Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - In-town checkin without taking Airport Express

I'm hoping the HKG specialists on this board can help me - as I'm only going to be in HKG for a short period of time, I hatched a cunning plan, which essentially involved dropping off my baggage at Hong Kong/Central station in the morning, then taking the ferry over to Macau, and lastly coming back from Macau to HKG airport without passing through immigration again.

Now I've read in an older thread that you need to have a valid airport express ticket to be able to get into the checkin area and drop off your bags.

I wouldn't mind paying for the ticket, but I'm now starting to wonder whether going to Macau without my baggage would be such a good idea - is it likely that I'll get into trouble either leaving Hong Kong, entering Macau, or leaving Macau for the airport if my baggage has gone a completely different route? I should have my boarding pass by then, which is the requirement to be able to get back, but I'm wondering if I'm planning something too exotic there. Also, if I don't take the Airport Express, how do I get back into the station?

I'd really like to go to Macau for once, but I can still change my plans...

First of all this should better be discussed on th HKG forum.

But to answer your question:

The In Town Check-In has no relation with immigration or what so ever and are two separate things. You will need your ticket or Octopus card to get into the check-in area to get your BP and drop-off your bagage. After that you will need to go out again of that area to go to the trains. There you will need to enter your card again to get access to the platform.

So if you don't go to the airport after the intown check-in you can go to Macau (go through HKG immigration exit HKG and enter Macau) and proceed afterwards to the airport (Macau immigration exit - HKG immigration entry). At the airport you will exit HKG again

I'm hoping the HKG specialists on this board can help me - as I'm only going to be in HKG for a short period of time, I hatched a cunning plan, which essentially involved dropping off my baggage at Hong Kong/Central station in the morning, then taking the ferry over to Macau, and lastly coming back from Macau to HKG airport without passing through immigration again.

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You can use the in-town check-in at Hong Kong station and no take the Airport Express. From what I remember, you need to scan your Octopus card or Airport Express ticket before being allowed into the area where the check-in counters are. There should be no problems getting back into the station if you don't take the Airport Express as it is technically possible to check-in the day before, and then take the Airport Express the next day.

Also, you may want to consider taking your bags with you to Macau.

Since you will be taking the ferry from Macau directly to the HK Airport, you can also use the upstream check-in facilities there. CX actually has a check-in counter at the Macau ferry terminal!

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/transport-connection-with-mainland-china/check-in-at-prd/ferryports.html

Once you get to Macau, you can drop off your bags at the CX counter in the ferry terminal (assuming that it is already open) and get your boarding pass.

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So if you don't go to the airport after the intown check-in you can go to Macau (go through HKG immigration exit HKG and enter Macau) and proceed afterwards to the airport (Macau immigration exit - HKG immigration entry). At the airport you will exit HKG again

Actually, if you take the ferry directly from Macau to the HK Airport, there is no need to clear immigration and enter HK once you get to the airport.

This is setup as a sterile transfer where you board a bonded bus once you arrive at the HK Airport ferry terminal (note: if you are flying on an airline that does not have uptream check-in in Macau, then this is where you check-in) and go directly to the transit area (airside). All you have to do is go through security before proceeding to your gate.

As others have said, I think this would work, but you will pay for an Airport Express trip that you don't use. The cheapest way (assuming you are doing this alone) would be to get a round-trip AE ticket when you arrive - the net cost is then HK$80 (cost of a round-trip less the cost otherwise of a one-way).

Good point about getting a return ticket - though I think I will take my luggage with me and check it in in Macau as daniellam suggested. There's no information about how early you can do that there - does anyone know, i.e. can you check in there in the morning but leave in the afternoon? Otherwise I'll try to find out when I arrive at the airport...