Same-plane, same-flight-number domestic leg of international flight eligible for 72h visa-free transit in China?

Same-plane, same-flight-number domestic leg of international flight eligible for 72h visa-free transit in China? - Pensive female designer in checkered jacket waiting for flight near departure board looking away in modern airport in evening

I understand the (144 and) 72 hour hour visa-free transit program in China is restricted to departing on an international flight from the same city as you arrive in. (24 hour program lets you do basically anything to get through the country.)

On MF857 the plane departs Xiamen at 18:00 but stops at Qingdao from 20:25 to 22:25 from where it continues directly to LAX. If the layover in Qingdao were between separate flight numbers and planes, it's clear it would not qualify.

  • How are same-plane, same-flight-number flights like MF857 counted?
  • Does China do exit controls on such flights? If so, where do passengers pass the exit immigration controls: in the first city they originate in or in the aircraft's final stop in China (requiring passengers to leave the plane and come back)?

In the case in this screenshot, the flight would still qualify for the 24 hour rules (since the departure from Qingdao is 23h after arrival in Xiamen). What about in case of a longer layover in Xiamen: does the flight qualify the 72 hour program?

MF857 connection






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Same-plane, same-flight-number domestic leg of international flight eligible for 72h visa-free transit in China? - Crowd of people walking towards airplane
Same-plane, same-flight-number domestic leg of international flight eligible for 72h visa-free transit in China? - Contemporary airplanes with red beacon parked on airfield near airport service vehicles and terminal at night
Same-plane, same-flight-number domestic leg of international flight eligible for 72h visa-free transit in China? - Modern plane parking on stand near assigned gate in modern airport terminal at night



Do connecting flights keep the same flight number?

Short answer: if both flights have the same flight number, you are probably staying on the same plane. If the flight number changes, you are connecting to a different aircraft.

Is transit flight same as connecting flight?

What does a Connecting Flight / Transit Flight mean? A connecting flight or transit flight is to reach the final destination through two or more flights, namely, traveling without any direct flights.

Do you need a visa for connected flights?

Re: Do I Need A Visa For A Connecting Flight Through The US? Yes. There is no transit at US airports and you will need to clear both Immigration and Customs at your first point of entry into the US regardless. You will need either an ESTA or a Visa.

Is there Immigration for connecting flights?

Transit passengers You are a transit passenger if you are not leaving the airport and not staying in that country. In this case, you often don't have to go through immigration or customs. Look for a sign that says transit or transit passengers or transfer or connecting flights.



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