14hr transit in Hong Kong

[Welsh-Kiwi]

We are transiting through HK on our way to Auckland on Cathay. We have 14hrs in HK. We are flying J inbound to HK and outbound. We’d like to freshen up on arrival in HK before heading into the city to explore.

Could we go through transit security so that we can enter a lounge to shower and then leave the airport? Other than getting a room at the transit hotel to freshen up, are there alternatives?

Thanks
W-K

 

[encryptededdy]

I don't think you can leave after passing transit security.

HKG has free showers in the arrivals area. You'll have to either bring your own towels or use their vending machines to buy towels. Shampoo etc. is free

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

Yes you can leave

I don't think you can leave after passing transit security.

HKG has free showers in the arrivals area. You'll have to either bring your own towels or use their vending machines to buy towels. Shampoo etc. is free

Yes you can leave even after passing transit security, have done this pre Covid. I usually approach the Cathay service desk on level 6 in the east hall near the exit from E1/E2 transit security and ask to leave. Ground staff usually escort you down to arrivals immigration if they believe you have a reasonably long layover (OPs definitely is one!).

We are transiting through HK on our way to Auckland on Cathay. We have 14hrs in HK. We are flying J inbound to HK and outbound. We’d like to freshen up on arrival in HK before heading into the city to explore.

Could we go through transit security so that we can enter a lounge to shower and then leave the airport? Other than getting a room at the transit hotel to freshen up, are there alternatives?

Thanks
W-K

Go through transit security, enjoy the lounge amenities and then go to the CX service desk and ask for an escort to immigration. Downtown is only a short train ride away and so much more fun than spending 14 hours at HKG. Can’t stand spending hours sitting in airport lounges, even if it’s Cathay.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While technically you can leave the departures area, you have to be escorted. Pre covid that depended on staff availability, which could be quick, or they could be doing other stuff like managing late arrivals, or pax with special needs. While rare, there was the odd report of people having to wait more than an hour for the escort to immigration.

Cathay had a great arrivals lounge… i think there were rumours it was going to reopen at some stage, but dunno when. Plaza Premium had a similar offering, but I can’t find out if it’s reopened.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

Yes you can leave

Yes you can leave even after passing transit security, have done this pre Covid. I usually approach the Cathay service desk on level 6 in the east hall near the exit from E1/E2 transit security and ask to leave. Ground staff usually escort you down to arrivals immigration if they believe you have a reasonably long layover (OPs definitely is one!).

Go through transit security, enjoy the lounge amenities and then go to the CX service desk and ask for an escort to immigration. Downtown is only a short train ride away and so much more fun than spending 14 hours at HKG. Can’t stand spending hours sitting in airport lounges, even if it’s Cathay.

Thanks - just what I was hoping!!

 

[MelbFlyer]

Odd, I'd rather have a shower after visiting HK even after a long haul flight - it's a pretty humid city.

You could then come back to the airport and then shower before your ongoing flight.

 

[Pushka]

Piggy backing here. We have a 19 hour transit in HK. Assuming luggage gets checked through. Are there transit Hotels? It will be an 8pm arrival so likely just go to sleep then back to the 'airport'.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Piggy backing here. We have a 19 hour transit in HK. Assuming luggage gets checked through. Are there transit Hotels? It will be an 8pm arrival so likely just go to sleep then back to the 'airport'.

Yes @Pushka Regal Hotel. You can see how to access it on YouTube.
Not cheap but convenient if you don't want to head into HK.
We considered it as we have 24+ hours tomorrow, luggage not checked through. Thought we would stay in Kowloon as haven't been in over 40 years.

 

[elanshin]

Piggy backing here. We have a 19 hour transit in HK. Assuming luggage gets checked through. Are there transit Hotels? It will be an 8pm arrival so likely just go to sleep then back to the 'airport'.

You could consider going into HK proper too given it's only a half hour metro. Might be able to squeeze in a nice HK late night eat or early morning breakfast.

