fairhsa

Go for a short hike! Dump your luggage in the hotel (they will let you do that even if they will not let you have your room) and then take a bus to Tung Chung (10 mins) and from there you have numerous options. Lantau is one of the best hiking destinations in HK. For a "simple" but scenic route, follow the coast around to Tai O. Very little fitness required, takes about 2.5 hours. You can take a bus back to Tung Chung and then check into your hotel.

For something more energetic, take one of the many paths up to Nong Ping (the "big bhudda"). Again, bus or taxi or cable car back.

With a bit more time, you can head off to Mui Wo or Discovery Bay over the many paths in that direction (Google Maps shows them).

You need nothing more than some sports clothes (trainers are fine) and at least 2 litres of drink.

It should be light by the time you leave the hotel, and it's the coolest time of day.
"

Passmethesickbag

Thanks! Although I'm not sure I'll have the energy after the flight, I'll give that serious consideration — it's certainly not an aspect of exploring Hong Kong that I'd considered.

AnttiV

kaka

there is a simple one airside on the arrivals level. not sure how it is guarded

christep

These: Complimentary Shower Facilities, Airport Facilities & Services - Hong Kong International Airport

I understand that you either need to bring your own towel or purchase a simple one from a vending machine there.

uncommonsensical

as much as i like CX, i cannot stand the attitude of the greeters at the HKG lounges. everyone else in the lounges is great; but the girls all have this homecoming queen vibe that seems to miss the mark in terms of the reality of their position. i got nothing but attitude like i was asking the world when i arrived and expressed my plan to shower then head into the city. the girl finally got past the gravity of my request (hey- i didn't close the arrivals lounge) and told me to come back when i'm ready to go and someone will escort me. so i do that and then i'm told it could be a couple of hours to find staff. ... didn't you tell me that when i arrived? ugh. it's been 90 minutes and, hence, enough time to find this thread. my window to leave is closing and, well, i'm venting. all the while the 2 of them stand there playing with their phones doing a job that requires only 1 person (or an above average chimp who happens to look good in CX colours).

QRC3288

Ha but mate, you're asking for something that is technically not allowed! And I don't think the greeters deserve your vitriol. To be honest, no offense but you said the dumbest thing possible - literally word for word, you told you them you want to do what HKIA recently warned CX about not permitting their passengers to do. A translation of what you said is "I entered airside without the intention to fly." HKIA is aware passengers for the most part are returning to the airport, but they still consider this first entry to airside "no intention to fly".

If CX really wanted to play the correct way, they are supposed to call security if they know for certain you've entered without intent to fly...which you basically said to them. But of course they're in a pickle, because you're paying customer, and in practice this rarely happens and would get them a lot of negative publicity. But just a heads up you said the thing that probably earned you the longest possible delay.

The airport authority has been aware for years the practice of passengers entering airside without the intent to fly, and then exiting immigration. Of course, the problem is there are legitimate reasons people would intend to fly, but then have to leave: emergencies, etc. So HKIA cannot fully curtail the process, or at least they haven't found a way yet. What sucks is their practice is now to essentially delay everybody. Some reports on here say as long as 60-90 minutes, although other folks report faster.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

I guess I understand the wait. This is not an activity the airline would be assigning permanent staff to, so you'd be taking staff off their regular duties. There are likely passengers with legitimate needs for assistance that need access to those staff now, rather than than you. Passengers with late inbound flights, that may have forgotten an item on board that needs to be retrieved, or maybe even unaccompanied minors.

I guess your priority is at the bottom of the list, and keeps gettig pushed down as genuine pax need help. And then staff are entitled to a break or whatever, so your time gets pushed out.

Not sure if there would be much of a difference if they had told you on arrival at the lounge it could take two hours. Presumably you only had a very quick shower so this has only put you back 30 mins or so? (it still would have taken two hours to get someone from whatever time you decided you wanted to go out).

moondog

Is this a joke post?

sxc

kaka

moondog

I'm pretty sure that helping people cheat the system, at the expense of attending to others, is not part of the job description.

kaka

QRC3288

HKIA seems to believe it is against their regulations to enter airside "without the intent to fly". likewise, what the poster everyone is responding to said...is not very clever. "Hi, I want a shower and then intend to go into town". I am not a lawyer, nor do I have any clue how enforceable any of this is. But they've told me this in multiple conversations, I've asked this exact scenario before.

I don't actually think it is ever (maybe rarely?) enforced in this situation. Especially since I don't think there is any way to prove it. But in this case, the passenger basically said as much to the lounge staff lol. And like I said in my post above, CX doesn't have much incentive to screw the passenger over and make him the rare case to get in trouble for this. So they delay the hell out of it and have plausible deniability - they can say the passenger was persistent, them delaying him 60-90 minutes obviously shows they're not encouraging it, etc.

But yea, only if you're trying to throw a wrench into your plans and delay yourself, should you emulate the poster roughly: "Hi, I'm not here to fly right now, but rather just enjoy the services and bounce into town."

kaka