Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - HKG: Immigration & Security Swapped Locations

It's 8:25am, sitting in the F section of the Wing having done the buffet breakfast and now waiting for my 9:00am flight to PEK - the best part though is that I didn't leave home until 7:15am this morning. Normally leaving at 7:00am means there would not be time for breakfast, the only reason why I was able to do so this morning is because the airport management has just moved the security check point to the open space before immigration - and in the process it has added a couple channels, allowing people to get through much quicker. Usually at this time of the morning it would take 10+ minutes to get through, today, I only had 6 people in front of me in the queue that I was in. Great move!

p.s. the introduction of an additional F counter at KA also helped!

I got on the HKIA web site. There was no mentioning of any move. That probably would not affect me much.

How many KA F counters are there now - three? When I flew to PVG last week, there were two F counters. There were four waiting in each line. I took me about 10 minutes to get to the front. I made a comment to the check-in agent that there I did not need to wait in the F lines early last year. She said there were more and more CX DMs these days.

When I checked in on my return flight, there was only one KA F counter in PVG. There was a family checking in with many bags. I was not sure whether any of them were F or DMs, or they were asked to go to the F counter because there was nobody waiting in the F line. The J line was short. So I went to the J line instead.

What's going on at HKIA? I departed on Sunday and there was some work going on when I exited from aisle B.

what a great airport and airline. when i leave for asia from lax and land in hkg it makes me wonder what has happened to america. what a contrast. even for usa based people who travel to hkg regularly they make it easy. i have had a hkia frequent traveler card for a couple of years now and it gets me right through immigration. now if i take the time to register i can do the self service immigration. contrast this to the lines i saw last wednesday in ord when i was returning from nrt and it really makes you wonder. you people have it easier than us. don't even get me started on the difference in lounges and in flight services.

The swap was signposted a couple of years ago in their annual report, to improve the departure flow of passengers. It is part of their whole revamp plan, which also includes building the North Satellite Concourse for small aircraft (by the threshold to rwy 25R)

what a great airport and airline. when i leave for asia from lax and land in hkg it makes me wonder what has happened to america. what a contrast. even for usa based people who travel to hkg regularly they make it easy. i have had a hkia frequent traveler card for a couple of years now and it gets me right through immigration. now if i take the time to register i can do the self service immigration. contrast this to the lines i saw last wednesday in ord when i was returning from nrt and it really makes you wonder. you people have it easier than us. don't even get me started on the difference in lounges and in flight services.

Unfortunately queues for arriving passengers at HKG can be horrendous for those who don't have an ID card or frequent traveller card. I hope this gets improved as it's embarrassing for HK when this is the first encounter in HK.

Eh? I have never seen queues at HKG which approach, for example, the level which is absolutely normal at all the US entry points I have ever used. HKIA Immigration has a target of 92% of non-residents cleared within 15 minutes and achieves that. Since 9/11 I have never cleared a US entry point in less than 30 minutes.

Eh? I have never seen queues at HKG which approach, for example, the level which is absolutely normal at all the US entry points I have ever used. HKIA Immigration has a target of 92% of non-residents cleared within 15 minutes and achieves that. Since 9/11 I have never cleared a US entry point in less than 30 minutes.

Or Japan for that matter at the major airports.

I departed CDG when they introduced the new rules as regards liquids, what an utter shambles. HK was far better organised and still is.

At certain times I've seen incoming queues at HKG which are 5 wide rows deep, and there are only about 7 counters open. It causes problems at baggage reclaim when for example there is a large flight arriving from the US - all the people are stuck at immigration so no one is taking their bags off the carousel. Then your bags from your Singapore flight (for example) are assigned to the same carousel. Because the carousel is full, your bags get backlogged and won't load onto the carousel and you have to wait an hour for your bags. Has happened to me twice, and I've seen it happen to others.

I used to think the queues at NRT were bad, but from what I've witnessed at HKG, I find NRT to be relatively tame.

How many KA F counters are there now - three? There were four this morning, two were waiting for me :D

There were four this morning, two were waiting for me :D

Lucky you! Perhaps that was because I complained, or because of my lack of luck. :(

Lucky you! Perhaps that was because I complained, or because of my lack of luck. :( Oh, whilst I was checking in, I made a comment to the check-in agent that there is no need for so many F counters... :D:p

Seriously though, given there is no physical difference between each check-in counters other than what's on the Plasma/LCD display above the agent's head, maybe KA adjusts the number of F counters according to demand.

Another factor that I have noted is that lines are far shorter departing at the KA end of the terminal then they are at the CX end.

