Delays out of PVG

[tehuringa]

Morning,

I have an upcoming flight on CX/KA in I from ADL-HKG-PVG-HKG-ADL

I've noticed on FT and the Cathay website they are warning about delays out of PVG due to ATC issues.

With 50 minutes transfer time between my PVG-HKG flight on KA and the HKG-ADL leg on CX returning home, I'm kind of expecting some issues.

Firstly, has anybody had any issues recently and secondly what kind of help can I expect from CX trying to get me home.

Will they go out of their way to try and get me back or am I more likely to get put up somewhere in HKG for the night.

Of course it could all run wonderfully smoothly

Thanks

Dave

 

[knasty]

I'd build in a buffer of 1 hour delay in and out of pvg. My last CX pvg-hkg we arrived 1:20 before departure and they pit us on the KA leaving an hour earlier. We arrived in Hkg 5 mins after the scheduled arrival of the original flight.... I'd suggest locating an earlier flight and either getting a ticket change or plan to arrive early and see if you can fly ahead.

 

[tehuringa]

Thanks for the advice. I was kind of figuring that could be the best option so I'll give that a go.

 

[ReLoad]

CX will get you home the next day if you miss your connection. But they have amazingly poor service recovery, so expect to fight tooth and nail over every detail.

For example as a OWE in J they offered me to sleep at the airport after missing a PVG connection to MEL.

As per the wise advice above allow 2-3 hours transit time, you will need every bit of it.

 

[tehuringa]

Thank you folks... PVG-HKG flight changed to build in a 3 hr buffer and G & T time in the lounge...thanks for the advice.

 

[smit0847]

Thank you folks... PVG-HKG flight changed to build in a 3 hr buffer and G & T time in the lounge...thanks for the advice.

A much better solution - delays out of PVG are the norm, not the exception. Even though I was moved to a flight 40 minutes earlier I still arrived well after my scheduled original arrival time into HKG. The KA lounge in PVG is quite pleasant for an outstation!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Morning,

I have an upcoming flight on CX/KA in I from ADL-HKG-PVG-HKG-ADL

I've noticed on FT and the Cathay website they are warning about delays out of PVG due to ATC issues.

With 50 minutes transfer time between my PVG-HKG flight on KA and the HKG-ADL leg on CX returning home, I'm kind of expecting some issues.

Firstly, has anybody had any issues recently and secondly what kind of help can I expect from CX trying to get me home.

Will they go out of their way to try and get me back or am I more likely to get put up somewhere in HKG for the night.

Of course it could all run wonderfully smoothly

Thanks

Dave

There are no guarantees with PVG. The general rule is the earlier in the day you depart, the more likely you are to arrive on time. Anything mid morning onwards and you should expect 60-120 minutes delay.

However - there have been major problems recently, with delays on several days up to 8 hours. There is a common check-in for all flights ex PVG... and they'll roll you forward if they can in the event the schedules are mucked up.

Failing that, CX will put you on the next available connecting service out of Hong kong, most probably on CX (since they have the bulk of flights to Australia anyway... triple daily to SYD/MEL compared to maybe one service from QF).

They will try and give you a hotel, but bear in mind with the recent weather and ATC issues there could be hundreds of passengers (if not more) in a similar situation... so it might take some time to arrange, or there simply might be no hotel rooms close to the airport. your travel insurance may cover you for your own arrangements.

Weather and special ATC issues aside (ie 'normal' operations), a 3-4 hours connecting time in HKG is enough to give you a comfortable connection plus a good hour or so in the lounge.

 

[mushez]

Ditto, out of PVG I always count on an hour minimum delay that eats an hour off transit time for connecting flight.

However have flown EK303 and MU543 even MH387 with zero to little delay, CX seems to be the worst.

PVG delays are half the reason why I try to overnight transit in SIN before onward flights to BNE.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ditto, out of PVG I always count on an hour minimum delay that eats an hour off transit time for connecting flight.

However have flown EK303 and MU543 even MH387 with zero to little delay, CX seems to be the worst.

PVG delays are half the reason why I try to overnight transit in SIN before onward flights to BNE.

It's the PVG-HKG corridor (hugging the coast) - heavily restricted.

 

[smit0847]

It's the PVG-HKG corridor (hugging the coast) - heavily restricted.

I thought it was the Chinese ATCs having an issue with CX?!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought it was the Chinese ATCs having an issue with CX?!

Nope. Just that particular route. But the main carrier is KA/CX with 17 or so flights a day, about double MU's offering. Hong kong airlines and Spring have about 4 each. And MU generally only operates the much smaller A320/321... compared to the majority of 333s or larger by KA/CX - so the impact is bigger in terms of pax numbers.

Just out of interest looking at the current flights PVG-HKG, the MU flight is running with a 90 minute delay, KA with only 56 mins. So no preference to MU.

 

[dajop]

Nope. Just that particular route. But the main carrier is KA/CX with 17 or so flights a day, about double MU's offering. Hong kong airlines and Spring have about 4 each. And MU generally only operates the much smaller A320/321... compared to the majority of 333s or larger by KA/CX - so the impact is bigger in terms of pax numbers..

Do all the airports in the HKG area have the same squeeze with PVG/SHA services? I imagine flight paths between Shanghai and ZUH, MFM and SZX all add to the traffic beyond just the HKG traffic.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do all the airports in the HKG area have the same squeeze with PVG/SHA services? I imagine flight paths between Shanghai and ZUH, MFM and SZX all add to the traffic beyond just the HKG traffic.

Looking at flightaware ZUH, MFM, SIN seem to follow the same route, as do flights Shanghai to Australia... they hug the coast until hong kong and then branch off.

But flights to CAN often seem to take a different path, more inland.

 

[Hvr]

Thank you folks... PVG-HKG flight changed to build in a 3 hr buffer and G & T time in the lounge...thanks for the advice.

Excellent move. Hopefully you'll be fine but don't be surprised if you're running for your connection.

 

[tehuringa]

I thought it was the Chinese ATCs having an issue with CX?!

I think the PLA AF controls Chinese airspace and the tiny corridor for commercial traffic just gets too congested + it's military exercise season & the Spratly Is situation is probably compounding things at the moment.

 

[smit0847]

I think the PLA AF controls Chinese airspace and the tiny corridor for commercial traffic just gets too congested + it's military exercise season & the Spratly Is situation is probably compounding things at the moment.

Its less busy than the MEL-SYD corridor though isnt it?

 

[tehuringa]

Even after changing my flight to give myself a 3.5hr transfer window out of HKG, my KA flight from PVG yesterday was delayed for exactly 3.5hrs so all chances of making my HKG-ADL leg on CX were blown.

With about half a dozen KA flights delayed or cancelled, the poor (one) ticket girl was under the pump and the queues were long, but when I finally got to her she was great. She quickly re-routed me in J on QF .... PVG-SYD-ADL. A fair wait for my flight but meal vouchers for the restaurants and plenty of lounge time made it bearable.

 

[smit0847]

Even after changing my flight to give myself a 3.5hr transfer window out of HKG, my KA flight from PVG yesterday was delayed for exactly 3.5hrs so all chances of making my HKG-ADL leg on CX were blown.

With about half a dozen KA flights delayed or cancelled, the poor (one) ticket girl was under the pump and the queues were long, but when I finally got to her she was great. She quickly re-routed me in J on QF .... PVG-SYD-ADL. A fair wait for my flight but meal vouchers for the restaurants and plenty of lounge time made it bearable.

If its the old QF A330 config it wont be much of compromise!!