Transiting in HK Airport

[beckpoole]

Hi Everyone- Longtime reader, first time poster. I have a question that is slowly driving me mad!
In late January I will be bringing back to elderly relatives flying into HK airport from Germany (on Cathay Pacific)- We arrive about 7 in the morning. Our next flight (HK-SYD) isn't until about 7 at night with Qantas- two separate tickets, so we'll need to collect bags (I wasn't in charge of tickets!) Cathay is on Business, Qantas prem. economy however I am a Qantas club member, as is one of the relatives.

They're both going to be tired and don't have any desire to go into HK- I've been several times so am not worried. The ideal would be a lounge, as checking the Regal and Novatel for the 22nd looks like paying 500 AU plus for a room- No day rooms available at all it seems, either.

So here is my concern/question- I assume as we have to collect the bags after the Cathay Flight , we have to thus go landside and can't just go to the Qantas lounge, I assume we can't check in for Qantas and head there right away given it would be ten hours or so!- I see there is a plaza premium arrivals lounge that we can pay for, which is fine, as all concerned are happy to read (and for them, I suspect doze!) somewhere with air con and food. Is this our best option, given the long period of time? I considered getting them to a hotel with day rooms in HK, but it's just too hard considering, and when they're happy to be that long in a lounge, I can always use the time to do work/read.

Any suggestions? Would save me a lot of brain-struggling!

 

[Isochronous]

You can check bags in all the way through to sydney from Germany - just show the check in staff the two different tickets. It's part of the oneworld alliance benefits.

 

[beckpoole]

Fantastic news!

Thank you!

If we do that, are we stuck with the plaza premium airside lounge, or are we able to head straight to the Qantas lounge- even for such a long period of time?

 

[RooFlyer]

If you did have to go landside, arriving having travelled business, you could all use the land side Cathay arrivals lounge - breakfast, showers etc. If you had to collect and re-check bags (but I think Isochronous is correct), I'm pretty sure you could re-check straight away. If I'm incorrect, then you can certainly check-in at Kowloon station on the Airport Express train any time. Of course that means a trip on the rail line as far as Kowloon, but as you have so much time to kill, and will be able to use the arrivals lounge, it would be better than hanging around until check-in at the airport opens!!

The QF lounge in HKG has hours 9:30am to 23:30.

 

[beckpoole]

If it were just me I would be happy to wander around, but with them... better to find chairs and stay in them as much as possible! : )

It does sound like we might be able to check through the bags and go right to the Qantas Lounge.. although whether they'll want us there for 10 hours is another matter!

 

[smit0847]

I love to QF HKG lounge but I would be bored to tears being there for that long!

 

[beckpoole]

Haha, yup, I'm not anticipating it being a party at all, don't worry! But given circumstances, best option I'm afraid. I figure I can sneak off for an hour and wander the shops here and there to stop insanity.

 

[Happy Trails]

OLCI is not an option for the QF flight but if you choose to stay air-side you can check in at the transfer desk.
Problem is, I don't know what time it opens - last time I asked I was told it was open 'all day', whatever that means.

I was thinking you might have access to the CX lounges by virtue of arriving long haul J, but your onward long haul flight rules that out. Would've been OK if connecting to a short haul.

 

[Isochronous]

I've never tried airside QF check in at HKG, but I know if you collect bags and go landside you won't be able to check in for QF until 4.30-5pm or so since it opens 3 hours before. So the solution to that problem is to take the train to Kowloon or HK Station where QF has 24 hour check in.

Of course, this is all academic since you can check straight through in Germany.

 

[Happy Trails]

I've never tried airside QF check in at HKG, but I know if you collect bags and go landside you won't be able to check in for QF until 4.30-5pm or so since it opens 3 hours before. So the solution to that problem is to take the train to Kowloon or HK Station where QF has 24 hour check in.

Of course, this is all academic since you can check straight through in Germany.

I'm sure the bags can be checked through, but can CX in Germany issue the QF boarding passes?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've never tried airside QF check in at HKG, but I know if you collect bags and go landside you won't be able to check in for QF until 4.30-5pm or so since it opens 3 hours before. So the solution to that problem is to take the train to Kowloon or HK Station where QF has 24 hour check in.

Of course, this is all academic since you can check straight through in Germany.

I'm sure the bags can be checked through, but can CX in Germany issue the QF boarding passes?

That's the issue - whether you have boarding passes to allow you to get through security and access a lounge.

Transit check-in for the QF flights opens three hours before the earliest QF departure. I have a feeling when I used to connect CX->QF in HKG that I had to wait around to get the boarding pass issued. At least I did on some occasions.

however - there is an alternative... in the event transit check-in is closed, you could get a round-trip ticket from HKG airport to Kowloon stattion, and use the all-day check-in there. It will cost HKD90 per person for the round-trip. But it will get you into the lounge 8 hours earlier.

In fact if you take this option or going to the all-day check-in, you can use the opportunity to get back your HKD120 departure tax from hong kong on your QF tickets... and this is paid in cash on the spot. So you'd get a short 'outing' to stretch your legs, get cash back (a profit!) and get into the lounge. (Even if you don't need to get the train to the city because CX can issue your boarding pass in FRA, it's still worthwhile going through immigration just to get back your $120 each. Takes 5 minutes.)

