Minimum connection time in Hong Kong - separate bookings (QF127 & KA/CX/CCA)

[SusanZ]

Hi all!

Seeking advice from all the wise FF's about connection time in Hong Kong.

We've booked SYD to HKG flights on QF127 (premium economy sale fares) but after booking, we've realised that it would be best for our itinerary to fly straight to Beijing that evening.

The flight arrives in Hong Kong at 17:45. There is a CX/KA flight at 7pm, and an Air China flight departing at 8pm.

A few questions:

• Can I "add" this flight to my existing booking - I understand it will be too late to get connection protection?
• What would be a safe connection time between two separate bookings?
• Will we be able to check our baggage all the way through to the final destination (even if not a oneworld airline etc?)

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

Susan

 

[Shan Man]

7pm should be fine. I had an 18:40 connection to TPE with CX coming of QF127 and made it to the gate after quite a long walk.

If you book CX you will be able to check-in in sydney and that will help you make your connection and you should be protected given its two one-world tickets. With Air China you might have to collect bags and re-check in which could be cutting it fine.

Others will be able to shed more light though I think!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The published minimum connecting times from Expert Flyer are below:

Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Minimum Connect Times:
Connecting at HKG
Incoming airline QF
Outgoing airline CX
Flight type International to International
STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE    .20  1.00  1.00  1.00
OFFLINE   .20  1.00  1.00  1.00
** OR * ARE ALL
**-CX II  1.30 CHINA - ALL   
**-CX II  1.00 
**-** II  2.00 KHH - ALL ALL - CHINA  
**-** II  2.00 TPE - ALL ALL - CHINA  
**-** II  2.00 TSA - ALL ALL - CHINA  
**-** II  2.00 ALL - KHH CHINA - ALL   
**-** II  2.00 ALL - TPE CHINA - ALL   
**-** II  2.00 ALL - TSA CHINA - ALL   
**-** II  1.30 CHINA - TAIWAN  
**-** II  1.30 TAIWAN - CHINA

CX would be the only OW carrier that you could ask QF to through check bags onto given that you're on separate pnrs for the HKG/PEK flight.

 

[SusanZ]

Thanks so much Shan Man & Oz.

Will definitely go for a CX flight in that case - is it possible to link two separate OW bookings?

Many thanks
Susan

 

[wingspan]

CX would be the only OW carrier that you could ask QF to through check bags onto given that you're on separate pnrs for the HKG/PEK flight.

I would have thought that you could through check from QF to KA on separate PNRs too - do you mean that QF won't check through to oneworld affiliates as they would oneworld members?

In any case, SusanZ, when do you fly? I'm on QF127 and then connecting to KA906 on separate PNRs in September and assume there will be no problems. I see no reason why QF wouldn't be able to through check me onto KA906 on checkin.

 

[featheast]

What if there is a delay for QF127, will the CX/KA leg get protected to the next available or not?
I am kind of in the same boat, but need to fly to PVG.

 

[wingspan]

What if there is a delay for QF127, will the CX/KA leg get protected to the next available or not?
I am kind of in the same boat, but need to fly to PVG.

Aaah I would assume that it wouldn't get protected, and I'm happy to deal with that if it arises. I guess that at least if you're checked in and there is record of you on QF127 (or whichever flight it is you're on) then steps might be able to be taken to at least help out. In my case I booked for convenience - if worst came to worst I could travel on the next possible flight even if that were the next day. If I end up having to pay more I'll deal with then when I come to it too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

checking flightaware the latest QF127 has arrived in the last 13 days is 1738 - other days it has been as early as 1600, and the usual arrival is somewhere bewteen 1620-1640.

That would give plenty of time for the 1900 flight.

Baggage should be through checked by QF if you find a competent agent who knows the rules - some will point blank tell you they can't do it and you will need to claim your bags in HKG. Stand your ground in those cases and get them to do it right. (This is an issue which I have not seen addressed by the company representative since it was first raised. It would be helpful for them to confirm appropriate training has now been given to all check-in staff.)

you can link the PNRs - but it will just be a note. It won't have the effect of protecting you or the bags on the flight if you missconnect.

 

[Anna]

checking flightaware the latest QF127 has arrived in the last 13 days is 1738 - other days it has been as early as 1600, and the usual arrival is somewhere bewteen 1620-1640.

