Questions on getting from HK Airport to Macau
Nov 15, 2013, 6:52 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
Yes, you are right but we need to be at the check-in 60min prior to departure, so just wanted to know whether we will make it to E2 within 45min of arrival.
Any info on the superclass would be great especially what the VIP waiting area means and whether there is an advantage getting off early.
Any info on the superclass would be great especially what the VIP waiting area means and whether there is an advantage getting off early.
Sorry, have neither taken the ferry from HKG to Macao nor the Superclass. Cannot help on that question. Also not sure about the ferry baggage allowance. I usually do Macao as a day trip from Hong Kong.
The extra cost for Superclass is about HK$140 (<US$20) p.p. It's really nominal especially you're arriving on SQ F.
Nov 16, 2013, 11:25 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SYD, Australia......Hotels: HHon LT Diamond, Hyatt LT Glob, Marriott AMB (LT Gold), IHG AMB (20 years of SCC and RoyAMB dropped 2024)...Airlines: BA GGL (OW Emerald), LH FTL (*S), QF Plat (LT Gold), VA, UA Silver (*S), SQ Silver (*S)
Posts: 2,101
Sitting at E2 right now. Took only 15min from our gate to the E2 check-in. Ended up booking Superclass anyway as economy was "apparently" sold out for our sailing....not sure whether they just tried to rip off some non-Asian looking passengers.
No VIP waiting area either...let's hope we at least get off the boat first especially if the boat is actually that full.
No VIP waiting area either...let's hope we at least get off the boat first especially if the boat is actually that full.
Nov 17, 2013, 2:57 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,019
Sitting at E2 right now. Took only 15min from our gate to the E2 check-in. Ended up booking Superclass anyway as economy was "apparently" sold out for our sailing....not sure whether they just tried to rip off some non-Asian looking passengers.
No VIP waiting area either...let's hope we at least get off the boat first especially if the boat is actually that full.
No VIP waiting area either...let's hope we at least get off the boat first especially if the boat is actually that full.
Nov 17, 2013, 7:49 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
Only if the vessel type has regular upper-deck entry-ways, and the Superclass is actually upstairs. But I do agree that is more often true for the HKG and Kowloon services than the HK Island one.
Last edited by rkkwan; Nov 17, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Nov 19, 2013, 11:16 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SYD, Australia......Hotels: HHon LT Diamond, Hyatt LT Glob, Marriott AMB (LT Gold), IHG AMB (20 years of SCC and RoyAMB dropped 2024)...Airlines: BA GGL (OW Emerald), LH FTL (*S), QF Plat (LT Gold), VA, UA Silver (*S), SQ Silver (*S)
Posts: 2,101
Update: Well, the sailing was fully booked, so probably correct that they had no more economy seats. Sailing was leaving around 20min late. Got to Macau and while they did try to let Superclass disembark first, in reality only the first 10 or so people from upstairs got out before they opened for everyone and they also opened another door towards the front for everyone to disembark.
So, the benefit was really not worth it. In the end what really slowed everything down was getting your luggage. Total chaos and it seemed this was the first boat they ever handled at the port! 2 baggage handlers had to carry in all bags from around 150 people or so and everyone had to wait for the bags to be aligned one by one in 3 long rows. Then everyone was let through the gates to hunt for your bag with people going the opposite way with their bags. It was an absolute mess!
Then outside total chaos due to some Grand Prix event that had just finished. In the end it took us 2 hours from getting off the boat to getting to the Conrad on the Cotai Sands bus.
Should have been an easy trip from SIN but in the end it took us 10h to get from SIN to the Conrad in Macau.
So, the benefit was really not worth it. In the end what really slowed everything down was getting your luggage. Total chaos and it seemed this was the first boat they ever handled at the port! 2 baggage handlers had to carry in all bags from around 150 people or so and everyone had to wait for the bags to be aligned one by one in 3 long rows. Then everyone was let through the gates to hunt for your bag with people going the opposite way with their bags. It was an absolute mess!
Then outside total chaos due to some Grand Prix event that had just finished. In the end it took us 2 hours from getting off the boat to getting to the Conrad on the Cotai Sands bus.
Should have been an easy trip from SIN but in the end it took us 10h to get from SIN to the Conrad in Macau.
