USHPNWDLUA

Hi All,

There is a lot of conflicting, out-dated, and unclear info about enrolling in the HKG e-channel scheme now that the HKIA Frequent Traveler Card is no longer being offered.

Can anyone confirm if they have been able to use UA FF Status to enroll in the e-channel program? Please no "if you visit x times..." and other answers. I'd really appreciate hearing from someone who has actually used UA FF Status to do this. There have been a few threads here and here and articles on this, but some are old or have no clear answer to this specific question.

I contacted 1K Voice, and got this reply:Since there are sources indicating that UA status might be used and I've never known 1K to send incorrect information, thought I'd ask here.

My old HKIAFV card expired. I've only gone once this year, and with a trip in December....want to get "activated."

Thanks in advance to all,

Lurker1999

Wirelessly posted (Treo 650: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.3; Nexus 4 Build/JWR66Y) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/31.0.1650.59 Mobile Safari/537.36)

I used UA status to apply for e-channel last year. Bring your 1K card as they ask for it.

N417PGS

I was granted e-channel about 4 weeks ago with my UA GS card.

Ari

Cards expiring between April 2012 and February 2014 are valid for 3 years past their expiration date per the HKIA website. I don't know if this applies to you.

Sykes

I used my 1K card to register with e-channel a few months ago. My guess is that HKG runs the program without UA's involvement (as they do it for just about anyone with any elite status), so 1KVoice is unaware of it.

cchuang1980

Does UA lower status (gold or silver) also grant you HKG e-channel?

kirkwoodj

Is the "3 visits in 1 year" requirement waived if you have FF status? Didn't see that mentioned in the links above...

USHPNWDLUA

Regrettably, mine expired in October 2011.

Thanks to all!

Yes, that is my understanding from the HKIA website. You can see the section here. The key is that the requirements are listed as:My reading of this is that the FF program is alone enough, as long as your airline participates, and this is where the info was murky, hence my post. As for Elite level, this to me is also murky. Hope someone that has UA Elite Status and is Gold or Silver can share insights. For me, I'm fortunately 1K, and thanks to an earlier reply, seems that will work.

Sykes

When I did my enrollment, they had a sheet with examples of all of UA's frequent flier cards, and it indicated that any elite status (including Silver) granted access to the HKG e-channel. Not sure if that has changed since I enrolled.

cchuang1980

Thanks, I never knew that. Will definitely stop by HKG for that in the near future! ^

kirkwoodj

+1 ^ Thanks for sharing, folks!

Steve M

That was my experience as well. Any UA Premier status (but perhaps not basic membership level) will qualify, and having UA Premier status waives the "3 visits in 1 year" requirement. In my case, they definitely looked closely at my UA FF card, and compared it with a binder full of examples of qualifying cards to verify that it qualified.

eyuro

I have had my passport registered on some HK e channel for the last year. I never paid nor did I have to show my 1K status. It works at the ferry and LoHu train station as well. I picked it up as soon as I passed immigration at the airport.

JDS747

Same here... it was a very simple process and I can't even express how nice it has been to use when entering or exiting HK!

One other thing to point out is when I originally got mine (last year around this time). I asked how long it was good for and they said six months. Well... I just used it multiple times in September without any issues and without having to renew it, so I wonder how long it will last before I really do have to renew it.

My plan is to keep using it until it stops working.

tksr80

Thanks for sharing...I go to HK a few times a year and didn't know about this "benefit"...will definitely try it next time