Question

Asked by CB from united kingdom | Sep. 19, 2019 04:12

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Refused to Travel on 72 or 144 hour visa free transit

I am UK Citizen, I was travelling yesterday 18/9/19 from London to Shenzhen via Frankfurt with return ticket from Hong Kong to London within 6 days. So, A=UK, B=China (Shenzhen), C=Hong Kong. Shenzhen is also a border of China & Hong Kong and its deemed as Land Immigration (it's like one just need to cross over the road). I was assured this is acceptable and hence I was allowed to travel from London LHR by immigration and airline staff.
However, at the time of connecting flight and boarding it from Frankfurt to Shenzhen (Air China), this so called flight supervisor who was also Chinese refused me to travel. She said I can't do that in Shenzhen and then after little discussion (one sided as she was not interested in what I had to say), she said I need a train booking from Shenzhen to HK, but she was not prepared to understand that Shenzhen is the end and there is no such thing. Only train is a like a subway and that too for couple of stops and it cannot be prebooked. It was unbelievable that threw my passport on my face and walked off. These Chinese are not aware of their own country's visa regulations and criteria.
Has anyone experience this and does anyone know what can be done now. My flight from London was Lufthansa and from Frankfurt it was Air China. Who is to be blamed here and what can I do?
Many Thanks.

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Answers (11)

Answered by Saul | Sep. 19, 2019 04:41

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Who is to blame? You are. You were correctly denied boarding and you have no recourse. It is you (and not "These Chinese" as you say) who is not aware of the country's visa regulations. Here is the rule: "Visa required, except for Passengers with a British passport with nationality British Citizen with a confirmed onward air, cruise or train ticket to a third country within 144 hours, starting from 00:01 on the day following the day of entry." You did not have a confirmed onward air, cruise or train ticket, and therefore a visa was required.

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Answered by Gustavo | Sep. 19, 2019 04:48

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Also 24 hours TWOV facility does not apply at Shenzhen (SZX) when passengers are traveling to Hong Kong (SAR China) or Macao (SAR China). Without doubt, you were not eligible to travel and the "so called flight supervisor who was also Chinese" made the correct decision. By the way, the undercurrent of anti-Chinese racism in your post is distasteful. You screwed up and it's entirely your responsibility.

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Answered by Louise | Sep. 19, 2019 04:53

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Why didn't you just go online and book a confirmed train ticket from Guangzhou to Hong Kong?

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Answered by CB | Sep. 19, 2019 05:15

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TO Gustavo: "By the way, the undercurrent of anti-Chinese racism in your post is distasteful" how is this the case? I was just stating the fact that she was Chinese and not German staff and therefore I was expecting her to understand better that Shenzhen is a final port to walk over to HK. I was advised that Shenzhen is land immigration to go to HK, but I had to have a HK to London ticket which I did. What I said was non other than being respectful and it was more so for a clarity. I had shared my experience honestly here, that's it.

TO Louise: I could have booked a train ticket from Guangzhou just to get by, but I was only going to be in Shenzhen for 2-4 days or so. Everything was ok and it wasn't I would denied travel from London, but I wasn't.

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Answered by CB | Sep. 19, 2019 05:27

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Hi Saul, thank you. I have a British Passport and Shenzhen is land boarding, Shenzhen and HK shared border. It can be done by walking. I have done this few times but with visa, this time I was not staying longer before I go HK, hence I opted this route. Ironically, according to Airline I was told 72/144 hours transit visa can only be done if I am travelling to Beijing (which is not true)
All I am saying that Shenzhen is unusual and member or staff are confused and not all have the same information.

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Answered by John Doe | Sep. 19, 2019 14:46

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A lot of these harsh words to CB are uncalled for. The rediculous system itself bears an equal amount of blame. However if you are willing to sue then you won't go very far anyway even in small claims court given that you did show up without an onward ticket of any kind.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Sep. 19, 2019 13:21

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CB, you are angry and you are trying to look on things in some kind of weird logical way. Anyway, the rules are rules and they are quite clear. To be allowed to cross the administrative border between mainland China and Hong Kong within 144 hour visa free transit, you really need a confirmed plane, train or cruise ticket. If you have only visited this website and asked, you would be advised to book a ferry from Shenzhen to Hong Kong and such an e-confirmation would be a perfect proof that you are really in transit. In your case, you were not able to confirm your transit intention and you were legally denied the continuation of your travel. What does it mean that Shenzhen and Hong Kong are next to each other? Literally nothing because the staff that denied you your travel simply couldn't allow you to continue your travel without visa just based of your words and promises. By the way, what would be a base for mainland Chinese authorities to grant you a temporary entry permit upon your landing in Shenzhen? Just your words? Definitely not enough. Just try to think about some person, a Chinese, flying from China via London to Dublin. That Chinese has only a ticket until London, but he swears that he will take a cheap Ryanair flight within a couple of days because London and Dublin are just about 50 minutes of flight one from each other. Would he be allowed to board the plane? No, he would be denied boarding. I'm sorry for such an ugly and abrupt termination of your travel, but it was entirely your fault.

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Answered by Michelle | Sep. 19, 2019 15:46

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By repeatedly mentioning the race of the people who frustrated him, the OP demonstrates obvious racism and deserves to be called out on this. Harsh words are justified.

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Answered by CB | Sep. 20, 2019 06:34

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Hi Zupan, I appreciate your point, but you are missing something to what I am saying. Let's say it is my fault, but immigration at Heathrow checkin staff and staff at the gates are also wrong? They checked the rules before they decided I should continue my travel.

Now, your example of London-Dublin is wrong and is not relevant because they are far and its not like Shenzhen & HK, Shenzhen & HK share the border, its like crossing over the road. Also, before doing this I was assured by a member of staff in China (over the phone) that for Shenzhen because its a land/foot Immigration and its a final port, all I need is to show my return ticket from HK to London. There is nothing to book or can be booked because one is just crossing over the barrier between Shenzhen & HK.

While in Shenzhen when you are going to HK, you show your passport, once it's checked and you go through, right away you step into HK immigration and you are in HK. So, to be clear one side of the door is Shenzhen Mainland China and other side is Hong Kong. I stress once again, its foot departure and arrival, both at Shenzhen & HK.

All I am doing is sharing my experience here, who knows it might help someone. I had no intensions in hurting anyone's sentiments.

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Answered by John Doe | Sep. 20, 2019 08:28

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CB, as a person who has crossed the border more than a dozen times, I get that why you would think this way and why Shenzhen immigration will accommodate this, however the airline itself cannot be blamed for following the written rules which clearly states that an onward ticket is required for persons traveling to HK. If anything this places more blames on immigration for not considering the complicated situation before publishing the rules (which oddly also took almost 5 years to finalize because they could not secure approval from the State Council).

Also I would like to apologize on behalf of Canadians here who would rather stay on their high horses than taking a good look at our dear prime minister.

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Answered by CB | Sep. 20, 2019 11:05

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Thank you John, you are very kind and understanding. Air China actually said to me that Shenzhen is not the port that would allow 144 Hours Visa Free stay even if I had some sort of booking to HK, further added that it is only possible at Beijing and Shanghai. How strange is this? when I said that it is not true, person defended by saying "this is the information we hold and we follow just that".
Anyways, lessons learnt and moving forward best way to travel is with visa.
Once again, thank you!

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