Domestic Flight Beijing to Lijiang?
 

Having difficulty arranging an domestic flight from Beijing to Lijiang - any suggestions? Should I piece together two tickets from two different airlines? Thxxx

There is no non-stop flight PEK-LJG.

There is a daily one-stop same aircraft flight, MU5712, on China Eastern that goes PEK-KMG-LJG. Though prices may be higher than piecing together two separate flights.

For two separate flights, main choices are via Kunming (KMG) or Chengdu (CTU). I don't know how the transfer process is for China Eastern or China Southern at KMG, but I know for a fact that if you fly Air China via CTU, you can indeed go to a transfer desk airside to get the boarding passes on the 2nd flight and they'll grab your bags and transfer for you. No need to claim bags, check-in and go through security again. Maybe it's the same at KMG, maybe not.

You can buy tickets online with www.ctrip.com, www.elong.net, etc now that offers discount fares in advance.

Thanks...will have carry on baggage, so should be good on the transfer!

Most Chinese airports and airlines aren't very well developed for connecting passengers. If you're on two airlines, chances are you'll need to go check-in again and then go through security again.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time between flights. There are plenty of flights between Kunming and Lijiang, so I'll pick a connection there with 2 hours or so for connection.

Chengdu can get fogged in frequently and it'll be very messy if your first flight is late getting in.

I've actually found Kunming to be an excellent place to connect. The terminal is airy and appears to be either new or newly-renovated, with a much more welcoming feel than most other airports I've been to. It's also a beautiful flight from KMG to Lijiang, especially the approach over hills into the valley where Lijiang sits.

KMG is quite modern, but both times I've flown through there, our plane used stairs, and the bus immediately took us to the baggage claim. Very fast and efficient, but I didn't see a way NOT to claim bags and go to a transfer desk and not going through regular check-in and security.

2 weeks ago, I flew through CTU on Air China on both legs. It was the first time I've flown in China that a connection was made inside the terminal without having to claim bags and reclear security. Our flight came in to a gate, and then we walked out to the main terminal. We saw an Air China transfer desk and got everything done right there.

Your mileage may vary.