I'm still arranging an upcoming itinerary out of HKG. I am staying in Kowloon and can catch the first morning AE train at 5:53 AM which should arrive at the airport at approximately 6:15 AM.
If I am Star Gold and flying TG C class to BKK (connecting to TG F) with a 7:45 AM departure time, is that enough time? I am OK spending little or no time in the TG Lounge at HKG so that isn't a factor. I am more concerned about arriving at the airport and not making it through security and to the gate in time for departure.
I will have no checked luggage and am a fast walker!
Way more than enough time. You can check-in as late as 6:15a at the Kowloon AE station and have enough time to get to airport, clear immigration and security and go to gate. Or you can check-in day earlier at the AE since TG is one of the airlines participating in day-early check-in.
Either way, the 5:53a train is fine. I'll say as late as 6:33a train is okay if you go straight from train to gate at the airport.
If you are at all concerned do an online check in and print your boarding pass at the hotel. That way no possible checkin delays and you go straight to security on arrival at the airport
If you are at all concerned do an online check in and print your boarding pass at the hotel. That way no possible checkin delays and you go straight to security on arrival at the airport
As I have no luggage to check, this is exactly my plan! I'll check-in the day before from the hotel and then the next morning go straight from the hotel to the AE and then direct to the gate.
If you buy your AE tickets in advance over the MTR web site, you get 5% discount. However, you must have access to your e-mail and printer as you need to print the confirmation to take with you to collect the ticket.
Not sure how far your hotel from the AE Kowloon Station. If you take a taxi and the fare is HK$60 or more, you also get a discount on the AE ticket. Just ask the taxi driver for a receipt.
On arrival at HKG, since you have no luggage to drop off, you may find exiting to T1 easier than T2 although TG's check-in is at T2. At that time of the morning, the queue at immigration and security should not be too bad.
If you have spare time, TG's lounge is located one floor upstair near gate 40.
If you buy your AE tickets in advance over the MTR web site, you get 5% discount. However, you must have access to your e-mail and printer as you need to print the confirmation to take with you to collect the ticket.
Thanks for all of this great information!
If I do order my AE ticket online in advance, when I arrive in HKG is it correct I take the AE to the Kowloon Station and then get my ticket from the ticket office there? So, no ticket is actually needed to board the AE at the airport?
Also, will I be able to purchase an Octopus card at the same Kowloon station window where I retrieve my AE ticket?
If I do order my AE ticket online in advance, when I arrive in HKG is it correct I take the AE to the Kowloon Station and then get my ticket from the ticket office there? So, no ticket is actually needed to board the AE at the airport?
Also, will I be able to purchase an Octopus card at the same Kowloon station window where I retrieve my AE ticket?
Correct. You do not need a ticket to board the AE train, only to exit the fare area at Kowloon Station.
Yes, you will be able to get an Octopus card at the same kiosk where you collect your pre-ordered AE ticket.
If you will be riding the MTR a lot during your stay in HK, you may want to consider getting the Airport Express Travel Pass.
Mindful that both the regular "on-loan" Octopus card and the Airport Express Travel Pass have a HK$50 refundable deposit. So don't forget to return the card on departure to obtain your refund plus any residual stored value in the card. You can do so at the airport or any MTR station. A HK$9 administration fee is applicable to the "on-loan" Octopus card. The AETP is also an Octopus card and you are able to load addition $$ into it to use for purchase of other goods and services.
The AETP is also an Octopus card and you are able to load addition $$ into it to use for purchase of other goods and services.
Wow! THIS is exactly why I love FlyerTalk! I have looked at the MTR website several times and this is not made clear on that site. The AE Travel Pass will actually be perfect for my four night visit. Especially now that learn I can add value to the card (Octopus) for use on the Star Ferry and other goods and services.
Having an Octopus card is a must. But also note some airlines, eg CX sells a discounted R/T AE ticket. For HK [Central], I think the normal RT fare is 180 but you can buy on board any CX flight for 160.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dtsm
Having an Octopus card is a must. But also note some airlines, eg CX sells a discounted R/T AE ticket. For HK [Central], I think the normal RT fare is 180 but you can buy on board any CX flight for 160.
And you can add $340 of stuff if you want Asia Miles.
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