MR Over night layover in HKG
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,659
I'm doing the same thing this weekend, arrive HKG 10:30 p.m. leave at 10:30 a.m.
Found some info on tripadvisor, I believe, go to Terminal 1 near gates 34 - 36 and there are lounge chairs in that area, and/or benches without the arm rests between every seat.
Bring a neck pillow and blanket or sweatshirt, they say it is COLD in the airport.
there is also a 24 hour starbucks, McDonalds and 7-11
If I have the energy - mainly depending on my upgrade chances - I'll try to get into the city, but if not, my plan is to hopefully score a lounge chair, the VS lounge opens at 0600, so I can then head there, chill, eat, shower, and board the flight home, thankfully in first
Found some info on tripadvisor, I believe, go to Terminal 1 near gates 34 - 36 and there are lounge chairs in that area, and/or benches without the arm rests between every seat.
Bring a neck pillow and blanket or sweatshirt, they say it is COLD in the airport.
there is also a 24 hour starbucks, McDonalds and 7-11
If I have the energy - mainly depending on my upgrade chances - I'll try to get into the city, but if not, my plan is to hopefully score a lounge chair, the VS lounge opens at 0600, so I can then head there, chill, eat, shower, and board the flight home, thankfully in first
If you can't get a BP to get you to the departure area there is a paid lounge airside with sleeping facilities for rent.
HKG is one big terminal, The separation of terminal 1 and 2 is for the check in counters. Even if you check in at terminal 2 you end up in the same terminal for departure.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC, MD, LA
Programs: Delta-DM, United, Hilton-DM, SPG-PLTM
Posts: 462
Upon arrival you will be at arrival level. You need an onward boarding pass to head to departure level where you will encounter a BP check and then departure security. It is at this level around gate 34-36 where the lounging chairs are found. It is first come first served. If you don't have an onward BP you need to get one at the transfer/transit counter. Whether a BP can be issued so far ahead of a 10:30 departure the next morning is the issue.
If you can't get a BP to get you to the departure area there is a paid lounge airside with sleeping facilities for rent.
HKG is one big terminal, The separation of terminal 1 and 2 is for the check in counters. Even if you check in at terminal 2 you end up in the same terminal for departure.
If you can't get a BP to get you to the departure area there is a paid lounge airside with sleeping facilities for rent.
HKG is one big terminal, The separation of terminal 1 and 2 is for the check in counters. Even if you check in at terminal 2 you end up in the same terminal for departure.
I guess I'll find out Saturday night and will post my results here.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, SPG Preferred
Posts: 58
Please do post your results when you are back. It will be very useful for me and other MR flyers!!
#19
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC, MD, LA
Programs: Delta-DM, United, Hilton-DM, SPG-PLTM
Posts: 462
So I made it to HKG and back, and was very fortunate to be able to use my GUC on the flight out.
That being said - I'm afraid I don't have too much info on getting to the gates to find the sleeping areas.
Our flight from NRT - HKG was delayed 3 hours due to mechanical issues. We landed about 1/1:30 a.m local time. When we landed in HKG the "normal" immigration area was closed due to the APM (automatic people mover) not working.
We ended up walking all the way through the terminal passed many gates, and passed the transit check-in gates, but they were all closed. I'm not sure if this was due to the time or the fact that the other immigration post was closed.
I cleared customs and was outside in Terminal 1 arrivals area. There were a lot of people here camping out on chairs, and such.
Due to the late arrival Delta provided a free shuttle to downtown hong kong, since I had already cleared security and it was free I decided to go into the city and have a late night meal. A friend recommended an all night spot - Tsui Wah in Lan Kwai Fong. Fun area, although a bit clubby, food was good, I was entertained people watching and wandering around for about an hour or so after I ate.
Took a cab back about 4/5 a.m. cost me 310 HKG or about $40 USD. Hung out at the McDonalds watched The Wire on my kindle and cleared back to the gate about 6 a.m.
To get to gates 30 - 80 I had to take an air train - like in ATL - but it did not start running until 6:20 a.m.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I think if you do not come into Terminal 1 by gates 34 - 36, you will be hard pressed to find your way there. I don't know if things would've been different had I gone through the "normal" immigration post.
But there are areas in the check in and arrival areas that you can find to lay down or just hang out with free Wi-fi to pass the time, clean bathrooms.
