HKG Protests disrupts AC flights
Aug 13, 2019, 4:06 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YVR
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Correct me if I'm wrong but can Canadian passport holders not get a Visa on arrival at PEK and it would be good for something like 48 hours? I thought I had read that somewhere. If so, then at least somewhere in mainland china would be an option to divert...
Aug 13, 2019, 4:15 pm
#32
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Excellent wiki in the FT thread
China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
Aug 13, 2019, 4:17 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YVR
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Posts: 312
Excellent wiki in the FT thread
China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread
Aug 13, 2019, 4:33 pm
#34
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UPDATE
Update - August 13, 2019
Due to the ongoing incidents in Hong Kong, customers may experience airport congestion and longer travel times at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
Air Canada encourages customers flying from Hong Kong International Airport to arrive at the airport at least 6 hours prior to their scheduled departure time to allow for extra time to check in and go through the security screening process before their flight.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...hong-kong.html
Update - August 13, 2019
Due to the ongoing incidents in Hong Kong, customers may experience airport congestion and longer travel times at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
Air Canada encourages customers flying from Hong Kong International Airport to arrive at the airport at least 6 hours prior to their scheduled departure time to allow for extra time to check in and go through the security screening process before their flight.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...hong-kong.html
Aug 13, 2019, 9:10 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,917
To those offering that AC just reroute through another city or add additional flights: Not Possible.
China tightly controls who gets in or out and there is no way that China will allow AC to reroute to another Chinese airport, especially not now. There is a possibility of taking the ferry to Macau and flying to another AC hub. Canadians who travel to China should not expect assistance, nor sympathy from anyone should they have problems. As per the Government of Canada travel advisory;
China - Exercise a high degree of cautionin China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Hong Kong - Exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to ongoing large-scale demonstrations.
Due to political considerations and the lack of courage, Canada will not make a more forceful statement, so travelers should read between the words and steer clear until China changes its position on Canada.
China tightly controls who gets in or out and there is no way that China will allow AC to reroute to another Chinese airport, especially not now. There is a possibility of taking the ferry to Macau and flying to another AC hub. Canadians who travel to China should not expect assistance, nor sympathy from anyone should they have problems. As per the Government of Canada travel advisory;
China - Exercise a high degree of cautionin China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Hong Kong - Exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to ongoing large-scale demonstrations.
Due to political considerations and the lack of courage, Canada will not make a more forceful statement, so travelers should read between the words and steer clear until China changes its position on Canada.
Aug 13, 2019, 9:41 pm
#38
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HKIA press release posted a short while ago
Airport Authority Hong Kong Obtains Interim Injunction to Restrain Interfering with the Proper Use of the Airport
(HONG KONG, 14 August 2019)
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/m...e/2019/pr_1348
Watching this from earlier today was a little frightening. I can't imagine almost 850 AC pax for the 2 flights trying to get through this to clear security. (Note the pax who said she just wants to go home and the man after her, holding his BP)
video clip in tweet
Airport Authority Hong Kong Obtains Interim Injunction to Restrain Interfering with the Proper Use of the Airport
(HONG KONG, 14 August 2019)
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/m...e/2019/pr_1348
Watching this from earlier today was a little frightening. I can't imagine almost 850 AC pax for the 2 flights trying to get through this to clear security. (Note the pax who said she just wants to go home and the man after her, holding his BP)
video clip in tweet
Aug 13, 2019, 9:42 pm
#39
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,792
To those offering that AC just reroute through another city or add additional flights: Not Possible.
China tightly controls who gets in or out and there is no way that China will allow AC to reroute to another Chinese airport, especially not now. There is a possibility of taking the ferry to Macau and flying to another AC hub. Canadians who travel to China should not expect assistance, nor sympathy from anyone should they have problems. As per the Government of Canada travel advisory;
China - Exercise a high degree of cautionin China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Hong Kong - Exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to ongoing large-scale demonstrations.
Due to political considerations and the lack of courage, Canada will not make a more forceful statement, so travelers should read between the words and steer clear until China changes its position on Canada.
China tightly controls who gets in or out and there is no way that China will allow AC to reroute to another Chinese airport, especially not now. There is a possibility of taking the ferry to Macau and flying to another AC hub. Canadians who travel to China should not expect assistance, nor sympathy from anyone should they have problems. As per the Government of Canada travel advisory;
China - Exercise a high degree of cautionin China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Hong Kong - Exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to ongoing large-scale demonstrations.
Due to political considerations and the lack of courage, Canada will not make a more forceful statement, so travelers should read between the words and steer clear until China changes its position on Canada.
First, issues with China and with HK differ. As it happens, I am jut back from China, and I don't think there is a major safety issue with China, at least if you exercise a minimal degree of carefulness, such as not getting into political discussions. This said, I would agree with people who have decided not to go and spend money in China in the current political context; I still felt I needed to go because of previous stuff which I did not think I should escape from. However my wife this time declined to come with me even though her presence might have been helpful. I invoked family issues, but I am not sure my hosts bought into it... Anyway, if things continue going in the same direction, odds are we won't go to China again any time soon.
Aug 14, 2019, 10:43 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
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Posts: 5,132
+1 !!!
Just hanging around, waiting for check in to open wouldn't be much fun at all. If one could check in then get to the lounge, that would at least be bearable (though 6h in the lounge is a very long time).
Just hanging around, waiting for check in to open wouldn't be much fun at all. If one could check in then get to the lounge, that would at least be bearable (though 6h in the lounge is a very long time).
Aug 14, 2019, 11:19 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Surely this would be foolhardy in the extreme, even in the rather unlikelihood that China would give the necessary clearance. Passengers, crew and aircraft could be stranded indefinitely. For that matter, how many Canadians travelling on CANADIAN passports showing their place of birth as "Hong Kong" or "Victoria, Hong Kong" or even "Hong Kong BCC" would feel safe upon being landed unscheduled in mainland China
Aug 14, 2019, 11:25 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2018
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As it happens, I am jut back from China, and I don't think there is a major safety issue with China, at least if you exercise a minimal degree of carefulness, such as not getting into political discussions... Anyway, if things continue going in the same direction, odds are we won't go to China again any time soon.
Any other data points from people that have seen their employer do some kind of ban of this kind?
Aug 14, 2019, 11:28 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YTZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 81
Another option is taking the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau (no visa needed for Canadian), then in same ferry terminal you could actually check in at the ferry terminal (akin to "in-town check in"), take the ferry, and the ferry will take you straight to HK airport airside (Skypier).
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/t...-transfer.page
Aug 14, 2019, 2:34 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,792
I too was in mainland China not too many weeks ago. It never even crossed my mind to be nervous. I'd still get on a plane and go there today, except my employer just put it (and HK) on the travel ban list for Canadian employees yesterday. Interestingly, the ban is not in effect for US employees.
Any other data points from people that have seen their employer do some kind of ban of this kind?
Any other data points from people that have seen their employer do some kind of ban of this kind?
Going on this trip was entirely my choice. My employer wanted me to sign a release of responsibility. Which I just ignored, and went. And they don't seem to have noticed... (Not sure if it is their proerogative to force me, or the lawyers just tell them to try and most folks let themselves be bullied...)