Nov 20, 2013, 7:42 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
Update: Well, the sailing was fully booked, so probably correct that they had no more economy seats. Sailing was leaving around 20min late. Got to Macau and while they did try to let Superclass disembark first, in reality only the first 10 or so people from upstairs got out before they opened for everyone and they also opened another door towards the front for everyone to disembark.
So, the benefit was really not worth it. In the end what really slowed everything down was getting your luggage. Total chaos and it seemed this was the first boat they ever handled at the port! 2 baggage handlers had to carry in all bags from around 150 people or so and everyone had to wait for the bags to be aligned one by one in 3 long rows. Then everyone was let through the gates to hunt for your bag with people going the opposite way with their bags. It was an absolute mess!
Then outside total chaos due to some Grand Prix event that had just finished. In the end it took us 2 hours from getting off the boat to getting to the Conrad on the Cotai Sands bus.
Should have been an easy trip from SIN but in the end it took us 10h to get from SIN to the Conrad in Macau.
So, the benefit was really not worth it. In the end what really slowed everything down was getting your luggage. Total chaos and it seemed this was the first boat they ever handled at the port! 2 baggage handlers had to carry in all bags from around 150 people or so and everyone had to wait for the bags to be aligned one by one in 3 long rows. Then everyone was let through the gates to hunt for your bag with people going the opposite way with their bags. It was an absolute mess!
Then outside total chaos due to some Grand Prix event that had just finished. In the end it took us 2 hours from getting off the boat to getting to the Conrad on the Cotai Sands bus.
Should have been an easy trip from SIN but in the end it took us 10h to get from SIN to the Conrad in Macau.
BTW let us know how the upstream check in at Macao works on the return flight!
May 17, 2014, 1:19 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
I'm glad that I found this thread. I'm on my way to Macau, and I had planned to take the ferry directly from HKG airport to Macau. The problem is that my flight is scheduled to arrive at 6:10am, and the earliest ferry to Macau departs at 10:15am! Although HKG isn't a bad airport, with no lounge access for this transfer, it would be boring but doable.
Now, I just learned that my flight will arrive in HKG early, at 5:34 am. I might be able to tolerate a boring 4-hour layover, but I think this pushes me over the line. If my flight arrives as scheduled, I think I will choose to enter HKG, use the Arrivals lounge for a shower and breakfast, then take the A11 to the ferry terminal on Hong Kong Island. If my calculations are correct, this will cost less money -- and get me to Macau earlier -- than waiting for the first ferry of the day from HKG airport.
Does this sound right?
Now, I just learned that my flight will arrive in HKG early, at 5:34 am. I might be able to tolerate a boring 4-hour layover, but I think this pushes me over the line. If my flight arrives as scheduled, I think I will choose to enter HKG, use the Arrivals lounge for a shower and breakfast, then take the A11 to the ferry terminal on Hong Kong Island. If my calculations are correct, this will cost less money -- and get me to Macau earlier -- than waiting for the first ferry of the day from HKG airport.
Does this sound right?
May 17, 2014, 3:13 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
If my flight arrives as scheduled, I think I will choose to enter HKG, use the Arrivals lounge for a shower and breakfast, then take the A11 to the ferry terminal on Hong Kong Island. If my calculations are correct, this will cost less money -- and get me to Macau earlier -- than waiting for the first ferry of the day from HKG airport.?
IIRC the fare is something like HKD40, takes just a tad over an hour. Just in time to catch the first [/few] 'normal' sailings to Macau.
Mar 11, 2015, 12:04 am
#29
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
immigration/customs took 30 seconds at Macau when I went but baggage retrieval from ferry took an hour. Very disorganized process. The skypier facilities are spartan at HKIA (equally bleak at Macau), don't expect CX F lounge service here, more like Greyhound bus.
Mar 11, 2015, 10:16 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 116
If we exit at Hong Kong then we have access to the arrivals lounge for a shower and a snack and we will have our baggage in hand. The downside is we will then have to make our way from the airport to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry.
If we transfer in Hong Kong then it sounds like we will be waiting for a long time for our bags when we get to Macau. We also run the risk of getting to Macau and not having a room ready to use for a shower.
Has anyone tried this one both ways and have a preference?
-J