The Transiting in HK Thread
 

Title says it all. We seem to get this question regularly, have countless threads about the topic (both explicit, and others where the Qs are imbedded). Anyone have any advice or how we get this started? (Or disagree with the idea?)

Concur

Was trying to find the sticky / wiki for this yesterday but only found the one for overnight connections at HKIA :confused:
so we probably don't have one yet? would be a good idea

Great idea.
I am just afraid that there will be a lot of questions about UO besides those on transit between CX and UO. UO is becoming an important part of the CX group.
But a dedicated wiki with the topic you mention is badly needed.

I have pinned this thread for future educational/ informational purpose.

Overnight layover at HKG suggestions
 

I’m a OWE taking CX from LAX to HKG arriving at 18:55 then departing for ICN at 07:55. I do like to lounge hop quite a bit but 13hrs would be too much.

Would love to hit a lounge and potentially drop my cabin bag before hitting the city but I know leaving arrivals is a non-starter.

Any suggestions on what I could do with the time?

refer wiki & post content
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...g-airport.html

To get this started, a few (by no means comprehensive) historical threads can be found below. But feel free to post questions. Hopefully this thread will, over time, build up to be a useful place for reliable information about HKG transits on CX and UO.

Transit at HKG, Visit The Pier First Class Lounge
Minimum Connection Time - Hong Kong
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36462142-post510.html

I made this question several days ago but got no answers, so I repeat it here (mods, please delete if you don't agree)

Is there any way to know in advance which posts of transfer security will be open at a certain time? I can’t find any info in the HKIA app and the few last times I went through transfers in HK I found that only the two located near arrivals and the one at the top of the peer by gate 35 were open, the three of them with interminable lines. The rest (by gates 44, 62 and 27) were always closed.

Thanks!

The HKIA website / app is as poor as HKIA is good!

I don't have a good answer for you, except to say that I have successfully transited the 62+ gate transit area a few months back, and I've walked by that transit area 3-4x in the last month (I seem to get "lucky" arrival gates of high 60s with some regularity), and it has always been open as I walked by in the last month. So good news! I can't say precisely when, butI haven't had any early am arrivals in the last few months, meaning I saw it open sometime between like midday and early evening.

It's worth pointing out, my observations lately (open) stands in contrast to the observations I had a year and two ago, when it was frequently closed. I also used to see all the other smaller ones closed to, like the mid 40s transit, and the one around the high 20s/early 30s (I can never remember precisely, but it's down the spine between the big two transit areas). However, I do not know the logic to it. I just presumed that HKIA was/is chronically low on staff, and air travellers hadn't fully recovered to pre-COVID levels, so they rationalized it. And now that we're getting back there things are finally returning 100%.

Fyi, we had a thread precisely for what you're asking, but it got moved from here prior to us getting a CX-specific moderator here (thanks to cxwaterboy for finally filling a role we were lacking for a few years!). This was it: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong...near-pier.html I started that thread over a year ago and at that time I was noticing the small transit areas were regularly closed. I thought it was a mistake to move it out of the CX forum here, but now that we have this thread, it's redundant anyway.

It is common for CX to not fly a certain flight on certain dates, especially for short flights like HKGTPE.

60 minutes to make a connection at 1:40 in the morning... What do I need to look out for?

Hi everyone,

First time flying CX and first time transiting through HKG, so I could use any advice you can provide.

In a little over a month from now, I am flying this itinerary.:

Flight CX501 from NRT to HKG, departure 21:40 arrival 1:40
Flight CX820 from HKG to YYZ, departure 2:40 arrival 5:45

I am aware of the fact that arrivals are on Level 5 and Departures on Level 6, so it's not like I can just get off one plane and go straight onto the other. I also believe I have to go through a gate to get back up to Level 6 -- hoping this might be automated, but not sure. I know I'll have to hustle, but does 60 minutes give me enough time to catch my next flight?

Also, slightly concerned about any checked baggage making it onto the next plane. I'm considering flying carryon only, but worried about the 7 kg weight restriction. Is that something that's strictly enforced? If I board with a backpack, are they going to weigh it to make sure it's under 7 kg?

Any advice would be appreciated; I am saving a lot of money with this somewhat circuitous itinerary, but it's only worth it if I can make my connection!

