Job Discussion Forums

[NickH]

Hi all,
I'm flying into Shanghai on Monday, and I've been trying to make another connecting flight on the same day to Yichang; except that it seems that Chinese airlines don't do the whole electronic ticket thing, or at least not for the airlines that have flights after my flight gets in. It is too close to the deadline for me to buy a paper ticket, because by the time it gets to me in the US, I will be gone! My job-correspondant seems to think it is a good idea to just buy my ticket at the airport.

Considering:
1) I don't see any guarantee that by doing that I will even be able to get a flight on the same day
2) I am worried about all sorts of things, especially 13 hours off a plane, the last thing I want to do is figure out how to buy a plane ticket to Yichang, and I don't speak Chinese well.

Her plan doesn't sound so good to me.

I've looked through all the flight websites on the sticky. Any ideas?

[Songbird]

Isn't it a worldwide standard (and a directive of IATA) that airline employees must have some level of English? Surely there will be someone at the Shanghai airport of all places that would speak English. Whether or not you can get a same day ticket would be another issue though......

I'm flying with JAL and the offices here in China are all Chinese people, however, there is a special number for English speakers. I have called them checking my ticket returning to Oz (in 5 weeks I might add ) and they have been wonderful, very good English and was able to understand everything I was asking!

Where are you now? US or China? Call the airline and see if they can help you out.

[Voldermort]

If you were flying in during the peak season then sure you would have problems. But at the moment there are not many people flying around China, you should have no problems finding a seat and easily getting a ticket.

Another advantage you have is that just about all the ticket office staff in Shanghai are able to speak English.