This is what had me so confused going back to JFK from MNL.. I saw some people going to collect checked bags (I had a 7 hour layover) I wasn't sure what I had to do.. I've never felt so confused at an airport before.. I was able to get help at a desk. I might try it again but I really want to travel super light because I really wanted to explore outside of the airport.. Not sure how much I could do with say a 7 hour layover.

Transit questions
 

Hi, could use some advice as so far my research has a lot of inconsistent data.

Flying from LAX to HKG on United airlines. Then HKG to KMG via Eastern airlines so separate tickets. One person has china passport others are US passport.

Can everyone go straight through transit without having to go through immigration?

Will there be a place to print boarding passes after deplaning or will we have to check in on united wifi and hope to get electronic boarding passes?

Any differences between US and China passport? Thanks!

Well, first of all, make sure UA in LAX tags bags to KMG. Otherwise there's no option but to enter HKG and check those bags in again (pre-2017, HKG offers bag re-tagging without passenger entering HK immigration, but this is no longer offered)

If bags are tagged (or no bags), pax can proceed to transit desk before immigration for next flight boarding pass https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/f.../airlines.page . I'll make it easier, China Eastern is E1.

Mainland passport holders can TWOV in HKG to/from Mainland. In fact, they're allowed 7 days - way more than necessary for airside.

Unless you have to recheck bags as noted above, you shouldn't have to worry about immigration until you arrive in mainland China. If you do, in addition to the time given to mainland passport holders noted above, US passport holders may enter HK for 90 days visa free; it's usually a quick line and stamp.

Thanks all! We have no checked bags. We are not looking to enter hkg, just transit as quickly as possible.

Fingers crossed we can easily print tickets at the transit desk.

Thanks again everyone for the quick response!

Time for an update: position as at Sep 2025:

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My Emirates flight from BKK to HKG is landing at 5:40pm. I have to catch a Cathey Pacific flight with a separate ticket at 7:35pm. I am a US passport holder and i will only have a carry on. Do i have to face immigration and custom? If so, does it enough time to catch my Cathey pacific flight in HKG? Thanks.

No immigration - use transit gates (see CX counter before transit gate in W1 if you didn’t manage to online check in).

Have a similar situation, but my initial embarkation in the US is CHS.

PNR #1: CHS-LAX (UA)
PNR #2: LAX-HKG (UA)
PNR #4: HKG-PVG (MU)

As I would have to recheck in LAX due to the second PNR, I was going to have my bags tagged through for HKG when I depart CHS.

Are you saying that it's actually possible to tag all the way through to PVG? (Or more generally, that non-alliance airlines can still tag through?)

Why don't you cut out HK altogether? Both MU and UA fly LAX-PVG nonstop.

UA can check through to MU, but published policy is only to check through to partners. You can ask at CHS, but absolutely no guarantees (it helps if you're 1K or GS). (Note also that UA to UA on separate tix is more difficult than checking through to a partner and may take extra time.)

Joy of corporate booking. CHS-PVG-CHS was over $5k more expensive than my routing (even including the hotel stay on the return from PVG).

Okay -- that's what I thought. I had one experience where I was on ZQN-AKL and then AKL-CHS (separate tix) that worked so am familiar with within-network check-throughs.

I was referring to percysmith's post where (I think) the person he was replying to was also on UA-MU.
If it's possible I may give it a shot at CHS, but I don't necessarily mind picking up bags at HKG and rechecking.
It just got me excited that I wouldn't have to do it at all :D

CHS is a relatively small outpost so not sure being 1K will do much, but I'll see what happens...

I know another FTer who ended up getting roped into something similar, but he is SFO-based, which is more of a UA stronghold than LAX.