Another factor that I have noted is that lines are far shorter departing at the KA end of the terminal then they are at the CX end.

Which lines - check-in lines? Do you mean the KA and CX check-in aisles when you say KA and CX ends of the terminal?

KA Check in counters are now at Aisle D, next to CX

what a great airport and airline. when i leave for asia from lax and land in hkg it makes me wonder what has happened to america. what a contrast. even for usa based people who travel to hkg regularly they make it easy. i have had a hkia frequent traveler card for a couple of years now and it gets me right through immigration. now if i take the time to register i can do the self service immigration. contrast this to the lines i saw last wednesday in ord when i was returning from nrt and it really makes you wonder. you people have it easier than us. don't even get me started on the difference in lounges and in flight services.

Where exactly is the office to sign up for self service immigration? I already have the HKIA frequent traveler card, but am definitely interested in going through the e-channel instead.

Where exactly is the office to sign up for self service immigration? I already have the HKIA frequent traveler card, but am definitely interested in going through the e-channel instead.

here is the email i recieved about this and if you follow the first link you find everything:

Dear Frequent Visitor Card Member,

Thank you for your continuous support to the Frequent Visitor Channel at Hong Kong International Airport.

From now on FVC members are eligible for applying e-Channels service provided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Upon successful registration granted by the Department, you will be able to enjoy the service. Please visit www.immd.gov.hk for detailed requirements or e-mail at fv_echannel@immd.gov.hk for enquiry.

If you would like to continue to use the FVC service, please present your valid FVC Card to the regulator at the entrance of Frequent Visitor Channel for verification. Current members will be eligible for renewal only if you have used the FVC service for 6 times or more within the card validity period of 2 years.

For more information and scheme details on HKIA Frequent Visitor Channel, please visit us at www.hongkongairport.com. Thanks again for being our honorable member and use of Frequent Visitor Channel at our Airport. We welcome you on your future travels to HKIA.

Yours faithfully,



The Administrator

HKIA Frequent Visitor Channel

here is the email i recieved about this and if you follow the first link you find everything:

Dear Frequent Visitor Card Member,

Thank you for your continuous support to the Frequent Visitor Channel at Hong Kong International Airport.

From now on FVC members are eligible for applying e-Channels service provided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Upon successful registration granted by the Department, you will be able to enjoy the service. Please visit www.immd.gov.hk for detailed requirements or e-mail at fv_echannel@immd.gov.hk for enquiry.

If you would like to continue to use the FVC service, please present your valid FVC Card to the regulator at the entrance of Frequent Visitor Channel for verification. Current members will be eligible for renewal only if you have used the FVC service for 6 times or more within the card validity period of 2 years.

For more information and scheme details on HKIA Frequent Visitor Channel, please visit us at www.hongkongairport.com. Thanks again for being our honorable member and use of Frequent Visitor Channel at our Airport. We welcome you on your future travels to HKIA.

Yours faithfully,



The Administrator

HKIA Frequent Visitor Channel

More exactly, http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/20041216.htm#fv

[QUOTE=cxfan1960;10002996]More exactly, http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/20041216.htm#fv[/QUOTE

thanks for the help

Unfortunately queues for arriving passengers at HKG can be horrendous for those who don't have an ID card or frequent traveller card. I hope this gets improved as it's embarrassing for HK when this is the first encounter in HK.

How long is your wait normally? Just because it is 5 rows deep doesn't indicate too much. In the US when I arrive 5 rows deep it is so much slower than HK to clear! And that is with 15 open desks!

When was the exact swap?
When I departed HKG last week there was no indication of the change at all - I only saw some immigration counters blocked up by the e-channels.

it was still the old setup last Thu (Jul 3) when I departed HK, but the swap already happened when I departed again on Sun (Jul 6) - so it's somewhere between these few days.

About the switch:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_print.asp?art_id=68338&sid=19698435

From the article - south immigration clearance hall meaning the one nearer to checkin aisle A/B/C or towards the other end?

Just because it is 5 rows deep doesn't indicate too much.
I'm a HK Permanent ID Card Holder so I never use the visitor's queue, but I have seen rows 5 deep at certain times. However I do agree that the length does not necessarily mean the wait (faster or slower) is equivalent to let's say the same queue length of another country's passport queue at another airport. Again I have never used the visitor's line and have never really paid close attention of how fast that section moves since I always breeze through and never have time to look the other direction in such details.

They really should not be spending money to sawp immigration/security locations. The longest I have ever waited was like 10 minutes for the security line during peak hours (8:45am on a saturday). What they need to do is simply to move airlines check in to T2, where their security checks are really quiet and have very short lanes.

