Transit through Hong Kong

[Rambutan]

I will be travelling from London to Sydney soon flying Business with BA from LHR to HGK then Business with QF to Sydney. I will need to kill about 5 hours or so at Hong Kong airport, Which lounges can I use and more to the point which one would be the best to use?

 

[Mal]

Assuming you don't have Qantas Platinum FF status (or an equivalent from another oneworld airline).

The new Qantas Business lounge opened up a couple of weeks ago, and initial reports are good. Fly - The Qantas Club - The Qantas Club News

There are also 2 Cathay Pacific Lounges available for you to use (the Business Wing and the Business Pier lounges).
Cathay Pacific - At The Airport : Hong Kong International Airport > The Wing
Cathay Pacific - At The Airport : Hong Kong International Airport > The Pier

Any of these three would be a good place to while away your time.

There is another lounge as well (DragonAir), although I wouldn't recommend it.

5 hours is a long time. Are you sure you don't want a quick trip into Hong Kong?

 

[2muchplastic]

I'd echo Mal's call for a trip into the city. 5 hours is a long time to kill at an airport - even one as good as HKG.

My preference is the CX Wing lounge, but I haven't been back since the new QF lounge has opened.

 

[Rambutan]

Thanks for your response Mal. You raised an issue here I had not even considered , i.e a quick trip into Hong Kong, since I have never been in Hong Kong this could be an exciting option.

 

[Rambutan]

Thanks 2muchplastic for supporting Mal's suggestion. I will investigate the going into town option. I will need to plan this carefully because I don't want to miss the flight back home of course. I can assume that transport between the Airport and the City is pretty efficient?

 

[2muchplastic]

I can assume that transport between the Airport and the City is pretty efficient?

Ooooh yes. The Airport Express from the airport to Central takes under half an hour from memory. It'd give you 3 hours+ in the city.

Alternatively, Disneyland HK is pretty close to the airport!:mrgreen:

 

[Mal]

Thanks for your response Mal. You raised an issue here I had not even considered , i.e a quick trip into Hong Kong, since I have never been in Hong Kong this could be an exciting option.

It's pretty easy to fit into 5 hours. The traditional quick "tourist triangle" would be :
- Airport Express to Hong Kong station.
- Walk to bus, Bus to peak tram.
- Peak Tram to top of the peak.
- Explore.
- Bus back to Central (or peak tram back down ... but the bus down is better to give another view).
- check the time, if still plenty:
-- Catch star ferry across harbour.
-- Not sure you'll have much time left after that
--- if you do have plenty of time, have a wander around Tsim Sha Tsui (Nathan Road etc)
-- Hop back into ferry.
-- Hong Kong station back to airport.

There's some other threads about similar types of trips into Hong Kong, so perhaps worth a search.

 

[Rambutan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will research this a little more, it would seem silly not to take the opportunity the have a quick look around.

 

[BlueAU]

I am currently sitting in HKIA. I am wasting 2 hours. LOL

Found free wifi (It's everywhere) so entertaining myself while the battery lasts.

 

[NM]

Ooooh yes. The Airport Express from the airport to Central takes under half an hour from memory. It'd give you 3 hours+ in the city.

Takes 24 mins to Hong Kong (less to Kowloon) and runs every 12 mins.

If a clear day, you may like to consider taking the train to Hong Kong, then a taxi to The Peak Tram station and up to The Peak for a birds eye view of Hong Kong.

Train will cost HK$100. Taxi to Peak Tram cost will vary depending on the time of day. Minimum HK$18, but would not expect is to be much more than HK$40 even at busy times. Peak Tram return fare is HK$48.

 

[BlueAU]

Train will cost HK$100.

My family here don't use the train, they go on bus. $21 vs $100. Stingy asians. LOL. I want to catch the train .... asian bus drivers make me dizzy :shock:

 

[NM]

My family here don't use the train, they go on bus. $21 vs $100. Stingy asians. LOL. I want to catch the train .... asian bus drivers make me dizzy :shock:

And the b*s takes a lot longer than 24 mins! and does not run every 12 mins. HK$100 is about A$15, not too bad for the speed and easy commute.

 

[Mal]

And the b*s takes a lot longer than 24 mins! and does not run every 12 mins. HK$100 is about A$15, not too bad for the speed and easy commute.

Yeah, the bus is a long journey. Still, unless you want a cab, it's the only option at certain hours of the day, or to catch an early flight.

 

[nlagalle]

I've got 2 stopovers in HKG coming up. I was planning on wandering into town as well..

Is there a locker area at HKG where i can leave my backpack if i want, or can you leave it at one of the lounges?

 

[Mal]

Is there a locker area at HKG where i can leave my backpack if i want, or can you leave it at one of the lounges?

Apparently there's a left luggage service:
Passenger Guide - Arrivals - Baggage Storage - Hong Kong International Airport

Don't recall lockers though anywhere in the airport.

Leaving at the lounges would be complex, and I'm not sure your backpack would be any more secure. You'd have to get an "exit" pass (or be accompanied by a CX groundstaffer) to get back from departures to the arrivals area, which people have done, but sounds difficult to me.

 

[NM]

I've got 2 stopovers in HKG coming up. I was planning on wandering into town as well..

Is there a locker area at HKG where i can leave my backpack if i want, or can you leave it at one of the lounges?

I have used the left luggage service at HKG a few years ago when travelling with my family. Note they charge by the piece. We each had a small carry-on to leave for the day so was going to cost us for 5 pieces. So we stopped in at Watsons (pharmac_ next to the left luggage desk) and purchased a vary large plastic zip-up bag (also known as Kiwi Samsonite), placed all 5 carry-ons inside and zipped it up. The cost or the bag was less than 4 additional pieces of left luggage for the day .

 

[serfty]

No lockers, but there is a left luggage facility. Right at the South end of the (T1) arrivals hall.

Reasonably priced - you need to show your passport etc.

You would need to be on the airport express train heading back to the airport at least 90 minutes before your scheduled flight - personally, I would be thinking 2½ hours.

 

[edman]

Consider Disneyland, they offer an "in-transit" ticket for $198HKD which is less than $30AUD if you enter and leave HK on the same day. Would beat sitting around in the airport!

 

[11sjw]

Can add a +1 for the Airport Express train. If you do get peak hour traffic the taxis will be a little more expensive but using them will cut out the hassle of getting a bus.

The ferry over to Kowloon and back is definitely worth it and takes very little time.

 

[equus]

--- if you do have plenty of time, have a wander around Tsim Sha Tsui (Nathan Road etc)
-- Hop back into ferry.
-- Hong Kong station back to airport.

And if time is getting a little short, there is no need to get the ferry back across to Hong Kong station. Depending where you are on Kowloon, you can pick up the airport train at Kowloon station, or if you are not convenient to it (and have wandered up Nathan Rd a fair way), simply catch the MTR back to Hong Kong station - not as scenic, but faster.