Gate locations and Wing/Pier
 

I guess it is not really an issue if you have a 3-4 hr lay over, but last few times passing thru HKG I am barely made it to the lounges travelling in J.

Iam just curious as to why CX does not send their long haul flights , like to LAX/ SFO, Europe etc always out of gates close to Wing Or Pier.

Given that these flights have a FC cabin and probably the highest # of J pax who would use the lounges, I find it frustrating that I have to travel some what far distances to get to my gates from the lounges.

Why would CX allow gates to be given to other airlines in and around their lounge areas. Am I missing some thing?? Aren't all the gates capable of handling most types of large aircraft?

This is one aspect of my recent travels on CX that I find disappointing.

CX don't own the airport - they have to do the best they can with the gates allocated to them by the airport authority. And if you consider where the airport lounges are then no airline is going to prefer gates 25-33, or the 46-50, but someone has to use them. I do a lot of flying on CX and I reckon 8/10 long hauls I get are on 1-4, 61-70, 21-25.

And you shouldn't underestimate the number of lounge users on the short haul flights - there are huge numbers of Gold/Diamond card holding bankers running around the region from their base in HK.

I have left from the gates next to the Pier many times, but also come in at 72 or 75 - I forget the number - (furthest out) and had a long walk. I have also come into 15 (the closest to immigration I think) from Syd which is unusual - they usually get put at the 70's gates!

Just a question of allowing time, and going to the longe with best proximity to your gate.

I like coming in close to immigration, but prefer to leave from the outer gates as I prefer the Pier to the Wing as a lounge.

71 is the highest gate number in Hong Kong.

Just from looking at the HKIA website, daytime US departures generally get assigned 1-4, 21-23. YYZ/YVR sometimes leave from the 60's. Generally night US departures leave from the 60's while the two LHR flights leave from 1-4. Other European flights (e.g. CDG, FRA) sometimes draw a gate in the 30's.

It's quite unusual for long-hauls to leave from 40+ - not only is that area generally taken up by JAL and Thai, short-hauls seem to be assigned that area more than long-hauls.

So the OP must be travelling on the wrong days to complain that he keeps on getting gates far from the Wing and the Pier (i.e. those not within 1-4, 21-24, 60+ !)

Yes. CX880 to LAX is assigned the 60s the majority of the time and so does CX872 to SFO when it is operated as an 11:45 pm departure ex-HKG from Mid December to Mid February, but will normally be placed at 1,2,3,4,21,23 when it is operating as a 4pm-ish departure and so does CX888 and CX882. CX838 and CX828 sometimes get the gates near the Wing and sometimes the ones near the Pier. I always take the train to a certain point to cut short the walking when the gates are 40 and beyond.

Just wondering... since we're on the subject...
How long does it take to walk from Pier to Wing? And by train (including waiting for it) ?
Do they only give you access to the one nearest your gate?
Are there separate showers for F passengers or share with J ?

About 10-12 minutes if you walk quickly. 6 or 7 by train I guess (trains every 3 mins).
No - you have access to both.
Yes - separate.

I have found train is usually quickest and less energetic. Airside to immigration can be longer if you are behind a couple of other flights and find yourself in the crush on the platform and to get onto the train and have to wait a couple as those ahead squeeze in.

I don't think I have ever been asked to share a shower by CX -- in F or J!

Sorry you are short-changed! :D

Keep your fingers crossed - perhaps the right person will someday ask!

Hmmmm. Now that puts your handle in a whole new perspective. ;)