Departures at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
This guide covers the departure process at Pudong International Airport, the floor layout for each terminal, baggage rules and the timings you should plan for before boarding.
Terminal layout by floor
| Terminal | Departures | Arrivals / other |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Level 3 (both domestic and international) | Level 2 arrivals, Level 1 baggage claim and transfers |
| T2 | Level 3 international, Levels 2 and 3 domestic | Level 1 baggage claim, Level 4 dining, shopping and hourly hotel rooms |
| S1 | Level 2 domestic, Level 3 international waiting and boarding | Boarding gates only |
| S2 | Level 1 and 2 domestic, Levels 1 and 3 international | Boarding gates only |
Departure procedure
- Confirm your terminal — check the terminal against the flight information screens or your airline before you travel. T1 and T2 are separate buildings with no airside link.
- Check-in — present your ticket and valid ID at the airline counter. Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure, so aim to arrive at least 2 hours before an international flight.
- Baggage — free checked-baggage allowance is 40 kg for First Class, 30 kg for Business Class and 20 kg for Economy Class. Carry-on allowance is 5 kg per piece, with each bag no larger than 20 x 40 x 55 cm.
- Security — carry-on bags are screened by X-ray; have your boarding pass, ticket and passport ready.
- Waiting and boarding — proceed to the gate shown on your boarding pass. The boarding gate closes 10 minutes before departure.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 opened on 1 October 1999 together with a 4,000-metre runway and a cargo hub. Its wave-shaped exterior is inspired by a seagull. Annual capacity is around 20 million passengers across 204 check-in counters and 13 luggage conveying belts, in a building of about 280,000 square metres. It is the main base for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and also handles international traffic including Qantas, Delta, Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and KLM.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 opened on 26 March 2008. It is larger than Terminal 1, shares a similar design language, and has four floors. The third floor is reserved for international departures, the second for domestic departures and the ground floor for baggage claim. The fourth floor provides dining, shopping, hourly-charged hotel rooms and a gym. Toilets, baby-care rooms and smoking areas are available on all floors of Terminal 2.
Satellite concourses
The satellite terminal opened on 16 September 2019. This H-shaped Satellite Hall is the world’s largest single-building satellite terminal, adding 83 jet bridges and 90 boarding gates. Together, S1 and S2 handle 60–70% of the airport’s flights. An underground MRT shuttle connects each satellite to its assigned main terminal, and free shuttle buses also run between T1 and T2 roughly every 10 minutes from 06:00 to 24:00.
On the day
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport on the PVG Free WiFi and Airport-WiFi-Free networks. Some networks ask for SMS verification against a Chinese mobile number.
- Allow a generous buffer: 2 hours for an international flight, more during peak periods.
- If you are connecting to another airport, the Airport Link Line is the fastest option — allow at least 3 hours for a PVG to SHA connection.