chubbuni13

Hi everyone,

I've been to HK several times before, but never took the ferry directly from the airport to Macau. Taking off July 3 and arriving approximately 5:30am on July 5th on CX 883 from LAX. I have a lunch meeting at 1pm, so I'm hoping that I can get there with time to spare but I'd appreciate some help from the HK/Macau experts as I have a few questions:

1. Do I need to collect my luggage at HKIA or not? I know the first ferry takes off at 10AM from the airport, and I've read conflicting things about whether or not my luggage would be automatically processed to Macau or whether I'd have to pick it up in HK. On that note, what's the best place to purchase my tickets or should I pre-buy them online? Leaving tomorrow night, so I guess if I should prebuy, I better get on it now.

2. Also, I have 4 hours between my flight arrival and the first ferry out to Macau. Which lounge can I wait at to kill time? In my research, I saw that there was a small Arrivals lounge at the airport, but I read that you have to clear customs and it's outside of security. I wouldn't want to have to go to the hassle if that's the case, but any suggestions on where to hang out would be great.

3. Speaking of customs: do I have to clear at HKIA or can I just do it in Macau? Again, reading conflicting accounts.

Thanks very much for your help!

Crocodile

1. You don't collect your luggage. Just go to the Ferry desk and buy a ferry ticket and you give them your baggage receipt so they can collect your baggage for you so they can put it on the ferry. You don't pass through immigration, but stay in the arrivals hall. You don't need to buy a ticket beforehand - just buy it when you get there. There is the Turbojet or CotaiJet, depending on where your meeting is. I prefer the CotaiJet as the temporary ferry terminal in Macau has significantly shorter immigration lines. The TurboJet goes to the Macau Ferry Terminal and the immigration lines in Macau can take up to an hour. Just checked the schedule though and CotaiJet has reduced their sailings, so you will have to take the TurboJet. But I also note that the 10am sailing for the TurboJet does send you to the Macau temporary terminal, which is closer to The Venetian. There are shuttle buses at the terminal for all the major hotel/casinos.

2. You don't have access to the CX Arrivals Lounge as this is the other side of immigration. If you pass through immigration, you can't go back into HKIA and catch the ferry to Macau. There is not much to do - there are shops and some food outlets available to you.

3. As stated above - you don't actually enter Hong Kong, but go through immigration when you get off the ferry in Macau.

Alternatively, if you want to spend a little more money, you can leave the airport normally, go the the Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong and get it from there. It will put you in Macau significantly earlier.

rkkwan

With such an early arrival into HKG, you should just go through immigration, claim your bags, then go to the arrivals lounge to relax. Then take the Cityflyer A11 bus that goes direct to the Macau Ferry Terminal on HK Island and take the Cotaijet to Macau.

Much better than hanging out at HKG for 4+ hours with no lounge access or anything.

chubbuni13

Wow... two equally good responses, thanks guys!

I'm still torn on what to do... the lazy guy side of me is telling me to just hang out at the airport without lounge access, but the proactive side is saying to take a shower at the Arrivals lounge and then head into town to take the ferry from HK. I looked up the A21 bus and it says that it goes to Kowloon and not HK Island, perhaps there's a ferry on Kowloon side too?

Also, can I collect my bags at the airport, pass through immigration at HKG, hang out at the Arrivals lounge and then take the ferry from the Airport itself?

rkkwan

My mistake. The bus to the Macau Ferry Terminal is A11.

And, no, you cannot take the ferry from HKG once you go through immigration to enter HK.

tentseller

Yes and no. The main Macau Ferry terminal is on the HK side, A21's first stop after the exiting the West Cross-Harbour Tunnel is Shun Tek centre, the ferry terminal.

That would not be possible. The HKIA to Macau ferry transfer is arrival airside before you enter HK immigration.

chubbuni13

Awesome advice everyone. I guess I'll just play it by ear and see how tired I am. I usually lean towards "path of least resistance" but maybe my introductory experience on flying First on Cathay will influence me to be more proactive.

tentseller

Waiting for the ferry will be quite a few notches down from TPAC CX F.

chubbuni13

Haha, you're right about that. Guess I'll have to make some new friends or just veg out in the food court.

rkkwan

I am not sure if there is even a food court for those transferring to the ferry.

ChrisLi

I think there's a Pacific Coffee nearby the ferry counter / gate to ferry close to the transfer desk

rkkwan

PC & *$. According to HKG's website.

Anyways, there are 5 businesses at the Skypier. *$, 7-11, Mannings, Free Duty and Travelex. According to official HKG site.

Sydfly

I'm arriving on SQ F from SIN at 1.30pm and we'll aim to take the TurboJet at 3.15pm. I guess we'll need to head to Terminal 1 E2 to buy a ticket and then we will have an hour to kill.

1) Would 45min be enough from landing to get to the check-in for the ferry (with an almost 2 year old in tow)?

2) As we will be checking in a buggy and 2 bags, does anyone know whether kids get the same allowance of 1 piece as adults (seeing that you pay for kids as young as 1+)

3) Considering to buy "Superclass" tickets (around $50 more for the family) but I didn't find much info on this. It says VIP waiting area but does this mean they have a lounge at the waiting area with food/drinks? And is it an advantage to get "priority disembarkation" from the boat in terms of waiting at immigration? We're trying to make this as quick as possible with a small baby.

Clipper801

According to the time you posted, you would have 1h 45m, not 45m. Is it a typo? 60m is the minimum, so you should be fine even if your SQ flight is slightly late

Watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP-IIF5qWHE

Also read this Trip Report:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...arl-river.html

BTW HK$ cash only onboard the ferry if you want to buy some snacks and drinks. There is a Travelex at Sky Pier if you need to change some money.

Sydfly

Yes, you are right but we need to be at the check-in 60min prior to departure, so just wanted to know whether we will make it to E2 within 45min of arrival.

Any info on the superclass would be great especially what the VIP waiting area means and whether there is an advantage getting off early.