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Feb 13, 2004 | 12:57 am

mhtaipei

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Join Date: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,027

escorts

Almost every time I connect now in HKG from a morning long-haul to an Asian short haul, there are gate agents waiting, ready to attach a yellow sticker to my lapel and whisk me through immigration to my departure gate. At first I thought they do it for tight connections or when the plane is late, or the gate far away, but on the last 5 flights back from Europe it happened every time, even with the gate next door and more than 2 hours connection time. (I have learned, in the meantime, not to identify myself to avoid joining the long march of they yellow sticker people... )

now I found this remark on the BA forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum15/HTML/006388.html (bealine 260) and was wondering if the airport tour guides have a more sinister purpose .... ??

Feb 14, 2004 | 4:16 am

IncyWincy

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Hong Kong

Posts: 2,184

Interesting indeed. Never thought of that. Surely, I can have coffee with someone else at the lounge or whatever? And they will follow me? Or I can shop? Do they guard you when you reaCh the gate? Not much use if your are still free to go!

Feb 14, 2004 | 3:45 pm

christep

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Location: Hong Kong

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Posts: 11,017

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhtaipei

and whisk me through immigration to my departure gate.

I'm confused... why would you need to go through immigration?

Last edited by christep; Apr 3, 2004 at 1:01 am

Feb 14, 2004 | 4:29 pm

B Watson

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Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Grand Rapids, MI USA UA 1K, AA EXP 1MM, SQ PPS, BA GOLD, Hyatt D, Hertz Plat and AMEX Cent

Posts: 2,996

Quote:

Originally posted by christep:
I'm confused... why would you need to go through immigration?

Perhaps he means transfer point security screening???

Feb 14, 2004 | 4:30 pm

B Watson

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Location: Grand Rapids, MI USA UA 1K, AA EXP 1MM, SQ PPS, BA GOLD, Hyatt D, Hertz Plat and AMEX Cent

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I would like to point out that, given the subject of this thread, I am disappointed at its content

Feb 14, 2004 | 6:07 pm

oiRRio

Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: Ireland

Programs: AA PLT 2MM, IHG Plat

Posts: 3,566

Quote:

Originally posted by B Watson:
I would like to point out that, given the subject of this thread, I am disappointed at its content

I have to admit that when I read the title yesterday a few potential quips sprung to mind. Unfortunately the original post didn't leave any openings for attempts at puerile humour.

Feb 14, 2004 | 6:21 pm

B Watson

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Location: Grand Rapids, MI USA UA 1K, AA EXP 1MM, SQ PPS, BA GOLD, Hyatt D, Hertz Plat and AMEX Cent

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Quote:

Originally posted by oiRRio:

I have to admit that when I read the title yesterday a few potential quips sprung to mind. Unfortunately the original post didn't leave any openings for attempts at puerile humour.

I was thinking it might be a new F amenity

Feb 15, 2004 | 1:27 am

mhtaipei

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,027

Quote:

I'm confused... why would you need to go through immigration?

Sorry for the delay - I was travelling

You are of course right -- I meant going upstairs through screening. I actually asked at HKG yesterday but they said it was just so passengers don't miss their connection. But I still think there is more to it than customer care and security issues.

[This message has been edited by mhtaipei (edited Feb 15, 2004).]

Feb 15, 2004 | 1:28 am

mhtaipei

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,027

Quote:

I call that successful marketing then

Feb 15, 2004 | 8:12 am

#10

nologic

Join Date: Jan 2001

Location: Boston, MA

Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 7,808

Will CX provide expedited assistance to escort me in NRT from JL to CX, if I am flying first class on CX to TPE, arriving on a tight (95 minutes) connection at NRT?

Feb 15, 2004 | 9:54 am

#11

Guy Betsy

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Join Date: May 2000

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Quote:

Originally posted by nologic:
Will CX provide expedited assistance to escort me in NRT from JL to CX, if I am flying first class on CX to TPE, arriving on a tight (95 minutes) connection at NRT?

No. That would be JL's task as JL arrives at T2 and CX leaves from T1. In any case, all JL will do is to direct you to the transfer bus. You must be within the legal limits of transfer time anyway.

You'll have time.

Feb 15, 2004 | 12:23 pm

#12

number_6

Original Member

Join Date: May 1998

Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat

Posts: 19,593

Quote:

Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
You must be within the legal limits of transfer time anyway.

You'll have time.

The MCT is 2 hours, so technically he doesn't have time, and it isn't a legal connection (never mind that best case transfer time is 45 minutes, the worst case is easily 120). For a paid F ticket this is of course no problem, but if it is an award there may be no F seats available on the next flight if this illegal connection is missed. I've found the CX personnel in NRT to be very inflexible, maybe that is the Japanese influence. Personally I would do almost anything to avoid an inter-terminal transfer at NRT, it is almost as bad as LHR-LGW.

May 21, 2004 | 8:54 pm

#13

HKG_Flyer1

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: Dallas

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Posts: 4,132

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Watson

I would like to point out that, given the subject of this thread, I am disappointed at its content

Isn't there any way to change the title of this thread? This is the second time I've clicked on this thing.... eagerly awaiting information substantially at variance from that actually contained within.