Originally Posted by
evergrn
Would really appreciate if someone could give respond to my #6 above and give me some recs. Need to make a decision on this soon.
@LHR/MEL/Europe FF:
- Is this transfer desk located before either arrival immigration or transit security? Because if it's after transit security (ie, you've committed to transit already) and they tell you they can't reroute your bags, then you've screwed yourself over since you now can't easily exit out to Hong Kong to go retrieve your bags. Sorry, I'm not very familiar with transiting via HKG... I'm used to just entering Hong Kong.
- According to your timeframe, it's 80min total for transit to a different airlines requiring bag pickup and re-checkin. However, wouldn't you say that's a normal-case scenario rather than worst-case scenario? I've had an instance or two where arrival immigration alone took ~40min or perhaps even longer.
Transfer desks are located before transit security and/or arrivals. This is to enable those without a boarding pass to obtain one and then clear security (which requires a valid boarding pass).
80 minutes does not include any check-in deadline for the onward carrier, or allow for the 30 mins prior to departure that you're required to be at the gate for boarding.... it's the pure mechanics of immigration in and out, bag collection and check-in (although if you meet the check-in deadline you'll also make boarding time).
The 80 mins is being reasonably generous. If you were to arrive with no immigration queues (which is not uncommon) and your bags are out in 15-20 mins you could be back in the departures hall as little as 40 minutes after you start out.