Complexity of transiting through HKG?

[Bell21]

Hopefully I've posted this question in the right place, and it's not intended as a political observation in any way. My son (16) is travelling with a school group to Europe in early November and returning late December, and HKG is the lay-over stop in both directions. I asked the school if they have any concerns re travelling via HKG, given recent events, and they said they are unconcerned. It's often difficult to understand the reality of situations overseas just by relying on the media, unless you/others you know have recently been there. What the community's views re whether to be concerned about this plan?

A few things to note for context:

1) They will be airside the whole time on the way there, and most of the demonstrations sounds like they're landside

2) I'm probably more concerned re the return flight, albeit it's 3 months away, so things may well change on the ground by then --- on the return flight, my son leaves his group in HKG to take a connecting flight (so assume he will stay airside) to SIN, where he will meet me (he has a 3 hour lay-over in HKG). I'm concerned that any delays could see him stuck in HKG by himself for quite a while, which is probably not ideal given his age.

 

[sjk]

Seriously, it’s just transit, it will be completely fine.

What on earth more could the school possibly do at this juncture?

 

[Bell21]

Not much one would think re the school's ability to have a back-up plan. I think I'm more interested in reassurance for the return flight - he had never travelled internationally on his own - and the media does portray an airport in complete commotion, which I suspect is an over-reaction re airside at least.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Zero concern warranted.

 

[get me outta here]

This sounds like a very safe way for a 16yo to be prepared to look after himself in HGK airside a/port. There's things to do there and it is just a gentle challenge for him to find his way around and entertain himself. It sounds like he will be more than absolutely fine. The only responsibility he will have is to absolutely ensure he is at the correct gate for boarding. As it's his return flight after some other i travel it will be a cinch.

2) I'm probably more concerned re the return flight, albeit it's 3 months away, so things may well change on the ground by then --- on the return flight, my son leaves his group in HKG to take a connecting flight (so assume he will stay airside) to SIN, where he will meet me (he has a 3 hour lay-over in HKG). I'm concerned that any delays could see him stuck in HKG by himself for quite a while, which is probably not ideal given his age.

 

[drron]

Transfers at HKG are amongst the easiest we have done.After exiting your plane you go through security again at one of the transfer points-they are well signposted.Up the escalator and you are in the departures again with gates very well signposted.
The major worry is a delayed flight inbounds.That said we had such an occurrence and were at the gate 30 minutes before the next flight left but along with our bags still made it.
The worry with the situation as it is would be a flight being cancelled.However CX have 8 flights a day HKG-SIN plus one more going via BKK.So he should be right.

 

[Bell21]

Well, I was a bit too embarrassed to say originally he may well have lounge access too - lol (I believe Plaza Premium if airside allows 16 year olds in one of their lounges). It's often good to get reassurance, as pre the recent issues, I had no concerns at all, but given the media coverage, I thought it worth asking the brainstrust

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Seeing "brainstrust" and Dr Ralph in the same thread reminded me of this:

Ricky Ponting’s commentary at Old Trafford, as the camera panned to a pod of battered Baggy Greens late on day four, has been nominated in the British press as the quote of the Ashes. “I was going to say the Aussie brains trust are in the picture ... but David Warner is there.”

 

[get me outta here]

Que? At least is OT.

Seeing "brainstrust" and Dr Ralph in the same thread reminded me of this:

Ricky Ponting’s commentary at Old Trafford, as the camera panned to a pod of battered Baggy Greens late on day four, has been nominated in the British press as the quote of the Ashes. “I was going to say the Aussie brains trust are in the picture ... but David Warner is there.”

 

[RooFlyer]

Re-iterating what others have said - all the commotion at HKG airport is land side; I'd say zero worry about a transit air-side.

You'll be able to track his inbound and outbound flights using Flight Radar 24/7 app on laptop and phone: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24 A handy trick, if you don't know this app, is to track the plane that's being used on the outbound leg, as it comes into Hong Kong. You'll be able to tell well in advance if its going to be late in, and therefore if there is going to be a delay going out; similarly you can track you son's inbound flight to see that its on-time.

