General
Information
Generally, your transpacific air tickets including U.S. domestic
add-on segments (if applicable) should reach you approximately
two weeks prior to your China Tour departure date. Air tickets
for China domestic portion(s) are either attached to the transpacific
segments, or will be given to you when you are in China. Upon
receipt of your tickets, you must check them very carefully
to ensure all name spellings match exactly that on your passport.
Any discrepancy should be reported to our office immediately.
Contact the airline concerned to
verify your flight schedule prior to leaving for the airport. Connecting passengers
should verify, at check-in, that luggage can be checked through to their China
destination. For transpacific flights, you must check in at least 3 hours prior
to the scheduled departure time. Domestic flights require you to allow 2 hours
to check-in.
U.S. Air Travelers
You should check with TSA (Transportation Security Administration) MUST
READ prior to your travel. Following those crucial instructions will streamline
your check-in procedure. Air
Tickets
Most airline tickets are issued using special fare which cannot
be changed or canceled without incurring additional cost.
Should you lose or misplace your tickets while traveling,
you should immediately notify the airline. In most cases they
will have you complete a Lost Ticket Indemnity Form, and for
a fee, issue replacement tickets.
Add-on Flights
All China Spree China Tours depart from San Francisco (SFO),
New York (JFK), or Los Angeles (LAX) per departure date. Optional
add-on air service from your home city via SFO/JFK/LAX is
available upon request. All rates quoted are roundtrip airfare
including taxes. If you cannot locate your home city in the
following chart, please choose the nearest available city
in the list, or call our office for more information. Please
be advised that if you choose to stop over in SFO/JFK/LAX
and your lay over time is more than 24 hours, a $30 stopover
tax each way will incur and will be added to the add-on fare.
For a smooth connection between flights, there are minimum
allowable connection times. When Air China arranges the add-on
air from your home city via the designated gateway, their
booking system will automatically pick the flights with adequate
connection times and filter the flights otherwise.
If you choose to arrange your own add-on flights, you must
pay attention to the connection time. Flights without adequate
connection time should not be booked. Please take the following
fact into consideration. China Spree is not responsible for
any missed connections and/or penalties/loss as a result.
- For transpacific flights, you must allow
a minimum of 3 hours check-in time.
- For U.S. domestic flights, you must allow
a minimum of 2 hours check-in time.
- The minimum transfer time between U.S. domestic
and international connecting flight is 3 hours.
- It takes at least 1 hour to clear the Customs and claim
your checked baggage.
Air China
Air China was found in 1955 and is the national airline of Peoples'
Republic of China. Air China is currently code sharing with
United Airlines and operates nonstop flights between Los Angeles
(12 hrs), San Francisco (12 hrs), New York (13 hrs, 30 min)
and Beijing.
Contact Information
| Office | Toll
Free | Telephone | Fax |
| Los Angeles | 800-882-8122 | 310-335-0088 | 310-322-1133 |
| San Francisco | 800-986-1985 | 415-392-2156 | 415-392-6214 |
| New York |
800-982-8802 |
212-371-9898 | 212-935-7951 |
Air
China Summer Schedule
April 2 - October 31, 2006
San Francisco (SFO)
Departure
Flight
Number Days of Operation | Departure
(local time) | Arrival
(local time) | CA986
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | San Francisco
(SFO)
2:20 pm
| Beijing (PEK)
5:05 pm next day |
CA985
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Shanghai
(PVG)
11:30 am |
San Francisco (SFO)
12:15 pm same day |
*CA985 stops in Beijing before flying back
to SFO
Los Angeles (LAX) Departure
Flight
Number Days of Operation | Departure
(local time) | Arrival
(local time) | CA984
Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | Los
Angeles (LAX)
1:40 am |
Beijing
(PEK)
5:20 am next day |
CA983
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Beijing
(PEK)
8:00 pm |
Los Angeles (LAX)
5:15 pm same day |
New York
(JFK) Departure
Flight
Number
Days of Operation |
Departure
(local time) |
Arrival
(local time) |
CA982
Daily
|
New York (JFK)
4:30 pm
|
Beijing (PEK)
6:00 pm next day |
CA981
Daily
|
Beijing (PEK)
1:00 pm
|
New York (JFK)
2:30 pm same day |
Flight schedule is subject
to change; please refer to your air ticket for accurate information and phone
Air China to confirm the final departure schedule. Flight Reconfirmation
Air China return flight need to be reconfirmed; your tour director
will take care of that while you are in China.
