Family-friendly airport guides

The big children's playspace in Terminal 2 at Chicago O'Hare Airport.

For many families, the adoption trip to China may be their first time across the Pacific or even out of the country. Even for experienced road warriors, a flight home from Asia may take them into an unfamiliar airport. Combine that with serious sleep deprivation and taking care of a new little person whom you've just met and are still trying to bond with, and you may not even be able to find your way through your own hometown terminal.


We're starting a new series of articles at weninchina.com to guide you through the primary North American gateways to Asia. We'll talk about your arrival, how long it will take to get through Customs, where your connecting flights are, and the features of the airport from a family-travel perspective. How are the restrooms? Where can we sit quietly and decompress? Where can the kids blow off excess energy?


This season, we've already posted guides to Seattle/Tacoma, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Chicago O'Hare, with Portland OR, and Vancouver BC next on the list.


If you have suggestions, feedback, or want to share your stories with other travelers, please leave a comment here or email us at weninchinainfo (at) mac (dot) com. Hope you find these new guides useful.

JAL files for bankruptcy: impact on China adoption travel?

This week's widely-anticipated announcement of Japan Airlines' bankruptcy and restructuring does not have much immediate impact for adoption travel:

• JAL services to China have been largely positioned for the local market, shuttling business travelers to the primary Chinese cities (with most of the seats to just Beijing and Shanghai,) plus some short-haul leisure routes to places like Dalian.
• Services out of Guangzhou do not connect to the North American flights leaving Tokyo - whether on JAL or its current oneworld alliance partner American Airlines. Remember, your child's Chinese passport prohibits her from leaving the airport security zone, so an overnight stay in Tokyo on the way home is out of the question. 
• JAL did not offer "adoption fares", and so have priced themselves out of consideration for the short-notice travel that these families require.

There is speculation that after JAL has restructured, the airline may switch alliances and join the SkyTeam grouping. There are several good reasons why this may happen:

• American Airlines does not offer many flights to Tokyo - with its own aircraft, AA serves Los Angeles once daily, New York JFK once daily, Chicago O'hare once daily, and Dallas/Ft. Worth twice daily; and does not directly serve any other Japanese cities.
• The main Asian partner in oneworld is Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, and it basically flies to the same places that JAL flies. There's no need to fly from America, Australia, or Europe to Hong Kong and then connect to Japan when you could just fly straight to Japan.
• SkyTeam offers the broad network of Delta Airlines, flying to 10 US cities from Tokyo. Delta also has rights to fly local traffic from Japan to other Asian countries (a legacy of Northwest Airlines,) which American does not have. 
• SkyTeam also offers nearby Korean Air and its big 24-hour hub operation at Seoul-Incheon. Incheon is easily reached with short-haul aircraft from any Japanese city. This is appealing because Tokyo-Narita airport is short on landing slots and restricted on hours of operation. Plus, if you can schedule an extra trip with your aircraft overnight, that lets you more easily cover your fixed costs.
• Korean Air also serves more cities in China and central Asia than JAL. This would help JAL compete better for corporate travel contracts.
• JAL must also consider how it will compete against the very strong Star Alliance combination of local carrier ANA-All Nippon Airways, plus United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and Air China. United covers many US cities from Tokyo, and has rights to fly local traffic to Asian cities. Continental covers parts of the US that United doesn't, and brings its Pacific Island services to the table - very popular with Japanese leisure travelers. Finally, Air China has a strong hub operation at Beijing, easily reached with short-haul jets from Japan.

American has reportedly offered JAL over $1 billion to stay in the oneworld alliance. Delta, it is rumored, has put a similar number on the table (and its SkyTeam partners may be chipping in as well.) However, the trustees now in charge of JAL's management have said they won't make any new commitments until after they've put their restructuring into place and installed new permanent management. It may be late 2010 before we learn what they decide.

Even if JAL should join SkyTeam, that company would need to be willing to modify its business model to at least give more emphasis to connecting traffic between China / SE Asia and North America.

We will be watching closely, and will update the weninchina.com "Planning Transpacific Flights" page as your options for China travel change.

Transpacific Air Travel Options: Hainan Airlines

Second in our series of airline profiles for China adoption trips is a relatively new carrier across the Pacific, Hainan Airlines. Hainan (airline code "HU") only started service to the US in June 2008, flying between Beijing and Seattle.

This airline is relatively young - starting in 1993 - and flies a modern Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer fleet. They are the #4 domestic carrier in China and cover all the major cities with a robust schedule, award-winning service, good safety record, and competitive pricing. It is entirely possible some of your city-to-city transportation in China will be on this carrier.

Of keen interest to adopting families is the excellent schedule offered in both directions. Flight HU 496 leaves Seattle at 1:20 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (plus Friday, beginning in April) and arrives Beijing at 4:35 pm, with plenty of time to make connections to 16 other cities, including Hangzhou, Xi'an, Haikou, Taiyuan, and Guangzhou. This is great for families who are pressed for time or money, and want to proceed directly to their child's adoption city, skipping the tourism break in Beijing. (And if you do want to stay in Beijing for a few days at the beginning of the trip, well, you're right there!)

Coming home, the 8:30 am out of Guangzhou connects with plenty of time to make HU 495, which leaves Beijing at 4:20 pm and arrives Seattle at 11:40 am (again, four days a week.) The Seattle run uses a brand-new Airbus A330-200 with seat pitch of 32" in Economy - which is the same as you'd encounter on Northwest. All seats have an inflight entertainment system with 50 video channels and 50 audio channels, plus games. Both Chinese and Western meals are served inflight.

The Seattle timing is perfect for clearing Customs and making onward flights to the whole West Coast, as well as key cities in the Midwest and East Coast.

