Aug 12, 2019, 12:12 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Hong Kong forum
Impacts of demonstrations on travel
CX forum threads
HKG Airport shut down 12 August
CX Banned (kind of) by China
Other Airlines
Hong Kong airport closed landside to airside - very limited BA Ops, situation ongoing
Hong Kong Shutdown / One-Way Refund Possible? (AA)
OMNI
Hong Kong Protests
Travel Waiver: Hong Kong Civil Unrest, 12 - 15 Aug, 2019, {Not further extended}
Aug 13, 2019, 6:49 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
My understanding is that arrivals and departures are not universally stopped, but check in and security clearance are stopped. The main impediment is to departures (since Tuesday afternoon HKT), and it's not clear to me how that affects crew for departing flights, so those may cancel especially if UA can't get their crew in. Arrivals shouldn't be generically affected.
The CX forum has a thread with more frequent information added, as well as other places on the internet.
The CX forum has a thread with more frequent information added, as well as other places on the internet.
Aug 13, 2019, 7:06 am
#47
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
Aug 13, 2019, 7:26 am
#48
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
If UA continues to depart flights to HKG with the current situation and advisories being what they are, then they are doing so contrary to the best interests of their customers. I understand, of course, that a lot of people have connecting flights, etc. in HKG but this is a deteriorating situation that is very likely to get much worse.
Aug 13, 2019, 7:58 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,508
The demonstrators have figured out that the airport is HKG's Achilles heel given its financial and tourism importance. And they know the police will not use violent clearing tactics that could harm or be seen by foreign tourists.
Aug 13, 2019, 8:47 am
#50
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Am I the only one that wouldn't be phased by these protests, purely from a safety aspect? (I 'get' the crowded airport, traffic/transportation disruptions).
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.
Aug 13, 2019, 9:51 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Just got off the phone with UA, trying to cancel my non-refundable ticket for Thursday. Waiver still a 1+, no refunds being offered. Only rebooking until Aug 20th.
Kind of crazy given the situation, but things may change over the next couple days.
Kind of crazy given the situation, but things may change over the next couple days.
Aug 13, 2019, 10:25 am
#52
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,922
Am I the only one that wouldn't be phased by these protests, purely from a safety aspect? (I 'get' the crowded airport, traffic/transportation disruptions).
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.
I once accidentally ended up next to a protest in IST. Was trapped in a mall near Taksim with the protesters in the street below, the cops ended up using gas which seeped into the mall's ventilation systems, so everybody got out of there quick. It was a fascinating experience.
Aug 13, 2019, 10:26 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta DM CO PE OZ GE AMTRAK
Posts: 524
wait for another day, situation is developing rapidly on the ground.
Aug 13, 2019, 10:55 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
Stingy United Travel Waiver
In summary, local authorities shut down an airport and issued a terror-related alert surrounding said shutdown and UA issued a 3-day, 1+ travel waiver. Color me unimpressed.
Aug 13, 2019, 11:07 am
#57
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
Programs: AA Platinum (Lifetime), United GS, HHonors Diamond, Shangri-la Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 549
i lack full details, but i had five colleagues on a flight from EWR to HKG on sunday, arriving monday, with connections on CX to MNL.
no problem landing on monday, but, of course, no flights out.
apparently they spent some time in the lounge (hopefully CX and not united) and got back on a united flight to EWR today
no problem landing on monday, but, of course, no flights out.
apparently they spent some time in the lounge (hopefully CX and not united) and got back on a united flight to EWR today
Aug 13, 2019, 12:16 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
If someone's flight is actually cancelled, then I imagine UA can rebook out of SZX. The waiver is in place to allow people to make changes to flights that aren't affected yet.
Aug 13, 2019, 12:24 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CVG
Programs: Delta - PM / MM, UA 1K Starwood-Gold
Posts: 451
Am I the only one that wouldn't be phased by these protests, purely from a safety aspect? (I 'get' the crowded airport, traffic/transportation disruptions).
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.
Knowing HK and HK people, having been there 3X/year for the last 20 years, I wouldn't think twice about a trip to the Fragrant Harbor and am fully booked and planning a trip there in October--regardless of the situation.*
* That doesn't mean that if the boys from Beijing come in and wreak havoc that my opinion wouldn't change, but I really don't think that's likely to happen.