Transit in HKG (5 hours): can I leave airport and add check-in luggage from HKG?

[cardiology]

Hi,

I will be taking AY69 from Helsinki to HKG arriving HKG at 2:30pm and then transit via AY5841 (operated by CX) at 6:50pm back to SYD on business class.

• Can I leave the HKG airport and do some shopping in the city taking the airport express return trip?
• Can I add check-in luggage when I return to HKG airport? If yes, to which check-in counter? CX or AY?
• I presume I can always add carry-on baggage as long as the weight limit is not exceeded?

Thanks

 

[defurax]

Hi,

I will be taking AY69 from Helsinki to HKG arriving HKG at 2:30pm and then transit via AY5841 (operated by CX) at 6:50pm back to SYD on business class.

• Can I leave the HKG airport and do some shopping in the city taking the airport express return trip?
• Can I add check-in luggage when I return to HKG airport? If yes, to which check-in counter? CX or AY?
• I presume I can always add carry-on baggage as long as the weight limit is not exceeded?

Thanks

Yes, you can leave the airport and catch the express train.
The additional luggage question is quite interesting. I imagine it is possible, but never tried it! If it is indeed possible, then the easiest thing would be for you to drop your bag at the Airport Express stations (Kowloon or Hong Kong) CX checkin counters.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Check in in my case for flights, when there is more than one airline involved, is always with the operating carrier.
I have flown Au to NZ many times, and with the linkage between QF (who sell me my ticket) and EK as carrier, its always been (where the operating carrier is EK), is to check in with the EK counter at SYD/MEL.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,

I will be taking AY69 from Helsinki to HKG arriving HKG at 2:30pm and then transit via AY5841 (operated by CX) at 6:50pm back to SYD on business class.

• Can I leave the HKG airport and do some shopping in the city taking the airport express return trip?
• Can I add check-in luggage when I return to HKG airport? If yes, to which check-in counter? CX or AY?
• I presume I can always add carry-on baggage as long as the weight limit is not exceeded?

Thanks

You'd have about 1 hour to 90 mins to spend in Hong Kong, allowing for immigration inbound and security + exit immigration on the way out plus train each way. Cabin baggage no problem. Checked baggage should be ok. Check in with the counter indicated on the information boards at the airport, but as Poochie says, it's usually the operating carrier.

 

[RooFlyer]

I doubt you could add more checked baggage after a 'stopover'.

The only way you might be able to do it I think is to at HEL check-in, have your bags short-checked to HKG (ie you pick them up in HKG), store them at the airport, go into town, then check in all your bags, including new stuff, at the CX counter (the operating airline). The downside of this of course is that you would have to return to the airport to check-in (as opposed to Central or Kowloon stations) cutting some of your short time landside.

Be prepared to be disappointed for this scheme as well.

Yes, best to go for carry-on ... if you are travelling J, you would be very unlucky if they actually checked the weight of your carry on. "Shopping bags" are almost universally allowed as extra in J I have observed.

... but do ask in HEL and let us know what the result was.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I doubt you could add more checked baggage after a 'stopover'.

The only way you might be able to do it I think is to at HEL check-in, have your bags short-checked to HKG (ie you pick them up in HKG), store them at the airport, go into town, then check in all your bags, including new stuff, at the CX counter (the operating airline).

Is this from personal experience? Plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests it shouldn't be a problem to check more luggage during a transit.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi,

I will be taking AY69 from Helsinki to HKG arriving HKG at 2:30pm and then transit via AY5841 (operated by CX) at 6:50pm back to SYD on business class.

• Can I leave the HKG airport and do some shopping in the city taking the airport express return trip?
• Can I add check-in luggage when I return to HKG airport? If yes, to which check-in counter? CX or AY?
• I presume I can always add carry-on baggage as long as the weight limit is not exceeded?

Thanks

n
I don't see why you can't add baggage midway through a journey. As long as adding the extra bags won't take you over your total checked baggage allowance.

As mentioned above i'ts probably easier to checkin downtown and get rid of your bags there before returning to the airport. That time will go very quickly so it may be a tad ambitious to be adding bags as it will be full on just doing the sightseeing bit with HLO. If you have status there's plenty of lounges on offer to explore.

 

[Austman]

I have added extra checked baggage at a transit stop. Thanks to LAG rules within the EU that caught me out (and the duty-free store in the Australian airport) one time. I had the possibility to check the items instead. But that was in CPH. No problem if time permits.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is this from personal experience? Plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests it shouldn't be a problem to check more luggage during a transit.

Yes, I was going to add the story, but then would have to say that airlines probably have different rules, so the story was a bit pointless.

About 4 years ago I was flying YYC-YVR-SYD on Air Canada, with a day stop in Vancouver. I was planning to visit an office in Vancouver for work and there was a carry-on sized bag of stuff of a colleague asked me to pick up and bring back. I asked at the AC check-in at Calgary and was told I couldn't add a checked bag in Vancouver. I had high status with AC back then, and the extra bag was easily under my allowance (and I also couldn't take it as carry-on).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's a shame, unless air Canadia has a special rule, it was likely you'd have been fine. Variety of reasons why people may need to check an extra item.

 

[cardiology]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will get the board pass from CX transit counter when I arrive HKG and then will make a short visit downtown and add extra check in luggage at the CX check-in counter in the airport. I think the airport express bag drop in Hong Kong Station might not have enough time to deliver my baggage to the airport.

 

[yohy?!]

Shouldn't be a problem - have had to add check carry on luggage on a transit after accidentally packing liquids on the wrong bag. CX checkin should be able to handle, the airport express checkin staff are contractors so may be best to do at the airport premium aisles if you have status.

 

[YSSY]

I've added check in luggage during a stopover with CX, no problems at all.

 

[JohnK]

I have also added luggage mid trip without issues in the past.

 

[tomlee1986]

yes you can enter HKG but only get round 90 mins max in the city.. but I am unsure about the extra bags..