KML28

We will be traveling from Chicago to Lanzhou through Beijing with a layover time of 3 hours 35 minutes, and we are wondering if we will have enough time for the transfer?

It was much cheaper to purchase our international flight (with United Airline) and domestic flight (with China Eastern) separately. With 2 separate bookings, I believe our luggage would not be checked all the way through from Chicago to Lanzhou, and we would not get our China Eastern boarding pass from Beijing to Lanzhou when we check in at the Chicago United counter for our flight to Beijing. (China Eastern is not part of the United Star Alliance).

Our flight from Chicago will arrive at the Beijing Airport Terminal 3 at 3:15 PM on a Friday this September, and our flight from Beijing to Lanzhou with China Eastern will depart from Terminal 2 at 6:50 pm.

On the Beijing Airport website, it says that after going through immigration, claim luggage, and clear Customs, people would go to the “Transfer Counter” on the 3rd floor of Terminal 3 to handle “boarding procedures”; then people will go through security and head to the boarding gate for the domestic flight. It is not mentioned on the web site, but it seems to me that people will need to go to the transfer center only if their domestic flight also departs from Terminal 3. Is that correct?

In our case, since we do not have the domestic boarding pass yet, and our domestic flight departs from Terminal 2, shall we just head out of Terminal 3 after clearing Customs, and take the shuttle (with our luggage) from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, go to the China Eastern counter and check in for our flight to Lanzhou?

By the way, are the shuttle stops located just outside the Terminals?

After we purchased our China Eastern tickets, we noticed from the fine print that “please arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight is due to depart or according to the time given by the airline”. We are wondering if our layover time is enough (3-hour 35-minute), considering that we have to go through immigration, claim luggage, clear customs, take the shuttle to Terminal 2, and check in at the China Eastern counter. Also, any tips to streamline the process and get to the China Eastern terminal quickly?

Thank you very much.

CanadaChinaTraveller

The transfer desk referred to on the airport website is irrelevant to you as you need to change terminal.
You need to pass immigration, take the train, collect your luggage and pass immigration. From the main hall you go downstairs to take the shuttle bus to terminal 2. In terminal 2, look for the China Eastern counter and check-in. You then pass security and go to your gate.
First, we need to assume that your flight will be on time. Then assume 30 to 60 minutes to clear all procedures. Assume 30 to 45 minutes to get to terminal 2. In the worst case scenario, you still get there with 2 hours to spare.
I usually leave 3 hours to connect to a domestic flight. You should be fine unless your flight from the US is very late.
And it is not necessary to arrive 2 hours early for a domestic flight.

KML28

CanadaChinaTraveller - thank you very much for your detailed and valuable answer! Do you know whether the domestic airlines in China, such as China Eastern and China Southern, actually weigh the carry on bags? Thank you again!

CanadaChinaTraveller

I have never seen them do it but it does not mean that they won't do it.