I would also like to contrast the Hong Kong security experience to the ones in the United States. The ones over in the US are just a very dreadful experience, from the TSA staff with rude and demanding attitudes, having to move lap-tops away from carry-on.. and the mindset of those screeners. Hong Kong's staff has a midset that cares about efficiency, customer experience as well as security.

One good thing though is the ability to go back and store / mail / otherwise deal with items rejected by security. In the previous setup all you could do was bin them.


(To 9VSWK: South is the one near aisles ABC.)

I just got passed the security and immigration. There seemed to be more security stations. I think it is more efficient.

They really should not be spending money to sawp immigration/security locations. The longest I have ever waited was like 10 minutes for the security line during peak hours (8:45am on a saturday). What they need to do is simply to move airlines check in to T2, where their security checks are really quiet and have very short lanes.

I would also like to contrast the Hong Kong security experience to the ones in the United States. The ones over in the US are just a very dreadful experience, from the TSA staff with rude and demanding attitudes, having to move lap-tops away from carry-on.. and the mindset of those screeners. Hong Kong's staff has a midset that cares about efficiency, customer experience as well as security.

Ha I know, it seems ridiculous especially compared to the US...but HKG (aka airport mgmt) is really into the fact that 1.) it consistently gets rated as the highest, if not highest, airport in the world, and 2.) It was ahead of Changi in those dumb Skytraxx ratings for 2007 as well, and 3.) Everywhere around HKG is pouring money into new terminals and services. Changi now has their T3, PVG now has a new terminal, PEK has the monster T3, and charters now go on the weekends from Taiwan to China bypassing Taiwan. Consider it paranoia!

This is from today's SCMP...
Hong Kong International Airport said on Wednesday that passengers would be able to save up about 10 minutes travel time at peak periods – after the airport reconfigures immigration halls at Chek Lap Kok next year.
A spokesman said the number of security channels at the airport will increase from 18 to 32. This is to accommodate the growing demand for passengers.

The project – which will cost HK$90 million – had begun with the reconfiguration of the North and South Departures Immigration halls in Terminal 1.

“HKIA will soon serve 50 million passengers each year. In preparation, we’re upgrading our facilities and expanding our passenger handling capacity, all with the goal of delivering top-quality service to our customers.” said Henry Ma Yiu-man, the general manager of the Airport Authority.

Mr Ma also said an extra security channels will be provided during the configuration period.

“We’re also deploying extra staff to ensure the smooth flow of passengers,” he added.

After the configuration, travellers are required to complete security checks before finishing immigration formalities.

Apart from the project on security channels, other programmes would also be finished by 2011 under the enhancement programme which started at 2006.

Arrived back in HKG today, the visitors arrival immigration queue was FULL, it must have been 10 rows deep at least, and I can tell you it wasn't moving quickly! It's the first time I have ever seen it full.

I've seen it full many times.

Just went through the new arrangements departing HKG last Sunday. I did not like it at all. The security area was crowded, and the tmeporary barricades made it look like a really cheap airport. Actually, worse than an airport in china.

I couldn't see how it was any faster than before - I actually think it was slower. Not happy with these arrangements.

Sxc, you can always walk to the North clearance area, or depart through T2, until they change those over @:-)

Just went through the new arrangements departing HKG last Sunday. I did not like it at all. The security area was crowded, and the tmeporary barricades made it look like a really cheap airport. Actually, worse than an airport in china.

I couldn't see how it was any faster than before - I actually think it was slower. Not happy with these arrangements.

As said above, a few days ago the North side still wasn't under construction. And I do believe behind all those (admittedly cheap looking) barriers is the first phase of the "new" security clearances. When it's done I'm pretty sure it's going to be ridiculous overkill.

I am a big fan of the HKIAFVC and have used it many times - I was quite annoyed on my last arrival that there were 2 people in front of me and I actually had to wait ;)

I am thinking about the self service immigration but the last time I went through HKG I was with mrssimongr and didnt want to put her through teh wait of me registering.

I have a fairly long transit in HKG coming up and was wondering if there was an easy way to do the registering without going through inbound immigration and then straight to outbound immigration?

I used to think the queues at NRT were bad, but from what I've witnessed at HKG, I find NRT to be relatively tame.

Try arriving at YVR at 10:30-13:00 or so. Many large planes from international sources arrive at the same time, which can cause the visitor line to fill the entire immigration hall waiting area.

The HKG immigration lines were pretty short compared to that.