Transfer at Beijing Capital Airport

[transat99]

Hi,

 

I can't wait to depart the arctic-cold USA and arrive in oh-so-warm Thailand next week!   But I just stumbled upon some disheartening information about my transfer in Beijing...

 

Beijing Capital Airport is supposed to be one of the world's great airports -but- I've heard that there may be potential problems.  There are numerous complaints online about having to go through intense security (twice) ... and having photos taken (again, twice) ... and additional inconveniences that take up a LOT of time!  Certainly not typical for international transfers.

 

Fortunately, I have a 3+ hour layover which should be fine.  My friend, who will be transferring there a couple months later, only has a bit more than an hour layover.  I'm thinking that he will NOT have enough time to get through all their lengthy security measures.  He lands and departs from Terminal 3.  Anyone here have any experience with how long an international transfer in Beijing actually takes???  I've emailed the Beijing Capital Airport but have not yet received a response.

 

I've also read that ALL batteries and battery-operated devices need to be in your carry-on (not checked) luggage ... which is probably standard these days with certain devices bursting into flames.  But I've also heard that they are going WILD in Beijing confiscating batteries that are either unmarked -or- over the 100WH IATA rules (and sometimes batteries that are within the rules)!  And sometimes the actual device along with the battery...

 

So my carry-on luggage will have my 17-inch laptop (with internal battery), a 10-inch tablet (with internal battery), a camera (with battery), a spare camera battery, an electric razor (with internal battery?), a cell phone (with battery), a spare cell phone battery, a wireless speaker (with internal battery), and a 10-inch mini DVD player (with internal battery).  Not sure how I'm going to fit all that in a carry-on ... but that's my problem.  The question is -- I know that my laptop battery is only 86WH (within guidelines) -but- they will have to remove the battery it to see the actual markings written on it (installed with just a sticker showing -and- the printed-on writing hidden from view).  I've opened up a portion of the back of my laptop and the ONLY way to get the battery out is to unscrew about eight small screws ... and then use a special screwdriver/tool (not standard) to remove the battery.  I have not been able to remove it myself.  I had to look up the battery ID number online (found on the sticker) to find that it fell within IATA guidlines.

 

If they can't see the actual printed-on writing on the battery, are they going to confiscate my entire laptop?  And I have no idea if the internal batteries in my tablet, razor, wireless speaker or DVD player fall within guidelines.  I'm not even sure how to open up some of these items?!?

 

Most of these battery-horror stories seem to be written back in 2014 and 2015.  Does anyone know the current situation ... just how severe are these battery searches now???

 

I have also heard that I better take along a coat since the Beijing airport is often without heat (and without air-conditioning in the summer).  Apparently, airport employees are sometimes seen wearing parkas to keep warm!  I'm hoping these are just isolated incidents ... I wanted to ditch my coat when I departed the USA since I won't be returning until May.  Will I need a coat along with my jam-packed carry-on?  Anyone have experience at the Beijing airport with this???

 

Beijing Capital Airport is NOT sounding like one of the world's finest.  I would appreciate any info you guys may have...

[impulse]

Haven't flown thru Beijing much in a couple of years, but have been in half a dozen other Chinese airports this past year- transit and destinations.

 

The batteries they tend to scrutinize are the USB spare power bricks and possibly any spare loose batteries.  I travel with 2 laptops (work and personal), a tablet,  2 smartphones and a DSLR camera, all with batteries.  All they ever looked at was my spare USB power brick- to make sure it was within the size limit in mW-hours.  They never asked about the batteries in my computers, etc.   They did ask if I had any batteries in my checked baggage, which is also a no-no in Thailand. 

 

It can be very cold in parts of the Beijing airport, especially waiting on and travelling in the tram between terminals.  (Beijing isn't too bad for unloading the aircraft into buses a mile from the terminal like a lot of Chinese airports, but you never know)  I'd bring at least a windbreaker just in case.  You'll be cold, but it won't last long and it will be tolerable.

 

Over the last 15 years, I've flown into the Beijing airport at least 60 times, and never had any problems other than the lack of temperature control and the lack of decent places to eat on the international departure halls.  There's food, but nothing like a good food court.  I've got some good stories, but none of them are horror stories.  

 

Edit:  BTW, on the USB power bricks, the regulations seem to read that they have to be made in China.  I don't know if that's true, or it's a translation error (very common).  But most of them on the market are made in China anyway and the ones I bought in Thailand pass muster every time.  I only carry one on those trips.

Edited January 5, 2017 by impulse

[transat99]

Thanks for the input about your recent experiences with the Chinese airport security ... and batteries.  I had read about the USB power bricks too -but- I won't be bringing one with me so at least that won't be a problem.

 

I haven't found anything that was written about Beijing security confiscating batteries on a LARGE scale for over a year...

 

And I'll be sure to wear more than just a t-shirt in case I have to temporarily deal with uncomfortable temperatures.

 

FYI -- even though I have read numerous complaints about Beijing's lengthy security measures for international transfers, I did get a response from the Beijing Airport letting me know that one-hour, 15-minutes should be enough time for my friend's flight transfer.  I'm hoping that they are correct.  It makes me wonder about all those people saying that it took them 2+ hours just to get through Beijing's security lines?!?