Confused Canadian

Re. connection:
(assuming it's the same ticket)
a) if the airline sold you this itinerary they must be pretty confident of your making your next flight - HKG is very efficient (though taxiing times have been prolonged recently)
b) even if some transit corridors are closed at such late hours, transiting through HKG is pretty much a breeze
c) if your connection becomes tight they'll arrange for a ground staff to take you through procedures - not sure what they call 'tight' though
d) if you miss your connection they'll surely offer an alternative flight /accommodate you until the next available flight

Re. Cabin baggage:
IMO they're pretty accommodating w.r.t cabin baggage - as long as you don't bring your kitchen sink
would not recommend overly stretching the rules though out of courtesy for other pax

Enjoy your flight experience :star:

Yes, it is the same ticket. Good to hear that they are efficient at the airport -- and especially about the cabin baggage. I usually travel with a backpack that can fit under the seat, although I am pretty sure it would weigh more than 7 kg.

Same ticket - no worry about baggage transfer, you are flying CX-CX via HKG, not AC;)

As a CX82X commuter, I have been on 820 twice. Both times, the departure was delayed due to anticipated short flight times caused by jetstream patterns. An on-time departure would have been too early to land at Pearson, as there is a curfew for takeoffs and landings overnight.

Yes, that flight is scheduled to arrive very early in the morning, so I am OK with a delay -- especially since it gives me more time to make my connection. And I have no plans in Toronto that day except sleeping. :D

Alright I finally finished writing something very long out i did over a few days. All my content, but thanks to ChatGPT (or maybe no thanks depending on what you think) for the organization / bullets / numbers. Otherwise it was a mess, but saved me some time!

A few points to add to the good ones above:

General Mindset: You Probably Don't Need to Hustle

• You probably don't need to "hustle," in the sense of the term as I believe you're using it.
  
• Your fate will mostly already be decided by CX by the time you arrive. (My meaning isn't to drag CX—just that you don't need to be too stressed, CX is really good at this.)
• I used to live in N America and am v familiar with what you're thinking, I believe. In N America basically you can just get screwed and miss your flight because of bad luck in the terminal or gates far apart or something like that. Here, it's really hard to miss a CX to CX tight connection at HKIA since the staff are watching it and escorting you if tight. You'd basically have to arrive with a comfortable amount of time, and monkey around yourself to miss it. HKIA / CX are quite remarkable and once you live here long enough you really become thankful for it compared to what can happen transiting elsewhere.
  

How CX Handles Tight Connections

• If CX deems your connection is tight, CX staff will be waiting for you at the jetbridge of your arriving flight and will escort you all the way to your departing flight, along with anyone else on your inbound who shares your itinerary. This is usually for tighter connections.
  
• If they deem your connection isn't too tight, or if transit security has no issue, they’ll simply post your next flight number on the board as you exit your flight.
  

What You Can Do If You're Nervous

• If you are really nervous and no escort is waiting for you, there are always uniformed CX staff upon deplaning each flight.
  
• You can talk to them, tell them your itinerary, and ask them to radio ahead about your presence. (In practice, this won’t change anything—they already know—but it might make you feel better.)
  

In a Nutshell

• Yes, 60 minutes is tight in the sense that if you get a 90-minute delay on your inbound, you're probably missing your connection—but that's life.
  
• It’s not tight in the sense that if your flight is on time (or even a little late), you’re probably going to be fine.
  
• You're likely to be fine even if you land 20-30 minutes late. At that point, CX staff will definitely be waiting for you.
  
• If you do miss your flight, CX staff waiting at your arriving jetbridge will tell you.
  
• You’re not going to have to do a mad dash through the airport wondering “Will I / won’t I?!?!”
  

Airport Logistics: Simple Flow

• The flow is very simple:
  1. Arrive downstairs.
     
  2. Walk to the transit point.
     
  3. Check your travel details and clear security.
     
  4. Go upstairs to departures.
     
• There are many transit points at HKIA.
  
• Occasionally, depending on your arriving and departing gates, it may be slightly wiser to use a different transit checkpoint than the arrows are pointing you toward.
  
• But you’ll be fine regardless of the one you choose.
  

