Nearly 6hr layover in Hong Kong. Enough Time

[WOLF13]

Hi guys,

I fly into Hong Kong at 5:45AM on a CX flight from Sydney.

My connecting flight to Toronto is at 10:45AM. On CX again. J-Class

What do people think about leaving the airport? Do I have time? Would it be worth it at that time in the morning? How long could it take me to get out of there?

I'm a 1st timer to Hong Kong airport so I'm not really sure.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[markis10]

Not worth it IMHO at that time of the morning, PM it's a different story.

 

[NM]

Not worth it IMHO at that time of the morning, PM it's a different story.

I tend to agree. HK is mostly asleep until 10am, especially on weekends

 

[KitKat]

Agree as well. Just enjoy the CX J lounge, snag one of the cabanas, just don't oversleep and miss your flight!

 

[kamchatsky]

Yep, don't bother, unless you want to try some local Yumcha at Tung Chung, but really you can try Yum Cha at airport anyway. But then again you better off staying at the lounge.

Next time though, stay for a few days in Hong Kong.

 

[Alanslegal]

Don't let QF009 see this thread because I'm sure he can suggest squeezing in a quick trip to the W even if its for a drink or two, and yes in the A.M

 

[kamchatsky]

Don't let QF009 see this thread because I'm sure he can suggest squeezing in a quick trip to the W even if its for a drink or two, and yes in the A.M

Nah, better off going to the local stalls/restaurants and try local Yumcha or breakfast in the morning. More authentic that way

 

[Mal]

Plenty of time to get into town (via train www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_express/intro_index.html ), head up to the Peak, perhaps add a crossing back and forth over the harbour on Star Ferries, and rush back to the airport.
www.thepeak.com.hk/
www.starferry.com.hk/

Is it worth it? May not be.

How about heading to Tung Chung and having a look through the fashion brands shopping there? Although - that early in the morning will probably prove an issue with shops being open (as commented 10am is when HK starts to wake up) [http://www.citygateoutlets.com.hk/home/Pages/home.aspx - although most shops don't appear to open until 10:30am]

 

[Andyzx]

Was there in July. It cetainly is possible to get there and back in 2-3 hours. As per previous posts most shops don't open till at least 10am. Most I found didn't open till 11am or later.

By the time you had breakfast, shower and quick look around the airport. you will be in time to start in the lounge again. I found it took a good hour to get through, shower, coffee and exit (lift) out of the airport, which is by the information booth 2, if i remember correctly. You dont have to pay the departure tax as you will not have been there 24 hours. there are a few good suggestions in the 12-18 hours in HK threads.

But like the others, suggest you relax and take in the lounges and airport.:arrow:

 

[samh004]

I would agree with everyone else, mostly, to stay at the airport. I note you don’t say what day you’re arriving… a weekday wouldn’t be a good idea to be entering town in rush hour on, as for weekends, as has been mentioned, shops generally open at 10.

If it was a clear day and you’d been there a little later, I would’ve suggested the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Buddha, though it too doesn’t open till 10 (9 on weekends).

 

[Alanslegal]

Nah, better off going to the local stalls/restaurants and try local Yumcha or breakfast in the morning. More authentic that way

als you can find happy hour 'yum cha' ... with big discounts for eating early (and beating the rush).

But if this was me and if it was my first time in HKG, I'd jump on a train and its 25 minutes into Central, taxi up to the Peak, have breakfast up there there, spend an hour or so there, and get back to the airport. Do this all in less than 4 hours!

Otherwise a quick stroll along the harbour foreshore could be another thing, and then jump back on a train to HKIA.

 

[WOLF13]

First off, thank you for all the replies.

I'll be arriving at 5AM Wednesday the 15th of December.

I'm very interested in doing a quick run into the city if there's time. I'm more concerned about time to get back and checkin again for the connecting flight than what stores are open..

In saying that, if I arrive at 5AM, what time do you think I could get into the city via the train? 6:30??

Is there any yum-cha places open for breakfast that early?

To get my 10:45AM connecting flight, what time (for safety) would I need to catch the train back to the airport?? Leave at 8AM??

I know some people are saying it's not worth it. I showed my girlfriend this thread and she agree's with that side of the argument. However, being my first time there I'm up for a bit of a challenge. Even if everything is closed!! A nice sunrise then rush back to the airport??

hmmm

If I do take the challenge, I'll make sure to post the outcome here.

 

[serfty]

OK, the Airport express is HKD100 day return (~AUD17) to/from Central.

