I flew Shenzhen Airlines from Shenzhen to Zhengzhou (郑州) on an award ticket issued by ANA, using a foreign passport. The check-in kiosk would not take my ticket, so I checked in at the counter, and that went fine. I showed my passport 3 times before boarding, and security took my power bank because it had no 3C mark, even though I bought it in Japan.
If your ticket was issued by a different airline, plan your time around the counter, not the kiosk.
Getting to the airport by metro
I got on Line 12 at Huaide (怀德), the station closest to my hotel, changed once at Fuyong (福永) to Line 11, and got off at Airport (机场), right under Terminal 3.
There is a bag check when you enter a Shenzhen metro station. Between the metro and the airport, there was no second check.
From the time I came into the airport from the metro, it took me 30 minutes to reach the satellite concourse (卫星厅) where my gate was. That included check-in at the counter and security. That was my time on one morning. Lines at the counter and security will change it.
The kiosk had a passport reader, but my ANA award ticket didn’t go through
The Shenzhen Airlines check-in kiosk had a place to scan my passport, near G. But it would not check in my ANA award ticket. I don’t know why, and I don’t remember what the screen said.
I read Chinese, so language was not the problem. It still didn’t go through.
I went to the staffed counter. Check-in there was no trouble, and I got my boarding pass.
If your ticket was issued by another airline (an ANA award ticket, for example), the counter is the safer plan. Treat the kiosk as a bonus if it works.
According to Shenzhen Airlines, counter check-in at Shenzhen closes 35 minutes before departure for domestic flights if you have checked bags, and 30 minutes before if you don’t. Domestic boarding gates close 20 minutes before departure (as of October 2026).
Tell the counter about your status
I have Star Alliance Gold status through ANA. I didn’t mention it at the counter, and it seems it never made it onto my booking. At the lounge, the staff asked me what my status was.
If you have status, give the counter your membership number when you check in. It saves you a question later.
Security: passport and boarding pass by hand, power bank checked by eye
As far as I remember, I didn’t go through a face-scan gate at security. I handed my passport and boarding pass to the officer at the desk, then moved on to the bag check. (2/5)
My 10,000 mAh power bank was an Anker, made in China but bought in Japan, and it had no 3C mark. Security took it. It wasn’t the X-ray that caught it. An officer checked it by eye. I think they asked whether they should hold it for me, but I wasn’t coming back through Shenzhen, so I gave it up.
Since June 28, 2025, China’s Civil Aviation Administration has banned power banks with no 3C mark, an unclear 3C mark, or a recalled model or batch on domestic flights. An official told Chinese media that products made and sold outside China are not covered (as of October 2026).
Mine was made in China and sold in Japan. At the desk, the only thing the officer looked for was the mark.
If your power bank was bought outside China, don’t count on that to get it through. Before a domestic flight, check for a clear 3C mark. If there isn’t one, assume it may be taken.
The Shenzhen Airlines lounge in the satellite
I needed to go the Satellite.
The lounge I used is in the satellite concourse, and it had the Shenzhen Airlines logo on it.
It had free showers. I didn’t take one, but I washed my face and changed my clothes there. If you want to do the same, keep a change of clothes in your carry-on.
For food, I only had a yogurt, and it was good.
From the lounge, my gate (505B) was neither right next door nor a long walk away.
At the gate: passport check number 3
My flight left from Gate 505B. At the gate, I showed my passport again before boarding. That made 3 times in total: the check-in counter, security, and the gate.
Keep your passport somewhere easy to reach until you are on the plane.
Quick checklist
- Ticket issued by another airline: plan on using the counter, not the kiosk.
- Have status: tell the counter when you check in.
- Power bank: bought abroad doesn’t mean safe. Check for a clear 3C mark before you leave for the airport.
- Passport: you’ll show it at the counter, at security, and at the gate.
- Time: 30 minutes from Airport (机场) station to the satellite concourse, counter and security included.
Arriving in Shenzhen on an international flight (coming soon)
Where I stayed near Shenzhen Airport (coming soon)
