15 Hours in HKG Airport (NOT Going to City) - What to Do
Oct 22, 2018, 11:41 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: QF WP; VA Gold
Posts: 1,007
Pack your trainers and some sports attire, lock away your carry on and speed walk around the terminal for an hour or two and burn some energy. Find a quiet corner and do some sit ups, push ups etc then go back to the lounge, showers, massages etc.
Oct 23, 2018, 2:03 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
15 hours, though attrocious, is doable with lounge access. Make friends with the lounge dragons, feign an excuse why you have an ultra long trainsit (flight got rescheduled, John from HR messed up the reservation...etc). Then, negotiate for a cabana for 4-6 hours and sleep. By the time you ate, showered, slept, ate and drank again, you will be quite tired of the Moet and the dimsum in The Wing F lounge......for change of scenary, take the train within the departure area to the lower gates (40-60) area, and tour the fine dining of The Pier F lounge.
Then take a very leisurly stroll back up towards the upper gates (1-20), passing by The Bridge and The Cabin for a glass of something (Moet or tea or dirty martini...)
Make a detour to the duty free section just after immigration and see how much you can hurt your pocket, before proceeding to the Qantas lounge to see how the other side tries to compete. Remind the Qantas lounge attendant that serving sparkling wine while all other OW lounges have free flowing Champagne is just a NO-NO.
Then slink over the overpass connection from Qantas lounge to the Wing F lounge, and you will hopefully be met with a new set of lounge crew, where then you can simply ask for another cabana and shower!
By then, you will either be cursing yourself to never transit HKG again, or you will think of starting a blog about how to live in the airport like Tom Hanks...
Come to think of it, why not VLOG the whole experience and upload to Youtube every 3 hours or so?
===Whoever booked you in business class and added that 15 hour layover, deserves a mean tweet or temporary FB blocking/unfriending!
Then take a very leisurly stroll back up towards the upper gates (1-20), passing by The Bridge and The Cabin for a glass of something (Moet or tea or dirty martini...)
Make a detour to the duty free section just after immigration and see how much you can hurt your pocket, before proceeding to the Qantas lounge to see how the other side tries to compete. Remind the Qantas lounge attendant that serving sparkling wine while all other OW lounges have free flowing Champagne is just a NO-NO.
Then slink over the overpass connection from Qantas lounge to the Wing F lounge, and you will hopefully be met with a new set of lounge crew, where then you can simply ask for another cabana and shower!
By then, you will either be cursing yourself to never transit HKG again, or you will think of starting a blog about how to live in the airport like Tom Hanks...
Come to think of it, why not VLOG the whole experience and upload to Youtube every 3 hours or so?
===Whoever booked you in business class and added that 15 hour layover, deserves a mean tweet or temporary FB blocking/unfriending!
Oct 23, 2018, 2:07 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP, Club 49, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,400
Oct 23, 2018, 3:48 am
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere near a Airstrip
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 647
OP here:
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
Oct 23, 2018, 5:10 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Oct 23, 2018, 5:05 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Oct 24, 2018, 9:39 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
I had a 6 hour layover when travelling to SIN and managed to get in 3 of the lounges IIRC. I don't remember all of them, but then one with showers on the bottom floor and the two areas for noodles/beer on the upper floor was my favorite. Is there a better one?
Oct 27, 2018, 8:24 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
OP here:
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
As others have said - use a cabana for a couple hours for a long soak in the tub. Head to the Pier for a couple hours to the day room. Spend a couple hours in the QF club.
Oct 29, 2018, 3:49 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver; HH DM; National Exec
Posts: 22
Did that once in 2015 with a 12 hour layover from 5am to 5pm... Can't say it was a great experience even as I was on a longhaul F ticket with access to the Wing F and the newly built Pier F. Ended up trying to nap in the cabana at Wing F for a few hours but after 2 hours essentially got kicked out by the cabana attendant. Went for a massage at Pier and some food. Also went to Bridge just to check things out. After 6 hours got really bored and went out immigrations trying to get to the city but last minute decided that there wasn't enuf time to really enjoy it in the city... So ended up checking out the arrivals lounge and re-entered through security again into the terminal. Went back to Wing F and got another cabana to chill but was pretty annoyed by then already.. So yeah in honesty I thought spending 12 hours in some amazing lounges would be equally amazing, but I was wrong.. While the lounges are nice and the food and drinks well stocked it really gets old after a few hours. Would highly recommend heading into the city.
Oct 29, 2018, 4:08 am
#41
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382
Maybe bring some books and/or video games to entertain yourself as well? For this amount of time you can almost start a hobby like knitting. Or try to read the whole global selection of newspapers and magazines...
Or invite person(s) to the lounge's bar and have some nice chat if you feel like socialising.
Or invite person(s) to the lounge's bar and have some nice chat if you feel like socialising.
Oct 29, 2018, 4:19 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,699
OP here:
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I did look up the earlier threads but not sure how to spend a long layer - here is how I ended up in this situation.
As most of you suggested, it would've been ideal to head out to the city and that was the original plan when I booked the long layover back in Aug. I hold a Indian passport and HK requires a Pre-registration and provides 14 days of Visa Free Entry. I assumed that I will get access as I tick all the boxes, but did not actually apply until last week due to travelling heavily last few weeks. When I applied for the Pre Arrival Registration, it was not successful and required to apply for a actual visa. As I'm travelling this week, not much time to actually apply for a visa. So Lounge Hopping it is. Reading through other forums, the failure of pre arrival registration could be tied back to having a passport issued outside the issuing country (Mine was issued in SFO). Rebooking will move my arrival day in Destination very close to my Business Meeting, so sticking to the original plan except HK will be viewed from the air.
OP, I admire your patience on the prospect of spending 15 hours at the airport - personally, in your situation, I would probably end up eating, having a drink (or several), a rest, a shower and then going for a walk from one end to another (i.e. from The Pier F to The Wing F). And repeating the story at the new hideout. Then, when you get bored, do the same in the opposite direction. Best of luck for your trip
Oct 29, 2018, 5:41 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Airside observation decks
If you like watching planes, you can go to the various observation decks. There is one located outside right by gate 49, another on the north of "Dragon Island" (the remote narrow body terminal: you access via bus. I believe the gate numbers are 500-515, anyone can access even if you don't have a remote gate BP), and at least one possibly two more out at the 100+ gates (HK Airlines area, the far island, aka last stop on the train).
Unfortunately these decks effectively turn into smoking areas which can be less than pleasant if you're not a smoker, but still decent if you really like watching planes.
The whole airport is frankly good for watching planes. HKG gets more wide-bodied aircraft traffic than any other airport in the world and is the world's largest cargo airport, among other facts. The two runways run an extremely busy operation - not quite as busy as LHR but nearly so - and most slots are fully allocated between 9am and 9pm.
Unfortunately these decks effectively turn into smoking areas which can be less than pleasant if you're not a smoker, but still decent if you really like watching planes.
The whole airport is frankly good for watching planes. HKG gets more wide-bodied aircraft traffic than any other airport in the world and is the world's largest cargo airport, among other facts. The two runways run an extremely busy operation - not quite as busy as LHR but nearly so - and most slots are fully allocated between 9am and 9pm.
Oct 29, 2018, 11:24 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, Watsons Wine Burgundy
Posts: 415
If you like watching planes, you can go to the various observation decks. There is one located outside right by gate 49, another on the north of "Dragon Island" (the remote narrow body terminal: you access via bus. I believe the gate numbers are 500-515, anyone can access even if you don't have a remote gate BP).