Domestic & International Flights Guide for Travelers to China

How to search, pay, check in, and clear security with a foreign passport— rules in one cheat-sheet.

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YouTube
Reddit
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Tripadvisor
大众点评
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✓ Real Traveler Data
✓ Up-to-date Sources
✓ AI-Collected & Human-Vetted
✓ No OTA-Oriented

🚀 Quick-Start Guide

1️⃣
Book early on Trip.com – Price jumps 2–3 weeks out; Visa/Master 3-D-Secure required.
2️⃣
Add to WeChat/Apple Wallet – Trip.com → “Add boarding pass”; QR auto-refreshes when gate changes.
3️⃣
Arrive 2 h early (domestic) / 3 h (international) at major hubs; check-in counters close 30–45 min before take-off.
4️⃣
Security tips – Power-bank <100 Wh with 3C label (new rule Jun 2025), 1 l clear bag liquids, laptops in tray.
5️⃣
Board by face – Look for “无纸化登机” lane; scan passport once, then walk through camera gate.

What is flying in China like? — 60-second primer

Regulator & network
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) oversees ≈260 certified civil airports in service (CAAC target > 270 by end-2025) and ~118 000 scheduled passenger & cargo flights per week (≈18 500 per day).
Major carriers
China Eastern (MU) • Air China (CA) • China Southern (CZ) • Hainan (HU) • Spring (9C) low-cost.
Booking channels
• Trip.com / Ctrip EN (Visa/Master/AmEx) • Airline apps with English UI • WeChat/Alipay “Flights 机票” mini-program (blue merchant QR).
E-ticket & ID
Domestic: passport + e-boarding-pass QR (works in WeChat/Apple Wallet). International: passport + visa; e-pass kiosks in PEK T3, DAX, PVG, CAN.
Security quirks
100 ml liquid rule; power banks ≤100 Wh with 3C label (new rule Jun 2025); powder restriction (≤350 g) & no uncertified lighters (all powders flagged at X-ray since 2024); facial-recognition boarding lanes in 63 airports.
Payments for visitors
Foreign Visa/Master/AmEx accepted on Trip.com & blue QR; FX ≈ 1 % spread; Alipay & WeChat raised foreign-card caps to US $5 000 per transaction; annual aggregate still ¥50 000.
Why locals still fly
>300 km corridors beat HSR time; Southwest & far-west lack high-speed lines.
Good to know
Domestic flight status live in WeChat ··· › Services › Travel › Flight 经纬; push alerts auto-translate.
TL;DR
Search Trip.com in English, pay with your foreign card or blue QR, add the e-boarding pass to WeChat/Apple Wallet, and breeze through China’s facial-rec lanes—220 V power-banks under 100 Wh only! Book on Trip.com, reach the airport 2 h early, keep a 3C-certified power bank <100 Wh, and your face + phone will get you from curb to cabin across China’s 260-airport network.

🏆 Success Recipe

1

Check WeChat delay forecast

Mini-program shows predicted departure D-1; re-book before surge.

2

Buy ¥60 lounge voucher in Alipay

Works in 120 airports; includes shower & hot food.

3

Use “Flex ticket (退改免费)” option

Free date change once—peace of mind during typhoon season.

4

Ship luggage via SF Express

¥30/10 kg next-day to hotel—skip airport baggage wait.

Why it helps: These habits help you avoid the most common pitfalls and keep your experience clean and stress-free.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

🛂

May 2025: Full biometric boarding rolled out to 63 airports; foreign passports accepted.

Full biometric boarding rolled out to 63 airports; foreign passports accepted.

Sources: CAAC, Trip.com, Tiktok, X
🧳

Feb 2025: CAAC lifts 20 kg free-baggage cap on Hainan Airlines international economy to 23 kg.

CAAC lifts 20 kg free-baggage cap on Hainan Airlines international economy to 23 kg.

Sources: Hainan Airlines, Trip.com, Tiktok, X
💳

Oct 2024: Trip.com activates blue-QR Tourist-Pay for domestic segments (Visa/Master via Alipay).

Trip.com activates blue-QR Tourist-Pay for domestic segments (Visa/Master via Alipay).

Sources: Trip.com, Alipay, Tiktok, X
🔋

Jun 30 2025: CAAC bans non-3C power banks on all flights.

CAAC bans non-3C power banks on all flights (see Security quirks above).

Sources: CAAC, Trip.com, Tiktok, X
🛫

Jul 2025: ICAO “Journey Pass” pilot announced; PEK, PKX, PVG on short-list.

ICAO “Journey Pass” pilot announced; PEK, PKX, PVG on short-list.

Sources: ICAO, CAAC, Trip.com, Tiktok

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

💳

Foreign card fails on airline app

Quick fix: Switch to Trip.com or pay via WeChat blue QR.
📱

E-pass QR won’t scan

Quick fix: Increase screen brightness >70 %; screenshot sometimes blurs—use wallet pass.
📝

Name mismatch (passport vs ticket)

Quick fix: Chinese carriers waive fee if only given-name order differs; larger edits still ¥50–100. Major mismatch → refund & re-book.
🔋

Power bank over 100 Wh confiscated

Quick fix: Buy 10 000 mAh rental at kiosk, or ship battery by surface mail.

🔄 Backup Options

🚄

High-Speed Rail

Often wins up to 1 000 km end-to-end (e.g., SH–GZ 6 h vs 2 h flight + 90 min pre/post); no liquid limits.

  • • No liquid limits
  • • Fast for <1 000 km
  • • No security lines
🚌

VIP Bus (头等舱大巴)

2+1 recliners, cheaper but slower overnight.

  • • Cheaper
  • • Overnight
  • • Recliners
🚗

Chauffeur day-rate

Shouqi ¥900/8 h, no luggage limits.

  • • No luggage limits
  • • Flexible
  • • ¥900/8 h

🛠 Technical Notes

  • • Voltage on board: 110 V AC & USB-C 15 W in newer cabins.
  • • Domestic baggage: Economy 20 kg (legacy); Hainan has switched to 1 × 23 kg on all intl. routes (Apr 2025); many Tier-1 carriers match by summer; carry-on 8 kg.
  • • Flight delay comp: 4–8 h → airline supplies meal + ¥200 cash/e-credit; ≥8 h → ¥400 (airline-caused). Weather/ATC delays: only meals/hotel.
  • • ETD accuracy: CAAC reports 94 % regularity during Spring Festival 2025.

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