How long is long enough?

[Lots of Baggage]

Howdy appreciate any who can help.
I have to book a connecting flight from HKG to PVG from dragon air after flying Qantas from MEL to HKG. How long should I leave between bookings to be safe to get my connecting flight? There is one 1hr and 10 mins later than the scheduled arrival in HKG or should I play it safe and book the one 3hr 20 mins later. These are my only choices and the later one means I get in to Shanghai very late?

 

[samh004]

There are a number of things to consider. While you might be able to check your baggage through, if you don’t have the flights on the same booking you might have problems if the flight arriving into HKG is late.

I think most would say that an hour-ten is enough time, but if there’s a delay, there could also be issues. And especially in HKG the transfer desks can sometimes take some time to clear.

To play it safe, a longer connection time would help, and if you’re not able to get into a lounge, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in HKG airport.

As for getting into PVG, the Maglev train runs until 21:40, albeit not at 430Km/h but 300Km/h.

 

[JohnK]

The way flights have been chopped and changed recently try to leave as much time as possible.

Personally I would not be comfortable with a 70 minute connection from QF->KA on separate tickets even though HKG is a very efficient airport. The 3hr 20m connection is much safer but even that is not guaranteed. Is it possible to overnight in HKG?

It may happen to me more often than most but I recently arrived around 3 hours late on a QF flight SIN-MEL. Luckily my connecting flight MEL-SYD was on the same ticket and it was QF anyway. If the connecting flight was on any other carrier I would have been in trouble.

 

[mannej]

Separate tickets or on one ticket?

 

[Lots of Baggage]

Thanks for the advice.

It is seperate tickets as QF dont have premium economy from MEL to PVG unless Im mistaken, and Cathay dont have a premium economy either. So I have to go via HKG.

Is there someone else (besides Air China) that I can get this class.

It looks like I should give myself the 3 + hours though.

 

[equus]

It is seperate tickets as QF dont have premium economy from MEL to PVG

If you have not booked anything yet, this is not a reason to require separate tickets. Whilst it may not be possible to book online, this may be the sort of thing where a good travel agent may be able to help you out, as they can book multi-carrier (and multi-class) trips all on the one PNR (subject to fare rules etc).

Whilst this may cost a little more (and sometimes not, if the TA can find good deals) the extra can be considered valuable insurance to get everything on the same PNR, gaining the benefit of protection for mis-connects etc.

Of course, it may be much more expensive, which is when you need to weigh up the risks and alternative costs (such as overnighting to give adequate connection time), or the risk of missing a flight, having to pay full whack for a later flight and possibly arriving late... which is often where the premium to get a good TA (emphasis on good) starts to look quite attractive.

 

[ozmille]

from memory a colleague of mine did this and all on the one ticket with QF whY+ and CX whY is about 2750

Mille

 

[docjames]

I would be attemting to get MEL-HKG-PVG on one pnr with the MEL-HKG in Y+. You'll need a TA. Then you'll be able to book the 1hr connection and be "protected"

PM me if you need a TA in Melbourne who i'm sure will be able to do this for you.




If you're booking as two seperate tickets, i'd take the 3hr connection, even in HK.

 

[Lots of Baggage]

Thanks everyone for your help. Its for work and we use a 3rd party so I will see what they can do.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks everyone for your help. Its for work and we use a 3rd party so I will see what they can do.

If work is paying then go for the more expensive option and get it all on one ticket - then spring for the 1hr 10 option.

I've done the same transfer in as little as 40 mins - but the keyis to make sure you pick the right transfer security. The ones by immigration CAN be very long while soe of the other transfer points can be almost empty. With a 40-45 min connection your flight may be boarding by the time you get there (which is not always good depending on the amount of hand luggage you wish to stow).

If you are booking separate tickets (and the saving could be around $300 depending on which type of fare you get) then book the 3hr connection.