nm, read upthread a bit.

I'm thinking of the exact same scenario with a RT AA flight us-hkg-us 17 hour layover.. so it boils down to:

1. Using the Wing and having to go through the escort hassle with AA agent if I'm on AA flight?

vs

2. Using an arrival lounge after immigration (I guess EXP has no access to CX Arrival) and heading into town to catch a ferry. (which one is the closest?)

Thanks

On 3 different occasions in the last month, it has never taken me more than 5-10 minutes to find someone to escort me downstairs. Perhaps it helped that I was in F Wing.

PS. For those using the F Wing, it is a very short walk from the "shortcut" entrance just after immigration, to the elevator which you need to take downstairs. The whole trip takes no more than 5-10 minutes for the agent who needs to escort you.

If in the F Wing but on an AA ticket, do you need an AA agent to escort you? Or would a CX agent do it?

I can't imagine that CX agent will insist on calling an AA employee to escort, especially as it might be more hassle than doing it themselves, and it's a CX operated lounge after all. But I will defer to those with first hand experience.

Thanks. Just out of curiosity, once back to the arrival hall in this scenario but directly heading to skypier to macau and not re-entering HK, would this be an issue later on for any reason when coming back to HKIA for departures?

It seems one would be documented leaving HK, and then documented leaving again without ever entering HK (taking the macau direct to hkia ferry)

I'm afraid I have never taken the Macau ferry so I don't feel able to usefully comment.

But remember that the Transfers->Lounge->Arrivals process is only a brief detour and does not change your immigration status - you don't "leave" HKG to go to the Wing via the Transfers.

Ah ok didn't know we could "transfer" to the lounge without exiting immigration. My mistake.

my experience
 

So I decided to try this yesterday. With my boarding pass I went through transfer point, went to the Wing, enjoyed it for an hour, and had CX employee escort me out to Macao Ferry area. It was painless, definitely was a good way to spend an hour, use the cabana and enjoy refreshments. It took them 5 minutes to call appropriate personnel and maybe 3 minutes to get me down the elevator and to arrival hall.

Best,

PedroNY

I also did this late last week, but going to the train instead of the ferry, from the Wing.

Shorlty before 8AM I inquired about getting an escort to immigration at 9AM and didn't get a confirmation until about 10 minutes prior. But it worked very nicely.

Using lounges then leaving airport
 

Hi all,

Got a question for the HKIA experts.

Was scheduled to fly with BA tonight to London. Flight delayed till tomorrow morning due to technical issues.

Planned to meet friends at the airport for a long time and they'll be there tonight. Any chance I can go in (got a valid boarding pass), meet them in the lounge and then leave the airport to spend the night at the Regal Airport hotel?

Thank tou for your help!!

Have a look at the end of the wiki at the top of this thread and there's a link to discussion on this very topic.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...unge-faqs.html

Thanks sxc! Knew that thread but didn't bother checking. Shame on me. Really appreciate your help!

I have attempted to do a similar thing before. You can try your luck with the boarding pass through passport control and plead ignorance of the flight change if successful. Still, it's fairly difficult to get out from departures side once you're in.

Otherwise, there are no lounges land side you can use. Peak Cafe above security is probably your best bet for some open space that doesn't get too busy.

A man did this with Lufthansa, and was ordered to pay 55 euros per visit.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...reeloader.html