I was on QF127 on 5 June and Flightaware has the arrival time wrong. We landed at some point after 6pm and by the time we had taxi'ed to the gate and disembarked it was more like 6.30pm. I would not have made a connection to a 7pm flight from QF127 that day. I remember thinking at the time that I was glad I had put off my next sector until the next morning.

 

[SusanZ]

Thanks all for your responses. A bit stressed now, not sure what we'll do - if we don't make the 7pm we'd have to stay another night, and I'm loathe to spend the extra $$ on HK accom and basically lose a day (we were hoping to squeeze in 2 nights in Beijing before heading to Shanghai for NYE). Alternatively, the later flights on non-OW carriers will have us arriving in Beijing in the middle of the night!

In any case, SusanZ, when do you fly? I'm on QF127 and then connecting to KA906 on separate PNRs in September and assume there will be no problems. I see no reason why QF wouldn't be able to through check me onto KA906 on checkin.

wingspan, we're not flying until 29 December. I'm not sure if the flight times slightly change throughout the year, on google QF127 comes up with a 17:20 arrival time but as per my eticket, we arrive at 17:45.

The KA flight codeshares with CX - I think you should be able to check all the way through from Sydney?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

connecting to CX or KA is fine.. makes no difference in terms of baggage check ex Australia.

 

[Shan Man]

A bit stressed now, not sure what we'll do - if we don't make the 7pm we'd have to stay another night, and I'm loathe to spend the extra $$ on HK accom and basically lose a day!

wingspan, we're not flying until 29 December. I'm not sure if the flight times slightly change throughout the year, on google QF127 comes up with a 17:20 arrival time but as per my eticket, we arrive at 17:45.

I would personally book the flight with no stress. CX are a pretty good airline and given you are transferring in from another *O carrier they would be more inclined to be sympathetic than if you were on another airline. I just had a look on CX's website and they have a codeshare at 8pm which they could move you to if your inbound is late.

I took QF127 in April and we left sydney 1hr late yet still touched down in HKG 20mins early vs schedule.

YMMV however.

 

[pointshungry]

I always fly on a separate tickets. HKG is my favorite stopover place. It doesn't really matter who you will fly out of HKG, just ask at the airport in Australia to connect your tickets and put your luggage through to the final destination. They will do it only if the connection time is less then 24 hrs. I would leave at least 3 hrs connection time between the flights for insurance purpose as if something goes wrong, they won't cover you unless you have 3 hrs gap. Keep in mind, not all insurances will cover you if you have a misconnection on a separate tickets. For example, cover-n-more won't. As far as I know, QBE is the only one who covers that event. If in Australia airport check-in staff tells you they can't put your luggage through to the final destination, tell them you can not come out and then come back in through the customs and immigration as it involves time, visa check, etc., whatever... they always did that for me, no problems. Did you tried to give QF ticket office a ring and ask them to upsell your ticket to PVG (just add a connecting flight?). Happy safe flying!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I always fly on a separate tickets. HKG is my favorite stopover place. It doesn't really matter who you will fly out of HKG, just ask at the airport in Australia to connect your tickets and put your luggage through to the final destination. They will do it only if the connection time is less then 24 hrs. I would leave at least 3 hrs connection time between the flights for insurance purpose as if something goes wrong, they won't cover you unless you have 3 hrs gap. Keep in mind, not all insurances will cover you if you have a misconnection on a separate tickets. For example, cover-n-more won't. As far as I know, QBE is the only one who covers that event. If in Australia airport check-in staff tells you they can't put your luggage through to the final destination, tell them you can not come out and then come back in through the customs and immigration as it involves time, visa check, etc., whatever... they always did that for me, no problems. Did you tried to give QF ticket office a ring and ask them to upsell your ticket to PVG (just add a connecting flight?). Happy safe flying!

