Very short Cathay Pacific Transit at Hong Kong airport

[the8guy]

I have a flight booking via Cathay travelling from MAD to MEL transit via Hong Kong , with a 50 mins layover. Am i crazy or is this something doable for a home hub ?

 

[elanshin]

I have a flight booking via Cathay travelling from MAD to MEL transit via Hong Kong , with a 50 mins layover. Am i crazy or is this something doable for a home hub ?

Doable on same ticket.

 

[the8guy]

Doable on same ticket.

Yes same ticket - thanks thats reassuring

 

[elanshin]

Yes same ticket - thanks thats reassuring

Basically assuming scheduled arrival, there will be someone likely to greet you and whisk you quickly through transit and into the next flight. Even if its at opposite ends of the airport it should only takr about 20-25 mins to transit.

If you're massively delayed out of MAD (well Firstly thete EU261) but Cathay would look to put you on the next service.

 

[the8guy]

Basically assuming scheduled arrival, there will be someone likely to greet you and whisk you quickly through transit and into the next flight. Even if its at opposite ends of the airport it should only takr about 20-25 mins to transit.

If you're massively delayed out of MAD (well Firstly thete EU261) but Cathay would look to put you on the next service.

I have a J fare on this, not sure if it makes a difference but good to know that there will be someone to meet and greet to whisk me to the gate !

 

[Bundy Bear]

Always good to check the gates on previous days arrivals and departures. 50 minutes and J you might get an escort but if not then you know the gates and which security to head towards

 

[LionKing]

Because you have a 50 minute transfer, do look out for ground crew after the bridge to receive assistance. Usually if transfer time is less than an hour, and your plane is late arriving, there will be staff waiting at the gate exit with your flight number. Simply show your next boarding pass to them will do the job.

 

[SYD]

I have a J fare on this, not sure if it makes a difference but good to know that there will be someone to meet and greet to whisk me to the gate !

Look for a group of staff holding signs with flight numbers/destinations and/or names.

 

[offshore171]

Use a site like FR24 to check the ontime performance history of the MAD to HKG flight.

If everything runs well, you should make it. If it's late, definite chance of misconnect. On the one ticket, they will move you to the next Melbourne flight with capacity.

Will you have checked luggage? Tight connections can increase likelihood of luggage separation (eg: you only just make the connection but your bags don't)

 

[the8guy]

Use a site like FR24 to check the ontime performance history of the MAD to HKG flight.

If everything runs well, you should make it. If it's late, definite chance of misconnect. On the one ticket, they will move you to the next Melbourne flight with capacity?

Will you have checked luggage? Tight connections can increase likelihood of luggage separation (eg: you only just make the connection but your bags don't)

Yes i will have checked baggage. Never experienced a missed luggage connection so what's the best way to claim a separated luggage?

 

[offshore171]

Yes i will have checked baggage. Never experienced a missed luggage connection so what's the best way to claim a separated luggage?

Once the luggage separation is evident, typically the airline will request a forwarding address (eg: your home or a hotel). They will courier it to your requested address when it arrives. Usually the next flight, but for severe separations can take days.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Always good to check the gates on previous days arrivals and departures. 50 minutes and J you might get an escort but if not then you know the gates and which security to head towards

IIRC Cathay also displayed connecting gate information as you’re coming in to land? So if there’s no one there to meet the OP they will at least know where to go.

 

[the8guy]

IIRC Cathay also displayed connecting gate information as you’re coming in to land? So if there’s no one there to meet the OP they will at least know where to go.

Having the gate information really is handy but where can i get them prior ?

 

[SYD]

IIRC Cathay also displayed connecting gate information as you’re coming in to land? So if there’s no one there to meet the OP they will at least know where to go.

Yes, I was just about to post that also as i sit on a Cx flight inbound to HKG and connecting on (albeit with a 4 hr layover).

HKG is notoriously bad for not disclosing gate info but with free wifi, I’m monitoring the IFE, HKIA website, TripIt (Pro), @tripwaffle, CMT and Flighty (Free) to see who comes up first with arrival gate and onward departure gate info!

 

[SYD]

Having the gate information really is handy but where can i get them prior ?

So on my current flight, the connecting Gate info appeared about 30mins out for flights within the next 2 hrs - no onward gate for me but from what I can tell, no arrival gate.

However, both TripWaffle and Flighty are showing both arrival and departure gates. Both near the Pier F lounge and for me, that’s what counts!

 

[anat0l]

HKG is notoriously bad for not disclosing gate info

Surely they can't be that bad for the FIDS at the airport, and there are quite a few of them throughout the terminal, even on the arrivals level.

I'd say if a CX agent isn't there to meet at the gate on arrival, start towards the closest transfer point, clear it and get back up to the departure level. Find a FIDS and then be on your way.

If the inbound flight is delayed in any way, a polite mention to the cabin manager or purser won't go astray. They'll likely reassure you with the same kind of info on this thread.

In short, you'll get home one way or another without being out of pocket. If you have something mission critical waiting for you in MEL that you might be put out or financially inconvenienced if you might have to catch a later flight to MEL, that's a ponder point...

 

[wenglock.mok]

Surely they can't be that bad for the FIDS at the airport, and there are quite a few of them throughout the terminal, even on the arrivals level.

I'd say if a CX agent isn't there to meet at the gate on arrival, start towards the closest transfer point, clear it and get back up to the departure level. Find a FIDS and then be on your way.

If the inbound flight is delayed in any way, a polite mention to the cabin manager or purser won't go astray. They'll likely reassure you with the same kind of info on this thread.

In short, you'll get home one way or another without being out of pocket. If you have something mission critical waiting for you in MEL that you might be put out or financially inconvenienced if you might have to catch a later flight to MEL, that's a ponder point...

CX have a pretty good system for monitoring connections, especially on short connections and where the inbound flight is running late, especially when the taxi back to the gate after landing at HKG can be upwards of 15 minutes.

If your inbound flight is late, typically, one or more of the following will happen:

• Your booking on the CX app should proactively update with information about the new connecting flight
• There should be a ground staff meeting your inbound flight after you disembark (with a placard that has your name on it)
• They may either arrange for you to be escorted quickly through transfer security and then to the new gate, or already have a bunch of vouchers (hotel, meals, transport) and your new boarding pass if you have missed your connecting flight.

This was my experience having missed two connecting flights in HKG over the last two years, one of which was due to the inbound flight needing to taxi for 25 minutes after landing before we arrived at the gate. It was a very organised process.

 

[the8guy]

Im interested whats the accommodation like if i need to stayover for the next available flight as i know the next scheduled flight back to Melbourne is either 6 hours later or the next day

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Im interested whats the accommodation like if i need to stayover for the next available flight as i know the next scheduled flight back to Melbourne is either 6 hours later or the next day

6 hours you would wait at the airport in the lounge

Longer than that there are several good hotels either connected to the terminal or a short trip away (like 5-10 mins).

Having the gate information really is handy but where can i get them prior ?

You can’t really, and any information you get prior to the day could change last minute.

59 minute connections are common at HKG. Cathay has a well oiled machine to help people get to their next flight.

50 mins is actually plenty of time, even without assistance. You should easily make the next gate in 20 mins

Longer than an hour and 15 mins and you’ll have time for the lounge.