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Do i need transit visa?/ flying with china eastern airlines

Hi i am trying to book the flight from china eastern airlines . However the website is so confusing . My itinerary is from Nrt(japan ) to RUH(saudi arabia) . And i have a layover in pudong airport for 17 hours . But the website shows Transfer SHA while my flight arrives at PVG airport and departs from PVG . What does SHA means . Can anyone help?

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In your itinerary, you mentioned that your flight is from Narita (NRT) in Japan to Riyadh (RUH) in Saudi Arabia with a layover of 17 hours in Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG). The website shows “Transfer SHA,” which is causing confusion. Here’s a detailed explanation:

Shanghai has two major airports:

  • PVG (Shanghai Pudong International Airport): This is the main international airport, where most long-haul international flights arrive and depart.
  • SHA (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport): Mainly serves domestic flights and some regional international flights. It is located on the west side of Shanghai, about 40–50 km from PVG.

If your flights both arrive and depart from PVG, then the “Transfer SHA” note is likely a website error or a mislabeling. There is no need to transfer to Hongqiao (SHA) if your boarding passes are for PVG. You will remain in Pudong Airport for your layover.

Regarding transit visas in China:

  • China offers a 24-hour, 72-hour, or 144-hour visa-free transit depending on your nationality and city. Since your layover is 17 hours in Shanghai, you can generally stay in the airport without a visa if you do not leave the transit area.
  • If you want to leave the airport during the layover (for sightseeing or rest in the city), you should check if you are eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit. Most travelers from Japan are eligible for short transit without a visa.

Practical tips for your 17-hour layover at PVG:

  • You can rest at one of the airport lounges or nearby transit hotels inside the airport to avoid immigration processing if you don’t leave.
  • If you decide to exit the airport, factor in the time for immigration, transport into the city, and returning for your next flight.
  • Always double-check your boarding passes and gate information on the day of travel to confirm that both flights are at PVG and no transfer to SHA is needed.

In summary, “SHA” refers to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, but in your case, you are staying at PVG for the layover. You likely do not need a transit visa if you stay in the airport transit area for the 17 hours. If you leave the airport, verify eligibility for short-term visa-free transit.

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