Overnight Transit at HKG airport

[MEL_Traveller]

Just to add to this thread that I now generally take the airport express buses rather than the train.

The cost is HKD40 rather than the train at HKD100 (to central) and the travel time is about 15-20 mins longer (about 40-45 mins to town).

I was a little sceptical at first but tried it once when I had time to spare and was surprised. Each time the bus has been fairly empty and I've had two seats to myself.

Granted my last three or four journeys have been absolutely off-peak - the roads to and from the airport were completely free of traffic - which I am guessing it would be at midnight for the OP.

The saving of HKD80 return vs HKD200 for the train is worth it IF you aren't racing for a meeting or something.

 

[wandering_fred]

Take the bus to Tung Chung central station (~3HKD) and the MTR to Central (18HKD) if you really want to save money

Fred

 

[serfty]

Given the OP's timeline* (see post #1), Bus was not a real option as reducing travel/transfer time would be a high priority. (Balanced over cost)

*(Aim: Get as much sleep as possible, Circumstance: arrive ~10pm, ~Depart 8am)

 

[wandering_fred]

Yes hotels around HKG are an interesting exercise...

The last few trips AA.com actually has had the best prices. And when adding in the taxi fare my favorite over in Mo Wui is no longer the cheapest.

Looking at my next trip (24 Feb) for the Novotel Citigate
AA.com US$119
lastminute.com.au AU$186
asiarooms.com AU$148 prepurchase no refund

Interestingly AA.com is also showing a nonrefundable Regal Airport at $US134 rather than their normal US$200++, so maybe the new airport hotel in combination with the Citigate is starting to affect the Regal's bookings.


YMMV

Fred

 

[JohnK]

Given the OP's timeline* (see post #1), Bus was not a real option as reducing travel/transfer time would be a high priority. (Balanced over cost)

*(Aim: Get as much sleep as possible, Circumstance: arrive ~10pm, ~Depart 8am)

Same scenario again tonight. Arrive just after 10pm and need to be up ~5:00am. I have a very cheap hotel booking at the Oriental Lander and will be looking to get there ASAP for 4-5 hours sleep. So Airport Express to Kowloon (HKD160 return) and then taxi to Oriental Lander hotel (estimating ~HKD60 return) from there.

If I had more time then I would use the bus option or even Airport Express/MTR option.

 

[Mal]

Take the bus to Tung Chung central station (~3HKD) and the MTR to Central (18HKD) if you really want to save money

Aka the Cathay staffers shuttle

 

[pongie]

Read through a few threads on transit in Hong Kong but I did not find any mentions about luggage. Planning a SGN-SYD flight with an overnight transit in HKG, and am hoping to get out and shop in hong kong for the evening. Flight will arrive in hong kong at 15:15 and due to depart at 09:00 the next day. Most threads mentions no problems leaving the airport and staying at a hotel but none mentions anything about checking in extra baggage (from the shopping in hong kong). I'm not planning to check in any baggage (just carry on) so can I check in whatever I purchased in hong kong or is it just carry on only? How about if I just check in my carry on then carry whatever I purchased in hong kong as carry on?

On another note, do you have to fill out arrival and departure cards and go through customs if I'm planning to leave the airport in transit?

 

[JohnK]

Most threads mentions no problems leaving the airport and staying at a hotel but none mentions anything about checking in extra baggage (from the shopping in hong kong). I'm not planning to check in any baggage (just carry on) so can I check in whatever I purchased in hong kong or is it just carry on only? How about if I just check in my carry on then carry whatever I purchased in hong kong as carry on?

Which carrier? Unless you are travelling business class or have status with an airline then generally you are only able to check-in 23kgs and have 7kgs carry on luggage. So be careful with that shopping in HKG unless you want to pay excess baggage charges.

On another note, do you have to fill out arrival and departure cards and go through customs if I'm planning to leave the airport in transit?

Yes you need to fill out the arrival and departure card which is the same form with carbon copy for duplicate or triplicate. When you arrive they take the top part and the next part has provision to enter the departing flight.

 

[pongie]

Which carrier? Unless you are travelling business class or have status with an airline then generally you are only able to check-in 23kgs and have 7kgs carry on luggage. So be careful with that shopping in HKG unless you want to pay excess baggage charges.


Yes you need to fill out the arrival and departure card which is the same form with carbon copy for duplicate or triplicate. When you arrive they take the top part and the next part has provision to enter the departing flight.

Cathay Pacific and economy. I will only have my carry on with me, so I can check that in and hope whatever I buy is under 7kg for carry on. Or risk it and take the carry on with me and hope whatever else I buy fits into the carry on and stay under 7kg. Or is it possible to check in baggage when I board since I didn't have any baggage to transit in the first place?

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Mal]

can I check in whatever I purchased in hong kong or is it just carry on only? How about if I just check in my carry on then carry whatever I purchased in hong kong as carry on?

Generally carriers will let you check in baggage even after a boarding pass has been issued. But it does depend on the airline etc and even perhaps the mood of the staffer checking you in.

I'd be calling Cathay and asking what they think about the question. I'm pretty sure it should be ok though.

The Hong Kong Immigration card is pretty simple to fill out. And TBH, unless you are really dodgy looking, or are using certain nationality passports, the chance of any questions or problems is pretty remote... even with just an overnight stay.