I did that with a 9 hour transit where i re-checked my bag in, went out had dinner with a friend then went back to HKG.

 

[Pushka]

You could consider going into HK proper too given it's only a half hour metro. Might be able to squeeze in a nice HK late night eat or early morning breakfast.

I did that with a 9 hour transit where i re-checked my bag in, went out had dinner with a friend then went back to HKG.

Thankyou and worth a thought. We are flying on CX both legs from Denpasar through to LHR. So we will need to collect luggage? Same PNR.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thankyou and worth a thought. We are flying on CX both legs from Denpasar through to LHR. So we will need to collect luggage? Same PNR.

We flew CX to HK, 5.5 hour layover ( was to be 14) - KLM on same PNR and CX confirmed via phone then email that luggage would be checked through.
I called their AU number 131 747.

 

[elanshin]

Thankyou and worth a thought. We are flying on CX both legs from Denpasar through to LHR. So we will need to collect luggage? Same PNR.

Probably will be checked through to LHR in that case. I was flying QF > CX and it was on separate PNRs (one reward one revenue). That being said it took me a grand total of 30 mins after getting out of the gate to being at the bag drop check in desk.

 

[DC3]

Odd, I'd rather have a shower after visiting HK …

And doing both sounds possible

 

[Flyfrequently]

UPDATE :
Just checked in at Schipol and our bags have now been through checked to MEL, despite our 24+ hour layover in HKG which has surprised us!

We flew CX to HK, 5.5 hour layover ( was to be 14) - KLM on same PNR and CX confirmed via phone then email that luggage would be checked through.
I called their AU number 131 747.

 

[tomlee1986]

UPDATE :
Just checked in at Schipol and our bags have now been through checked to MEL, despite our 24+ hour layover in HKG which has surprised us!

safe travels back to MEL!

 

[Pushka]

Yes @Pushka Regal Hotel. You can see how to access it on YouTube.
Not cheap but convenient if you don't want to head into HK.
We considered it as we have 24+ hours tomorrow, luggage not checked through. Thought we would stay in Kowloon as haven't been in over 40 years.

I'm just looking into the Regal Hotel. In the Questions, it mentions they can't accept transit passengers. I'm guessing this may be a language issue in that transit passengers can stay there but they must go through HK immigration in and out. (Oh my the answers to the questions are so brusque. One asked if there was a shuttle bus to airport. The answer was simply 'Hotel does not have shuttle bus.' And didn't explain it was just a five minute walk )

So, have I got this right?

So post Covid, with onward flight the next day, same PNR on CX, HK has resumed to normal processing where we have luggage checked through to LHR from DPS (I will check that on the day), we can exit immigration and customs in HK, we will have next boarding pass (or make sure we get this in HK airport before leaving transit) exit into the hotel, return at leisure the next morning through immigration with passport and BP in hand, then simply head to the Pier or Wing? Flight departs at 12.30pm so we plan to get there nice and early for breakfast.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Sounds right @Pushka , I believe you can stay as transit, that was the information I was given mid 2023 - though we decided to head to Kowloon as transit became 24+hours ( uber/taxi $280 HKG each way cash only for taxi - didn't take the train due to shabby ankle )

Bags should get checked through to LHR, confirmed by CX via email ( for our journey over CX - KLM 6 hour layover)

Our experience coming back home was, KLM did check luggage through to MEL but although we had our both BP's (AMS - HKG then onward BP HKG to MEL) and had also checked in online, we were required to "re check in" at QF desk.
One PNR, but this may have been due to different airlines KLM then QF, or transit was over 24 hours.

I found calling Cathay in Australia helpful (131 747)

 

[elanshin]

One PNR, but this may have been due to different airlines KLM then QF, or transit was over 24 hours.

Probably the latter. I don't think there's any airport that holds bags for more than 24hr (likely due to security reasons).