Baggage
We strongly recommend you limit your baggage to one piece of
checked luggage and one carry-on bag per person.
Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance differs for transpacific flights and China
domestic segments of your trip. Baggage allowance for transpacific
flights is two pieces of checked baggage per person. Total
dimensions (Length + Width + Height) of the two pieces must
not exceed 107 inches (273cm); maximum dimensions of single
piece shall not exceed 62 inches (158cm). Maximum weight per
piece is 50 lbs (32kilos). Each passenger may carry one hand
baggage, the combined dimensions of which shall not exceed
45 inches (115cm).
China domestic flights have stringent luggage restrictions
allowing one piece of checked baggage that must not exceed
44 lbs per person, plus a carry-on bag not to exceed 11 lbs.
The carry-on must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat.
Baggage in excess of allowances will incur
excess baggage charge payable on site by the passenger.
Baggage Precautions
Make sure you have luggage tags for each checked suitcase.
A copy of your itinerary and contact information should also
go in an outside pocket of your luggage to aid the airline
personnel to locate you in case you and your luggage become
separated. Never check luggage containing prohibited items
(i.e. lighters), valuables (i.e. cash, jewelry, and cameras),
fragile items (i.e. undeveloped film, bottles, eyeglasses)
or critical items (i.e. medicines, travel vouchers). You should
read more information about TSA Permitted
and Prohibited Items.
Baggage Damage/Lost
China Spree will not be responsible for loss or damage to
your luggage and/or personal belongings. You must report any
loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and
obtain a written report from the local authority for submission
to your insurance provider. If you luggage is lost or damaged
by the airlines, a baggage claim form must be filled with
the carrier before leaving the airport.
Baggage
Lock
Your checked luggage must be locked during transportation
while in China. This is a Chinese regulation. Due to increased
security measures in U.S. airports, if you wish to lock your
baggage, you MUST use a TSA
recognized lock. These allow TSA screeners open and re-lock
your bags for security screening. Ordinary locks will be cut
when physical inspection is required.
Frequent Flyer Miles
Currently, Air China is code sharing with United Airlines.
Your transpacific flight air miles could be credited to your
UA Mileage Plus account. China domestic flights don't count.
It is your responsibility to call Air China or present your
UA Mileage account number at airport check-in.
Seat assignment
Seat assignment with Air China can ONLY be arranged upon check-in.
If you request specific seat because of a medical condition
you should phone Air China office per departure gateway no sooner
than 5 days prior to departure:
| San Francisco Office: |
1-800-986-1985 |
| Los Angeles Office: |
1-800-882-8122 |
| New York Office: |
1-800-981-8802 |
Jet Lag Considerations
Jet lag happens when your body's inner clock falls out of sync
with daily cycles of light, rest, meals, and as you cross time
zones to reach your destination. Symptoms are fatigue, irritability
and vague disorientation. You cannot totally avoid jet lag,
but you can minimize its effects. Here are some suggestions:
1) Get several good nights of sleep before your China Tour
departure.
2) Set your watch to your destination time when you board
the plane, and adjust sleep and
meals accordingly.
3) Try to sleep on the plane.
4) Walk around the plane occasionally, do isometric exercises
at your seat.
5) Drink plenty of water and fruit juice while flying.
6) Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks during and after
the flight
7) On arrival, throw yourself into your new schedule, avoid
naps, and try to stay awake until
your normal
sleeping time at home.
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Resources |