HKG lounge access for transit passengers?
Nov 14, 2022, 5:41 am
#46
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 683
I travelled through HKG last week with mixed experience.
[...]
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
[...]
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
[...]
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
[...]
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
Nov 14, 2022, 5:51 am
#47
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,034
I travelled through HKG last week with mixed experience.
I travelled on separate tickets QR to HKG from LHR then a 10hr layover and on to SYD with CX on a 2nd ticket. QR took a fair bit of time at LHR to arrange to check our bags right through but persistence & copied of both their & One Worlds website helped when the initial answer was no. This allowed my wife & I to not have to leave the HKG.
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
We have filled in a Health Dec & received the Green QR code (just in case) but didn't need it. As had onwards tickets.
Pier Lounge only available to transit, as mentioned elsewhere Wing open for HK & China originating pax.
Pier lounge was OK, got very busy at times but showers were great & resting area nearby fairly empty. Choice of food & drink very average.
When called to gate it was a free for all, my wife was stuck in the middle of hundreds of coughing passengers. Eventually the Business passengers managed to make their way to the gate.
Flight to SYD was OK.
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
I travelled on separate tickets QR to HKG from LHR then a 10hr layover and on to SYD with CX on a 2nd ticket. QR took a fair bit of time at LHR to arrange to check our bags right through but persistence & copied of both their & One Worlds website helped when the initial answer was no. This allowed my wife & I to not have to leave the HKG.
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
We have filled in a Health Dec & received the Green QR code (just in case) but didn't need it. As had onwards tickets.
Pier Lounge only available to transit, as mentioned elsewhere Wing open for HK & China originating pax.
Pier lounge was OK, got very busy at times but showers were great & resting area nearby fairly empty. Choice of food & drink very average.
When called to gate it was a free for all, my wife was stuck in the middle of hundreds of coughing passengers. Eventually the Business passengers managed to make their way to the gate.
Flight to SYD was OK.
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
Last edited by moondog; Nov 15, 2022 at 1:51 am
Nov 15, 2022, 12:42 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,557
I travelled through HKG last week with mixed experience.
I travelled on separate tickets QR to HKG from LHR then a 10hr layover and on to SYD with CX on a 2nd ticket. QR took a fair bit of time at LHR to arrange to check our bags right through but persistence & copied of both their & One Worlds website helped when the initial answer was no. This allowed my wife & I to not have to leave the HKG.
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
We have filled in a Health Dec & received the Green QR code (just in case) but didn't need it. As had onwards tickets.
Pier Lounge only available to transit, as mentioned elsewhere Wing open for HK & China originating pax.
Pier lounge was OK, got very busy at times but showers were great & resting area nearby fairly empty. Choice of food & drink very average.
When called to gate it was a free for all, my wife was stuck in the middle of hundreds of coughing passengers. Eventually the Business passengers managed to make their way to the gate.
Flight to SYD was OK.
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
I travelled on separate tickets QR to HKG from LHR then a 10hr layover and on to SYD with CX on a 2nd ticket. QR took a fair bit of time at LHR to arrange to check our bags right through but persistence & copied of both their & One Worlds website helped when the initial answer was no. This allowed my wife & I to not have to leave the HKG.
When leaving the plane the transit lane isn't clear but follow the crew signs. The transit experience was awful, packed into a small area with hundreds of people, many coughing. Not sure what is was like if you were entering HK but this was certainly wasn't Zero covid.
We have filled in a Health Dec & received the Green QR code (just in case) but didn't need it. As had onwards tickets.
Pier Lounge only available to transit, as mentioned elsewhere Wing open for HK & China originating pax.
Pier lounge was OK, got very busy at times but showers were great & resting area nearby fairly empty. Choice of food & drink very average.
When called to gate it was a free for all, my wife was stuck in the middle of hundreds of coughing passengers. Eventually the Business passengers managed to make their way to the gate.
Flight to SYD was OK.
Kicker from this experience was wife tested +ve for C19 2 days after our time in supposedly Zero Covid HK.
HKG are just coming back to life, they have a long way to go to make it a pleasant experience.
She mentioned that they were immediately directed to the arrival/departure check point. Once cleared she was in the departure level free to roam anywhere up to the green zone (gate 24) or g to the Pier.
What you called the "transit area"packed with hundreds of pax was the transit security checkpoint with a long wait?
Nov 15, 2022, 10:48 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 8
Hopefully some answers
Yes, the 'transit area' is the transit security check area. We spent about 30 minutes in there, lots of people, queuing closely. Once through there was plenty of space in the terminal & Pier was well spaced out.
No we didn't have the option of leaving the airport, once transit lane is chosen you're committed because you've skipped the PCR testing.
The boarding gate was just really badly organised. No separate lanes for tier & business & even though called forward first, every passenger just rushed fwd. Yes my wife (much politer than I) got stuck in the ensuing melee.
Agree it's not Zero covid BUT it's also very unsafe if reducing transmission is a stated aim.
No we didn't have the option of leaving the airport, once transit lane is chosen you're committed because you've skipped the PCR testing.
The boarding gate was just really badly organised. No separate lanes for tier & business & even though called forward first, every passenger just rushed fwd. Yes my wife (much politer than I) got stuck in the ensuing melee.
Agree it's not Zero covid BUT it's also very unsafe if reducing transmission is a stated aim.
Nov 19, 2022, 5:01 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Was at the lounge today - fairly atrocious. Zoo. The men’s bathroom had a line out the door.
also - horrible signage. We landed in the “new” area - gates 1-30ish, and there was not a single sign for a lounge anywhere.
once we reached the end of the hallway around gate 59 there weee signs. But we were wandering for a while.
also - horrible signage. We landed in the “new” area - gates 1-30ish, and there was not a single sign for a lounge anywhere.
once we reached the end of the hallway around gate 59 there weee signs. But we were wandering for a while.
Nov 29, 2022, 11:55 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Magic Kingdom
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Posts: 439
To answer my own question. The Centurion Lounge is open as of 1500 today, per the Centurion Lounge website and a repost of a Facebook post that appeared in the AMEX forum. For those of us on short connections, the lounges in the center between the two piers could be a better option than the Cathay Pier lounge. I have such a situaion twice in this coming week. I will choose whichever lounge gives me the most time closest to the gate.
Dec 5, 2022, 10:14 am
#53
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
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Posts: 2,966
Everyone else was directed to a buffet that was set up outside the restaurant (the 'tea terrace' part).