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Shenzhen-HKIA ferry

   
Old Jul 28, 23, 4:55 pm
  #1  
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Shenzhen-HKIA ferry
Good day all!

I've been reading the rules of use for the Shenzhen-HKIA ferry and one thing remains unclear (to me). If the airline I am planning to fly does not have a check available at the ferry terminal in Shenzhen, am I still able to use the ferry (and check in at HKIA SkyPier)? Or am I not able to use the ferry at all?

The airline is Thai Airways, it was previously listed as having a remote check in, but the current ferry information page does not include it.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 12:19 am
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From https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/t...-transfer.page
Travellers from the Mainland China and Macao can enjoy the speedy ferry service to HKIA.To use the service, passengers must:
  • Possess a valid ferry ticket
  • Possess a confirmed same-day departure air ticket of SkyPier participating airlines with Upstream Check-in Services.
But from https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/t...and-macao.page the Thai Airways Upstream Check-in service is temporarily suspended.

As I interpret those two you are unable to use the ferry service at all.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 3:38 am
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889
 
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But if you look at the flow chart linked on that page it indicates you can travel on the ferry even if check-in at the pier isn't available.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 3:55 am
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This is true. So the HK Airport website is inconsistent. So I guess we need someone who has tried it, or someone needs to contact HK Airport to clarify.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 3:55 am
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Originally Posted by 889
But if you look at the flow chart linked on that page it indicates you can travel on the ferry even if check-in at the pier isn't available.
The ferry is not allowed to take passengers from/to Hong Kong, i.e., everyone must do an air-side transit.

Given that the transit desks for air-to-air transfers are still mostly closed, how would you check in for the following flight after arriving at HKG? As you're not allowed to enter Hong Kong they'd have to send you back to China if there is no-one manning the transit desk for your airline.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 3:58 am
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Well for a start you could be on cabin baggage only and have checked in online (isn't online checkin what most people do these days?)
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Old Jul 29, 23, 4:01 am
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Originally Posted by PaulC852
This is true. So the HK Airport website is inconsistent. So I guess we need someone who has tried it, or someone needs to contact HK Airport to clarify.
This might be a Covid legacy. Prior to Covid, you were indeed allowed to check-in after arriving at HKG (all you need is a confirmed e-ticket):

https://web.archive.org/web/20190709...-transfer.page

Obviously during Covid entry into Hong Kong was not an option.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 4:03 am
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Originally Posted by PaulC852
Well for a start you could be on cabin baggage only and have checked in online (isn't online checkin what most people do these days?)
True. What happened during Covid was that the Chinese side would refuse you from checking in to the ferry unless your flight was operated by an approved airline. The question is whether they have lifted that restriction. I agree that if you're carry-on only and have an electronic boarding pass then once you're in HKG you should be good to go.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 7:56 am
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In my case I will have checked bags, so sounds like there is, at a minimum, no clear answer. Probably best to take the train then.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 8:04 am
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Buses are also possible.
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Old Jul 29, 23, 8:39 pm
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Originally Posted by PaulC852
Buses are also possible.
Is there a direct bus to the airport from Shenzhen? Where does it leave from?

I've used a bus from Hong Kong to Macao once, but that was well pre-covid (although over the then-new bridge)
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Old Jul 30, 23, 11:24 am
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The HK airport site has links for various bus companies: https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/t...nland-coaches/
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Old Jul 30, 23, 3:48 pm
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Originally Posted by PaulC852
The HK airport site has links for various bus companies: https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/t...nland-coaches/
I've seen the site, however, as mentioned above - it's not always up to date or correct. Was hoping for more of a personal experience kind of thing.
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Old Aug 7, 23, 8:34 pm
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Received this reply from the ferry operator (2 weeks late, but better than never). Might be useful to someone.

Greetings from CKSP and thanks for your email. Thai Airways is still an option of our Airport ferry route. Sorry that we have not updated it on our website. If you would like to buy the ticket from Shekou to HKIA, please use Shekou Terminal Official Website https://www.cmskchp.com/. Besides, Thai Airways did not open upstream check-in service and passengers need to check-in in Hong Kong Airport. So you might not be able to check in your baggage in Shenzhen and you need to take them on the ferry and then do check-in in Hong Kong Airport.If you take a flight of an airline that has not opened the check-in service, the sea-to-air transit time needs to meet 180 minutes, and you can only choose to take the ferry departing from Shenzhen Shekou Port between 08:45-16:00.
So, still can take the ferry even if upstream check in is not available (but would need to take the checked bag with you on the ferry), evidently.
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Old Aug 7, 23, 10:29 pm
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Originally Posted by tr3k
Received this reply from the ferry operator (2 weeks late, but better than never). Might be useful to someone.



So, still can take the ferry even if upstream check in is not available (but would need to take the checked bag with you on the ferry), evidently.
Thanks for the update. It looks like the ferry operator's website has up-to-date information:

https://www.cmskchp.com/common?code=CCXZ

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