Hong Kong North satellite Security
Oct 24, 2019, 2:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
Hong Kong North satellite Security
The facts...
Landing Hong Kong Airport
Arriving from Cathay Dragon flight.
Connecting to Cathay Pacific flight to YVR.
They bus you from midfield to the main terminal.
As I head to the bus, I see midfield security. There is typically no line. Sometimes main terminal security can have long lines.
Question - can you clear security midfield and then go to the main terminal?
Landing Hong Kong Airport
Arriving from Cathay Dragon flight.
Connecting to Cathay Pacific flight to YVR.
They bus you from midfield to the main terminal.
As I head to the bus, I see midfield security. There is typically no line. Sometimes main terminal security can have long lines.
Question - can you clear security midfield and then go to the main terminal?
Oct 24, 2019, 6:20 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, JGC Sapphire, OZ Diamond, AF Silver, CX GR, Marriott Lifetime SL
Posts: 3,598
The facts...
Landing Hong Kong Airport
Arriving from Cathay Dragon flight.
Connecting to Cathay Pacific flight to YVR.
They bus you from midfield to the main terminal.
As I head to the bus, I see midfield security. There is typically no line. Sometimes main terminal security can have long lines.
Question - can you clear security midfield and then go to the main terminal?
Landing Hong Kong Airport
Arriving from Cathay Dragon flight.
Connecting to Cathay Pacific flight to YVR.
They bus you from midfield to the main terminal.
As I head to the bus, I see midfield security. There is typically no line. Sometimes main terminal security can have long lines.
Question - can you clear security midfield and then go to the main terminal?
Oct 24, 2019, 6:39 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
12-minute wait for the bus is fine. Security was 15-20 minutes last time, plus the wait for the bus to get full.
Oct 24, 2019, 8:47 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Half joking, half not, we also call the satellite concourse "Dragon Island" for good measure. Gates 500-515.
Midfield concourse is home to HX (and many others, but not KA among them), gates 200+.
Fwiw, the large construction you see on the ramp between the main terminal outside what used to be gate 21 and Dragon Island is a gigantic passenger bridge. Supposedly will be taller than the Gatwick one. So you won't have to take the bus anymore, at least one way. (I'm not sure on how the bridge will handle arrivals vs departures. I'm assuming / hoping it will accommodate two way traffic.) Scheduled for completion in 2020. Gate 21 got sacrificed but I'll say it's going to be worth it.
Midfield concourse is home to HX (and many others, but not KA among them), gates 200+.
Fwiw, the large construction you see on the ramp between the main terminal outside what used to be gate 21 and Dragon Island is a gigantic passenger bridge. Supposedly will be taller than the Gatwick one. So you won't have to take the bus anymore, at least one way. (I'm not sure on how the bridge will handle arrivals vs departures. I'm assuming / hoping it will accommodate two way traffic.) Scheduled for completion in 2020. Gate 21 got sacrificed but I'll say it's going to be worth it.
Oct 24, 2019, 10:21 am
#5
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Gate 500 to 510 no?
Yes, on can clear HK security there, bus back to main terminal and be airside to departure gates.
I would suggest with the less crowded bus and no line it indeed the best way to skin that cat.
Yes, on can clear HK security there, bus back to main terminal and be airside to departure gates.
I would suggest with the less crowded bus and no line it indeed the best way to skin that cat.
Oct 24, 2019, 1:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AC*E50K, CX Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Half joking, half not, we also call the satellite concourse "Dragon Island" for good measure. Gates 500-515.
Midfield concourse is home to HX (and many others, but not KA among them), gates 200+.
Fwiw, the large construction you see on the ramp between the main terminal outside what used to be gate 21 and Dragon Island is a gigantic passenger bridge. Supposedly will be taller than the Gatwick one. So you won't have to take the bus anymore, at least one way. (I'm not sure on how the bridge will handle arrivals vs departures. I'm assuming / hoping it will accommodate two way traffic.) Scheduled for completion in 2020. Gate 21 got sacrificed but I'll say it's going to be worth it.
