Shanghai (Pudong) 8 hour layover, things to do?

[gk10002000]

Looks like I got a fantastic deal on China Eastern, LAX to BKK.  $2,200 roundtrip Business class.  LAX to Shanghai to BKK.  There is a 5 or 8 hour layover depending on which flight I take.  For the price and to be in business class, and I will be in Thailand for 58 days, and I will have just retired from work, so I don't mind a few hours here and there.  I assume with the business class I get some sort of lounge access?  So with or without that, is there anything special to do in that Pudong airport while waiting between flights?

[JerseytoBKK]

Yes, you will get lounge access in PVG (Shanghai). There used to be a hotel directly connected to the airport and I used that once about 6 years ago for an overnight stay.

 

8 hours is a little tough to leave the airport and come back through security and immigration. You can stay in certain cities like PEK or PVG for 72 hours without a visa so if you can choose a longer layover (under 24 hours) then catch the train and go into Shanghai. Otherwise, chose the 5 hour connection and stay in the lounge. It probably has shower facilities which I always use after a long flight. Then some snacks and sip some wine and before you know it,  you'll hear the announcement to board the plane.

[scorecard]

Have you checked if you can get '5 hr / 8 hr/ permit' to explore SHanghai a couple of hours then back to the airport?

 

In reality there a lot to explore with much variety in Shanghai. If you can get a short time permit one possibility is to take the maglev train to the city terminus (10 minutes each way) and explore a bit. But watching the time carefully of course, perhaps it takes longer to get back into the airside and then to the gate?

 

 

[Darkside Gray]

To much hassle to leave the airport and return in 8 hrs. down load a couple of books and a movie or two camp out in the lounge have a drink a bite to eat and chill.

[LawrenceN]

Wife and I did this once with an eight-hour layover. Take the high-speed train from Pudong into the city. It goes 300 km/hr, with a readout in each car showing the speed. You soar over the traffic below. We had a bowl of noodles, then took the subway in to the Bund. Had a look around, answered some questions for some teenage girls' school assignment, headed back to the airport. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience.

[sometimewoodworker]

5 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

I assume with the business class I get some sort of lounge access?  So with or without that, is there anything special to do in that Pudong airport while waiting between flights?

You certainly have access to the business class lounge near gate 19 or 22 but it isn't very good. The food is certainly editable and you have a few choices but not up to Thai or Japanese business class lounges, there is a small selection of drinks both alcoholic and soft. You also have access to a reasonable shower that is in a different area to the lounge, you get a pass from the staff at the desk.

 

Personally I wouldn't go out of the airport as passport control can be a nightmare.

 

Do make sure that you get a lounge pass from the transit desk. The transit can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half and you will be going through a security check during the transit so the no liquids rule applies. 

[kokopelli]

China Eastern has an excellent lounge (as I recall) but you have to look for it.  It is on the second floor. The lounges on the first floor are poor to say the least.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I was there on a few hours layover a couple years back on a China Eastern economy ticket to and from LAX.  No lounge access for use cattle car folks in economy.

 

So was left to exist in the regular airport terminal, which struck me as one of the most unpleasant, amenity bereft international airports I've visited. Few food places, those that were open were overpriced, no easy access to wifi, etc etc.

 

[Guest Jerry787]

if during the day, get out of PVG, take the maglev and once out with a taxi enjoy the Bund in Puxi or better take a walk at Xien Tien Di , consider between maglev and taxi 1 hour travel 

[gk10002000]

Thanks guys.  Just the type of info I was looking for.  I saw one video of a guy that was there on coach just sitting out in the concourse and it looked pretty quiet and not much there.  I will have lounge access, so  it looks I can take a good nap there and take a shower, too

[sometimewoodworker]

4 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Thanks guys.  Just the type of info I was looking for.  I saw one video of a guy that was there on coach just sitting out in the concourse and it looked pretty quiet and not much there.  I will have lounge access, so  it looks I can take a good nap there and take a shower, too

Unless the lounge has been significantly renovated since I was there last year and the year before you probably won't be able to nap, the chairs though not bad aren't suitable for that unless you happen to be very small, and the lounge is quite busy.

 

The concourse can be very quiet if you go to one or the other  end and you could probably lie down.

[chubby]

I hope to never fly a Chinese owned airline again if I can help it,  esp CEA, which changes to Shanghai Air for the  Pudong to Bangkok  leg, get whatt you pay for ; PS if things haven't changed you'll have to schlep or store your baggage till the counter reopens ; $10 for a cup of bad coffee