Hong Kong and Macau - HKG International Arrivals, Must I Take Train?

International Arrival into HKG (off UA869), do I have to take the train to immigration? Or can I walk?

I've arrived into HKG twice before, and I've always ridden the train to immigration.

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International Arrival into HKG (off UA869), do I have to take the train to immigration? Or can I walk?

I've arrived into HKG twice before, and I've always ridden the train to immigration.

You can of course walk, it just takes longer for you to arrive the immigration counter.

Note those walkways are not bi-directional now so you may need to walk for some time before you reach the point they change direction.

You can of course walk, it just takes longer for you to arrive the immigration counter.

Actually, I find that it's faster to walk than take the train if arriving at gate 32-36.

If sitting at the front and you are first off, then it's probably faster to take the train though.

UA widebodies mostly come into the 40's or 60's now. CO from EWR used to come into the 20's, but generally not since the merger. My last CO flight from GUM did come in to Gate 20, which of course doesn't require a train ride.

International Arrival into HKG (off UA869), do I have to take the train to immigration? Or can I walk?

I've arrived into HKG twice before, and I've always ridden the train to immigration.

I usually like to walk because it's actually not very far. Plus it gives me a chance to use my legs after a long trip.

Nobody has mentioned the real "issue" with the train: vertical distance. You have to go down quite a bit on the escalator to the train, then another long ride back to the concourse. Adding these times to the ride, you can almost finish the walk already.

We are coming in on Qantas. Walk or take the train? Will it be obvious which path to take if we decide to walk?

We are coming in on Qantas. Walk or take the train? Will it be obvious which path to take if we decide to walk?

International arrivals arrive at Level 5

http://www.oneworld.com/content/terminal_maps/hong-kong1_1024.gif?gk=20120612083744

Not sure which gate Qantas usually uses. I think all the gates at HKG are "shared" gates (not permanently assigned to a particular airline).

However, the signage at Gates 60 thru 70 directs you to use the train.
The signage at Gates 40 thru 50 directs you to use the train.

In addition, the signage at Gates 36 thru 33 tells you to backtrack (away from immigration) and take the train. Just ignore those signs and keep walking.

It's not until Gates 32 thru 20 do the signs tell you to proceed in the right direction (towards immigration).

I just went through HKG on the 8th of June. I believe we arrived at Gate 61. The walk took less than 10 minutes. It was a little confusing as all the signage pointed you towards the train. Even past the escalators down to the train (around Gates 36 thru 33), the signage was telling me to turn-around and take the train. Just keep walking. There was a few people who were walking with me down the moving walkways. So, its not like you'll be all by yourself.

Keep in mind that unlike the departures level, the walk on arrivals have no views. You just walk past all the 30's and 20'a arrival doors.

Keep in mind that unlike the departures level, the walk on arrivals have no views. You just walk past all the 30's and 20'a arrival doors.

But there is floor-to-ceiling glass next to the arrival gates where you can plane spot at eye-level with the cockpit windows.

We are coming in on Qantas. Walk or take the train? Will it be obvious which path to take if we decide to walk?

Qantas usually uses gates that are close to their lounges, gates 15 - 19. You wouldn't use the train from those gates.

Audrey

Qantas usually uses gates that are close to their lounges, gates 15 - 19. You wouldn't use the train from those gates.

Audrey

Awesome, thanks for the info. I have prepurchased our 3 day with Airport Express passes and I think I know enough now to not look lost. :-)

Awesome, thanks for the info. I have prepurchased our 3 day with Airport Express passes and I think I know enough now to not look lost. :-)

If you arrive before June 30, 2012, don't forget to ask for your promotional pack when you collect your Airport Express Travel Pass:

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tourist/touristticket2012.html

Also, the AETP is just another Octopus card and I recommend that you load HK$100 into it for other sundry purchases, including buses, trams, Star Ferry rides, etc. as well as at many other merchants, e.g., at 7-11, etc.

Any unused value plus the HK$50 deposit for the AETP is also fully refundable. So allow yourself extra 10~15 minutes on departure at the airport to return the card to claim your refund!

You probably know but don't forget the Airport Express rides are separate from the MTR (subway/tube) rides. Your 3 days unlimited travel starts at first use of the MTR system, not the Airport Express.

If you arrive before June 30, 2012, don't forget to ask for your promotional pack when you collect your Airport Express Travel Pass:

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tourist/touristticket2012.html

Also, the AETP is just another Octopus card and I recommend that you load HK$100 into it for other sundry purchases, including buses, trams, Star Ferry rides, etc. as well as at many other merchants, e.g., at 7-11, etc.

We arrive in July so bummer on that. What would be the best time to load the card with the extra money? At the airport or when we exit at Central?


You probably know but don't forget the Airport Express rides are separate from the MTR (subway/tube) rides. Your 3 days unlimited travel starts at first use of the MTR system, not the Airport Express.

Yes, we arrive int he evening and plan to take AE shuttle to JW so will not use MTR until following day. Then we have three full days of heavy use, pluspossibly a short trip or two on our depature day which we will just use the stored value for, then our trip back to the airport on AE that evening.

We arrive in July so bummer on that. What would be the best time to load the card with the extra money? At the airport or when we exit at Central?

First, MTR Central Station and Hong Kong Station are two different stations. You are going to Hong Kong Station, not Central on the Airport Express.

You will pick up your AETP on arrival at Hong Kong Station. You do not need a ticket to board the train. Just follow the signpost to the train platform after clearing Custom & Excise formalities. It's on the same level. On arrival at Hong Kong Station, go to the Customer Service kiosk with your e-mail confirmation, your passport and the credit card that you used to make the purchase to collect your AETP. Use the AETP to exit the fare area.

I suggest to load your AETP at the same time when you collect it at the Customer Service kiosk. They can do it there but with HK$ cash only, no credit card.

Yes, we arrive int he evening and plan to take AE shuttle to JW so will not use MTR until following day. Then we have three full days of heavy use, pluspossibly a short trip or two on our depature day which we will just use the stored value for, then our trip back to the airport on AE that evening.

It's shuttle bus #H1. The bus runs every 20 minutes. If you unfortunately just missed one and do not want to wait, just hire a taxi which should be quite plentiful. It should be no more than HK$30~35 or so plus $5/pce of bag in the boot. BTW no lavish tipping as in America is required to taxi drivers. The norm is to round up to the nearest dollar. For example, if the fare comes to HK$24.40, just pay HK$25. That's what the locals do. If you are really generous, HK$26 is good. Most taxis do not take credit card. If you do not have any HK$, stop by an ATM at the airport.

3 days in this case means 3 x 24 hours plus the time until the end of service on the last day.

For example, first use at 10AM on Tuesday, 3rd of July. Your AETP is good until the last MTR train on Friday, 6th July, not 10AM on Friday.

There is a Customer Service counter at the Airport Express arrival platform at the airport. You may return the AETP there to claim your refund.

Wow, great info, so if we use first at about noon on Friday, we can use on our departure day, which is Monday. Did not realize that, thanks.

Wow, great info, so if we use first at about noon on Friday, we can use on our departure day, which is Monday. Did not realize that, thanks.

Correct. The 3 days starts from the recorded entry time of the first MTR train journey and lasts for 72 hours plus any additional hours up to the end of train service on the last day