Hong Kong and Macau - Connecting in HKG to UA flight from Macau

We want to go from Macau to HKIA on the ferry and connected to the UA flight to ORD at 11:10am. We are thinking of leaving on the 1st ferry at 7;30am straight to HKIA. The other option is to come in the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport. Love to here experiences from anyone who has done this. Thanks

Did the ferry in the AM of the flight, worked out great. They actually bring you to a place that you clear immigration and then are dropped off airside. Highly recommended.

We want to go from Macau to HKIA on the ferry and connected to the UA flight to ORD at 11:10am. We are thinking of leaving on the 1st ferry at 7;30am straight to HKIA. The other option is to come in the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport. Love to here experiences from anyone who has done this. ThanksI have not taken the ferry directly from Macau to HKIA, however I was just in HKG and Macau a few weeks ago and feel like I can comment. Catching the 7:30am ferry is a perfectly fine way to do it... it's only about a 40 minute ferry ride. The advantage of going direct to the airport is that you won't have to clear Hong Kong immigrations..you can arrive, check in for your flight and check your bags inside of immigration.

If you prefer to go the night before I wouldn't even bother staying by the airport..just take the ferry from Macau to Kowloon and stay at a hotel there. In the morning walk/taxi to the Airport Express train station in Kowloon where there are check in desks for all the major airlines (including UA). You can check in for your flight and check your luggage right there in Kowloon..don't even have to take the luggage on the train with you. But, doing this means you'll go through Hong Kong immigration both after you get off the ferry in Kowloon and again at the airport on your way home.

I'm going to move this to the Hong Kong and Macau Travel Forum to make sure you get responses. I think the question about Macau to HKIA isn't really UA-specific; it seems a more general question that non-UA travellers can also answer.

Thanks,

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum

We want to go from Macau to HKIA on the ferry and connected to the UA flight to ORD at 11:10am. We are thinking of leaving on the 1st ferry at 7;30am straight to HKIA. The other option is to come in the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport. Love to here experiences from anyone who has done this. Thanks

As others have said, the direct ferry to the skypier is the way to go if schedule works (I think you have to be on a ferry that arrives at least two hours before flight departure time). The checkin area after you get off the ferry can be a bit of a scrum, especially if you have checked baggage, but it's much easier than dealing with either of the HK ferry ports and you don't have to go through HK customs.

An added bonus is that you get to claim back the HKIA facilities tax. There's a booth to do that after you go through security screening and before you board the train to the airport. I've forgotten how much it is, but enough for a snack at the airport at least.

my only real concern is should the 1st ferry get cancelled, How often does that happen? We are traveling mid October.

my only real concern is should the 1st ferry get cancelled, How often does that happen? We are traveling mid October.

Turbojet doesn't cancel due to low loads, and they have spare ferries at the Macau terminal as standbys. Only risk is mechanical issues enroute, which is very rare.

Another benefit of using the airport ferry service (HKIA SkyPier) is that you can get a Departure Tax Refund (HK$120), that is included in your UA ticket when you purchased it, at a designated desk upon arrival. This is because you are not technically entering Hong Kong and are remaining 'airside'.

If you decide to stay overnight in Hong Kong prior to the departure of the UA flight, you will not be eligible for this tax refund (although it's a rather negligible amount - but multiple that by a few passengers and you can use it for a good meal).