I have just had an accidental short transit transfer at HKG. I was booked om CX124/903 MEL-HKG-MNL which has a nominal transit time of 1h45m, and is often longer due to early arrival of CX134. In my case however, CX134 pushed back on time at about 0730, but almost immediately had to return to the gate due to unspecified engineering issues. We did not get away until round 0930, which pretty well eliminated any change of connecting with CX903 on time.
Sure enough, during the flight I received an email advising that my flight to MNL had been changed to CX913, leaving about 4 hours later, However, I then received another email this time telling me I was back on CX903, leaving me wondering was going on!
Closer to arrival when the IFE began showing transfer info, it showed the CX903 departure moved back by 40 mins, leaving a transfer time of just under 60 mins.
When we arrived at HKG there was a CX person at the gate waving a "CX903" sign waylaying all the affected pax (about 10); we were all then escorted through the transfer point using the "priority lane" and got to our gate with time to spare. (It was gate 63, which gave me a chance to drop into the Pier F lounge for a few drinkies!) , we eventually reached MNL only about 15 mins late.
My checked bag was not so lucky, and was loaded onto the CX913 flight later, but this was handled well and it was delivered to me the next morning.
So the moral seems to be, short transits do seem to be handled quite well at the end of the day!
www.hongkongairport.com