Useful Tip: Familiarize Yourself with the Terminal Layout

• HKG is basically a long spine from Gates 10–35, with four spokes in a symmetrical pattern.
  
• You can ignore:
  • Gates 200+ (non-CX flights)
    
  • Gates 12–21 (narrowbody only, not you)
    
• Here's a good image of the terminal layout (source credit: Checkerboard Hill):
  https://www.checkerboardhill.com/wp-...ruary-2023.jpg
  https://www.checkerboardhill.com/wp-...ruary-2023.jpg
  

Taxi Times: A Small Variable

• Although taxi times have slowly improved since the center runway reopened as part of the 3-runway system, HKG introduced mainland China-style super looooong taxis ever since the opening of the new north runway a few years back.
  
• It can be up to 20 minutes in the unluckiest scenario (north runway arrival, taxi around the north end of the center runway, waiting for a few planes along the way, and getting an arrival gate like #1-4).
  
• It’s frequently more than 10 minutes of taxi time.
  

Context: Cathay’s Transit Game is Strong

• Cathay (and HKIA) have a near-perfect blend of O&D and transit business.
  
• Cathay “quietly” (versus an obvious suspect like EK in DXB) runs a huge transit business at HKIA.
  
• There are massive long-haul to short-haul transfer banks:
  • Early morning: ex-Europe / ex-North America / ex-Oceania
    
  • Late afternoon / early evening: ex-North America / ex-Oceania round 2
    
  • Late night: to Europe / North America / Oceania
    
• Throughout the day, there are continuous intra-Asia transfers starting from late morning through early evening.
  
• HKIA’s lucky geography—northeast corner of Southeast Asia and southwest corner of East Asia—is super convenient, net-net, for passengers with a lot of itineraries to/from/within Asia
  

Truly an amazing answer and covered any questions/concerns I might have. Cheers QRC!

Just a quick note on these transit points – the E and W points are always super-reliable, but have the others all reopened and returned to the operating hours indicated on this pre-pandemic diagram? I mention this because for a long time only E and W were open, so I'd hate to see somebody make a beeline for a transit point that's closed.

Some add-ons for the transit process, with regard to those additional checkpoints:
* if you don't have an onwards boarding pass, only the E and W transit points have airline desks which can issue this (which is of course needed to move for departures to arrivals)

* if you do have your onwards boarding pass, you can go straight to one of those secondary (non E/W) transit checkpoints, assuming they're open of course – and that move makes sense if your arrival gate is closer to one of the secondary transit points or if you arrive in a peak period in which E and W will be chockers

* again, if the secondary transit points are open, it pays to have a copy of this map (or a text list of which gates the secondary transit points are at) on your phone, and also to not be on autopilot and just follow the crowd when you get off the plane. Many's the time I have had a flight arrive at say gate 25-29, or gate 60-61, and instead of 'going with the flow' to E or W I'd know to double-back and head in the other direction to a secondary transit point which is less crowded. Bonus points if you can use the secondary transit point between gates 61-63 because this brings you up almost directly outside The Pier lounges, so while everybody else is still in the W1 queue you'll be relaxing in the lounge!

I have finally found the timetables of the transfer points

Transfer Points at Terminal 1 Operating Hours (With effect from 27 May 2025)

E1 (East Hall) Closed
E2 (East Hall). 24 hours
W1 (West Hall). 24 hours
T3 (Near Gate 27) 05:00 – 23:59
T5 (Near Gate 44). Closed
T6 (Near Gate 65). 06:00 – 23:00

Brilliant, thanks – great to see the Gate 27 and Gate 66 transit points are back!

ditto. Gate 66 is esp useful for CX pax given CXs reliance on the high 60s gates, and the fact the Pier F and J are out there.

I’m not sure precisely when they fully reopened it, but ive noticed it open for many months now finally. Was annoying when it was closed.

Long Layover at HKG - short check bags?
 

I will have a 15 hour layover between flights at HKG. I have a room booked at the Marriott Sky City. Is it allowable to through check my bag and just have an overnight bag with a change of clothes for the next day or should I short check the bags to HKG and collect them & recheck the next day?

I think that through-check of bags is available only for a same-day connection – that was what I wad told some time back when I did SYD-HKG-TPE with an overnight at the airport hotel – but I'm sure somebody here will have the definitive word.

