I am flying CX 806 HKG-ORD at 11:55AM. I have 2 choices going to HKG from SIN - business class.

1. CX 714 leaving SIN at 01:20AM. Recliner 2-3-2 seat. 6 hour layover in HKG.
2. CX 650 leaving SIN at 06:45AM. Lie flat 1-2-1 seat. 1 hour layover in HKG.

I am inclined to take option 2, but is the 1 hour layover enough? I don't mind skipping the J Lounge. If I were flying F, I'd definitely take option 1, though.

Any thoughts?

How important is it that you make 806? If it's imperative you make that flight there's no way I'd risk a 1 hour connection.

Your dilemma sounds familiar, were you on CX659 this morning?

6 hour transit is best instead of the 1 hour. It's cutting it close to MCT and although you'll be reprotected on a later flight, it may create complications that might require extra flight segments via somewhere.

Do you think you can sleep on the 2-3-2 J? If that's a 73Z, I've had bad experiences in the past when the whole cabin was filled with op-ups and it was noisy like in a wet market.

Of course you can catch some shut eye later at ...I would have recommended the 'bench'-like sofas at the Cabin, but I think the new Pier J has some day beds designated for sleeping.

Or else, the 6:45am seems to be on time mostly. I have been on 806 some times when they held back departure to wait for incoming connections, maybe the rebooking cost is high for a once-daily service. But if you really do miss, they will reroute you through LAX, which is a fine airport to transit in...

YMMV

Absolutely agree.

I'm on CX 826, so I'm lucky I have more than one option to connect from SIN-HKG. Given my recent multiple flights on this route in both directions, on more than one airline, I chose a minimum 3 hour cnx. All of my flights were on time, it was deplaning and connecting inside HKIA that took time.

I chose CX 710 from SIN. Given the flight is 4 hours or less, I really didn't care about the J cabin config.


I am, however, considering skipping my last night at the hotel in SIN and heading to Changi T1 and checking into the Aerotel. It's USD $39 for 6 hours, so that would be perfect overnight, then head to the lounge or gate in the morning without the hassle of getting up at 4am and getting to Changi from hotel in the city.

https://www.myaerotel.com/

I had been taking CX 738 connecting to CX 806 regularly, which has only 50 minutes between flights. Usually, I informed the FA and they might let you sit in the front to get off first. Everytime when I got off CX 738 in Hong Kong, there was a sign with my name (and those connecting to Chicago as well) when I got off in HKG. CX staffs will be taking you to the boarding gate for CX 806 (frequently 1 to 4).

CX 650 is usually early. That being said. it boils down to your comfort level in making the connection. HKG transit is super efficient: you probably clear it in 10 minutes tops. the tricky thing, which also you do not have control is the arrival gate. if you arrive at the high 40s or high 60s, you pretty much have a long walk before you hit the APM, assuming if 806 departs from 1-4

many! I guess it's just a comfort level, no real right answer here...

...I would unequivocally choose your option #2, but there are some points to bear in mind.

1.) CX650 is almost always on time or early. One of the most reliable flights in the CX network actually. Among other reasons, the inbound bird flies the SIN-HKG redeye departing 1:40am landing ~5:25am, and it's so late at night if the original plane goes tech there are spares lying around, meaning the inbound is very reliable.

Of course, just bad luck can always strike...but in terms of percentages, this one is very high of an on-time departure.

2.)**most important**understanding and comfort with the transit procedures at HKG. HKG is my home airport and I traverse it one way or another over 100 times a year, so I'd be quite comfortable with below. That said, I wouldn't advise this transfer unless you did some research before. It's very do-able, but some parts about transit at HKG aren't intuitive...I dare say, transit is one of the few "weaknesses" at HKG, primarily due to the lack of understanding / communication about the layout. It's a good layout, just it's unclear to folks and hence (unnecessarily) long lines can form.

Arrivals are downstairs, departures are upstairs. Straightforward enough.

There is only one big terminal. Aka, all arriving flights are in the same connected building as all departing flights. Even if you get a remote gate and bused in (quite rare for CX birds, but happens occasionally), you will still arrive airside in the same terminal as all departing flights. Point: it is all one big connected building. The terms "terminal 1" and "terminal 2" actually only refer to landside check-in counter locations, irrelevant for you.

All transit points bring you from arrival to departure level, aka downstairs to upstairs. All transit points allow pax with onwards boarding passes to transit from downstairs (arrivals) to upstairs (departures), after a re-screen. Depending on where you arrive, there is likely to be a transit point somewhere nearby. THIS is the key point...it means, every transit point will bring you to departures, hence give you access to every departing flight. This is also the key bottleneck, since some transit points are smaller than others.

