Meet Up At HKG Arrivals Channel
Jan 30, 2018, 11:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
Meet Up At HKG Arrivals Channel
I'm arriving on CX676 (From TLV) on 05:15 am and a family member arrives on CX845 (from JFK) on 05:40 am on the same day. I am going out to the city and he has an onward flight (CX691 to SIN) on 8:10am.
Is there a way we can meet somewhere before I have to exit through immigration and he has to go through security? I'm talking of course of a short meeting, nothing fancy. Of course, if I could go air-side it would have been nice but it's not going to happen I guess.
Is there a way we can meet somewhere before I have to exit through immigration and he has to go through security? I'm talking of course of a short meeting, nothing fancy. Of course, if I could go air-side it would have been nice but it's not going to happen I guess.
Jan 30, 2018, 12:07 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
Yes, there are plenty of seats and duty free shops just before you go through immigration or transit security in HKG, so it is definitely possible to meet up. Though I am not sure what kind of meeting you are looking for, in such an early time there should be some quiet space.
Jan 30, 2018, 12:16 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
Thanks so much; the idea is just to say hello and chat for a couple of minutes.
If I understand correctly all CX international arrivals go through the same channel so there is no chance of missing one another, correct?
If I understand correctly all CX international arrivals go through the same channel so there is no chance of missing one another, correct?
Jan 30, 2018, 12:43 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
Yes. You should specify your desired meetup location to your family member (one of the duty free shops before immigration sounds like a reasonable bet) and remind him/her NOT to go through transit security before you meet up.
Jan 30, 2018, 10:26 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
OP should meet outside the airside.
Airside is a legally restricted area. When OP is waiting within airside, it may draw some unwanted attention as it is not really a waiting area.
Airside is a legally restricted area. When OP is waiting within airside, it may draw some unwanted attention as it is not really a waiting area.
Jan 30, 2018, 11:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
What are you talking about? There are a couple restaurants or coffee shops in the arrival channel before immigration. Clearly they're anticipating that more than a few people may want to wait there for various reasons (mainly ferry connections I assume, but you could also imagine pax waiting for a particular airline transit desk to open or what have you). OP should be fine.
Jan 31, 2018, 1:26 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
Last year, I waited airside for two hours with no problem. I was waiting until 7:30 when the e-channel registration office opens. Yes, it's anecdotal but I doubt the OP will have an issue.
Jan 31, 2018, 2:21 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,169
Done that once- for a shorter bit though. And one other time, wifey waited there for a while before clearing transit security and heading to the wing to co-incide with my arrival after an immigration-baggage-handover a bit to a Friend-check back the bag in- security-immigration schlep (for whatever reason, she preferred clearing emails sitting there rather than heading to the J lounge and moving over to F when I got there).
Asia/HKG are practical..afaik, ‘waiting for a friend’ is a valid reason to be at a place where you’re not supposed to ‘not be’. I’ve been at arrival gates in both HKG & SIN, after enquiring at transit counters as to where ‘flight XXX’ would park, so that I could surprise someone.
Jan 31, 2018, 7:09 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
There are always people waiting around airside before immigration. People are always napping on the benches, and I've waited there in the morning before as well to wait for the e-channel office to open.
Jan 31, 2018, 8:23 am
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
AFAIK there is no way to find out the arrival gate for a particular flight--HKIA does not publish arrival gate info on the airport monitors or its website.
Jan 31, 2018, 8:34 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382