Hi FTs,

Just flew BKK-HKG-BKK TG600/TG601 Oct 5/Oct 6 and want to share you what I experienced at HKG Airport, which might be interesting for those heading to HKG soon.

Visited the main TG lounge at BKK airport (only TG lounge open now) at around 7am. Totally packed, small area to sit. As far as I saw - only had a quick look inside after seeing a long queue for MEN' bathrooms, they only had 1 bathroom with 3 working toilets, maybe some more, I did not go further inside, for a lounge which I assume can fit around 500 people...Average TG food, alcohol available.

On arrival @ HKG airport, the compulsory PCR Test procedure was done with the usual HKG efficiency. First they double check your Passport / QR code based form, you had to fill in in advance. Afterwards, you get a queue number for PCR Test. They had around 20 booths with staff, taking both, throat and nose samples. There were very professional, took no time and the first time for me, it was not painful at all (not very deep into the nose). Everything was done very quickly, but of course it helps, if you are one of the first passengers of your plane arriving there ;-).

Then you are heading to immigration, no all duty free shops are closed. Of course no queue at all at immigration. The baggage hall looks like a ghost town. Not sure how many flights are arriving, but I arrived with TG600 from BKK at 11.45am. Airport express is running as usual, I think every 13 min or so. Of course also no queue for taxis at Central Station. Took me 1.5hrs from touch down to be in my hotel room at Causeway Bay.

In the city, you are not allowed to sit down in any restaurant / bar for the first 3 days, take away though is ok. Even for my hotel, I booked incl. breakfast but was denied to sit down and have breakfast there. Yet, I was giving a box / plastic bag / cup and was allowed to grab things from the buffet to take with me. Going shopping though is allowed any time.

On my 2nd day, I had to do a RAT test myself and upload it to an health department page. The following day, I would have to go to a community center to do a PCR test, but I left before.

Oct 6th, going back by TG601 HKG-BKK 12.45 noon. Took the airport express around 10.00am. The pre-corona luggage drop off / check in @ Central Station was not available. Queue for the TG601 was quite busy at around 10.45am. But as *G, I could use the usual Royal Silk check in counter, which was ok. No queue at Security and Immigration.

Lounge: At check in, I was informed the TG lounge was closed. I was given an invitation card for the Plaza Premium lounges which are located at gates 1, 35, 60 (as shown on the back of card). What the check in staff did not tell me -or I did not notice- is, that only the lounge open is at Gate 1. I only found out from airport information at gate 40... Gate 1 is of course far away from gate 42, where TG601 is leaving from -need to take the train first- and at the moment, once you took the train to go to gate 42, you can't go back anymore to gate 1, it is blocked. So whoever wants to go to the lounge, make sure you go to the one and only open one of Plaza Premium at gate 1! The Airport Info Staff also told me, it will only open at 12.00 noon time. if this info is correct, then visiting the lounge is quite useless if booked on the TG 601 flight...

Most of the shops of course are also closed, close to gate 42 was a Starbucks, which was open. I checked out the location, where the TG lounge and UA lounge used to be, all deserted. There was still an Emirates Lounge, which probably only operates shortly before the EK flights are leaving.

I hope my info are useful for those, heading to Hong Kong soon.

Cheers
Fraserman