You can use any transit point, because of the facts above....but the lines aren't equal at transit points SOMETIMES, certain transit points get overwhelmed with passengers. It's basically random and depends on arriving flights. This is not because the airport is jam packed, but rather because a number of flights happened to arrive at gates near one-another, and all pax assume / it is kinda implied you should transit there. Of course, this is not true...you can transit anywhere. But I have seen many, many times deplaning, and the transit point near us will be overflowing with transit pax, some of whom are inevitably missing connections. And yet, 100-200 meters away but unfortunately far enough to be unseen and unknown to unfamiliar pax, there is a totally empty transit point.

Your departure gate is very likely to be Gates 1-4, or Gates 16-19, aka the far eastern departure gates at HKIA, and you can do some planning in advance. The largest transit points E1 and E2 are near these gates, but depending on where you arrive there may be transit points along the way. Your arrival gate is going to be hard to predict.

If you choose this short connection, the best way to minimize transit times is be flexible if the closest transit point is busy
My recommendation would be to familiarize yourself with the HKIA layout, and if you're not download a map to review on the plane...so when you learn your arrival gate on-board ~30 minutes before landing, you can look where the closest transit points are. When you deplane, if there happens to be a line-free transit point next to your arrival gate (and you don't have a CX staff accompanying you), take it. Do not go to E1/E2, likely the recommendations on the IFE system for CX806 if indeed the gate is 1-4 or 16-19. Just to reiterate, if you see an empty transit security near your arrival gate, I would take advantage of it immediately. (you will need to be mobile, since you are forcing yourself to walk a little more with this recommendation). Although you may have a walk, this will guarantee you make your ORD connection. Alternatively, if there is a line at the closest transit point, proceed until the next transit point, or go straight to E1/E2 and transit there. Basically, you're reducing the odds of having a transit-point line using this strategy.

Sorry if it sounds complicated!

This "optionality" of the transit points is not understood by casual travelers visiting HKG once or twice, but is highly useful for minimizing your connection time.


fair, i'm generally in this camp too. although my familiarity with CX and HKG, and HKG's all-around great design, mean this is the one situation I would be happy to do it and not sweat too much.

yes, it's quite common for CX to allow tight connecting pax to sit up front for landing. and if seats aren't available, they will tell you to basically push up through the front and permit you to cross the curtain to deplane with biz pax.

yea agree. the "tricky" aspect is definitely related to transfer security and understanding the airport.

My assumption is that OP is already in J since he mentioned the J configs

that being said. One thing I pride CX for doing is managing supertight connections. On this point, I would mention though is luggage may not make it if the inbound arrives under MCT. Keep a set of spare change in the carry ons

Your connection is more accrurately 75 mins

And yes CX650's very reliable http://www.flightstats.com/go/Flight...=Search+Flight

I won't depend on the cirrus seats staying there
But at 6:45 in the morning I won't need it

Also I rather avoid HKG J lounges in the mornings.

I vote option #2

arghh, a slight exaggeration! 75 mins not 60. probably sounds small but the extra 15 minutes makes a big difference IMO at hkia, and strongly swings my opinion towards option #2.

good catch.

60-75 mins is my usual connection time in HKIA(around 75% of the time), never had an issue. Usually with enough time for a quick shower & a drink in between. While I'd never rely on the config as a decision criteria for CX HKG-SIN v/v, in this case it would be a no-brainer for me. I've done the exact same connection a couple of times, and it's been pretty smooth each time.

OP, QRCC's post is a gem- suggest looking at and understanding the HKIA gate map well & it's really really efficient (you'll see regulars stand at particular points on the platform for the intra-terminal train for example- can make an easy 2-3minute difference, each end). Even when the transit queues are long (morning longhaul arrivals for example), they move quite fast.

PS: I've had a real nasty CBP queue upon arrival by 806 once.

For sure option 2. I usually try to avoid CX714 as the incoming aircraft can often be late and you will end up with delays.

It is not uncommon for 714 to leave SIN at 2am or even 3am.

OP: Are even able to get up early enough to get to the SIN airport for the later departure? Since I'm a morning person, that's easy for me. Others find it impossible.

Some would choose the 1:00am departure to avoid an extra hotel night or getting an early taxi to SIN airport. (not me, though)

As for me.... I will definitely pick the one hour layover. Six hour layover, it's a torture to me. Hanging around the lounge for six hour is not that fun. Furthermore, leaving early in the morning allows some decent rest than flying out at 1am.