Online transit submission service for China Eastern Airlines

Part 1:

Mojmir,

It is a very good initiative that the airlines have started to implement certain helpful details in order to facilitate easier dealing with different formalities, but it is obvious that certain things/details are not yet functional, so the recommendation for you is just to forget to them all, at least at the time being.

You did not explain your flight itinerary with the exception that you plan to travel via Shanghai. I hope you have an eligible itinerary starting from country A (maybe somewhere in Europe) via country B (China), to country C that is different than countries A and B. In that case you are eligible for 24 hour visa free transit definitely. If your stay in Shanghai was longer, you would be even eligible for 144 hour visa free transit. Never mind. Here is what you should do on your behalf.

Upon your check-in in Europe, you will just declare that you are traveling to country C (maybe Philippines, Thailand, Laos, never mind) via Shanghai using 24 hour visa free transit. You will present your flight tickets and that would be enough and all you have to do. You will not inform anybody else about your travel. Shortly after your flight itinerary is checked, you will be allowed to board the plane bound to Shanghai.

Part 2:

Now, upon landing in Shanghai, if your layover there is longer than say, 9 or 10 hours, the very first thing you will do is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit. This application is free of any charge and a temporary entry permit allows you to exit the airport and to explore the city on your own. You will present here your flight tickets in the same way as you did during your check-in and after a short check, you will be granted a permit. You have to be aware that, when traveling on 24 hour visa free transit, the issuing of the permit is not a passengers' right, but more like a bonus offered by the Chinese authorities to those with long layovers and those with small children and disabled passengers.

In any case, if your layover is long, the airport authorities in Shanghai are generally generous, so your chances to be allowed the permit are really very good. When your permit is granted, you will head to the immigration and after that enjoy your time for some exploration/sightseeing of Shanghai. Enjoy your journey.