Hong Kong Frequent Visitors card

[serfty]

I really don't think it saves that much time.

It does save a bit of time going into Hong Kong but when you leaving Hong Kong, the queue is mainly for security check and not for customs. But better than nothing I suppose.

I qualified for one and was able to use it twice; time saved ~½ Hour, the other about ¼ Hour.

 

[yangry]

It does get you into the security screening queue a little earlier.

I thought you line up as everyone else does to go through the security, which can take awhile, and the customs is after the security check. And because the security queue is normally long, there's normally no queue at the customs. Hence there's not much time that you can save.

But going into Hong Kong you go through customs first and normally there'll be a queue and a HKIA Frequent Visitor Card can save a fair bit of time.

 

[simongr]

I thought you line up as everyone else does to go through the security, which can take awhile, and the customs is after the security check. And because the security queue is normally long, there's normally no queue at the customs. Hence there's not much time that you can save.

There are now three opportunities to queue at HKIA (assuming you are a OWE and thus didnt queue at check in ):

- Pre security screening - before you get your bags xrayed they now check you can proceed
- Security screening - be prepared to be pushed out of the way by some over important idiot chatting on his blackberry
- Immigration - after security move to the relevant queue in immigration. personally when I look at the customs queue the foreigners queue is a minimum 6 deep and on average 12-14 deep. Not as bad as in bound of course...

 

[yangry]

There are now three opportunities to queue at HKIA (assuming you are a OWE and thus didnt queue at check in ):

- Pre security screening - before you get your bags xrayed they now check you can proceed
- Security screening - be prepared to be pushed out of the way by some over important idiot chatting on his blackberry
- Immigration - after security move to the relevant queue in immigration. personally when I look at the customs queue the foreigners queue is a minimum 6 deep and on average 12-14 deep. Not as bad as in bound of course...

Yep the security screening is a pain in the neck. Not much you can do though.

 

[Ric]

On the last few occasions leaving HKG, going through the E-Channel, the queue is only one deep......me!

Ric

 

[NM]

I thought you line up as everyone else does to go through the security, which can take awhile, and the customs is after the security check. And because the security queue is normally long, there's normally no queue at the customs. Hence there's not much time that you can save.

But going into Hong Kong you go through customs first and normally there'll be a queue and a HKIA Frequent Visitor Card can save a fair bit of time.

Let me clarify my comment. I was specially responding to your comment about leaving HKG. When leaving HKG, you first go through immigration control and then security screening. The Frequent Visitor card (or APEC card in my case) gets you through immigration control faster and hence able to join the long security screening line earlier than you would have if delayed at the immigration control point without the card.

Note there is no customs control outbound at HKG, just immigration (passport) and security screening.

In-bound to HKG, you get through immigration control faster, but if collecting checked bags you are likely to be waiting at the carousel. When arriving at HKG with checked bags recently, I was through immigration control very quickly while a travelling companion had to queue up with all the other non-HKG residents. He joined me at the baggage carousel before our bags arrived, so my APEC card just meant I waited at the carousel while he waited in the immigration control queue.

I have never been delayed at HKG for customs control, which would be after baggage collection. Its always been a matter of walking out with nothing to declare to Customs. I suspect you are using the term "Customs" when you really mean "Immigration" or "Passport" control.

 

[simongr]

Let me clarify my comment. I was specially responding to your comment about leaving HKG. When leaving HKG, you first go through immigration control and then security screening. The Frequent Visitor card (or APEC card in my case) gets you through immigration control faster and hence able to join the long security screening line earlier than you would have if delayed at the immigration control point without the card.

Note there is no customs control outbound at HKG, just immigration (passport) and security screening.

Has this changed back recently? My last trip through HKG in Nov involved:

- Check in
- Pre screening (to ensure the proles havent got more than one bag) this used to be a quick manual check of the BP but now there is a machine involved
- Security screening
- Immigration

Immigration used to be before security but the airport works since July/August have necessitated the change.

 

[NM]

Has this changed back recently? My last trip through HKG in Nov involved:

- Check in
- Pre screening (to ensure the proles havent got more than one bag) this used to be a quick manual check of the BP but now there is a machine involved
- Security screening
- Immigration

Immigration used to be before security but the airport works since July/August have necessitated the change.

Ahh, things change all the time. My last HKG exit was before Nov last year. Either way, every minute saved at immigration is a minute more in the FLounge .

 

[serfty]

In Feb, when departing HKG I had:

• PP check (no bag check, had rollaboard and laptop)
• Emigration
• WTMD/X-ray

 

[serfty]

... is a minute more in the FLounge .

Only the one?

 

[NM]

Only the one?

Every one counts

 

[yangry]

I suspect you are using the term "Customs" when you really mean "Immigration" or "Passport" control.

Yeah and oops that's what I meant.

But I thought when leaving Hong Kong, the order was the Security Screening before Immigration. This was in mid-Jan. That's why I said because the queue for Security Screening is so long, it limits the amount of people at Immigration which made it effectively no queue. At least that was the case when I was there, which makes the Card a little less useful.

And yes, I had to wait for my luggage to come out when I arrived in Hong Kong, so the situation is exactly the same as you.

I read comments from others and I realised that HKIA may have indeed changed the order of Immigration and Security Screening when departing Hong Kong. I think the Card is more useful after they change the order.

Alan

 

[serfty]

Every one counts

Oh, yes ... minutes ...

I meant lounges ...

 

[NM]

But I thought when leaving Hong Kong, the order was the Security Screening before Immigration. This was in mid-Jan. That's why I said because the queue for Security Screening is so long, it limits the amount of people at Immigration which made it effectively no queue. At least that was the case when I was there, which makes the Card a little less useful.

...

I read comments from others and I realised that HKIA may have indeed changed the order of Immigration and Security Screening when departing Hong Kong. I think the Card is more useful after they change the order.

yes, it does seem they have changed it recently. My info was based on the old process. Security screening is the biggest delay and cards don't help short-cut that process.

 

[Mal]

I went through the 'North' exit - It enters roughly where the Qantas Lounge is - last week. Passport/boarding pass checked. X-Ray (where they searched my bag and patted me down), then outwards immigration.

 

[Ric]

I went through the 'North' exit - It enters roughly where the Qantas Lounge is - last week. Passport/boarding pass checked. X-Ray (where they searched my bag and patted me down), then outwards immigration.

And I can attest to that!!

Ric

 

[serfty]

As a WP I always go South; v. short walk to F/Wing after formalities ...

 

[Mal]

As a WP I always go South; v. short walk to F/Wing after formalities ...

Aaah, in my case I had to find the post office first to satisfy someone's requests It's more closer to North than South.

 

[Ric]

True, but QF check in is at Row J which is just at the North entrance. However the rule is always go south after immigration and head for the Wing or the Pier !

Ric

 

[Mal]

True, but QF check in is at Row J which is just at the North entrance. However the rule is always go south after immigration and head for the Wing or the Pier !

Don't worry - I found the Cathay F lounge quick enough