For such a long wait however I'd almost certainly get a hotel, allowing some shut-eye. The Regal can be prohibitively expensive, but there are others close by (I think some Accor Hotels?). Simple and easy to get a taxi each way.

 

[beckpoole]

Thanks everyone- this is a lot of food for thought. The train to Kowloon is probably do-able for them if I manage bags, which should be fine! Will they be able to print a boarding pass for us (boarding passes, I should say!) there so we can head straight back to the airport and the Qantas lounge? I have to admit- didn't even know you could check in at the station, so all very handy! I'll speak to CX in Frankfurt, but if they can't issue one, it sounds like the station there and back should be pretty stress-free for them (and me!)- Nice to get a bit of a wander in anyway.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes! (Can give BPs).

Bags shouldn't be difficult - a trolley right up to the train door, then onto the train (lots of luggage room of course), then out of the train at Kowloon - should be able to get another trolley; check in bags, get PBs and back onto train. Don't forget the CX arrivals lounge if you go land side!

 

[beckpoole]

Fantastic! Thanks so much everyone. Sounds like we have a plan!

 

[JessicaTam]

Is it necessary to have BPs of the ongoing flight to go through transit security in HKG? I am sure that I have transited airports in the past without them. That is what the transit desks are for. And I think they are staffed by agents who could issue QF BPs at any time.

Just make sure you have paper copies of your tickets if challenged.

 

[Happy Trails]

Is it necessary to have BPs of the ongoing flight to go through transit security in HKG? I am sure that I have transited airports in the past without them. That is what the transit desks are for. And I think they are staffed by agents who could issue QF BPs at any time.

Just make sure you have paper copies of your tickets if challenged.

Definitely need a BP to get through transfer security. (And BTW, QF OLCI self-printed are not accepted.)
The transfer desk is on the arrivals side and is the best option, if it's open.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks everyone- this is a lot of food for thought. The train to Kowloon is probably do-able for them if I manage bags, which should be fine! Will they be able to print a boarding pass for us (boarding passes, I should say!) there so we can head straight back to the airport and the Qantas lounge? I have to admit- didn't even know you could check in at the station, so all very handy! I'll speak to CX in Frankfurt, but if they can't issue one, it sounds like the station there and back should be pretty stress-free for them (and me!)- Nice to get a bit of a wander in anyway.

So - as RooFlyer points out - you will have use of the Arrivals Lounge - which is located under the Hong Kong Express Train station. You can shower and have a bite to eat/coffee.

You main hold luggage can be checked all the way from FRA - no need to collect in HKG. For your cabin baggage, the Arrival Lounge will store that for you! They give you a token and will secure your luggage while you're away. you exit the lounge, go up one flight and are at the train.

You'd then take the train to Kowloon, use all-day check-in and get boarding passes. Head back to the airport and pick up your hand luggage. From there, you have to go upstairs to complete security and immigration. Before doing that, among the check-in counters is a tax refund counter (I can't remember the exact aisle it's in, but it's easy to find - the information booths will help you). You show your arriving ticket from FRA, and your departing ticket to Australia, and they will refund your departure tax, in cash. This is around AUD25 per person at current exchange rates - so a nifty little $75 credit!

You can then head to the Qantas lounge.

If you can get Qantas boarding passes via another means (either in FRA, or if the transit desk happens to be open), you can still do the tax refund bit. Immigration doesn't care if you 'enter' hong kong for 5 minutes. I'm pretty sure all of you need to go... (as in i don't think you can't send one person to collect the refund for someone else).

 

[JohnK]

Transfer desk is open 24 hours. I have never had more than a few hours connection without boarding pass but I don't think there will be any problems getting boarding pass from transfer desk.

And if luggage is not checked through from Germany the transfer desk will do that for you as well.

Hotel rates in Hong Kong are obscene.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Transfer desk is open 24 hours. I have never had more than a few hours connection without boarding pass but I don't think there will be any problems getting boarding pass from transfer desk.

And if luggage is not checked through from Germany the transfer desk will do that for you as well.

Hotel rates in Hong Kong are obscene.

But you need the Qantas transfer desk to issue a Qantas BP? At least that was the score earlier this year and last year. Lots of transit desks are open for various airlines, but I got directed to the QF transfer desk and there was a note on there saying it opens 3 hours prior to departure. That might have changed. CX transfer desks are open all day.

 

[wandering_fred]

I would hope that CX would be able to check the (hold) luggage all the way through to Australia. Though the onward boarding passes might be less likely, the chances are still pretty good. Note that if the bags are not checked through, Left luggage in HKG is next to the CX arrivals lounge.

Accor has a hotel on Lantau with courtesy bus each direction. They might have day rooms available. This is connected to the outlet mall. Their desk is on the right hand set of courtesy desks as you exit airside.

I'd plan on a leisurely stop at the Arrivals Lounge. If not needing or wanting to go into HK town, get the S1 bus (3.50 HKD each way) to the outlet mall (Tung Chung). The food hall offers quite a variety of food not normally found in Australian mall food halls. And a leisurely lunch and a stroll will "kill" a few hours (cheaply). And if the weather is good the cable car ride is well worth the view of the airport.

Happy wandering

Fred