I recently flew from London to Chiang Mai and had to transfer through Beijing Capital International Airport. I couldn’t find much info on exactly what to expect and whether our two-hour gap would be plenty of time or not. So, as the kind, helpful soul I occasionally am, here’s what I experienced so you can have some idea of what to expect. 

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How to transfer through Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

Don’t self-transfer

First, let’s start with the basics: Don’t book a self-transfer unless you have no other choice. For those who don’t know, a self-transfer basically means you’ve got two separate flights to deal with. You have to collect your luggage (if you checked any in), deal with immigration, depart the airport, and then do a 180’ spin and arrive at the airport ready to check in to your next flight.

Avoid this and make sure that it’s all done on one ticket, meaning your bags find their own way onto the next plane, and you can just meander through the airport.

How long is enough time to transfer through Beijing Airport

The short official answer is that one hour is the minimum time advised if you are transferring internationally through PEK airport. But this isn’t a simple answer for all travellers. 

This is what we were told when checking in at Heathrow. We were concerned that our seats were at the back of the plane and our two-hour gap was going to be a problem, but the supervisor at the desk told us that for Air China flights, one hour was the minimum, so we had nothing to worry about. And she was right.

If you’re doing both flights with the same airline, as we did with Air China, then it’s likely that you’ll be flying in and out of the same terminal, which, as you’d imagine, is a good thing when it comes to tight transfers. So I’d advise you to double-check that’s what you’ve got.

To boost your time-saving efforts, they will recommend that you reserve seats as close to the front as possible, but as is the way, even in communist China, they come at a price, so that’s for you to decide. I think we took no more than ten minutes to get off the plane, compared to those who were right at the front. But then there’s the knock-on effect at the next part to think about too.

What happens after you get off the plane?

Once you’re off, there’s not much to think about; it’s just time to walk in and stand in some lines. You’ll easily spot where international transfer passengers are meant to go. We had many different signs and people making sure we knew what to do, so this part should be easy. 

Then, it’s time to line up. I’m not sure why they feel the need to ‘re-secutity’ transferring passengers, but they do. First, you have to scan your passport to get through some gates, then you’ll line up for a border official to check your passport and stamp your ticket, before finally getting your carry-on luggage and yourself scanned again. 

They are shit-hot on lighters, batteries and e-cigs at this security stop, so be prepared to show and or lose some things along the way. 

It’s worth noting that there’s no need for a visa or to fill in the arrival form if you are just transferring through China to another country. A passport and boarding card for your next flight are all you need.

What if you’re running out of time? Will they call you through?

Simple answer, yes, they will call you through if your flight is soon to be, or has started boarding. Don’t expect to hear your destination in perfect English, though. The young lady was doing her best to say the destination, but it wasn’t so clear. She also walks around with it written on a piece of paper, so keep an eye out for that. 

You’ll probably have a bunch of stressed passengers deciding that, although their flight wasn’t called, it’s wise for them to join the emergency line, just because they think it’s probably the best thing. Try not to get stressed about these folks; they’re a strange breed that should be kept at a distance where possible.

And what happens after the ‘re-security’ process?

Once your belt is back on, your lighter is long gone, and you’ve stacked your little plastic tub, which you should do as a sign of courtesy to your fellow man, you’re free to stroll or pace your way to your gate. We had the furthest distance to cover to get all the way to gate one. It took about 20 minutes, so expect walks of up to that much once you’re through. 

In terminal three, we didn’t have many options for places to get some snacks or a drink, but we also didn’t have much time to waste. If you have plenty of time, I’m sure there are a few places to grab something.

So that’s that. Now you know all about how to transfer through Beijing Capital International Airport. Unless, of course, they’ve changed it all, or my experience was a rare one. Either way, good luck and happy travelling.