The first train departs at 05:54 and every 12 minutes after that.

MTR > Airport Express Services > Introduction

What airline are you flying out on? For most you can check in 90 mins or more before your flight at using "In Town Check In" at Hong Kong (Central) and Kowloon.

More here: MTR > Airport Express Services > Complimentary Services > Free In-town Check-in Service

(Here's a list of airlines http://www.mtr.com.hk/chi/airport_express/images/itci.pdf)

So, if you catch the first train at 5:54, you'll be in Central station 8:18 and effectively be in Hong Kong 6:30.

You would need to be back at the train station by 8:30 to check in and head back to the airport.

So you effectively have two hours.

 

[WOLF13]

Hi serfty, thanks for the tips.

I'm flying out on CX, J-Class. Because it's a connecting flight, would I already have my boarding pass with me? Or would I need to re-check in?

If so, that check-in service at the train station is fantatsic.

So in summary, if I jump the first train out @ 5:54AM, I'll be in Hong Kong by 6:30AM?

Then I have 2hrs to explore the (dead) city. And get back to the train station NO LATER than 8:30AM

Very helpful.

So, in saying that. I guess the next question is- what on earth is there to do in Hong Kong for 2hrs from 6:30AM on a Wednesday morning!!

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi serfty, thanks for the tips.

I'm flying out on CX, J-Class. Because it's a connecting flight, would I already have my boarding pass with me? Or would I need to re-check in?

If so, that check-in service at the train station is fantatsic.

So in summary, if I jump the first train out @ 5:54AM, I'll be in Hong Kong by 6:30AM?

Then I have 2hrs to explore the (dead) city. And get back to the train station NO LATER than 8:30AM

Very helpful.

So, in saying that. I guess the next question is- what on earth is there to do in Hong Kong for 2hrs from 6:30AM on a Wednesday morning!!

If it is connecting flight, you should already have your boarding pass anyway. The train is pretty fast.


However, I would just go to Yum Cha instead locally. Try Federal Palace Tung Chung. I've never tried myself but the reviews seem to give a thumbs up. It opens at 7:30am:

Guangdong Dim Sum Dim Sum Restaurant Federal Palace Restaurant's Overview - Hong Kong Restaurants Guide HK Restaurant - OpenRice in English

Yum Cha, Federal Palace, Citygate, Tung Chung, Lantau Island, Hong Kong » Sofie Hofmann dot com - Weggis, Switzerland

 

[serfty]

Tung Chung may be a better option; it's no more than a 15 minute journey there on the S1 loop bus and a 10 minute journey back; HKD3.50 (<50¢) each way note those restaurants don't open for breakfast until perhaps 7:30am.

Hong Kong International Airport

 

[wandering_fred]

Doing roughly the same thing on 16 Nov - arriving 06:00 from PER connecting to NRT at 10:30. That trip I will see how awake I am and perhaps tick off one of the required 6 trips in two years (HK Frequent Visitor Card :mrgreen by going through immigration but other wise will simply plan on enjoying the lounge(s).

I did negotiate a bit of a better plan on the return on the 23rd arriving at 07:30 and not leaving until 14:20. Unless I am really suffering I will go into Tung Chung on the S1 bus and wander around the mall for awhile. Note the grocery store in the basement does do quite nice sandwiches and other take away food. This is in addition to the food court at the bus station end.

And keeping your octopus card (which is good for 3 years) makes taking the bus all that much easier.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[WOLF13]

Thank you everyone- I might take your advice and do some Yum-Cha @ Federal Palace Tung Chung instead of rushing into a city (that's mostly closed anyway).

Will give a review of the yum-cha after the trip.

 

[kamchatsky]

Thank you everyone- I might take your advice and do some Yum-Cha @ Federal Palace Tung Chung instead of rushing into a city (that's mostly closed anyway).

Will give a review of the yum-cha after the trip.

Just one thing though, even though you can take S1 bus for HK$3.50 (~50c), they either take Octopus card, or EXACT CHANGE ONLY (all buses in HK are like this). So if you are not going to get Octopus card then maybe you need to get some money out and buy small stuff at the shop to get change. Last thing you want is to pay $100HK for a $3.50 bus fare ....

Of course, you can take a cab to Tung Chung, shouldn't be too expensive either.

 

[WOLF13]

OK, in the QF lounge @ T1 Sydney about to board CX138.

I'll see how I go when I get off at 5AM tomorrow with all these tips!

Thanks again. Hopefully I can get some sleep in the coffins tonight.