Struggling with this same issue for an Xmas week booking and about to give up and cancel. If I am not mistaken, CX does not interline with Hong Kong Airlines so that's your first problem, you would likely not be able to check luggage all the way through. So that situation would be a no go for us on a 2-week family trip with luggage (I was also looking at some Hong Kong Airlines flights.) But let's say I book a second ticket with an airline that does interline with CX (Hong Kong Express or MH for example). When I depart JFK, isn't the only way that would work is if I am already checked in for the second flight? Which I imagine will be impossible given the flight time of the first flight and connection time. In other words if it's over 24 hours I can't checkin for flight 2 so I can't interline?? So how do you do it with luggage and be sure I don't have to test and exit to checkin for second flight? I called Cathay about this and they aren't sure either and will check and get back to me. Honestly there are so many moving parts to this (not the least of which is that COVID will surely get worse in the winter months and HKG could tighten or more strictly enforce rules at any time). Just not willing to risk entering HKG no way no how and the possibility of government quarantine under current rules. So no way we are flying unless I know 100% we can stay airside.

What makes you think they don't interline?

In my case, I'll only bring hand luggage. It's true that Hong Kong airlines doesn't interline with CX, so when I am unable to check-in online and get a boardingpass before I board my flight to Hong Kong I won't be able to fly without a covid test and the health declaration.

I called CX and they said that I need a boarding pass for my onward flight if I want to connect in HKG without any issue, so I have to wait upon check-in. (Fortunately, Hong Kong Airlines lets you check-in 48hours before, so that gives me some extra time).

In your case though, as long as you fly with another OW member you should be able to connect and interline your luggage. However, the 24-hour check-in rule makes this extremely tricky. I am not sure if they are able to give you your boarding pass in JFK for your connecting flight that's over 24 hours. Maybe someone else can provide some extra insights on this...

The fact that they are not on the list of interline partners. https://www.cxagents.com/content/dam...I)_Summary.pdf

HK Express is (not surprising since they are owned by CX now) but not HK Airlines.

Yes it's confusing but HK Express is part of Cathay Pacific while HK Airlines is owned by the bankrupt Hainan Airlines.

In general, a pax does not have to be checked in for the 2nd flight for bags to be interlined.

Yah. The uncertainty around even transit made me cancel a J booking on CX. Probably why it was so cheap in the first place.

Current itinerary has us landing at HKG (from Bali) at 9pm, next flight isn't until 4pm next day. That's a 19 hour layover. We can either (a) sit in the airport terminal for 19 hours, or (b) book a room at the Regal Airport Hotel inside the airport. If we do the latter (airport hotel), does this trigger COVID requirements? Is this hotel outside immigration such that we are considered "in Hong Kong" for governmental purposes? What COVID requirements would be triggered?

Regal is definitely outside the airport and requires you to enter Hong Kong and clear immigration. I'm sure that triggers everything.

Thanks Kevino that's good about interlining to know for future travel. Unfortunately, we gave up on this (and cancelled RT CX award tix for 3 people Xmas week that I'm sure we will never be able to duplicate). We are just not going to go to Hong Kong again until they open up for real. Too much risk and hassle. Rules are way worse than the rest of the world was at the height of the pandemic. Makes me sad but we were too stressed out worrying about what ifs.

You must comply with pre-departure to board a flight to HK: Test/Vax/Health.
You will be subject to a medical cavity search of your throat and nostrils upon arrival.
If the arrival test is +ve you will need to stay in HK in isolation for a minimum of 7 days.

You were pulling our legs about throat and nostrils, right? Up here, the tester ladies are gentle as doves. They don't even tell me to keep my tongue still any more.

You should know my posting behaviour has not changed even during the pandemic.

The nurses are very gentle compared to my PCR tests in the US and Canada.

Cavity search at entry is the latest "joke"

yah. Tell that the the anally swabbed visitors to China during the early days of the pandemic.

Just did an airside transfer on separate tickets, where I could not do an *online* check-in for the second flight. At least Air New Zealand, Emirates, Finnair & Hong Kong Express have their own transit desks. They do check-in & boarding passes, so you don't have to go landside for that.