FlyerTalk Forums - Stuck in HKG without being able to Exit

Quote:

Originally Posted by flayum (Post 37445245)

Literally no snags at all.

I have no idea what the disconnect is from the CX or other airport staff. Just to detail out who I spoke to:

1. I asked at The Pier and they refused to do anything to help beyond assuring me it was impossible without the onward ticket being cancelled. All I could do is maybe go to a QR gate when it opened "maybe in a few hours at 5:30p". Would they be willing to contact CX on my behalf? No. What about airport staff or security? No. What about the QR check-in desk that is probably open now given the upcoming flight? Increasingly firm NO. You're on your own, get shafted kiddo.

2. I asked at The Bridge, thinking maybe I did something to piss off the Pier staff. Same responses, same attitude. Although they did forward me to a help desk across from the entrance.

3. At this help desk, I was told firmly and concretely: No chance. It's impossible. But maybe ask QR when "the desk" opens near gate 11. They thought it might open at 4:30p, in 15min. Would they be able to contact anyone to confirm? Nope. Would they be willing to help get me in touch with airport security? NOPE.

4. It wasn't until I trudged out to gate 11 and found a generic flight help desk that I finally got an enthusiastic "no problem!" Would my flight be cancelled, I asked? "No, why would that happen? Do you want to cancel it?" And away we went without a hitch.

Honestly, I find it entirely unacceptable that the pier F staff were so aggressively unhelpful. No attempt to problem solve or engage with my issue; it almost felt like they were angry that I even dare ask them for help. Honestly, I've seen more proactive care from American LCC staff! I can understand if it were truly a dumb question, like "can I fly the plane for a bit?" or if I were actually stonewalled entirely; but to go from "literally impossible" to "sure, no problem" feels like there was something more insidious afoot? But I really expected a bit more help or at least something to be tried for someone in their F lounge (which has been my experience on many other carriers for F, albeit in A*).

In the end, I hope this datapoint helps other travelers. Maybe I got lucky with the staff at that counter opposite gate 11? Maybe I got unlucky with the CX staff because I'm on QR metal as suggested (although I did arrive in CX J)? But it leaves me with a very sour note for HKIA and CX after hearing so many good things for so long. A pity, but I guess they shouldn't really give a flying frack about someone not loyal to CX?

it’s really not that complicated. Possible? Absolutely, yes. Possibly illegal? Yes. And will CX eventually get in trouble for this after lots of “data points” are passed around and everyone starts thinking they’re entitled to it? 100pct.

Certainly you can see the obvious problem with CX pointing everyone to immigration. I really don’t grasp the confusion, lots of red herrings above.

CX has clearly paper trail wise, taken some for of responsibility for you by admitting you to the lounge. Even if not technically responsible for you by y someone’s definition, if three dozen AA Platinum Pros and BA Golds daily are hitting up the CX F lounge and then beating it to immigration, it’s just a matter of numbers that SOME of them are inevitably not going to have the same passport as you or visa rights as you, and will make a mistake either have used up their entries, or have an issue on departure immigration related to their visa. And then they get detained. And people get called. And fined. Then who is it that will be on the hook? CX. Yet unlike whereby CX is checking docs for destinations on the outbound flight during check-in, this process doesn’t exist for lounge entries on transit from an inbound flight, whereby HKG was not considered a port of entry, just a transit (note a post on OneMileAtATime explicitly complaining about a traveler not being allowed on a plane in Japan to HKG in transit for QR, due to lack of immigration status in HK - the answer to your questions/misplaced criticism , and precisely why those poor people were denied boarding in Japan, is because of people doing something like what you’re advocating many others try to collect “data points” for.
Clearly your passport/visa status allows easy entry to HKG but many don’t. Do you know who can and who cant? the lounge staff sure doesnt. Their SOP doesn’t check your details - the only “know” you have a BP for whatever flight you’re taking and are airside in departures. It’s pretty straightforward! You’re demanding they do something that can get people in real trouble. I wouldn’t put it outside the realm of “likely” that a staff would be fired for doing what you propose, for someone who mistakenly thought they could enter HKg, but couldn’t. It’s a really crazy ask.

that doesn’t mean some staff won’t help. And as you and others with lots of visa free passport destinations assume, it’s simple to enter a country. But to feel entitled to them helping you and demand it is just way beyond the pale, since you’re not really taking into account the passport and immigration status of others Youre advocating try this. Andit will definitely end badly sometime.

btw, it’s not just visa issues. I’ve been with passengers denied landing permission and deported back to HKG in multiple instances to certain countries, and they HAD valid visas. Another time I’ve been with someone detained hours. I will leave the destinations unmentioned but they are “regional”. Now, imagine someone potentially being on some list transitting HKG, but decides to ENTER hkg. And it was a CX staffer who facilitated that. Fired, CX fined, and CX possibly in serious trouble depending on who that person is. Regardless of your political views this is the practical reality. Did that CX staff know you are a person welcome in HK? No. And they would probably be held accountable if you ran into troubles.

here is the post of the people who got denied in Japan. Fear about the suggestions above, is precisely why they are so paranoid:
https://onemileatatime.com/news/airline-wrongly-denies-boarding-transit-rule-confusion/

To summarize: The immigration dept is going to penalize CX if they’re aiding people for entering and exiting HKG without a process. And yes, while you were fine, plenty of people will drive a dump truck through this, inevitably screw up their immigration status, get detained, and CX is going to be liable one way or another.

the reason CX cuts this off at the pass and isnt making your life easy to head back thru immigration once Youre airside in departures, although it is technically feasible for your passport clearly, is because they don’t need this explained to them!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC852 (Post 37446736)

That's not the point. The point is that @flayum screwed up by not understanding a fairly basic rule of airports with separated arrivals and departures, and won't admit that they messed up. Arguing that Cathay staff should abet him to do something which is probably illegal is not reasonable.

While I’m not sure he/she screwed up or this was intentional, definitely agree. It’s definitely not like asking for a coffee, flight assistance, or any other request. It’s a request that can get CX in legit trouble. They COULD check his/her passport and use Google etc to ensure they can enter Hkg, but it’s really extreme and honestly probably inappropriate.

i am typing quickly on my phone with lots of errors but I hope this makes sense. I felt obligated to chime in watching this thread with degree of incredulity