 

[JohnK]

I can't see any reason why you cannot check-in more than one bag as long as you stay under 23kgs. Is there any chance you can somehow take a larger bag with you (similar to those large hession/polyester type bags that do not weigh a lot) and consolidate most of your carry on into this bag and still have 7kgs alowance left over for carry on?

 

[pongie]

I do have other luggage and normally check it in with my carry on inside it on the way there just so I'll have an empty luggage to check in with ample room for the way back. However, this trip I want to try and avoid checking in any luggage on the way there. Perhaps I can just buy another luggage in hong kong then.

 

[JohnK]

Those polyester bags I mention used to cost $2 in the $2 shop and are very sturdy, fold up quite easily and are able to carry a fair bit of weight.

Does anyone know which ones I am talking about?. They are multi coloured with vertical stripes....

 

[pongie]

Those polyester bags I mention used to cost $2 in the $2 shop and are very sturdy, fold up quite easily and are able to carry a fair bit of weight.

Does anyone know which ones I am talking about?. They are multi coloured with vertical stripes....

red, blue and green stripes? Dont think I'll trust my purchases with that bag. I can imagine all my items sprayed across on the luggage collection belt... airport baggage handlers aren't known for their care and gentle touches

 

[JohnK]

Oh well it was just a thought. I have seen many of these bags around the world and they seem to get to the destination OK.

How about a couple of those large Qantas plastic bags?

 

[straitman]

red, blue and green stripes? Dont think I'll trust my purchases with that bag. I can imagine all my items sprayed across on the luggage collection belt... airport baggage handlers aren't known for their care and gentle touches

Oh well it was just a thought. I have seen many of these bags around the world and they seem to get to the destination OK.

I have also seen these used many times and would have no issue with using one.

 

[serfty]

Of course, if you employ the Airport Express train using either Central or Kowloon, you can do "In town Check-in" the day before your outbound flight.

i.e. Arrive, Shop, do ITCI, sleep. The next day head to the airport and board.

 

[Mal]

I had an overnight transit (~12 hours) at Hong Kong recently. Instead of hanging around the airport I thought about two options:

1. Leave airport, head to the Peak for a look, then spend a few hours in bars and head back to Airport.
2. Leave airport, head to Macau, spend time there and return.

I decided on #2, although headed to Macau from town rather than HKG Airport - Macau. Landed in Hong Kong around 8:30pm. Caught a bus to the Macau ferry terminal and was in Macau around 11pm.

Spent time in a few casinos people watching (and doing a bit of gambling). Met some lovely ladies who wanted to get to know me better (lol. the joys of Asia). Wandered through Macau for a while (felt pretty safe), and was on a 4am ferry back to Hong Kong. Arrived about 5am, did immi etc, then crossed road and grabbed a bus back to the airport to arrive about 6:30am.

Cathay lounge for brekkie. Qantas F lounge for a shower (queue was too long in Cathay lounge). Then onto next flight.

An option if you're ok with staying awake overnight... (And yes, I realise JohnK's post was ages ago, but more suggesting an alternative for anyone else reading this thread).

 

[JohnK]

Spent time in a few casinos people watching (and doing a bit of gambling). Met some lovely ladies who wanted to get to know me better (lol. the joys of Asia). Wandered through Macau for a while (felt pretty safe), and was on a 4am ferry back to Hong Kong. Arrived about 5am, did immi etc, then crossed road and grabbed a bus back to the airport to arrive about 6:30am.

How come you get all the luck? I guess you handsome man.

An option if you're ok with staying awake overnight... (And yes, I realise JohnK's post was ages ago, but more suggesting an alternative for anyone else reading this thread).

Always great to get this type of feedback. I have another late night transit at HKG on one of my upcoming trips and again debating what I want to do. The Macau option sounds great if only I could stay awake after a long day of flights.

Did you get any info at SIN? If so, then please post in other thread.

 

[Mal]

I guess you handsome man.

Haha. And to think I'm now getting the same treatment in Thailand. Yes, I'm very attractive - but not particularly in the handsome way

The Macau option sounds great if only I could stay awake after a long day of flights.

I did get some sleep on the ferries, plus slept on the next day's flights. So didn't take long to recover.

Some other comments:
- Hong Kong Airport to Macau Ferry terminal is a quicker option. Store hand luggage at Macau Ferry Terminal (Lockers available)., then catch ferry back to Hong Kong (The ones direct to the airport don't start until 7am), whereas the ones Macau-Hong Kong are 24 hours, with limited service between 2am and 6am. Casinos may also store your hand baggage for free, Last service ex-HKG airport is about 10pm I think.
- Another option (what I did) is go through Immi, store hand luggage at Baggage storage (check rates on the airport website). They are open until midnight, and re-open at 5:30am. Taxi or bus to Hong Kong ferry terminus.
- Check availability of return tickets carefully. Shouldn't be an issue if not a weekend or CNY etc, but the early morning ferries can fill up. The 4am one was just about booked out when I bought my ticket.
- Macau is pretty safe at night. Plenty of police around, and taxi availability pretty good.
- Shuttles from ferry terminal to casinos (and between casinos) stop around midnight.

Didn't visit SIN on this trip.