'd like to get approval for the 72 Hour free transit, before I land in Beijing. Any help would be appreciated.

leo · Answer

Airlines use a database called Timatic. When you check in, make sure the agent enters Hong Kong as the destination and China as a transit. If they put China as the destination they won't see the 72 hour rule. You can print out the Timatic output from several online sites and take it with you to the airport if you want. It's usually a waste of time to contact the airline or the consulate in advance; it's the agents at the airport who deal with this every day. Remember, thousands of people use the 72 hours free transit without any trouble so don't worry.

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Worry/Concern about 72 Hour Situation