Any suggestions on how much time I should allow at PVG- China, for a connecting flight to Bali? I've not traveled through this area, but after a day in Heathrow, I don't want to repeat the same mistake.
STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I. ONLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 OFFLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 I just checked it for you in Sabre, and if this is an international transfer, the suggested time is 1 hour. However, if you tell me your inbound carrier and outbound carrier, I can give you a more detailed answer.
MCT is "Minimum Connect Time" and not recommended connect time. Transit in China can be maddeningly slow depending on lines. Also, the major China airports are renown for delays. Could work in your favor, could be a mess. But I would definitely plan longer than an hour. That may be the minimum the airlines are wiling to accept responsibility for but my requirements at PVG would be higher.
from experience, PVG better for transit than LHR, but as commented above, don't always take the airline's connection time "grants".
MCT is just a number. Connection time estimates are just that. Do you want to risk all on a possible connection? Personally I double the MCT for a place I've been. Transiting a new place and changing carriers I would double that again. Lets err of the long side.