(EDIT: The Summer/Fall 2009 westbound schedule is exactly the same as posted above. The eastbound flight now leaves at 2:00 pm, arriving Beijing at 4:40 pm. No change to connection availability.)
Hainan Airlines offers a very competitive everyday fare structure. I entered a sample itinerary on the airline's website out of Seattle for March 4 to Beijing, returning from Guangzhou March 21, and got a fare for under $1000. Hainan also offers through-ticketing via Seattle on Alaska Airlines, American, and Continental to select US and Canadian destinations, also with surprisingly good fares.

While this airline does not specifically offer an adoption-fare program, the quotes you'll find from their website for close-in dates definitely represent a bargain. I have talked with the airline's US General Manager, and he tells me they are in fact looking into setting up an adoption desk. They have received government approval to add service to Chicago and Newark, although with the current economic crisis, those new routes are on hold.

In summary, Hainan Airlines offers adoptive families good value for money and a quality product. Families whose kids hail from Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Henan, and Guangdong will also appreciate being able to fly to those provinces on a same-day connection if they wish to skip the Beijing stopover.

Contact information:

Web: www.hnair.com/us

Phone: 888-688-8813 (US and Canada)

40 articles and counting!

Like a bowl of Shanghai-style beef noodle soup, weninchina.com aims to be filling, nutritious, and something you want to have available every day.

We've just published our 40th article about the China travel experience for families. Unlike the traditional travel guidebooks, which are organized around the various regions of China, we realize each family's timeline and itinerary is different. So we've set up our website more like a Dim Sum cart - pick what you're interested in and swing back for more when you're ready.

We've organized information into categories that apply wherever you land:

Lodging - including links to many of the most commonly-used hotels for adoptive families. Most of you will not be staying in well-known Western chains. There are important differences between a Chinese "5-star" hotel and what we would call "5 stars."

• Space - what you should expect about the layout of your hotel room
• Bathrooms
• the Beds - they aren't like hotel beds back home
• Cribs
• Electrical Outlets and Converters - not every region in China uses the same kind of plug, and the outlets are difficult to find in your hotel room
• Light Switches - quite possibly the first minor annoyance you'll encounter in the country. Yes, the switch in your hotel room does not work like you'd expect it to...
• the Breakfast Buffet - the only meal you know will be coming at a consistent time. Here's how to make the most of it.
• your hotel room's mini refrigerator - it's the same appliance, but there's something you don't know...
• your Room Safe - a must-use tool

Food - it's good, and for the most part, inexpensive.

• Chopsticks - yes, you need to learn how to use them
• KFC / Pizza Hut - these Western chains have made interesting adaptations for Chinese tastes, and should be on your list of things to try. There's no need to be afraid of ordering at the counter for yourself!
• Starbucks - because we can't live without good coffee, and you won't find any at your hotel
• Congee - it's what your child is eating; you should know what it's about

Travel and Tourism - advice about getting there, getting around, and getting home.

• Planning your Transpacific flights - more difficult since you have to leave from Guangzhou. We list and discuss several options
• Tokyo Narita Airport - a quick overview of where many of you will connect through
• Chinese Domestic Flights - what to expect as you move around the country
• Departing China - baggage strategy, getting through Guangzhou Baiyun airport, and what to expect for security
• Preparation for coming home - dealing with jetlag, relatives, and re-integrating into your 'normal' life. Includes a checklist of things you'll need to have done or arranged for before you leave for China.
• Shamian Island - the adoptive parents' refuge in Guangzhou. Includes a downloadable map to use when walking around.
• Traffic in China - amazing and hair-raising
• Passport & Money Holders

Money and Shopping - never enough of the former, never enough time for the latter...

• Money Basics - what the bills and coins look like, what to call them. China is very much a cash-based society, and you'll be using this knowledge every day.
• How to Exchange Currency - you'll be carrying a lot of it; here's where to go and how the process works
• Shopping for Groceries - a great and inexpensive way to get to know the Real China, not just the touristy stuff. It's something you can do on your own - and endlessly entertaining.
• Olympic Souvenirs - while a little outdated, still a good read concerning knockoff goods and how to determine what is authentic merchandise

Safety and Health - to supplement what your doctor or travel clinic has prepared you for

• Baby Formula Advisory - current information and government links regarding the tainted milk scandal of 2008
• Problems with Time Zones - jetlag when arriving in China isn't as much of a problem as that the local time zone doesn't fit the day/night cycle well
• "China Colon Syndrome" - will happen to you. Here's some help on how to deal with it.
• Spraying for Bugs - be aware, be prepared
• Physical Preparation for your trip - ideas on how to get ready for your two weeks away from the normal routine
• Crossing the Street - if you think the traffic is crazy when you're in a vehicle, then consider what it means for you as you walk around!
• Dealing with the Smog - when you encounter it, you'll remember it always. Here are some ideas on how to get through it until your next city.
• Email and Internet Monitoring - you may encounter some frustration, but it's not personal.

People and Culture - explaining some of the things you'll see on your trip, and ideas for back home

• Karaoke - is a huge industry in China. You might or might not get roped into it...
• Umbrellas - are used for more than rainshowers. If you want to fit in quickly, here's a good idea.
• Boats on the Pearl River - Guangzhou is a busy port with lots of traffic, and Shamian Island is a perfect spot to watch it from.
• Lucky Fish - why do Chinese have pictures and hangings of fish everywhere?
• the China Daily newspaper - your nightly reading assignment
• Chinese TV stations - in this case, watching TV can be considered to be 'good for you', and we do heartily recommend it!
• Chinese Learning Resources - for you and your children to use "back home". We profile and recommend several publishers and book distributors.

We hope to see you soon, and invite your comments, questions, and suggestions at weninchinainfo@mac.com.