23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airport

[anna2103]

Hi if i leave the airport for a few hours, will i have to pay departure tax? Its a CX award ticket through QFF so I cant get a travel agent to add it in. If anyone has had to pay it in these circumstances what is the procedure? Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

Hi if i leave the airport for a few hours, will i have to pay departure tax? Its a CX award ticket through QFF so I cant get a travel agent to add it in. If anyone has had to pay it in these circumstances what is the procedure? Thanks

There is no penalty. Enter Hong Kong as you wish, there is no mechanism to collect the tax on departure.

If you had separate tickets and were departing HKG same day on those tickets, you would be entitled to a refund of departure tax (and you have to enter HKG to get your refund )

 

[harvyk]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

I've left HKG airport during a stop over of only 6 hours, not a problem at all. At 23 hours, I would absolutely be looking at going to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island for the night.

 

[Mal]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

As I understand it, it isn't allowed, but you're not going to get in trouble. Been there and done that numerous times.

 

[JohnK]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

If you had separate tickets and were departing HKG same day on those tickets, you would be entitled to a refund of departure tax (and you have to enter HKG to get your refund )

Keep forgetting about this one. UL to QF award connection in 2 weeks on separate tickets. Think 3 hours between connections and I will be lounged out at that stage so could be worth to get a refund of departure tax?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

Keep forgetting about this one. UL to QF award connection in 2 weeks on separate tickets. Think 3 hours between connections and I will be lounged out at that stage so could be worth to get a refund of departure tax?

it's about AUD20 or something? depends on the immigration queues... if you have e-channel, or the queues are short, it's worth it for a 'free' $20. If faced by 20-30 minute entry and exit queues, might be another issue.

collecting the refund is easy and straightforward, takes all of 30 seconds. Just show both tickets. I've forgotten the exact aisle location of the refund booth, but it's co-located among the airline check-in desks (at the end of the hall closest to the entry of the terminal from the road).

You our can also claim retrospective tickets, up to two or three months or something (used to be a lot longer, like 6 months or a year, but they've cut that right down now).

 

[JohnK]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

it's about AUD20 or something? depends on the immigration queues... if you have e-channel, or the queues are short, it's worth it for a 'free' $20. If faced by 20-30 minute entry and exit queues, might be another issue.

Sure. Assess again in 2 weeks.

 

[joelyong]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

A connection below 24h does not need to pay departure taxes at the connection airport. Departure taxes are only collected for connections of more than 24h or on separate tickets. I've forced overnight connections in BKK, TYO, TPE and AMS before. You're only required to pay the "transit" taxes, which in the case of HKG is always $0. Don't bother attempting to add it in, you'd just be losing money.

Hi if i leave the airport for a few hours, will i have to pay departure tax? Its a CX award ticket through QFF so I cant get a travel agent to add it in. If anyone has had to pay it in these circumstances what is the procedure? Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

A connection below 24h does not need to pay departure taxes at the connection airport. Departure taxes are only collected for connections of more than 24h or on separate tickets. I've forced overnight connections in BKK, TYO, TPE and AMS before. You're only required to pay the "transit" taxes, which in the case of HKG is always $0. Don't bother attempting to add it in, you'd just be losing money.

BKK may charge you the 700 baht fee simply for leaving the transit area. If your ticket doesn't include a stopover, officers can (and sometimes do) make you go back and pay the fee.

 

[joelyong]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

Well... Somehow in the 2 times that I've overnighted in BKK, I check back in again the next day through the TG F check in area and book my massage. They promptly comply and don't ask me for the departure fee

BKK may charge you the 700 baht fee simply for leaving the transit area. If your ticket doesn't include a stopover, officers can (and sometimes do) make you go back and pay the fee.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

Well... Somehow in the 2 times that I've overnighted in BKK, I check back in again the next day through the TG F check in area and book my massage. They promptly comply and don't ask me for the departure fee

Yes - BKK immigration are consistently inconsistent! There are plenty of cases where officials have decided to collect the tax (rather send the passenger back to a booth to pay it). There is, apparently, some mark on the baording pass to indicate it has been paid. As always YYMV.

 

[joelyong]

Re: 23 hour transit in Hong Kong and departure tax implications if i leave the airpor

But I guess, F immigration officers don't really seem to bother... It's usually me rocking up with my escort and presenting passport, they look at it and stamp it, then my escort walks me to the nearest buggy and drives me all the way to the Royal Orchird Spa, while we're getting some dirty stares from the J pax in the J lounge.

Yes - BKK immigration are consistently inconsistent! There are plenty of cases where officials have decided to collect the tax (rather send the passenger back to a booth to pay it). There is, apparently, some mark on the baording pass to indicate it has been paid. As always YYMV.