Self transfer at airport from T2 to T3

Question

I am trying to book for our flight from Nalati to Urumqi. Please advise if the self transfer time of 2hr 10 min be enough to collect our bags and check in again from T2 to T3 ? The flight from Nalati - Urumqi is with Tianjin Airlines and the connecting flight is with Sichuan Airlines. I will be buying ticket Nalati - Chengdu on Trip.com and this is what is shown:

09:45 Nalati - Urumqi eta 11:00 T2 - Tianjin Airlines

different terminal. May need to collect and recheck bag - self transfer 2hr 10 min

13:10 Urumqi T3 - Chengdu eta 16:00 - Sichuan Airlines

Thank you.

Answer

For your itinerary in Urumqi, a 2 hour 10 minute self-transfer is generally tight but feasible if everything runs smoothly. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Step 1: Arrival at T2

Your flight from Nalati lands at Urumqi T2 at 11:00. After landing, you will need to clear immigration (if applicable), collect checked luggage, and exit the arrivals area. Depending on the number of flights and peak hours, this can take 30–60 minutes.

Step 2: Transfer from T2 to T3

The terminals at Urumqi Diwopu Airport are separate. You will need to either take the airport shuttle bus (usually 10–20 minutes including waiting) or a taxi (10–15 minutes). Consider potential traffic and security checks at both terminals.

Step 3: Check-in at T3

At T3, you will need to check in for Sichuan Airlines to Chengdu, drop your luggage, and pass through security. Airlines generally recommend arriving 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights, especially when checking bags.
If there are long queues, security checks, or delays in transport between terminals, this can become stressful.

Considerations and Tips:

2 hours 10 minutes is feasible if there are no delays, but it’s considered the minimum safe connection time for a self-transfer between terminals with baggage recheck.
Travel light if possible to speed up transfer—carry-on luggage only would reduce time pressure.
Check if Tianjin Airlines or Sichuan Airlines can offer through check-in or assistance for self-transfer, though usually with separate tickets this is not possible.
Have taxi or shuttle bus options ready in advance so you can leave T2 immediately after collecting bags.
Keep an eye on flight delays; if your Nalati-Urumqi flight is delayed by even 20–30 minutes, the transfer becomes very tight.

Alternative: If you are concerned about tight timing, you might consider booking a later Urumqi-T3 departure to allow more buffer time, especially since self-transfer includes separate check-in and baggage handling.