My family has an upcoming RTW trip using OW Distance based award but since it involved mostly HKG and CX I thought I would post my questions in Cathay forum:
1. We will be flying AA First class from DFW to ORD and will break journey for 2 days. Then my family will fly CX Business class from ORD - HKG and I will be flying domestic to my work location a few hours later. Will I be able to accompany them to Terminal 5 and use the CX Lounge until they depart and then head back to terminal 3 to take my domestic flight. I am ExPlat with AA and also have a Qantas club membership.
2. Currently, all the segments on the RTW ticket are booked in business and first with the exception of HKG-DEL. We have been looking on JAL site for potential upgrade if a Business class seat opens up but no luck so far. Is there a way to get your name added to a standy list in the last few days before departure or any other thing we can do to increase the probability. Infact, the family is willing to cut short the 3 day stopover in HKG because my son fractured his arm this week and they would rather travel in Business instead of sightseeing which will be curtailed even otherwise.
3. During their stay in HKG I had booked 1 night in Marriott Sykcity right next to Airport since they arrive at 8PM and 2 nights at a Marriott in downtown. Given the mobility situation with my son and having 3 bags as well is that still the best option or better off either storing luggage at airport and staying all nights in downtown or airport marriott. Is it best to take a taxi or train for moving around city and to and from airport.
Sorry for the long post but wanted some guidance on how to make their lives a bit easier in this long journey.
1. Don't know about the policy there. If T5 is in the International Departures section you may not be able to do so.
2. If its on award tickets, no way to do so unless you're using Asia Miles. If its revenue, then yes you may be waitlisted.. but not standby.
3. There is a stored luggage facility at HKIA between T1 and T2. The airport is far from the Marriott in HK. So you may either store your bags there - which isn't exactly cheap..its about US$18 per piece per day or you may take all the bags with you to the Marriott at Pacific Place. Cos when you return, you may take the bags to the HK Station and check your bags there and then take the Airport Express back to the airport. But again if many of you are travelling together, taking a car / taxi may be the better option.
there's also a porter service near the luggage carousel which i believe not only helps you pick up luggage on the carousel and also brings them to your car / taxi.
taxi from HKG to Marriott at Pacific Place would probably cost around HK$300.
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When you take the airport express train from the airport to the city, you must manage the luggage with you, but when you take it back from the city to the airport, you can check in and drop bags at the station before boarding the train or, in fact, earlier in the day. This works for almost all airlines, surprisingly including flights on USA carriers connecting or nonstop to the USA. So if you're going to use the airport express in only one direction, do it when you return to the airport for your flight. Also, the hotels that are walking distance to an airport express station will generally send a bellman to/from the station with you to show youu the way and handle the bags. In Kowloon, both the RC and the W offer this, although they appreciate your informing them of the time of your arrival/departure in advance.
#2 - In regard to the upgrade, you may be better off looking at availability for the EXACT SAME FLIGHT # on a different day (cutting your stay short as you mentioned) - if there's availability on the same flight for a different day then you can call to change your OW RTW flight to that different day free of charge (I think there may be some advance notice req'd but other than that no change fees as long as same flight #).
3. During their stay in HKG I had booked 1 night in Marriott Sykcity right next to Airport since they arrive at 8PM and 2 nights at a Marriott in downtown. Given the mobility situation with my son and having 3 bags as well is that still the best option or better off either storing luggage at airport and staying all nights in downtown or airport marriott. Is it best to take a taxi or train for moving around city and to and from airport.
Sorry for the long post but wanted some guidance on how to make their lives a bit easier in this long journey.
No point staying at the Airport Marriott. Just stay downtown. The Airport Express train departs literally 50 meters from where you exit customs, goes every 10 minutes, and is 24 minutes to downtown HK. It is way more convenient than most US airports.
I did a bit more research based on your tips and now I am debating whether it would be better to take the taxi in the night at 9PM (if it is safe) to downtown (BTW they will be staying at CY instead of JW) instead of taking the Marriott airport shuttle to Skycity and then a taxi the following morning to CY.
On the return they should be able to take the train because the hotel staff can help and the bags can be checked in at the HKG station.This way they can buy the $220HKD 3 day pass as well that let's them roam around HKG for 3 days.
One more question came to mind:
Even though the ticket is mostly Business / First class the HKG-DEL segment is in Economy hence will they have access to the Cathay lounge in HKG on their outbound journey.
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Even though the ticket is mostly Business / First class the HKG-DEL segment is in Economy hence will they have access to the Cathay lounge in HKG on their outbound journey.
Access to lounge is based on departing flight's class of service and not on the fare basis. So you need to get the HKG-DEL sector confirmed to Business class or someone has at least OW Sapphire status, or else no entry. (Edited - just realised that you're on an award).
Taxis in HK are safer than NYC in my opinion. So its entirely up to you. If you have lots of bags, then I suggest you get a limousine - which is just slightly more than a taxi. Usually a taxi is around HK$550 vs HK$800 for a limo. Alternatively you may take the airport shuttle bus - which is door to door for around HK$160 per person.
But really, after travelling F class, do you want to schlep on a bus to town??
The taxi fare should be between HK$300 and HK$350 from the airport to Western district. Given your family would need to get a taxi from the airport express station in central to the Courtyard anyway I would recommend just getting one from the airport. A bit more expensive for 2 but a bit cheaper for 3 and far more convenient.
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1. I believe, but am not 100% certain, that lounges at ORD T5 are airside. If so, you won't be able to accompany them to the lounge.
3. Left luggage at HKG -- there is such a facility in the arrivals hall. After you exit Customs into the public area, turn right and walk to the end. You'll see it on the right.
I think one of the biggest wastes of money is a taxi or limo from HKG to downtown. The train is so easy to use you just walk out of baggage reclaim and right onto the train. I usually grab the taxi at Kowloon to my hotel and its usually quicker than taking the taxi from HKG and way cheaper.
I think one of the biggest wastes of money is a taxi or limo from HKG to downtown. The train is so easy to use you just walk out of baggage reclaim and right onto the train. I usually grab the taxi at Kowloon to my hotel and its usually quicker than taking the taxi from HKG and way cheaper.
The Airport Express is worth it if between 1-3 are travelling. If more than that, a car is more worth it.
The Airport Express is worth it if between 1-3 are travelling. If more than that, a car is more worth it.
They sell a group ticket for four people for a very good discount. I can't remember the cost, but I do this all the time with my family of four. You purchase it at the service desk. All four must travel at the same time.
They sell a group ticket for four people for a very good discount. I can't remember the cost, but I do this all the time with my family of four. You purchase it at the service desk. All four must travel at the same time.
Oh yes, of course. Thank you for reminding me of this!
I always travel alone so I never know of the advantages of travelling in a group!
Things have worked out well so far. I was able to get all of them upgraded to Business class on the HKG-DEL segment on a 1 day earlier flt as it opened up today.
It is also nice to know about the group rates for Airport Express train and that children can ride free. Does this apply to the passes that combine local train and bus travel within the city?
