nickyboy

Travelled MAN-CDG-HKG....SZX-CSX....CSX-SYX-SZX last week with 2 x hand luggage, no problems. One was my normal rollaboard, the other was a suit carrier

Decided to try go for it as it was only a 1 week trip. No problems with any check in staff, security staff, cabin staff at any of these airports.

Different matter at HKG yesterday for HKG-CDG

Checked in in the city and was asked if I had any hold luggage to which I answered "no" (I know, not strictly true but I'd got away with it so far). Went out to the airport (this was several hours before the AF check-in opened there) expecting just to waltze through security and into the AF lounge for some heavy duty champagne action

NO WAY....stopped at security, told to go to the AF desk, which was closed, then to the Dragon Air desk. After about 15 minutes of fronting it out, a manager decided I was more trouble than I was worth and let me go through security without checking the bag (it would have been a 3 hour wait for AF desk to open)

So by the skin of my teeth I got through, but they were really vigorous on the 1 piece policy, you have been warned!!

nickyboy

cxfan1960

Why did you go to the Dragon Air desk?

In HKG, they should not let you through without the exception tag, but with AF closed, nobody is supposed to give you an exception tag. You already got an exception.

Do you remember the one-piece policy some time ago at LHR? Personal items are considered carry-on bags!! People had to stuff their handbags, laptops, etc., into their other carry-ons.

Pickles

I think you are confusing the observationally equivalent rules of "one carryon only" with "your rollaboard is too big". The latter is a HKG specialty, and can only be circumvented if you know what you are doing (the dreaded "orange tag") I am very surprised that a tantrum got you around the orange tag rule, that has never worked for me.

nickyboy

The AF desk was closed - it was about 5pm and the AF check in didn't open until about 8pm - unlike intown check in. AF must have some sort of arrangement with Dragon Air when the AF desk isn't open. There is a small AF logo there

Generally speaking I find throwing a tantrum to be counterproductive. I was as polite as possible and thanked everyone for their help and co-operation.....then got stuck into the booze in the lounge

christep

I'm reasonably sure that they were complaining about the size of one of your bags, not the fact that you had two. I have never had any trouble carrying two bags and I have never seen anyone else have any (my wife regularly carries a 20" rollaboard, a laptop case and a handbag with no problems)

laspvg

I just got back from HKG sunday and had no problem carrying my 20" rollerboard and my backpack

rkkwan

When I flew NW out of HKG in August with a violin (which apparently wouldn't fit the sizer) and personal bag, I asked the check-in agent for a tag. But either a tag is not available or not good enough, they actually had to get an agent to escort me to the security/immigration entrance to tell the security that I was okay.

nickyboy

I was told by security when I initially tried to go through that the problem was 2 bags. The Dragonair desk said the same. Like rkkwan I was escorted to security where the escort had to sign some form to allow me through

The security layout seemed different (although I went through South rather than North security this time as it was close to the Dragonair desk). Maybe that has resulted in a stiffening of the enforcement of the 2 bag rule. In any case, very interested to hear others' experiences as, for a shortish trip, hand luggage only was very convenient

nickyboy

rkkwan

They changed a few months ago. They were changing the layout so one goes through security first, then immigration. That change gives them more room for security, I believe. Back in August, only the south side has switched, but I believe the plan is for both sides to be like that. Don't know if the north side has switched or not.

Pickles

There is no stiffening of anything. Your second bag was probably too big.

PTravel

We flew HKG/SFO yesterday, and each had two carry-ons. The only slight problem we had was convincing the HKG equivalent to a "moat dragon" that one of my wife's carry-ons would fit in the sizer. Otherwise, no one said anything about our multiple carry-ons.

PTravel

It hasn't. We went through immigration first, then security. Both were an interesting contrast with the U.S. HKG immigration (and PEK and PVG) were fast and efficient, both coming and going. SFO immigration was a 20-minute wait. HKG security (and PEK and PVG) were efficient, polite, thorough, professional AND HELPFUL! At HKG I alarmed the WTMD (still don't know why). I was quickly wanded and passed on -- it couldn't have taken more than 10 second! At the two PRC airports and HKG, one of my carry-ons, which has a ton of electronics in it, couldn't be seen clearly on x-ray, so a "bag check" was required. Again, the bag check was done quickly, politely and efficiently and, most of all, with humor and good-nature -- the security inspectors always asked "may I?" and waited for an answer, interacted with me as if we were both people (!) and actually looked at my stuff, rather than doing the cursory, "we have to hassle you so you think you're secure" mauling of my things I experience with virtually all TSA stations in the U.S. Still, the bag check took barely a minute or two, unlike the usual 5-10 minutes I'm used to in U.S., where the TSO has heave a might sigh when I ask for a glove change, has to chat with her buddies while doing the check, yawn a few times, stare at the clock, etc.

HKG (and PEK and PVG) are, in my opinion, examples of what happens when security is provided by true professionals, i.e. LEOs who are officers of state security, as opposed to most of the, "this is better than a security guard job," non-professionals who staff TSA.

Interesting side note: UA employs a private security company to do an at-the-gate "random" inspection. It's the same old "random" idiocy we dealt with after 9/11 -- whoever the first three people are in line all get grabbed and those following don't. Thanks to the new Premiere Exec boarding policy, I got grabbed (there were only a few Premiere Execs on this flight). I asked the inspector whether he worked for the Hong Kong government, or was employed by UA. He asked me, nicely, why I wanted to know (he was genuinely curious). I told him that, if he was a government employee, he was welcome to look through my carryons. If he was a UA employee, he was not (overhead bin space on these flights is at a premium, and I wasn't about to gate check my carry-ons). He said he worked for the HKG government as a security inspector, but was employed specifically by UA. I said, "in that case, go ahead -- I'm happy to cooperate with the government." He laughed, unzipped one pocket of one of my carry-ons, took a quick glance inside and said, "You're fine to go. Enjoy your flight."

Apparently he, too, recognized the dog-and-pony-aspect of so-called "random" inspections at the gate. ^

rkkwan

Inspections on the jetway for HK-US flights are not random. I have taken CO a dozen times since 9/11, and it's always there. Once I get picked for a more thorough search, but a quick look at all carryons are mandatory.

PTravel

What I meant by "random" was not every passenger's bags were searched. At least on UA, the people who boarded subsequent to me were waived on without search and, when I left the inspector, someone new was "randomly" selected for search.

I recall the CO search procedures from EZE and they did, include, every passenger though, again, voicing objection to a non-governmental procedure earned me only the most cursory glance at my things.

anacapamalibu

I thought UA checked everyone's bag. Maybe they relaxed things there.