Connecting Flight via Shanghai Pudong International Airport

I did fly from Finland to Auckland - New Zealand via Shanghai Pudong International Airport. But my luggage didn't go automatically to Auckland Airport.

* When you check-in first time into airplane (I did check in first time in Finland). Check that your luggage's baggage tag shows your final destination, and not just Pudong Airport 'PVG'.

If the baggage tag shows 'PVG'. that means:

* Your luggage doesn't go automatically to final destination. It goes to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and you have to get your luggage from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and then depart again into next airplane.

* In the airplane, they will give you a arrival card, fill it correctly and place "Intended Address in China" as "TRANSIT"

* Clear Chinese customs and immigration, you must hold valid visa (if required) - certain nationalities can transit up to 72 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport without a visa. List of nationalities for 72 hours visa free transit can be found from this link. I live in Finland, European union, I didn't need visa, but you might need.

* Collect your luggage.

* Go and depart your luggage for new flight.

* If your arrival flight and your depart flight are in the same terminal, you will need at least 2 hours between arrival of airport and departing airplane again. If you your planes are in different terminals, then you will need more time, perhaps 3 hours. Clearing the immigration, and getting the luggage took about 45minutes for me (twice).

If your baggage tag shows final destination

Then don't clear the Chinese customs, do not try collect your luggage. Just try go directly to next gate and it will be fine.

Travel to New Zealand (or Australia) with hiking shoes

I did travel to New Zealand with some outdoor equipment and here is some basic information.

Travelling to New Zealand (or Australia) with outdoor equipment is not a problem, just make few things sure before you travel.

* Clean your outdoor equipment from mud - hiking shoes, tents and everything before you enter into airplane to New Zealand.

* Put your outdoor equipment into separate place in your luggage, so it's easy to check. This is not required, but it makes checking easier.

* You can wear your hiking shoes in the airplane, just make sure that hiking shoes are clean from mud.

* In the airplane, you will get New Zealand Arrival Card - Fill the information correctly.

On 2nd page, they ask about bio security risk items, fill it correctly as I did.

* When you are arrived into New Zealand, there is first check that you can enter into country. Give that New Zealand arrival card with passport to check-in person. He (or she) will probably not ask anything too much, he just marks the the New Zealand Arrival Card and gives it back to you with your passport.

* Also get the Luggage.

* Next step - just go to next check-in, that is bio security border check-in. "MPI" - Ministry for Primary Industries. - everyone needs to go in it - First, you can choose any line of MPI check-in.

* Give your New Zealand Arrival Card to check-in person. He (or she) will ask about your outdoor equipment... for example, "what outdoor equipment you have?" - just say that you have hiking shoes (and perhaps tent, and perhaps something else). He (or she) might ask if those outdoor equipment are new or used. Just say that too and no problems. He (or she) will direct you to right path, for example: "Go to path number 2" and you go to there.

* Wait for your turn in MPI at right path.

* Show your outdoor equipment to MPI personal. If outdoor equipments are in your luggage, there is big table to open your luggage for show. No problems there.

* MPI personal is only interested in your outdoor equipment, nothing else. If your outdoor equipments are clean, you are clean to go and it takes one minute or two. If your outdoor equipment are muddy, your outdoor equipment must be cleaned - on way or another - or trash them.

* Next step is to go into x-ray scan, it's fast, just put your stuff on x-ray scan and you are ready to go.

* And then you are in the New Zealand.

All this - for me - was very fast, getting from airplane took reasonable short time for me, maybe it took like one (1) hour from airplane landing get into New Zealand with luggage. - But I did clean my outdoor equipment at home - and I had my outdoor equipment in the separate plastic bag in luggage - so MPI personal can check them easily.

NOTE: Remember trash all food - unless you really need them - before you enter to New Zealand - or at least fill it correctly into New Zealand Arrival Card...