If you're positive by PCR then you're stuck in HK until you test negative. If it's a RAT then you could conceal the fact if your next destination does not require a negative RAT/PCR test.

He was quoting a poster who specifically talked about going to China via HK.

In any case, while three days in Q probably will deter most visitors, the freedom for the subsequent 4/7 days is significant. You can do pretty much everything apart from eating in or clubbing (takeaways are still allowed, they'll even let you into the restaurant to do the order and pickup, no QR scanning required). For example, you could visit Disneyland.

Essentially you will get exactly the same treatment as someone in HK who is currently unvaccinated (< 3 doses).

I wonder if anyone knows. I want to take a flight from LHR-PVG-HKG. It is only a transit in PVG, so I will stay airside. Is that allowed currently in PVG?

1. There aren't any flights between London and China
2. When they restart (maybe pretty soon), they will cost a lot more than LHR-HKG
3. I don't think airside transit is allowed, but I'd be most concerned about PVG-HKG not happening (I think there are only around two flights per month)

percysmith (and others): Can you comment on what HKG-Mainland flights are:
1. Easiest to book
2. Least likely to be axed
3. Least expensive
4. Would you trust KA more than Mainland carriers?
?

#3 is certainly less important than points 1 and 2. Furthermore, I'm guessing there isn't a huge price difference between the lowest and the highest, but if Quanzhou costs $100 less than Changsha, I'd grab Quanzhou because my entire time in either place would be spent in a hotel room (unless I knew I could score a really nice hotel in Changsha).

#2 is key for anyone who wants to try this. I'm thinking of relatively high frequency (e.g. 2+ flights/week) and important. It's somewhat perplexing that Shanghai doesn't meet the mark, but let's just play the ball as it lies.

Regarding #4
-I follow the CX forum here, and therefore get the fact that CX/KA have serious operational issues, especially on Mainland flights (well, LHR as well)
-The thing is, I also know that CA, CZ, MU, MF have no problem leaving customers high and dry (i.e. they are pretty good at refunds, but you'll be on your own to sort things out)

As we've discussed in the London thread, both Korea and Taiwan are better options than Hong Kong from reliability and cost standpoints. For non-residents, getting a PRC visa in either of these places is almost impossible (so, don't try them unless you have a visa or RP). Furthermore, Taiwan is only viable if you have permission to enter Taiwan.

If you use the Ctrip app you can check all this very easy (aside from the likely to cancel info). Go to their flight section. Plug in HKG to whatever city you want to check and then click on the date selection space. The calendar that comes up will show you days when there is availability. Every city I checked was sold out until November. PVG was sold out until end December. Takes about 10 seconds to check a city so to cycle through all the options should be a few minutes.

I use ctrip because I’m used to the interface but I think most Chinese travel apps have this info.

I also have the ctrip app, and "no flights available" is common. When this happens, you need to book via airline websites themselves. They will sell flights and take your money. Furthermore, they WILL refund you when they cancel. This means that you will have your $500 back. However, you're still in HK, and might need to stay there for several months.

percysmith Do you know if CX can/will protect passengers on flights that no longer exist? By way of example, if they cancel their Quanzhou flight, will they put you on the Changsha flight instead?

CX won't sell you a flight directly to anywhere in China until October. Their availability matches exactly with what Ctrip offers. I'm not gonna check the Chinese airlines because I don't have that much time but I'm pretty sure they'll match Ctrip availability as well.

CX doesn't fly to Quanzhou. It's not 2019 anymore, Moondog, no matter how much you may wish it to be. :-)

moondog , no. Passengers are largely left to fend for themselves. CX is trying to railroad passengers to take refunds, knowing they'll get no traction with HK courts for coronavirus-driven cancellations.

Seen and heard from people who have stuck in HK without doing homework by coming to HK with the mindset that 'HK is the gateway to China", I would say the best way to get into China is to travel from your home country (or a third country with proven reliable process in place) with visa issued by the local PRC embassy and consulates, and go through with the Covid testing requirements and applying for the health code.

Earlier this year, I had planned to travel to China via Singapore from the US, but upon checking with PRC embassy in Singapore, I had to fulfull 14-day stay in Singapore before being permitted to apply for healthcode, I then decided to just suck it up doing my required tests etc. in San Francisco for a week before flying UA to PVG. Also SIN to PVG was super expensive with only one fight per week at the time.

+1 for Ctrip. The web-version (Chinese interface) also will give you a suggestion for a nearest alternative routing if the search doesn't throw up a hit. For example searching for HKG-PVG on Oct 10th gives "no flights", but suggests HKG-NKG (Juneyao) on Oct 23rd, HKG-PEK (Air China) on Nov 2nd or HKG-NGB (Ningbo)(HK Express) on Nov 8th. This works also from flights out of Europe - and in most cases I have seen all the flights offered at valid routings (nothing via Taiwan or Japan, and only transits where airside testing is still available).

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...34838c1da1.jpg

I would have guessed the same for (3) - but to my surprise Timatic suggests that in some cases (Hong Kong resident with Mainland Travel Permit) this is actually possible

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.comI assume this is up-to-date, as a search for say a UK passport holder (rather than HK passport holder) gives the result is that transit is not possible.

Of course this, and the original question is moot as LHR-PEK/PVG flights (with passengers) are not happening yet, and more importantly, under the present situation you would have to desperate I think to attempt a transit in China with the risk of getting stuck here in case of IRROPS or cancellations.

Yes I think this is accurate as you don't need an HDC code to fly from HKG to China so transits may indeed be possible.

I think it’s likely a mistake. There is no way to transit through Chinese airports now unless that transit involves a 10 day quarantine.

Wow, HKG-NGB for USD $337? That's a regular, pre-covid fare.

Combine that with a US-HKG flight for around $500, and theoretically you can get into the mainland for less than $850? + 3 nights hotel in HK of course, and whatever the week costs in NGB or NKG or where ever.

I do have UA857 booked for next May, but I am now tempted to try the HK routing this year, if I can somehow get a month off, and assuming I can get a visa in the US. The HK stopover would be a plus actually, since I have friends there I haven't seen in years.

edit: oh I see the NGB flight actually isn't operating currently. But honestly even HKG-NKG for around $1000 isn't bad at all, and that one seems to be operating.