HKG transit and lounge access before "departing"

[SeatBackForward]

I am likely to have a 12hr transit in HKG soon and will need to pop into our offices there. I am assuming I will have my onward boarding pass.

I am aware of the arrivals lounge and will qualify for access to there upon landing into HKG. However...

Is it all possible to get into one of the OW lounges, shower, drop some carry on bags there and then leave HKG airport? Considering most of the lounges are in the departures side of the terminal, is there any way of leaving from there?

I'm not aware of any, so the arrivals lounge may be the best option. But the other will save me lugging around bags I don't need.

 

[Hvr]

In a word no. Once you deplane then you'll be guided towards the arrival gates for processing or towards the transit gate for checking before being allowed back into the departures area.

The arrivals lounge will look after your bags if required, done it before with no problems.

 

[SeatBackForward]

In a word no. Once you deplane then you'll be guided towards the arrival gates for processing or towards the transit gate for checking before being allowed back into the departures area.

The arrivals lounge will look after your bags if required, done it before with no problems.

Thank you, thats good news.

Despite having HLO I wasn't too keen on dragging it around unnecessarily. Will make visiting the electronics markets easier too

 

[JohnK]

If you have a same day transit and have a boarding pass then you can go back into the departures area and visit one of the lounges of choice.

When you are finished you then go to the airline desk (not transfer desk) and get a note that you need to leave the airport before you flight later that day. Go to security and tell them you now want to leave the airport and show the note. They will escort you back into arrivals area.

Clear immigration.

Go to arrivals lounge if you want and/or leave bags at luggage storage for a fee.

Go and enjoy yourself in HKG till your heart is content.

Make sure you come back to airport in time for your flight back....

 

[cmon0005]

I didn't even realise that hkg departures and arrivals were separate till reading this post! I always thought it was just like SIN where it's all on the same level.. shows you how much attention I paid on my recent visit to hkg.

I wonder what is more efficient, dep/arr on different levels or everything on the one floor? I know for transiting I prefer it all on the same level ie SIN, KUL...why aren't all airports like this?

 

[nlagalle]

+1 to what JohnK said. I've done it. Pretty straight forward. I left my bag at the luggage storage though before going into town.

 

[Isochronous]

Will The Arrival (The CX arrival lounge) let me leave my bag there? I don't want to pay the left luggage people if it can be avoided.

 

[SeatBackForward]

When you are finished you then go to the airline desk (not transfer desk) and get a note that you need to leave the airport before you flight later that day. Go to security and tell them you now want to leave the airport and show the note. They will escort you back into arrivals area.

Thanks for the tips John.

By airline desk, do you mean at the lounge itself? Or to go to the airline specific counter at the transfers desk?

 

[JohnK]

By airline desk, do you mean at the lounge itself? Or to go to the airline specific counter at the transfers desk?

From memory there is a dedicated airline desk on the departures level not at the transfer desks which are at arrival level.

It is more like an information desk and they have a form where they put all your details on it to show at security. It has been a few years since I used it so do not remember the exact location but it was not difficult to find.

 

[Hvr]

Will The Arrival (The CX arrival lounge) let me leave my bag there? I don't want to pay the left luggage people if it can be avoided.

Yes, just have your onward boarding pass and they happily take your bag(s) and give you a token to hand back to redeem your bags.

 

[RooFlyer]

I didn't even realise that hkg departures and arrivals were separate till reading this post! I always thought it was just like SIN where it's all on the same level.. shows you how much attention I paid on my recent visit to hkg.

I wonder what is more efficient, dep/arr on different levels or everything on the one floor? I know for transiting I prefer it all on the same level ie SIN, KUL...why aren't all airports like this?

Ditto. Never took much notice until I had to carefully look at everything so I could describe process to niece who is arriving alone later in the year. The fact that the trains are on both levels is what threw me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't know how much of a hassle it is for airline staff to have t escort you back to immigration? but certainly the easiest option is to visit the arrivals lounge and leave luggage there. even the regular left luggage I think is very reasonable at hkg.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know how much of a hassle it is for airline staff to have t escort you back to immigration?

No hassle. No need for escort. Just a piece of paper from airline desk that you want to leave airport.

Just follow my instructions and you do it all yourself.

 

[knightman7]

Wow, I never knew you could do that. I've always just used the CX arrivals lounge and left my hand luggage in the left luggage area during dinner stop overs in HKG. Thanks JohnK!

 

[SeatBackForward]

From memory there is a dedicated airline desk on the departures level not at the transfer desks which are at arrival level.

It is more like an information desk and they have a form where they put all your details on it to show at security. It has been a few years since I used it so do not remember the exact location but it was not difficult to find.

Thanks again John, I never realised that HKg had two seperate departures levels, well according to the map found here: http://www.hongkongairport.com/leaflet/map_facilities.pdf there are...

Is this the area where the Airline desks are? they are indicated by the question marks and titled "Airline Services Desk" on the map.

 

[JohnK]

Is this the area where the Airline desks are? they are indicated by the question marks and titled "Airline Services Desk" on the map.

They look to be the ones.

Just show them boarding pass and tell them you have a meeting, or going to hotel, and they will give you a piece of paper to give to security.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I enquired at the CX Wing F lounge, and was told that HKG is clamping down in security and allowing passengers to reenter the arrivals area. I was advised the arrivals lounge was my best option.

So will probably just do that how that I have HKFV access.

 

[Austman]

One problem with the CX arrivals lounge is that it closes at midnight. So if your HKG transit starts from 23:00 or later you'd probably not make it to the arrivals lounge before it closes (or is just about to close).

But the CX departure lounges are open until about 01:15 (CX last flight is 01:45 and a Dragonair flight departs 02:20). So you'd have time to visit a CX departure lounge for an hour or two before they close.

I'm in this exact situation in a week or so. The arrivals lounge will not be an option, but I'd like an hour or so lounge time before going to the airport hotel - which is landside.

I'm not sure what the migration/security issue is. If passengers with long transit times change their mind and want to visit HK for a few hours, why shouldn't they allowed to do it?

 

[Austman]

I enquired at the CX Wing F lounge, and was told that HKG is clamping down in security and allowing passengers to reenter the arrivals area.

Reports over on FT suggest it's still allowed. The problem might be that CX lounge staff don't want to do it. It seems you can DIY anyhow. I might find out myself in a week...

Lounge Access and other Lounge FAQs - Page 6 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Austman]

I did a bit of research yesterday. I asked Cathay Pacific transit desk staff and 2 x HKIA transit security officials.

Result: No-one wants a passenger to easily exit the departure area. But it seems, if it has to be done, the airline needs to assist the passenger with the process. In other words, you need a good reason that your departing airline will support.