Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - HKG layover question

Slightly off topic, and I apologize in advance, but thought this board the most relevant. We'll be arriving in HKG at 1645 from the US and have a long layover until a 2225 departure to BKK. Is there a neighborhood anywhere near HKG that can be reached by the train that we could walk around and maybe grab a quick HKG authentic meal and make it back to HKG without rushing (are bags will be tagged through)? We'll be back in HKG 2 weeks later for 3 days before flying home - thanks!

The time frame you have (almost 5 hours) is a bit short to go anywhere in Hong Kong city even if you will go by train. You need to be around the gate for BKK flight 2 hours before departure as it is always a full and crowded flight.

I recommend that you go to the Regal Airport Hotel and grab a meal and enjoy the scene there. They have a very good chinesse food resturant there. This is the best you can do.

The train takes 22 minutes to Kowloon, but if I were you I'd stay at the airport. If you are AA PLAT, you can go to CX Business lounge(1 guest), they have an excellent noodle bar and dim sum. It is a nice place and you can enjoy HONG KONG at a later date

You don't mention which airline(s) you're with (I guess it's CX).

Anyhow, the CX lounge is pretty nice of course, but since you are a UA guy/girl, note that the *A Gold lounge is hopeless. Good only for a quick coffee and steal a newspaper - not much more. So, don't make a plan that involves hanging out in the *A lounge for long...

IMO the Regal is overpriced for rooms as well as meals. You can take bus S1 to City Gate Mall in Tung Chung. At least there you can browse through the shops and have choices of more decent & more reasonably priced food. It only takes 5-8 minutes by bus to get there.

Arriving at 16:45 it should take you not more than 1:10 to go thru immigration, go to the train station, wait for the train and go to the Hong Kong Station. (Walk to the train station, check on the overhead sign when the next train leaves. If you have enough time buy the ticket at the platform, otherwise just take the train and buy the ticket in the arrival station - same price, no problem).

Also assuming you already have your boarding pass for the BKK flight you need to be at the train station in Hong Kong around two hours before the flight. This leaves you plenty of time to wait for the train, train ride, immigration, security and go to the gate.

So this leaves you likely a little over 2 hours on Hong Kong Island. There is a mall (higher priced, lot of brand name stores) above the train station with several food options.


Tung Chung is also a great alternative, it is really close to the airport and the mall is a local mall (more normal products, normal prices). Andyou would have more around 3 hours there.

One other alternative is the Terminal 2. Lots of good and inexpensive food options. After immigration/customs look for the signs for terminal 2. You can go thru immigration/security in terminal 2 even holding a boarding pass for a terminal 1 airline.

Slightly off topic, and I apologize in advance, but thought this board the most relevant. We'll be arriving in HKG at 1645 from the US and have a long layover until a 2225 departure to BKK. Is there a neighborhood anywhere near HKG that can be reached by the train that we could walk around and maybe grab a quick HKG authentic meal and make it back to HKG without rushing (are bags will be tagged through)? We'll be back in HKG 2 weeks later for 3 days before flying home - thanks!

FWIW, we arriving on UA, departing EK (both J class), but EK check-in and lounge don't open till 1930, again we are not flying CK, but I assume y'all know a lot about HKG! - thanks again!

There is enough time to go to the Kowloon or Hong Kong station to have dinner. You should be able to be out of customs in about 20-75 minutes unless the lines are very, very long.

The Airport Express runs every 12 minutes and takes less than 1/2 hour to reach Hong Kong. As you do not have any checked luggage, you need to get to the Airport Express station about 90 minutes before departure (40 minutes for the wait and the train, 20-30 minutes to get through immigration, security and to the gate, and you need to be at the gate 10-20 minutes before departure). It is a little rush, but you probably have two hours minutes or more for a good meal with little time for anything else.

Arriving at 16:45 it should take you not more than 1:10 to go thru immigration, go to the train station, wait for the train and go to the Hong Kong Station. (Walk to the train station, check on the overhead sign when the next train leaves. If you have enough time buy the ticket at the platform, otherwise just take the train and buy the ticket in the arrival station - same price, no problem).

and if you indeed decide to go to HK or Kowloon station...remember to buy a same-day roundtrip ticket (which is the same price as an one-way).

After a long flight like that it is nice to stretch your legs....

I'd go to Kowloon Station and then walk down to the habourfront -- maybe a 20 minute stroll there and the same back if you can find your way out of the mall.

5 hrs is more than enough time to go into town...you'll have a minimum of 1.5 hrs downtown or in Kowloon, and that's assuming you're conservative and like to head back to the airport 2 hrs before departure (not needed at HK...you can catch the train 1hr 20 mins before your departure and you and your bags will comfortably make it each time) and it takes a full 1.5 hours to get into town once you deplane (it doesn't).

Trains depart HK airport for the city at :05, :17, :29, :41, :53. Trains depart HK station (downtown) at :00, :12, :24, :36, :48 (they leave Kowloon for the airport at :03, :15, :27, :39, :51, respectively...it's one closer to the airport). Takes 24 minutes between HK and airport, 21 mins between Kowloon and airport.

I suggest you take the Train to the Kowloon station (you can buy a same day return pass for HK$90 each). Above the kowloon station is the ELEMENTS shopping mall where you can get a good meal, do a little shopping and browse around. A great way to kill 5 hours....It will take you 25 mins to get there and 25 mins back, so still leaves you with 4 good hours to enjoy the mall.

Many of us have assumed interlining is possible. I am not sure about that, but if not, OP may have to decide after reaching HKG.

i had a 4 hour layover and i just stayed in the airport. walking around and eating at the food court made the layover seem like 2 hours

i had a 4 hour layover and i just stayed in the airport. walking around and eating at the food court made the layover seem like 2 hours

Unless one arrives late, it is very easy to spend several hours airside in the HKIA.

Whether or not transit passengers are staying airside, it will help if they have minimal carry-ons.