Midfield concourse is home to HX (and many others, but not KA among them), gates 200+.
Fwiw, the large construction you see on the ramp between the main terminal outside what used to be gate 21 and Dragon Island is a gigantic passenger bridge. Supposedly will be taller than the Gatwick one. So you won't have to take the bus anymore, at least one way. (I'm not sure on how the bridge will handle arrivals vs departures. I'm assuming / hoping it will accommodate two way traffic.) Scheduled for completion in 2020. Gate 21 got sacrificed but I'll say it's going to be worth it.
Oct 26, 2019, 2:23 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Cost aside, it will definitely make the transit over to Dragon Island a lot more enjoyable and convenient. I think the "you have no choice but to take the bus" is one of the few bad marks on the airport, particularly for CX/KA passengers.
although the bridge is shamelessly to the benefit of KA pax and CX/KA transit pax....but readers on this forum shouldn't mind too much...
Oct 26, 2019, 2:33 am
#10
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You would go through security at the transfer section of the main terminal. In my all my times going through HKG, there have never been long lines; I have never seen more than ten transfer pax on different days and week. A lot of O/D traffic at least on routes I frequent.
Oct 26, 2019, 5:37 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
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Posts: 2,121
You would go through security at the transfer section of the main terminal. In my all my times going through HKG, there have never been long lines; I have never seen more than ten transfer pax on different days and week. A lot of O/D traffic at least on routes I frequent.
Oct 26, 2019, 8:31 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
Quick update... did security at the North Satellite last night. HOME RUN!
Security people seemed bored and happy to have a single customer. Through super quick. I got lucky and the bus was waiting and left a minute later. (Not sure if the pre-security transfer bus left before I did - they wait for it to get full.)
Less than 10 minutes from the split of security vs transfer bus, to airside at the main terminal.
I highly recommend this option for anyone doing a similar Dragon to INT. (And you can see if there is a line at the north satellite before deciding to commit to security there or the bus to main terminal security.)
Security people seemed bored and happy to have a single customer. Through super quick. I got lucky and the bus was waiting and left a minute later. (Not sure if the pre-security transfer bus left before I did - they wait for it to get full.)
Less than 10 minutes from the split of security vs transfer bus, to airside at the main terminal.
I highly recommend this option for anyone doing a similar Dragon to INT. (And you can see if there is a line at the north satellite before deciding to commit to security there or the bus to main terminal security.)
Oct 26, 2019, 10:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Quick update... did security at the North Satellite last night. HOME RUN!
Security people seemed bored and happy to have a single customer. Through super quick. I got lucky and the bus was waiting and left a minute later. (Not sure if the pre-security transfer bus left before I did - they wait for it to get full.)
Less than 10 minutes from the split of security vs transfer bus, to airside at the main terminal.
I highly recommend this option for anyone doing a similar Dragon to INT. (And you can see if there is a line at the north satellite before deciding to commit to security there or the bus to main terminal security.)
Security people seemed bored and happy to have a single customer. Through super quick. I got lucky and the bus was waiting and left a minute later. (Not sure if the pre-security transfer bus left before I did - they wait for it to get full.)
Less than 10 minutes from the split of security vs transfer bus, to airside at the main terminal.
I highly recommend this option for anyone doing a similar Dragon to INT. (And you can see if there is a line at the north satellite before deciding to commit to security there or the bus to main terminal security.)
Normally when we take the escalator down and there is the bus transferring the main terminal waiting, right opposite to the toilet. So the security would be before the toilet or before escalators?
Oct 27, 2019, 8:38 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
When you round the last corner, the bus to the main terminal security and customs is to the LEFT. To the RIGHT is security. It has been empty every time I have gotten on the bus. This time I turned right to go to security.
Very fast.
Oct 27, 2019, 8:54 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
everyone has to pass immigration and customs, including passengers to/from mainland China.
Not a single "domestic" flight at the airport.