HKG - The Best Airport in the World?
Jan 16, 2009, 1:36 am
#31
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So, from Kowloon for a senior, you're talking about HK$7 for the E21 or $90 on the AE. It doesn't matter he's spending thousands or tens of thousands on the trip, but they'll take the bus.
And I've brought up that problem already. While the A buses drops off at the departure level at HKG, the E buses drops off on the lower level with no signs and only 2 small elevators to get up to the departure level. It is a horrible setup.
Jan 16, 2009, 2:17 am
#32
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...
As we walked I asked "what about our luggage? We need our summer clothes?" She told me the "people in the basement" have already been notified. AC has informed Cathay Pacific but as a rule CX does not accept to take luggage that have arrived less then 1 hour. Shocked, I replied "CX would accept passengers arriving less than 1 hour but not their luggage?!" She assured me everything possible is being done.
..
As we walked I asked "what about our luggage? We need our summer clothes?" She told me the "people in the basement" have already been notified. AC has informed Cathay Pacific but as a rule CX does not accept to take luggage that have arrived less then 1 hour. Shocked, I replied "CX would accept passengers arriving less than 1 hour but not their luggage?!" She assured me everything possible is being done.
..
Most asian airports would be able to assist with such tight transfers. The same wouldn't happen if you're connecting in YYZ for example!
Jan 16, 2009, 3:06 am
#33
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Which is probably why the Airport Express was ghost town central when I took it last week. In both directions, I got half a carriage to myself...isn't it bloody obvious to them that the service will be more profitable (or require less of a subsidy) to run if they drop the prices to a competitive level in order to attract more pax???
Jan 16, 2009, 6:45 am
#34
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Which is probably why the Airport Express was ghost town central when I took it last week. In both directions, I got half a carriage to myself...isn't it bloody obvious to them that the service will be more profitable (or require less of a subsidy) to run if they drop the prices to a competitive level in order to attract more pax???
Jan 16, 2009, 11:56 am
#35
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Which is probably why the Airport Express was ghost town central when I took it last week. In both directions, I got half a carriage to myself...isn't it bloody obvious to them that the service will be more profitable (or require less of a subsidy) to run if they drop the prices to a competitive level in order to attract more pax???
Jan 16, 2009, 11:11 pm
#36
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Just busy in the early evening does not make a train profitable, if they are truly profitable, they don't need to do promotions such as riding AE get free transfer to MTR, or sending out buy 1 get 1 free to different local agencies all year round. AE is never popular to locals. A buses are packed basically every routes anytime of the day.
Jan 17, 2009, 2:33 am
#37
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Jan 18, 2009, 11:31 am
#38
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Remember there is only several big flights from N.America on CX and SQ in the morning.
Last edited by ORDnHKG; Jan 18, 2009 at 11:36 am
Jan 18, 2009, 8:48 pm
#39
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For corrected information, MTR does NOT pulls into the terminal, it is Airport Express. MTR only goes to Tung Chung. That is what rkkwan mentioned about one of the faulty design of HKIA in post # 10
Airport Express to many people is expensive, most locals actually take the A bus into HKIA, as the A bus is cheaper and cover more areas in HK. Airport Express only goes to Central, then have to tow your luggages through long tunnel to MTR, and still for many people end up another short bus or cab ride. It is indeed one thing HKIA target business travellers than budget or locals. SFO has BART, and ORD has CTA blue line, both are inexpensive compare to Airport Express in HKG.
Airport Express to many people is expensive, most locals actually take the A bus into HKIA, as the A bus is cheaper and cover more areas in HK. Airport Express only goes to Central, then have to tow your luggages through long tunnel to MTR, and still for many people end up another short bus or cab ride. It is indeed one thing HKIA target business travellers than budget or locals. SFO has BART, and ORD has CTA blue line, both are inexpensive compare to Airport Express in HKG.
The AE though, does go to Kowloon (Elements mall/new Financial Tower) and Tsing Yi. I think the great convenience is that one can check in baggage at the stations and then have a relaxing and quick commute to the airport. I know that's what I like about it.
I have also seen a fair number of minibus stops around town that offer free transport to the AE.
Let's not kid ourselves though. While price conscious about certain things, there are plenty of local HKers who are willing to splash the cash on other things.
Jan 18, 2009, 8:57 pm
#40
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Hong Kong people are very price conscious. Especially older ones, like my dad. People like him won't even take the "A" buses, but the "E" ones. Also, because seniors get 1/2 price on buses (or regular MTR), but no discount on the Airport Express.
So, from Kowloon for a senior, you're talking about HK$7 for the E21 or $90 on the AE. It doesn't matter he's spending thousands or tens of thousands on the trip, but they'll take the bus.
So, from Kowloon for a senior, you're talking about HK$7 for the E21 or $90 on the AE. It doesn't matter he's spending thousands or tens of thousands on the trip, but they'll take the bus.
Jan 19, 2009, 12:28 am
#41
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That's why AE is mostly design for business travelers, it stationed at the financial district area. Also, not all airline can checkin at the AE stations. For me, there is a A bus bus-stop 5 min from my parent's home, if I decide to take the AE, I have to tow my luggage on a 15min + walk plus many stairs to a MTR station first, then stuck in a crowded MTR train in the morning until it get to Central.
Jan 30, 2009, 10:10 am
#42
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Oh please, what a load of dung. HKG is just another airport.
Rkkwan provided a detailed account of the facilities' deficiencies. And let me add that the lack of duty-free booze when flying US-based carriers to the US is pathetic.
A couple of days ago I was trying to use up my last HK$ buying some mini booze bottles )that would have fit into my quart ziplock bag meeting even this requirement for liquids) when the saleslady literally ripped the bottles out of my hand upon asking my destination.
Rkkwan provided a detailed account of the facilities' deficiencies. And let me add that the lack of duty-free booze when flying US-based carriers to the US is pathetic.
A couple of days ago I was trying to use up my last HK$ buying some mini booze bottles )that would have fit into my quart ziplock bag meeting even this requirement for liquids) when the saleslady literally ripped the bottles out of my hand upon asking my destination.
Jan 30, 2009, 10:14 am
#43
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Oh please, what a load of dung. HKG is just another airport.
A couple of days ago I was trying to use up my last HK$ buying some mini booze bottles )that would have fit into my quart ziplock bag meeting even this requirement for liquids) when the saleslady literally ripped the bottles out of my hand upon asking my destination.
A couple of days ago I was trying to use up my last HK$ buying some mini booze bottles )that would have fit into my quart ziplock bag meeting even this requirement for liquids) when the saleslady literally ripped the bottles out of my hand upon asking my destination.
Jan 30, 2009, 12:40 pm
#44
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As I posted, rkkwan pretty well described the airport.
I believed all this gushing praise and actually showed up at the airport several hours early just to check it out. After hours of exploring and checking out the *A lounges (best RCC, worst SQ lounge I've been in) the thing that most impressed me was how the swarm of UA gate agents tried to herd up the pax into not-so-little loading groups (with some success) without the use of ropes or corrals.
I believed all this gushing praise and actually showed up at the airport several hours early just to check it out. After hours of exploring and checking out the *A lounges (best RCC, worst SQ lounge I've been in) the thing that most impressed me was how the swarm of UA gate agents tried to herd up the pax into not-so-little loading groups (with some success) without the use of ropes or corrals.