Well I am glad they are finally doing something about those cheap and trouble-causing people.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-...eave-hkia.html

glad something is happening about it.

another way CX could crack down is straightforward:

*HKIA requires a CX escort
*If CX provides you an escort, you lose lounge privileges for the rest of the day.

Knowing CX, however they probably don't have the IT capabilities to figure this out. But if it could be done, this would eliminate the problem. Because 90%+ of the people doing this seem to be doing the whole "experience the lounge" thing and flouting the spirit of CX's airside lounge entrance policy. Technically allowed, but definitely not part of what CX or HKIA intended. On top of it, many folks appears to be taking part in bizarrely long connections - some self-imposed - due to award routings. Meanwhile, if someone actually needed to exit immigration and return landside for an important issue which happens from time to time, they wouldn't mind "losing" lounge access for the remainder of the day. Small price to pay to fix an important issue landside. I've been in that boat a few times before. Not often, but perhaps 1% of my flights. Rare.

CX can also probably charge the pax for the "escort" service. They can set some kind of ridiculous amount that would stop 95% of people from doing this. They can also waive the charge if they can obviously see that there is a genuine need.

As for the IT capabilities,I think it would not be to difficult to do what you suggested (and I quiet like this idea).When they scan your BP they can see if you brought any guests in already,so it would probably be quiet easy to add this "feature" to the system.

Slightly off topic. Has anyone ever used a departure lounge as an arrivals lounge outside of HK? I can't imagine this practice working in Japan, PRC, US, Qatar, etc.

I've had a shower at the old SIN lounge upon arrival- gave them my Priority Pass & CX DM card (with a 'I don't have my onward bp yet') and they took the DM card...

I used the MH F lounge as an arrivals lounge a few times.

First time was when I arrived on UL very early in the morning and had a CX flight the next evening.I wanted to chill a bit because I was very tired and would be better to wait in the MH lounge,then in the hotel lobby,so decided to try my luck. Produced both UL and CX passes and told the agent I wanted to refresh e.t.c. before heading to town,she swiftly let me in. Normally they take a long time typing lots of info into the computer,but that day she did not.

If someone needs arrival lounge access,they can buy something like KUL-PEN for 12USD (have to purchase 2 weeks out) and use their status and/or longhaul travel class (under OW rules) to access J or F lounge depending on status/travel class.

BA lounges in EDI/JER and a few other airports in the UK can be accessed too,it can be useful if doing a day return.

As jagmeets said,SIN lounges can be accessed in the same way,although I would not walk one extra meter to access the OW lounges there.

CMB lounges can be accessed in this way too.

CX departure lounge in FRA can be accessed by CX arriving pax.

All the above mentioned airports feature at gate security and mixed departure/arrivals flows,so if you are accessing those lounges you are not wasting anyone's time and in some cases (MH@KUL /CX@FRA) it's an official benefit of travel class/OW status.

I would not try accessing departure side lounges and then trying to exit airside in countries like Qatar,PRC and simmilar.

If you have co-mingled arrivals and departures such as SIN/KUL/US and EU airports (Schengen area) then that's fine http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...-future-2.html

Lots of people on there say how awful HKG layout is. I personally hate the airports with security at the gate.

-Most of the time you can't get a bottle of water from the lounge/food outlets (what a pleasure when departing in the middle of the day on CX 333 with no personal ventilation.

-When you have 300 pax going thru security,all at the same time you WILL have to stand in a queue. Not many such airports have separate priority lines.

-Once you are in that holding pen,you can't leave. When my SIN flight was delayed for 2 hours we had to sit in the holding pen.

-Need to allow much more time when leaving the lounge for boarding.

Don't have a firm view on this (combined secure departures area, vs security at gate), but I've left the holding pen at SIN/KUL/CMB in the past. Vague recollection, but think the issue is that the airline has you 'boarded' right after the security screening at the gate, rather than while actually boarding. It was either the airline rep taking note, or, keeping my bp...

I just LOVE HKG airport!

One time my CX flight could not take off because of a faulty door. We were asked to deplane and instructed to proceed to another gate half a terminal away. Upon reaching the new gate, the staff invited all MPC passengers to wait at the lounge (The Cabin) which was just beside the new gate. Two hours later, they scanned the same BP we had on hand from the original gate.

Yeah,I think that's the issue,so if they are expecting a short delay (<1 hour) they would be reluctant to let you leave,because if they let you leave,half of the plane would ask them to leave too and they would probably have to "unboard" you in the system.

That said in SIN the BPs are scanned right before you step on the jetbridge,which is not the case at say KUL,CMB,or BKK where they scan your BP as you enter the holding pen.

Are we seriously back to this again!? why do people feel the need to do this?

The question is why is it difficult to leave the airport in the first place? People have long connections and sometimes plans change (Not only on CX and without regard to lounges)

Anyone leaving is subject to immigration control.

Also it is actually not difficult to leave if you have an escort, there is no IT registration of you leaving

It is not difficult to leave the airport if you have a long connection. You just go through immigration and use the arrival lounge as thats what its intended for. Its just that people have to bend rules just to be able to use the (better) facilities at the departure level.

And in case of irrops etc. Im sure that if its a cancellation or very long delay, they will still accommodate you to leave the departure side again if needed.

edit: it actually makes me sad how people have to go out of their way to bend the rules just to be able to use CX (or other airlines') facilities. If you are flying J/F or you are GO/DM on CX it shouldn't be an issue as you get access to the arrivals lounge. If you are on a J/F ticket of another OW airline (or any other airline for that matter) im sure people should have the money to dish out for paid facilities be it at the airport (premium plaza) or in the city (hotel day-room etc.). Especially if you are on company dime - why be so cheap and bend the rules just to be able to use the CX dept. lounges?! People paying 100+k HKD for J/F tickets but too cheap to pay 2000 HKD for a decent day-room....

^^^

I've been trying to keep my mouth shut about this, some people just don't know the concept of "麻烦"(máfan)...it's not just being bothersome....it's more like being a pain in the....

I was reading some older posts and there was someone who felt that arranging for an exit and escorting you out is part of the lounge staff's job....well it's not! its not the same as asking for a glass of champagne or for tables to be cleared...if you really want to take a shower the arrivals lounge is available, if you don't have access to that, as what mxr pointed out, there are paid facilities available. By the way I believe some credit cards can use the Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge also....