You can check through your baggage and just carry a overnight bag with you, there won’t have any problem.

I have made many overnight connections in HKG and always checked luggage through. As long as the connection is less than 24 hours there is no issue.

awesome - thanks!

So the family and I are arriving HKG from FRA on LH next week (16h00-ish arrival). We have an onward flight to HAN with HK Express the next morning 07h45 (UO550). Separate tickets.

My plan was to enter HK, pick up our luggage, and then go up to departures where we can self-checkin and self-drop the luggage for the UO flight. Then go to the Sheraton Tung Chung with only our carry-ons. Next morning go back to the airport, clear security and immigration, and be on our way.

amidoingitright?

Considering this will be a Friday a.m. flight to HAN, how early should we be back at the airport?

Yes, that should work. HKExpress officially closes the boarding gate 30 minutes before scheduled departure. So I would say 06:30 at the airport to be safe, but 06:45 should be OK if you're comfortable getting around airports.

You would need to check directly with UO whether they will accept baggage for next day's flight

According to this https://www.hkexpress.com/Plan/Guide...n-and-Bag-Drop they do 24h before departure. We are well within 24h for our connection.

Thanks - knowing I'll be there with ball & chain....I'll make it 6:15am.

Quick Q as I've never done this before just checking if my assumptions are correct.

I have 2 bookings, one return LHR-HKG, and one multi-city, HKG-ADL, MEL-HKG, on two separate bookings. Both of the HKG stopovers are around 24 hours (a bit more on the way to ADL, just about 24 hours on the way back to LHR).

I will have checked bags (including golf clubs) that I'd like to just check through to ADL and back to LHR on the way back. To do so, I assumed I just needed to let the ground attendant know when checking my bags in LHR / MEL.

I have read of "linking" my bookings, what does that achieve / do I need to do this? For reference, the classes are JJYJ on the flights. (I assume no, but for example would linking the two give me Business class amenities in MEL on the way back, e.g. lounge access) - I have no status.

Since I am "transiting" in HKG, I posted here, but let me know if this is the wrong thread.

Linking of the separate bookings on CX doesn't do much.
On other airlines, this may let the airline know you're connecting (especially if they don't issue you the second boarding pass at the first outport).

But CX does issue your second boarding pass at the first outport.
This will also give you your lounge access https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post37196400

More than 24 hours counts as a stopover. I'm not sure if CX will check your bags through in that case.

I believe that your assumption of no J lounge access at MEL on the way back is correct, but you might get lucky if the transit in HKG is less than 24 hours.

Thanks for the answers.

I'll call CS to check whether bags can be checked through despite being a stopover (of ~29 hours). Is it possible to re-check them in that long before the flight if needed?

For the return leg, the layover is actually 22h30 (so just under 24hours).

CS did indicate the same thing as PaulC852 . Because it is over 24 hours they may not check through the bags, but I was told it is worth asking anyways, for the return trip, they should accept as it is less than 24 hours. Anyways, my bookings are now "linked" for whatever that is worth!

Please do report back, but I also believe it is technically impossible.

Transit time concern
 

Have not transited HKG for 3 years. Any difference today vs 2022 for a 2-hour transit from CX to JL, in terms of official document check (such as BP, passport etc..). How much time should I budget for such procedures? TIA

We've now got a transit thread wiki, I think mods will help move hopefully

For lack of other responses, the only difference now vs 2022 is the airport is more normal. Which ironically means more efficient despite far more pax and whatnot post covid.

And most importantly, a few of the smaller transit checkpoints are now open too. The process is literally 5-10 minutes max.

Take a read up thread, overall it doesn't get much better than HKG among major airports in the world. I'd go so far as to say it's the best, at least for the gates between 1 and 71. Which includes all CX and JL flights.

Small caveat for the narrowbody island thing, Gates 13-22. JL doesn't use that and only CX A321s do. Even then that's not much sweat, just an extra 3-5 minutes.

I sweat US domestic transfers WAYYYYYYY more than any HKG connection like the one you have. That's not even fair to bring up since it's not close!!!

Fwiw I put my money where mouth is and regularly book MCT or close to MCT bookings thru HKG. I believe it's 50 mins. (CX to CX)