240 TWOV - Problems with check in in London??

Question

Just looking for some reassurance really from travellers who have departed from Heathrow without issue when making use of the new 240 TWOV provisions.

I can see that the the VISA provisions for entry into China (from UK) have recently changed to allow 240hrs TWOV, however I can see from posts on here that some travellers have found that airlines are not always up to date with this and have raised issues on check in.

We travel next month and one of our party will be travelling independently to join us (young adult).

Whilst they will be confident travelling from London to join us in Xian, they would be very stressed if they are challenged over the lack of a visa when checking in. Their time in China is less than 240 hrs and then they depart to HK after.

Hoping that problems with this are few and far between - or do we need to consider getting them a visa too??

Many thanks

Answer

The 240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policy for China can be very convenient, but there are indeed a few important considerations, especially when departing from London or other UK airports.

Firstly, the key requirement for the 240-hour TWOV is that the traveler must:

Have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (in your case, Hong Kong) within 240 hours.
Be entering and exiting through a designated airport or city eligible for the 240-hour TWOV program.
Hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay.

In practice, most travelers have reported that airlines in London and other European airports sometimes have staff who are not fully familiar with the new 240-hour TWOV rules. This can lead to check-in challenges, such as being asked for a visa when one is not required under TWOV.

To minimize issues:

Ensure the young adult traveler has all documentation in order: passport, onward ticket, hotel bookings (if applicable), and a clear itinerary showing the short stay within 240 hours.
Print official information on the 240-hour TWOV policy or have it on a device to show airline staff if questioned.
Consider contacting the airline in advance to confirm that they recognize the 240-hour TWOV policy for your flight and entry city in China.
If the traveler prefers certainty and to reduce stress, applying for a standard Chinese visa is always an option, though not strictly necessary under TWOV if all conditions are met.

Most travelers using 240-hour TWOV from the UK report few actual issues if the documents are clearly presented, but stress and delays at check-in can occur due to staff unfamiliarity. Having a visa as a backup is a way to avoid that risk entirely.

240 TWOV - Problems with check in in London??

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