Traveling to and in China

WE STRUGGLED to book our air travel to China. The itinerary we received from JC Travel, the company that our adoption agency uses to book adoption travel, was dreadful and quite difficult. That original itinerary routed us through Los Angeles to Hong Kong with a long layover in L.A. and a late starting time from our home airport. The itinerary meant that we arrived in Hong Kong early in the morning two days after our departure. With Sydney, we simply felt that we had to find a better itinerary that put us into Hong Kong in the afternoon or evening... so we could go to bed upon arrival rather than trying to stay awake and alert all day to combat jetlag.

We knew that airlines offer adoption fares, so we research possible itineraries online with various airlines, finally deciding that United offered us the best itineraries of any airlines that flew from our home airport. We called the airline and received a quote that surprised us with its relatively low price and convenience. We should have known the fix was on! After checking very carefully with our adoption agency, which plans and coordinates all travel from the point of entry to China -- in our case, Hong Kong -- to the point of exit from China (also Hong Kong), we determined that we needed to be in Hong Kong the afternoon of November 25 (Friday after Thanksgiving) and needed to depart from Hong Kong no earlier than the late morning of December 8. We had our window, so we called United to book our tickets.

Turns out the convenience remained, but the price quote was quite a bit off. But given the convenience of the itinerary, we decided the United route was the way to go. So, we booked our travel from our home airport to San Francisco, departing Thanksgiving morning, connecting to our flight to Hong Kong that arrived late in the afternoon on Friday, November 25. Our return trip departed Hong Kong late the morning of December 8, then routed us through San Francisco again so we could return to our home airport early in that same evening.

Adoption fares, we discovered, are a pretty good deal because they entitle you to economy plus class. In United, economy plus is certainly worth the additional investment, especially with small children in tow. Although the width of the seats is the same as in regularly economy class, the generous legroom makes a HUGE difference for tall people with small children on a trans-Pacific or trans-continental flight. And, bonus of bonuses, we were bumped up to business class on the leg from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Although we would have preferred to receive the upgrade from Hong Kong to San Francisco, we did not complain for even a moment. Rather, we savored every minute of luxury and, truth be told, actually arrived in Hong Kong fairly well rested.

Our in-China travel itinerary was provided a couple days before we departed, then refined upon our arrival. Here's the basic itinerary -- you can review the exact sequence of travel on our adoption blog.

11/25: Arrive in Hong Kong.
When you arrive, get your baggage, go through Customs and exit this part of the airport. Your CCAI local rep will meet you outside Customs & Immigration. Go to the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel.

11/26: Prepaid group tour of Hong Kong.
Please ask Joann for details.

11/27 Leave Hong Kong for Wuhan on China Southern flight CZ3076 (11:35-13:20).
Welcomed by your local guide Joanna. Go to the Wuhan East Lake Hotel.

11/28 Go to Registration Office to receive your child in the morning. Congratulations!
The children will be delivered by the Orphanage Director and orphanage staff. A CCAI medical consultant will come to visit you and your child in your room this afternoon.

11/29 Adoption registration and notarization in the morning.

Optional shopping trip to local department store. Pay as you go.

11/30 Free time. Optional half-day city tours available. Ask Joanna for details. Pay as you go.

12/1 Waiting for your child’s paperwork and passport to be completed by the Chinese government.

12/2 Receive your child’s Registration Certificate, notary documents and passport today. Please begin packing today.

12/3 Leave Wuhan for Guangzhou on China Eastern flight MU2473 (12:50-14:00). Go to the White Swan Hotel.

12/4 Rest, shop, tour.

12/5 Have your child’s visa physical and photo taken this afternoon. You will be walking to the clinic. Bring baby/child supplies (bottle, diaper, water, snack, etc.). Be ready to go! Group meeting today (only 1 parent per family) to prepare paperwork for the Consulate appointment.

12/6 Today is your Consulate appointment.
Jason & Maggie will deliver your visa application packet to the U.S. Consulate Adoption Unit.

12/7 Go to the U.S. Consulate to take the oath in the afternoon. Receive your child’s visa packet at the conclusion of the oath ceremony. DO NOT OPEN YOUR CHILD’S VISA PACKET! Please take some time today to begin packing.

12/8 Please check out of the hotel and be ready to go by the designated time. Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong on China Southern flight CZ319 (9:40-10:40).