Originally Posted by
ekartash
I am on an award ticket from Chengdu to Hong Kong (on Dragon Air) and than from Hong Kong to NY (Cathay). this is on one ticket. I will be originating in Lhasa and will need to buy a ticket from Lhasa to Chengdu. The earliest flight out of Lhasa (on Air China) will be give a 70 minute connection in Chengdu to my dragon air flight. The dragon air flight gets into Hong Kong at 4.35pm, and my flight to NY (via vancouver) is at 12:15am.
my questions are as follows:
1. Will I be able to check my bag all the way through from Lhasa to NY, given that its different airlines. at the very least, can i check through to Hong Kong.
2. is 70 minutes enough to connect in in Chengdu. i will be going from an Air China flight to a Dragon Air flight.
3. do you think i will have enough time in Hong Kong to go into the city for dinner before my connecting flight to NY?
thanks
1. I would work on the assumption that you will have to reclaim the bag at CTU. It is technically possible for CA to add the connection to the label, but it is at the whim of the agent you are checking in with as to whether they (a) know how to do this; or (b) CA policy allows them to when the trip is on separate tickets. Do ask though.
2. As long as you're not delayed (i.e. the weather in Lhasa is cooperating) then you should have enough time. The plane will probably be on the ground overnight at Lhasa so the only real delay factors would be technical problems, weather or air traffic control restrictions. KA (Dragonair) close check-in 40 minutes before departure, giving you a 30 minute window to reclaim bags and go upstairs to check-in. I would try to check-in online (but not print your boarding card as this won't be accepted by CTU security) so that they know you're intending to fly.
3. You have easily enough time to go into the city - Airport Express to Hong Kong (Central) is 22 minutes journey time and runs every 12 minutes. Lots of nice places to eat within a 10 minute walk (or, even better, a short and inexpensive cab ride) of the station.