Early Qantas flight from Hong Kong to London in July.

[auspal]

A few queries on this one, hoping for some advice.

Our flight leaves Hong Kong at 07:35hrs. We are staying in Kowloon. It appears that the first aiport express train will not get us there in time, so is a taxi the best option?

What time do we need to be at the aiport to book in?

We are Qantas Club Members, can we access a lounge at the airport, and if so which is the best one?

 

[Mal]

I suggest a taxi is the best option. Needed to use that last time I caught that flight mid-year.

Can't recall the cost exactly, but recall it under $A50.

There are other options:
- Airport public bus. I've used this before, and it is VERY cheap. But not suitable if you have anything more than a small rollaboard.
- There is a transfer bus called Hotelink - although not sure what time the first service is: trans Island , and for 2 or more people - it's probably about the same as a cab anyway.

Qantas Club members can access the Qantas Business lounge before the flight - See http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-locations-asia/global/en for details.

 

[auspal]

Thanks Mal

 

[JohnK]

From memory the first airport train leaves Kowloon before 6:00am and gets in to HKG airport ~6:15am. Edit, actually the airpot train leaves Hong Kong at 5:50am and Kowloon at 5:53am.

What makes it even easier is that you can avoid the airport check-in queues and use in town check-in at Hong Kong and Kowloon train stations as long as you check-in>90 minutes before your flight which would be very possible if your flight departs at 7:35am and you should be in the Qantas Lounge before 6:00am waiting for the departure of your flight.

I have used in town check-in where my flight time was 8:00am and had plenty of time to spare.

 

[Limewood]

By Taxi its a 40 min ride.

 

[Mal]

From memory the first airport train leaves Kowloon before 6:00am and gets in to HKG airport ~6:15am. Edit, actually the airpot train leaves Hong Kong at 5:50am and Kowloon at 5:53am.

What makes it even easier is that you can avoid the airport check-in queues and use in town check-in at Hong Kong and Kowloon train stations as long as you check-in>90 minutes before your flight which would be very possible if your flight departs at 7:35am and you should be in the Qantas Lounge before 6:00am waiting for the departure of your flight..

There are a few issues though with this plan.

The first train leaves Kowloon at 05:53. Arrives at airport 06:14.
The first "hotel shuttle" leaves around 6am, so you would either need to use the MTR or catch a taxi to Kowloon station.
The MTR (from memory, it does depend on the station) doesn't start until around 6am as well.

So there are two options;
- Catch a taxi to Kowloon/Hong Kong station (might as well catch it all the way to the airport - not a huge difference IMHO).
- Catch a much later train than 05:53.

Whichever is chosen, I can't see it being better than grabbing a cab direct to airport.

 

[JohnK]

There are a few issues though with this plan.

....

Whichever is chosen, I can't see it being better than grabbing a cab direct to airport.

Perhaps you are right.

How much is a taxi from Kowloon to HKG Airport? I have a feeling it will be HKD300+ if you include luggage fees and tolls. That may well be OK for 2 or more people.

In my experience the taxi from Kowloon hotel (near Prince Edward MTR) and then airport express train to HKG airport was positive and pain free. Leave Oriental Lander at ~5:30am and arrive at HKG airport at 6:14am. From memory taxi was ~HKD25 and airport express ticket cost HKD60.

It is good to have decent alternatives that offer significant cost savings.

 

[auspal]

I will look at the taxi option I think and give myself plenty of time as I am a bit of a worrier about being late for flights. I have been trying to look online to see what time we have to check in by, I thought it was at least two hours for international flights?

 

[JohnK]

Check-in for international Qantas operated services at non-Australian international airports is 60 minutes although the recommendation is to check-in at least 120 minutes before departure.

Check-in-Times are mentioned on QF website.

 

[auspal]

Thanks for the link.

 

[serfty]

I will look at the taxi option I think and give myself plenty of time as I am a bit of a worrier about being late for flights. I have been trying to look online to see what time we have to check in by, I thought it was at least two hours for international flights?

If you take the Airport express, for Qantas flights, you can check in your luggage and get your BP's issued the day before. (http://www.mtr.com.hk/chi/getting_around/images/itci.pdf)

You can get a two person one-way ticket from Kowloon for HKD140 (~$8.50 each): MTR > What's New

i.e. In the evening, pack you bags, keeping enough for the last night at the hotel in your carryon. Go to the station and check in.

Next morning, take the first AE from Kowloon at 5:53 am and arrive at HKG 6:14am and go straight through security.

 

[auspal]

Thank you , that sounds like a plan.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The in-town check-in service opens from 5:30am, and once you've presented yourself there, you are considered as checked in. So, as long as you get to the MTR station, say, 5:30/5:45-ish, there won't be any problems.

Also, which hotel are you staying in? Buses to the airport run 24/7, so that may be an option as well, especially if the bus stop is right next to the hotel. You'll probably need to be at the bus stop around 4:30am though.

 

[auspal]

Thanks. We are staying at The Renaissance Hotel in Kowloon.

I am putting all these tips on my tripit itinerary planner (which is great btw, especially for a multi leg trip).

 

[serfty]

The in-town check-in service opens from 5:30am, and once you've presented yourself there, you are considered as checked in. So, as long as you get to the MTR station, say, 5:30/5:45-ish, there won't be any problems.
...

This would work and save an extra trip to the station.:idea:

Note there is a 1½ hour cut off for ITCI¹, so would have to be completed by 6:05am.

¹ ITCI - In Town Check In

 

[Awesom Andy]

From The Renaissance in Kowloon, the road bus will take 75 - 80 minutes, so that's probably not a very wise option. The Axx buses don't run that early, so you'll need to get the Nxx ones. The closest bus stop for the N21 to the airport is about a 500m walk from your hotel. There is a bus at 4:50am, which should get you to the terminal just after 6am. This might be a bit tight though, and the previous bus is at 4:30am.

If you go for the taxi + MTR option, the taxi will take approx 10 mins to the station, so you can sleep in for at least another half hour. Say, catch a taxi at 5:20am, and get to the MTR with the in-town check-in at around 5:30am. That's plenty of time to get check-in done and catch the first train into the airport. You won't get to the airport until 6:30am, but you would go straight to customs/security and then into the lounge if that's your kind of thing. (The QP in HKG has been recently refurb'ed, and it's about the same standard as the one in SIN).

If you want to get the taxi all the way, you would still need to leave by around 5:20am at the latest, which should get you to the airport at 6am.

 

[FL360]

Here is also a special promotion, if you use the airport express train,

MTR > What's New

quite simply, until 30 June 2011, if you use the taxi to get to Kowloon / Tsing Yi station for in-town check in, and if you use the octopus card, then it is 50% off the airport express ticket cost. Max of 4 pax per taxi invoice.

Rules :
1. The taxi fare has to be over HKD 60, in the same day as when you buy the airport express fare / in-town check in.
2. you will need to present the taxi invoice to the service desk BEFORE you do the check in
3. the customer service rep, will take the invoice, and do something to your octopus card so when you enter the in-town check in area the 50% fare will be deducted.
4. I asked the taxi driver to drive around Kowloon stn to make sure it is just over HKD 60.

 

[serfty]

... You won't get to the airport until 6:30am, but you would go straight to customs/security and then into the lounge if that's your kind of thing ...

The first train is scheduled to arrive 6:14am. This is almost always on time. It is a 5 minute walk from there up to North security.

 

[auspal]

This is all excellent advice, thank you very much.

 

[Old Dynamite]

More civilised option is to stay at Airport hotel for last night - walk to check-in. Great restaurant food, and a view of the harbour