Customs and Check-in [HKG Transit without going Landside?]

[orin]

I have a question regarding check-in for a flight.

I am flying Cathay Pacific from China to Hong Kong, and two hours later, Qantas from Hong Kong to Sydney.

Generally, check-in counter is outside of customs, meaning I have to go through customs to enter Hong Kong, then check-in for my Qantas flight, and go through customs again to get to the boarding gate.

I only have carry-on luggage, and therefore was wondering if you guys know/had experience in check-in without having to exit customs and re-enter again?

I am asking because I now realise that my 2hour transit window might be too short, with today's article on SMH stating less than 50% of flights departing from China are on time.

The two tickets are booked separated.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Customs and Check-in

I have a question regarding check-in for a flight.

I am flying Cathay Pacific from China to Hong Kong, and two hours later, Qantas from Hong Kong to Sydney.

Generally, check-in counter is outside of customs, meaning I have to go through customs to enter Hong Kong, then check-in for my Qantas flight, and go through customs again to get to the boarding gate.

I only have carry-on luggage, and therefore was wondering if you guys know/had experience in check-in without having to exit customs and re-enter again?

I am asking because I now realise that my 2hour transit window might be too short, with today's article on SMH stating less than 50% of flights departing from China are on time.

The two tickets are booked separated.

You could just go to one of the transit desks airside and collect your boarding pass. If you were booked on the same ticket you should get both when you check in for the Cathay flight.

 

[MelUser]

Re: Customs and Check-in

Isn't the issue convincing security screening in HKG to let you back upstairs so you can go to lounge and access lounge checkin?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Customs and Check-in

I have a question regarding check-in for a flight.

I am flying Cathay Pacific from China to Hong Kong, and two hours later, Qantas from Hong Kong to Sydney.

Generally, check-in counter is outside of customs, meaning I have to go through customs to enter Hong Kong, then check-in for my Qantas flight, and go through customs again to get to the boarding gate.

I only have carry-on luggage, and therefore was wondering if you guys know/had experience in check-in without having to exit customs and re-enter again?

I am asking because I now realise that my 2hour transit window might be too short, with today's article on SMH stating less than 50% of flights departing from China are on time.

The two tickets are booked separated.

as nlagalle says... there is NO need to exit to get your boarding pass for the qantas flight. you need to go to the qantas desk in transfer area (opens three hours before your flight). the transfer area is all the way near the front of the airport when you arrive, just before the immigration booths. if you are walking towards the booths, the qantas transfer desk is to the left hand side.

even on separate tickets, if you had checked luggage, this would be checked all the way through from china to Australia, so if you change your mind, just show both tickets at check-in and cx will do the necessary bag tag.

on a separate note... even with my flights on the same ticket china-hkg-Australia (CX connecting to QF) i still didn't receive my onwards boarding pass from hkg to Australia. I had to wait for the QF transit desk to open.

flight delays are common, often anywhere up to 2.5 hours. hopefully you will have enough time but generally connecting to or from china (particularly beijing, but also shanghai) I would never leave less than 4 hours connection if travelling on separate tickets. even on the same ticket, coming back to Australia I leave four hours if I really need to make the connection to AU.

 

[markis10]

Re: Customs and Check-in

Isn't the issue convincing security screening in HKG to let you back upstairs so you can go to lounge and access lounge checkin?

OLCI should solve that nicely, with a real BP on offer from the lounge worse case.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Customs and Check-in

OLCI should solve that nicely, with a real BP on offer from the lounge worse case.

i remember trying to do that once but couldn't complete the check in because of a document check being required? (ie aust passport or ETA verification)

normally I have to wait about an hour between my arriving cx flight from china until the transit desk opens for qf, if it was any longer than an a couple of hours I head down to the city check in and get the boarding pass there.

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: Customs and Check-in

OLCI should solve that nicely, with a real BP on offer from the lounge worse case.

I have been declined access through transit security with a self-printed OLCI boarding pass.
They consulted a list and it seemed that QF BPs weren't among those accepted.
They were very good about it and insisted on escorting me to the transfer desk for the real thing.

 

[yohy?!]

Re: Customs and Check-in

your concern regard the lateness of flights is well justified - 2 hours is a very slim margin to connect from a mainland flight. there is a significant chance you will be late arriving into HK - can you change to an earlier flight?

 

[Rareified Air]

may be too late for you but if you are a frequent visitor to Hong Kong you should apply for the frequent visitor card and you can clear immigration in a few minutes rather than risk the long line.

 

[harvyk]

Without needing to collect luggage, I've found HKG to be very quick and efficient. (Collecting luggage is a different story), with my last visit there 15 minutes from plane to kerb, and that was without any sort of express pass.

Whilst my sample size of flights from mainland China to Hong Kong is very small (aka 1). That 1 was running about 3 hours late (we boarded 90 minutes late and then had 30 minutes extra sitting at the gate and then 60 minutes sitting in line to take off).

With only 2 hours transit in HKG on separate tickets from mainland China I'd be a little nervous. Can you get your flight from China moved to an earlier flight?