8.5 hour layover
 

For an 8.5 hour layover in Hong Kong, what amount of time would one actually have to do something in the city?

How long would it take to get from the plane to the city (including immigration, customs, transport)?

How far ahead of time would one need to depart from the city to the airport to get to the gate safely in time to make the flight (including transport, security, etc. -- what exit emigration and customs procedures are there?)?

All of these questions have been answered many times in this forum, but in brief...

Plane to city without waiting for baggage is 50-80 minutes depending on where in the city and how long you have to wait for a train (every 12 minutes).

Getting a train from Hong Kong station 90 minutes before scheduled departure time is comfortable. You could squeeze that a bit if you have your boarding card, and if the gate is close to security.

Immigration is a normal line up inbound and outbound. Waits can occasionally be up to 20 minutes, but normally around 10 minutes. Customs is a simple red/green channel walk through.

You should comfortably get 5 hours in the city; you could probably squeeze it to 6 if you have to.

Fwiw...

We were in HKG recently and on our way through security we were stopped and told our carry-on was unacceptable and would have to be checked. This was the same luggage we had arrived with and had done much travel with in the previous weeks (on UA). Despite our objections, we were not allowed through to security without going back to the UA counter for an 'Exception' pass for our bags. The UA agent was neither surprised nor approving of the fact that we had been refused entry and simply stuck tags on our bags.

I tell you this so that you might save yourself some time and aggravation by getting one of these 'Exception' passes before trying to proceed to security. Considering you will probably be cutting your time close, you wouldn't want to have to dash back for something so trivial (and probably unnecessary).

Hkg was fantastic - enjoy your time there!

DD

Cabin baggage rules are clear: 22x14x10. Just because they are ignored in other places it doesn't follow that they will be ignored in HK. There's no point ever debating with those bag checkers - if they call you, just say OK and go back to check-in. If you know you're oversize then best to ask for the tag when you check in anyway.

I believe that the airline has to pay for over size bags through security.

I got an exemption sticker for my rollerboard coming home from HKG on UA. The woman at the check-in station on HK Island actually came running after me as I walked away from the counter as she saw the size and knew that I said I would not be checking bags. No problems with the tag on my bag.

I agree with everything except the last line. Not saying it is wrong just dont know how they would account for it as the security folks just notice that I have a tag and never make any notations etc.

I second this also as well especially the suggestion about reading older threads on this subject as they are as relevant today as when orginally discussed. This is an easy city to get out and do some things on a 8.5 hour layover.

Strange - the tags from CX come perforated and the security people always detach one part as I go past. I have always believed this is because they will charge the airline for "excess baggage" through the screening process. I can't see why they would do it otherwise, except to stop reuse of the tags.

I would think it would be the reuse issue. If it cost extra I wouldnt think UA would hand them out so easily. :D