Struggling with this same issue for an Xmas week booking and about to give up and cancel. If I am not mistaken, CX does not interline with Hong Kong Airlines so that's your first problem, you would likely not be able to check luggage all the way through. So that situation would be a no go for us on a 2-week family trip with luggage (I was also looking at some Hong Kong Airlines flights.) But let's say I book a second ticket with an airline that does interline with CX (Hong Kong Express or MH for example). When I depart JFK, isn't the only way that would work is if I am already checked in for the second flight? Which I imagine will be impossible given the flight time of the first flight and connection time. In other words if it's over 24 hours I can't checkin for flight 2 so I can't interline?? So how do you do it with luggage and be sure I don't have to test and exit to checkin for second flight? I called Cathay about this and they aren't sure either and will check and get back to me. Honestly there are so many moving parts to this (not the least of which is that COVID will surely get worse in the winter months and HKG could tighten or more strictly enforce rules at any time). Just not willing to risk entering HKG no way no how and the possibility of government quarantine under current rules. So no way we are flying unless I know 100% we can stay airside.