Help - Transit Hong Kong
 

All - Thanks for the help. Thought this was the best place. But move if you think. ;

I have a son transiting Hong Kong this evening. He is flying KMI (Miyazaki Japan) - Hong Kong with 22 hour layover. In Japan, they told him he would need to stay in transit area. Not sure what that is....

Several times we have had 24 or hours less layover in HKG with not problem.

USA passport holder. Thoughts?

Not really a Cathay Pacific question, but if your question is whether he can leave the airport during the layover, then there won't be a problem to do that.

Is he unaccompanied minor? and is the onward flight on same carrier (I assume is Hong Kong Airlines/HX instead of CX)?

He is 19. so not unaccompanied minor. not sure why they told him this. he checked a bag and they said he would need to 'remain in the transit aria in hong kong'

he was planning on going into the city.

Complete bollocks. Unless he lacks a visa or something there is no reason to stay in the transit area. Before I moved to HK, I did a transit through HK and left to go to see the city. Many people do so.

EDIT - where is he actually flying to? I am wondering if this is one of those daft new rules for flying to the USA - but it's a long shot. I would imagine it's more the Japanese airlines applying Japanese rules to HK or just wanting to ensure they keep all their passengers corralled in one place to avoid losing them!

japanese agents tend to say thing erred on conservative side or simply lost in translation. i dont see how anyone enforce your son to remain in sterlile area

99.99% sure he can get out.

Perhaps the agent meant to say that the bag would remain in the "transit area" if it had been through-checked. Otherwise, agree with others that USA passport holders should have no problem entering Hong Kong.

Book a hotel, and possibly a local trip, for your son.

Just don't enter the transit area if you want to head into the city first https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...migration.html

I did HYD - HKG - SFO with a 10 hour layover in HK. I just exited and explored the city then went back to HKG. I

I don't it'll ever be a problem given how long the transit is.. they're probably going for the safe side. Also given the small operations they have at Miyazaki, perhaps there is a chance they are not used to seeing layovers this long? Thus are confused about the possibility of leaving the transit area? There's always a possibility i guess...

Also I'm also assuming (with the others) that this is on HX? CX/KA doesn't fly to Miyazaki.

Thanks for responding. It was no problem to go into city. Bags were checked through. We'll see when he departs today how things go....

I agree - moving to the HKG forum.

cxfan1960
CX CoMod