Worth noting that if you have separate tickets transiting in HKG, youwill have paid departure tax from HKG. This is easy to redeem but you need to go landside. You are given cash back on the spot (HKD). There is a limit of a few months in which to claim, but i took along a bunch and walked away with a wad of cash

 

[pointshungry]

Worth noting that if you have separate tickets transiting in HKG, youwill have paid departure tax from HKG. This is easy to redeem but you need to go landside. You are given cash back on the spot (HKD). There is a limit of a few months in which to claim, but i took along a bunch and walked away with a wad of cash

Good for you! To be honest, don't know that I pay anything extra at all... So many times transiting through... unless it's in the ticket when I buy it, I did not pay any departure tax extra to the tickets I had... ever!.. with the stopover or without... And It's always cheaper for me to get separate tickets unless I fly to gateway (in Europe) and stop. But because I also do a small connection within Europe, it's always cheaper to travel on a separate tickets for me.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It doesn't really matter who you will fly out of HKG, just ask at the airport in Australia to connect your tickets and put your luggage through to the final destination.

Actually it does matter who you will fly with ex HKG because QF will only be able to through check your bags on separate pnrs if your connecting flight is on a One World carrier.

They will do it only if the connection time is less then 24 hrs. I would leave at least 3 hrs connection time between the flights for insurance purpose as if something goes wrong, they won't cover you unless you have 3 hrs gap.

Actually it's more like 8-12 hours depending on the airlines involved. The IATA definition of a transit being less than 24 hours is more for fares & ticketing purposes rather than whether or not baggage can be through checked.

While travel insurance companies may need 3 hours between flights, if you had separate QF & CX pnrs & QF through checked your bags & issued both boarding passes in the event of a delay they would rebook your connecting flight if you missed it because QF was late.

If in Australia airport check-in staff tells you they can't put your luggage through to the final destination, tell them you can not come out and then come back in through the customs and immigration as it involves time, visa check, etc., whatever... they always did that for me, no problems.

As mentioned in the first paragraph, if your connecting flight is on a One World airline it won't be a problem, it it isn't then you will need to collect your luggage & re-check so you'll need to ensure plenty of time in between flights.

 

[RAM]

Good for you! To be honest, don't know that I pay anything extra at all... So many times transiting through... unless it's in the ticket when I buy it, I did not pay any departure tax extra to the tickets I had... ever!.. with the stopover or without... And It's always cheaper for me to get separate tickets unless I fly to gateway (in Europe) and stop. But because I also do a small connection within Europe, it's always cheaper to travel on a separate tickets for me.

Worth doing a check on your fight using matrix.com so search for the day/date/time/class etc and choose the flight you are on. Then scroll down and it provides you with the exact booking codes used in the fare construction. As long as it is the same class of fare the various carrier charges will be the sae as you have paid. You'll see the departure tax in there if you have paid it.

 

[RAM]

On linking separate bookings for One World

There is a problem with some of the partners and Q and code share flights.
This year coming back from Europe on 2 Q code share & 1 Q flight the bags had to be rebooked as the BA system does (did? hopefully fixed) not interface with Emirates system.
So our bags were tagged as SYD final destination but at the first change (Gatwick) we had to take our BA issued baggage checks to the Emirates desk for them to locate the bags, retag them with a new identifier and issue us with new tags. We did not have to get our bags and go through customs though. Apparently our bags were in a holding area even though the final destination (and connecting flight details were on the BA issued labels on the bag handles etc).
From Australia and it not being BA hopefully means you won't have this problem.

 

[pointshungry]

My parents had the same issue with Etihad connecting to Turkish airlines. After speaking in customer service here in Australia, they was able to put through to the final destination though. My bags was connecting once from Turkish to Malaysia airlines - 18 hours connection time - no problems. QF was connecting my bags to Turkish Airlines on a separate tickets many times before - no issues. What I mean is that , probably, there are different rules which differ from airline to airline, but often people DO bend the rule and help each other and go the extra mile!..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good for you! To be honest, don't know that I pay anything extra at all... So many times transiting through... unless it's in the ticket when I buy it, I did not pay any departure tax extra to the tickets I had... ever!.. with the stopover or without... And It's always cheaper for me to get separate tickets unless I fly to gateway (in Europe) and stop. But because I also do a small connection within Europe, it's always cheaper to travel on a separate tickets for me.

HDK120 per ticket - and it's automatically included in all tickets departing from HKG. This is waived if you are in transit. There is a booth in the departures hall where you take your inbound and outbound tickets and provided you are in transit in HKG (same day) they give you the cash back. I got AUD100 back last year on a few tickets I had booked.

Full details are here: Civil Aviation Department - For Travellers