HKG (in transit)

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  • MartynSinclair
    Participant

    I will be in transit in HKG in a couple of weeks (5 hours) and wondered whether someone has the answers to:

    1. Is it possible to exit / clear customs from the departure level, but without too much hassle. I am meeting someone in one of the CX lounges, once through flight connections…

    2. I then need to meet someone else but landside, hence Q1..

    3. What is the nearest hotel (does need to be a 5*) where I can have a meeting, then get a room for a shower and change of clothes all within walking distance of the terminal.

    Many thanks


    esselle
    Participant

    Martyn

    You should be able to clear immigration within 30 minutes of landing.

    Once landside at HKG there are plenty of bars/restaurants where you could meet a colleague.

    The Regal Airport hotel is a 5 minute covered walk from the arrivals hall, and (although its been a few years since I used it), you used to be able to book a room in blocks of 4 hours which gives you ample time for a shower etc.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    The reason I arranged the first meeting in the CX lounge is so I can dump my hand luggage so I don’t need to take it through when I go landside. In T5 at Heathrow, its a real problem to reverse out of airside to landside.. hoping its not the same in HKG.


    GivingupBA
    Participant

    [quote quote=882721]The reason I arranged the first meeting in the CX lounge is so I can dump my hand luggage so I don’t need to take it through when I go landside. In T5 at Heathrow, its a real problem to reverse out of airside to landside.. hoping its not the same in HKG.[/quote]

    I’ve been through Hong Kong airport very many times, but unfortunately do not know for sure if you can reach immigration from the departure level. I suppose you can but personally I would not try it (I would also not leave hand luggage in a CX lounge if I left the lounge – I think they would not like that). SO IF I was doing this, I would arrange the first meeting landside, after immigration. Sorry to sound a bit gloomy/negative, Martyn.

    As Esselle says the nearest hotel (and only walkable hotel) is the Regal Airport Hotel, a 5-minute walk. It’s very good, and rents out day rooms.


    Woodpecker
    Participant

    Hello Martyn,

    I am not a frequent poster, but twenty five plus years of residing in Hong Kong may help in answer your queries.

    1. Short answer, no. Once you arrive at HKIA on an inward flight & clear transit security into departures, the only way out is via your departing flight. There are exceptions like a missed or delayed flight, but in such situations the airline “escorts” you out of departures into the public area.
    2. You would be better off reversing the order of the meetings, that would enable you to have both meetings without any hassle. Arrivals > immigration > meeting 1 landside > immigration > airline lounge > meeting 2 airside.
    3. As a few have mentioned above, walk over after arrivals to the Regal Hotel (the passageway opposite Arrival Hall A), there are rooms available in blocks of 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours.

    Happy to be of help, and best of luck.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Many thanks Woodpecker and based on your reply will try and reverse my meetings. Thanks also for mentioning the block hours for the Regal Hotel.

    With regards to leaving hand luggage in the CX lounge or in fact any lounge, I frequently leave bags in the secure storage areas the lounges under lock and key, if I have a long wait..


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    How do you book a room for 3 hours? Website shows minimum room time is 10 hours..


    stevescoots
    Participant

    I often use the Regal for short stays you are correct you cannot for a few hours, 10 in the min and they have set check in times for day rates unless you have an airline issued voucher for cancelled flight etc. Its not easy to leave from departures side, certainly not whilst leaving luggage in the lounge. It is better to go through departures and put bags in the left luggage area which is sign posted (I do this often too) Martyn, I would recommend you go through arrivals and have your meetings at the Regal, I have done this a few times both in the lobby bar and downstairs in one of the 3 restaurants they have. You can leave your case with the concierge I believe even if not a guest, if not use the left luggage


    Woodpecker
    Participant

    Hello Martyn,

    Apologies for the outdated information on the time blocks available at Regal Hotel. It used to be such, not sure when they changed it.

    Having said that, I shall check with one or two travel agents to see if they do have access to time blocks less than ten hours. Should there be any such possibility, shall update here.

    Can second what Stevescoots mentioned above about leaving luggage either at paid facility at the airport (it is located in the passage between Terminal 1 and 2) or the Regal Hotel concierge.

    Apologies again.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    [quote quote=882886]Should there be any such possibility, shall update here[/quote]

    Hi Woodpecker

    Many thanks – yes please. (Hotel have just emailed me to confirm minimum is 10 hours and its from 9am – 9pm.

    Thanks Steve..


    Chris in Makati
    Participant

    I have certainly done what Martyn wants to do, at least when flying Cathay Pacific. During long transits I have often passed through the transit area and used one of the Cathay lounges for a while. I’ve then gone back through the transit point, through immigration, and taken the train downtown.

    At one time you could freely pass back through to the arrivals area, but later on security started preventing you doing so alone. However, you could still do it if accompanied by an airline staff member. I used to make my request to the lounge receptionist and she would arrange for a CX staff member to come to the lounge to collect me. I would just leave my bags where they were in the lounge storage area.

    The last time I did this was a few years ago now, so I don’t know if the rules have changed more recently.


    stevescoots
    Participant

    I checked with a friend of mine who works in CX airside ops and they say you cannot do that now due to security…..unless you happen to be the relative of a certain former Legco CE….


    BrotherJim
    Participant

    I was allowed out of departures back in March. In my case I arrived at 430am (flight was an hour early) and not flying out on MIAT until mid afternoon.

    My plan was to just CX lounge hop but found out the hardway and once into departures that because I was ticketed on MIAT no lounge access except at some 3rd part lounge 3 hours befor departure. This despite a big blurb about the CX/MIAT tie up etc. it’s all in the fine print.

    So tried to escape. I had to wait until almost 7am for the CX desk to be manned in departures near Starbucks. Then had to convince them to allow me out, my argument was the long transit and no airside transit. They agreed which the tool abother 30 mins to get someone else to take me down.

    The lounge people were real nasty and would not call someone to help me out. So I was very tired and grumpy and need of a shower.

    Want to the transit hotel to find it full so ended up in a paid lounge under the station for a few hours to freshen up and have breakfast. Then headed to town to lunch before going back to airport.

    So doable but not easy and you need a reason and convince the airline to allow you out.


    Woodpecker
    Participant

    Hello Martyn,

    After checking around, just a small follow up to the above.

    The Regal Hotel now only has a minimum of ten hours for room booking. However as an alternative, there is a paid Plaza Premium Lounge in the public area between Terminals 1 and 2 which I believe has the usual lounge facilities & would be sufficient to have meetings, and also keep your luggage. This might be the one Brother Jim referred to above. You may check it out here:

    https://www.plaza-network.com/location_detail?city=Hong%20Kong

    Another alternative could be for you to check in only upto HKG which would make you eligible for the CX Arrivals Lounge, also located in the public area between Terminals 1 and 2. Of course your luggage would then be tagged to HKG only, but you could immediately go up to the departures landside & drop off the luggage for your next flight, before any of your activities landside.

    That would leave you with CX Arrivals Lounge access land side, as well as CX Lounge Access airside once you re-enter. You might though want to check with CX to be certain.

    Thanks.


    BrotherJim
    Participant

    [quote quote=883359]Hello Martyn,

    The Regal Hotel now only has a minimum of ten hours for room booking. However as an alternative, there is a paid Plaza Premium Lounge in the public area between Terminals 1 and 2 which I believe has the usual lounge facilities & would be sufficient to have meetings, and also keep your luggage. This might be the one Brother Jim referred to above. You may check it out here:[/quote]

    That is indeed the lounge I used. Was good for a shower, breakfast and included a neck massage. Beyond that pretty basic, but functional.

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