There is free wi-fi within the HKG terminal "#HKAirport Free WiFi”, so you'll be able to text each other during his transit (ie in case of delays). This free wi-fi may be time limited though; I can't remember.

No boarding announcements in lounges etc in HKG!!

 

[harvyk]

No concerns, the airport (esp airside) is pretty safe from protesters.

A good amount of what you're seeing in the media is photographers getting that one perfect shot and then the media claiming that's what HK is like right now.

I spent a weekend there 2 weeks ago which included a "night of violent protests". I of course wasn't about to go find the protesters, but I certainly had no problems.

 

[Bell21]

No concerns, the airport (esp airside) is pretty safe from protesters.

A good amount of what you're seeing in the media is photographers getting that one perfect shot and then the media claiming that's what HK is like right now.

I spent a weekend there 2 weeks ago which included a "night of violent protests". I of course wasn't about to go find the protesters, but I certainly had no problems.

Thanks. Yeh, I'm conscious of that re the media so this thread has been helpful. Really appreciate the feedback along with everyone else who has contributed to this thread

 

[Kremmen]

I know someone who made the transit recently. Totally fine. Check-in was blockaded that day, so the only passengers on the flight to Europe were transit passengers. (Totally sucks for Cathay, but a bonus for the passengers.)

 

[prozac]

I was contemplating if seat redemption availability might be better with Cathay due to protests atm.

 

[TAK]

Priority pass will get you in here ( not 100% about UM

 

[Isochronous]

HKG is one of the easiest airports in the world to transit and the protests have not affected transit pax in anyway.

 

[BjJames]

Relax ..... there should be no problems. I have transitted HKG twice a month for the past twenty years, including within the last month. It's a breeze, and the current "issues" are kept well land-side - and even then, not hard to negotiate. ALL airlines are doing their level best to make sure that their transit passengers have no problems.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Is your son flying CX or different? If you have onward boarding pass from HKG, as with CX and others, transfer is easy as pie. Transfer slightly more complicated if you need to check in for your onward flight at HKG and have lengthy layover.

Been a few (rare and exceptional) cancellations when (i'm told) crew members haven't been able to get to their flights due to disruptions.

My next transit through HKG in a couple weeks is CX-CX, couldda paid less for QF-ET but a 6 hr layover and the need to collect boarding pass at HKG on the latter had me going for the more expensive CX. Normally I would have trained into town to collect ET boarding pass at in town check in.

cheers Skip.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Is your son flying CX or different? If you have onward boarding pass from HKG, as with CX and others, transfer is easy as pie. Transfer slightly more complicated if you need to check in for your onward flight at HKG and have lengthy layover.

Been a few (rare and exceptional) cancellations when (i'm told) crew members haven't been able to get to their flights due to disruptions.

My next transit through HKG in a couple weeks is CX-CX, couldda paid less for QF-ET but a 6 hr layover and the need to collect boarding pass at HKG on the latter had me going for the more expensive CX. Normally I would have trained into town to collect ET boarding pass at in town check in.

cheers Skip.

Transited HKG 2 days ago. Zero sign of disturbances.

 

[Pagans]

Hopefully I've posted this question in the right place, and it's not intended as a political observation in any way. My son (16) is travelling with a school group to Europe in early November and returning late December, and HKG is the lay-over stop in both directions. I asked the school if they have any concerns re travelling via HKG, given recent events, and they said they are unconcerned. It's often difficult to understand the reality of situations overseas just by relying on the media, unless you/others you know have recently been there. What the community's views re whether to be concerned about this plan?

A few things to note for context:

1) They will be airside the whole time on the way there, and most of the demonstrations sounds like they're landside

2) I'm probably more concerned re the return flight, albeit it's 3 months away, so things may well change on the ground by then --- on the return flight, my son leaves his group in HKG to take a connecting flight (so assume he will stay airside) to SIN, where he will meet me (he has a 3 hour lay-over in HKG). I'm concerned that any delays could see him stuck in HKG by himself for quite a while, which is probably not ideal given his age.

The only trick is getting up to the departures level, there's plenty of authorised people to ask the way.