Question

Asked by Peter Haas from germany | May. 01, 2019 09:28

About:240-hour Visa-free Transit in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu

Will the airline (Finnair) allow me to board without Chinese Visa?

I am going from Munich to Nanjing (5 days) and then to Bangkok (3 days), finally back to Munich. Thus, I fulfill the requirements for a 5 days' visa free stay in Nanjing area (actually Yangtze Delta).
I even asked personally an officer in Najing Airport during the last trip and he told me it would be possible but I need to wait about 2 hours for a visa free entry. It is OK.

MY QUESTION: Will the Airline (FINNAIR) let me board in Munich at all without Chinese Visa? (every airline always checks the visa). Their hotline knows nothing about it - they asked me to present a written confirmation from the Chinese Consulate in Munich :-) A sheer rubbish. Email communication with Finnair is not possible.

I am sure somobody of you made an experience to board without Chinese visa in Germany with Finnair or another airline.

Thanks for help in advance.
Peter

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Answers (5)

Answered by Saul | May. 03, 2019 03:06

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It is ALWAYS a waste of time calling the airline call centre. Even if they did know about TWOV, what do you expect them to do? Even if they put a note in your reservation, your eligibility to travel must still be checked by the agent at the airport on the day of travel. The check-in agents will be completely familiar with TWOV, it's nothing special. If you are unlucky enough to meet a new agent, just make sure they consult Timatic with Bangkok as the destination and China as the transit point.

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Answered by Saul | May. 03, 2019 03:06

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By the way, I didn't know that Finnair fly non-stop to Nanjing, I hope your connection is in Shanghai as otherwise you will need a visa.

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Answered by ZUPAN | May. 02, 2019 05:49

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Of course they will allow you to do that. The problem with this long distance communication is that they are used to asnwer to "every day type" of questions, but when you appear with something slightly unusual they start to show their incompetence. Anyway, don't worry because Finnair is relatively decent airline company and they fly to China extensively. So, when you appear at the check-in counter, just have one word in mind and that is TIMATIC and just tell them that magic. They will probably call some of their superiors and you will have your boarding passes in your hands within just a few minutes.

By the way, your route is fine for 144 hours visa free transit and, please, just don't bother yourself with the questions what will happen or even worse to start to visit consulates or similar. Just enjoy your trip :).

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Answered by ZUPAN | May. 03, 2019 04:19

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Actually, Finnair really flies nonstop flights Helsinki - Nanjing and vice versa (AY105 and AY106) :).

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Answered by Peter | May. 04, 2019 08:57

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Thank you for your motivating words :-) You are right, I have already used this connection Munich - Helsinki - Nanjing 2 times before (with Chinese visa). It is not only Shanghai, this 144 hours visa free regulation is related to "Yangtze Delta" (Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou). Actually, Saul is right, the hotline will not be able to garantee me anything, even if they may undestand what is the story about (this is not so self-evident), so it is a waste of time indeed.

I happened to be at the airport yesterday and I asked Finnair Check-in clerks about it. It was an experience person and she confirmed this possibility without any problems from Finnair. It sounds good.

You know, if you spend a kind of money for a small world trip, you want make sure that everything will be going smoothly.

By the way, the last word in such cases is always at a local chinese officer's discrection but finally it is the same like in the US imigration.

Best regards
Peter

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