If I had/chose to do a mileage run again this would be at the top of my list with either leaving or staying in the airport.
That being said - I'm afraid I don't have too much info on getting to the gates to find the sleeping areas.
Our flight from NRT - HKG was delayed 3 hours due to mechanical issues. We landed about 1/1:30 a.m local time. When we landed in HKG the "normal" immigration area was closed due to the APM (automatic people mover) not working.
We ended up walking all the way through the terminal passed many gates, and passed the transit check-in gates, but they were all closed. I'm not sure if this was due to the time or the fact that the other immigration post was closed.
I cleared customs and was outside in Terminal 1 arrivals area. There were a lot of people here camping out on chairs, and such.
Due to the late arrival Delta provided a free shuttle to downtown hong kong, since I had already cleared security and it was free I decided to go into the city and have a late night meal. A friend recommended an all night spot - Tsui Wah in Lan Kwai Fong. Fun area, although a bit clubby, food was good, I was entertained people watching and wandering around for about an hour or so after I ate.
Took a cab back about 4/5 a.m. cost me 310 HKG or about $40 USD. Hung out at the McDonalds watched The Wire on my kindle and cleared back to the gate about 6 a.m.
To get to gates 30 - 80 I had to take an air train - like in ATL - but it did not start running until 6:20 a.m.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I think if you do not come into Terminal 1 by gates 34 - 36, you will be hard pressed to find your way there. I don't know if things would've been different had I gone through the "normal" immigration post.
But there are areas in the check in and arrival areas that you can find to lay down or just hang out with free Wi-fi to pass the time, clean bathrooms.
If I had/chose to do a mileage run again this would be at the top of my list with either leaving or staying in the airport.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
What happened is that the TRANSIT desks and security were closed, so you were forced through main immigration into HKG. There is simply two huge banks of immigration counters, and at that time of the day, only a few counters on one single side would be open. There's no "special" ones.
The automatic train gets you from one end of the terminal near (Gate 1-20) to the other other end (Gate 40-69). When it wasn't running early in the morning, you are free to walk past the other gates to your gate. You don't have to take the train at all.
The automatic train gets you from one end of the terminal near (Gate 1-20) to the other other end (Gate 40-69). When it wasn't running early in the morning, you are free to walk past the other gates to your gate. You don't have to take the train at all.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, SPG Preferred
Posts: 58
So I made it to HKG and back, and was very fortunate to be able to use my GUC on the flight out.
That being said - I'm afraid I don't have too much info on getting to the gates to find the sleeping areas.
Our flight from NRT - HKG was delayed 3 hours due to mechanical issues. We landed about 1/1:30 a.m local time. When we landed in HKG the "normal" immigration area was closed due to the APM (automatic people mover) not working.
We ended up walking all the way through the terminal passed many gates, and passed the transit check-in gates, but they were all closed. I'm not sure if this was due to the time or the fact that the other immigration post was closed.
I cleared customs and was outside in Terminal 1 arrivals area. There were a lot of people here camping out on chairs, and such.
Due to the late arrival Delta provided a free shuttle to downtown hong kong, since I had already cleared security and it was free I decided to go into the city and have a late night meal. A friend recommended an all night spot - Tsui Wah in Lan Kwai Fong. Fun area, although a bit clubby, food was good, I was entertained people watching and wandering around for about an hour or so after I ate.
Took a cab back about 4/5 a.m. cost me 310 HKG or about $40 USD. Hung out at the McDonalds watched The Wire on my kindle and cleared back to the gate about 6 a.m.
To get to gates 30 - 80 I had to take an air train - like in ATL - but it did not start running until 6:20 a.m.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I think if you do not come into Terminal 1 by gates 34 - 36, you will be hard pressed to find your way there. I don't know if things would've been different had I gone through the "normal" immigration post.
But there are areas in the check in and arrival areas that you can find to lay down or just hang out with free Wi-fi to pass the time, clean bathrooms.
If I had/chose to do a mileage run again this would be at the top of my list with either leaving or staying in the airport.
That being said - I'm afraid I don't have too much info on getting to the gates to find the sleeping areas.
Our flight from NRT - HKG was delayed 3 hours due to mechanical issues. We landed about 1/1:30 a.m local time. When we landed in HKG the "normal" immigration area was closed due to the APM (automatic people mover) not working.
