144 hour visa for China

I'm in Perth. I want to go to shanghai, cruise to Singapore and return to Perth via air. The 144 hour exemption requires a person to depart china to a third country.

I have options to fly. Cathay via hK.
Singapore air via Singapore
Qantas via Sydney.

Options one and three should definitely meet the third country requirement because I am flying from Australia or HK and leaving fir Singapore. Does anyone know if the Singapore air option would violate the third country requirement? I'd be initiating in Perth but my interim stop would be Singapore. Singapore is also the termination for the cruise.

More importantly, my reading makes it seem like you rock up to whatever airport, with no visa and the airline will know, based on your onward ticket that you qualify for the 144 hour exemption. I'm Leary of relying on a check in agent being full bottle on requirements. Has anyone had experience with this sort of exemption in practice? I'll be in shanghai less than 48 hours and possibly as little as 8 before my cruise departs and I'll obviously have all of my cruise documents showing I'm paid up and booked to leave china.

Thanks for any advice

I am travelling on an Australian passport.

Comments

  • The Singapore Air option won't work. I did the transit visa for Shanghai last year. Flew from SYD to PVG via KUL. Was going to fly direct PVG back to SYD, but later switched to flying via Japan (initial direct option would have been fine)
    I printed out all my flight itineraries and hotel info (you'll need this, in your case your cruise itinerary), I even printed info on the transit visa just in case.
    Had no issues checking in/boarding on flight to Shanghai. At Shanghai airport immigration took a little more time since it was 1-2am and had to wait for a guy with the special stamp.

    • Thanks, I wasn't sure if it would count Perth or Singapore as my origin I think I'll go with Cathay. Thanks agaibn.

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