We ended up walking all the way through the terminal passed many gates, and passed the transit check-in gates, but they were all closed. I'm not sure if this was due to the time or the fact that the other immigration post was closed.
I cleared customs and was outside in Terminal 1 arrivals area. There were a lot of people here camping out on chairs, and such.
Due to the late arrival Delta provided a free shuttle to downtown hong kong, since I had already cleared security and it was free I decided to go into the city and have a late night meal. A friend recommended an all night spot - Tsui Wah in Lan Kwai Fong. Fun area, although a bit clubby, food was good, I was entertained people watching and wandering around for about an hour or so after I ate.
Took a cab back about 4/5 a.m. cost me 310 HKG or about $40 USD. Hung out at the McDonalds watched The Wire on my kindle and cleared back to the gate about 6 a.m.
To get to gates 30 - 80 I had to take an air train - like in ATL - but it did not start running until 6:20 a.m.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I think if you do not come into Terminal 1 by gates 34 - 36, you will be hard pressed to find your way there. I don't know if things would've been different had I gone through the "normal" immigration post.
But there are areas in the check in and arrival areas that you can find to lay down or just hang out with free Wi-fi to pass the time, clean bathrooms.
If I had/chose to do a mileage run again this would be at the top of my list with either leaving or staying in the airport.
#22
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC, MD, LA
Programs: Delta-DM, United, Hilton-DM, SPG-PLTM
Posts: 462
with all that drama, that is what I would do - stay at the airport. You don't want to get caught some place and not be able to get back to make your flight.
Hopefully you get some sleep on the flight over, you're awake mostly while on the ground and can catch up on reading or shows.
I did see something at the bottom of my trip for a hotel that was about $37USD, said it had a free shuttle, depending on times, but said I had to contact the hotel directly for info. I never did that, but something you might want to look into, a single bed, hot shower and free shuttle to and from would be worth it IMO.
It was at the bottom of my trip info, where it asks if you want to rent a car or reserve a room, etc.
Best of luck and safe travels!
Hopefully you get some sleep on the flight over, you're awake mostly while on the ground and can catch up on reading or shows.
I did see something at the bottom of my trip for a hotel that was about $37USD, said it had a free shuttle, depending on times, but said I had to contact the hotel directly for info. I never did that, but something you might want to look into, a single bed, hot shower and free shuttle to and from would be worth it IMO.
It was at the bottom of my trip info, where it asks if you want to rent a car or reserve a room, etc.
Best of luck and safe travels!
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,681
To me, the shear idea of flying halfway around the world to hang out in an airport is simply unconscionable, especially when the destination city is super easy to get to from the airport, and is as vibrant as HK. While the "drama" might help you justify this approach in your mind, the fact of the matter is that the city is still functioning AND it offers far richer experiences than the 24-hour MacDonald's at HKIA.
I agree with this statement. However, it's insanely easy to choose a hotel with good MTR access. Do this, and you have nothing to worry about.
You don't want to get caught some place and not be able to get back to make your flight.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,320
Not usually. Neither is the Airport Express, things will shut down after midnight from about midnight to 6 am.
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,681
The MTR is not open 24 hours, but if your outbound flight is 730a or later, it is pretty easy to use it + HEX to get to HKIA if you don't have to make any transfers.
#27
Join Date: May 2001
Location: topeka, ks usa
Posts: 392
The MTR map I found online doesn't seem to show any transfer point from airport line to TST. How would you get to/from there from airport? Is the apx bus operating from Kowloon station? Can you buy apx/bus ticket at TST area hotel stops for the journey to airport?
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,681
The MTR map I found online doesn't seem to show any transfer point from airport line to TST.
1. How would you get to/from there from airport?
2. Is the apx bus operating from Kowloon station?
3. Can you buy apx/bus ticket at TST area hotel stops for the journey to airport?
1. How would you get to/from there from airport?
2. Is the apx bus operating from Kowloon station?
3. Can you buy apx/bus ticket at TST area hotel stops for the journey to airport?
-HEX/taxi
-HEX/free bus
-Taxi
-Bus
2. Yes. I only take these when the taxi queue appears to be more than 5 minutes long, and I know that my stop isn't far down the line
3. I'm not sure, but tickets are easy to buy at MTR/HEX stations, or you can go the Octopus route