5 Hours at Hong Kong Airport

[stuartmoss]

Hi folks, I just wondered if anyone here had experience at Hong Kong Airport? I've got a 5 hour stopover there between flights, and wondered if it was worth leaving the airport to go into the city for an hour or two, or if the queues and time etc would make this too much of a hassle. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Hi folks, I just wondered if anyone here had experience at Hong Kong Airport? I've got a 5 hour stopover there between flights, and wondered if it was worth leaving the airport to go into the city for an hour or two, or if the queues and time etc would make this too much of a hassle. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I've travelled to HK four times now and whilst I've not had to change planes there; I wouldn't have thought 5 hours would be sufficient to travel into the City and do it justice.
You could however catch a local bus to Tung Chung (about 1.5miles from the Airport) which allows for decent views of the surrounding area and a cable car up to the "Big Buddha" at Ngong Ping if that is of interest. (http://www.plm.org.hk/)

 

[gordonthemoron]

The immigration queue last month was very long

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks both, immigration queues are a bit of a concern. The big Buddha and cable car do sound good though. I’ll mull this over…

I don’t suppose either of you know if there is an airside rooftop viewing area for the runway?

 

[Tetragon213]

Would highly suggest keeping to Lantau Island and Tsing Yi; I'd be concerned about trying to go any further than that, if you've only got 5 hours.

Thirding the cable car and Buddha. If you had a bit longer, I would have suggested a trip to TST or MK.

I don't recall if there is an observation deck in the main terminal, but you tend to get decent views from most of the gates anyway.

Would be quite wary of the climate in Hong Kong; it's not only quite warm, but also very humid.

 

[Watershed]

If you are travelling with Cathay Pacific in business class or have OneWorld alliance Sapphire or Emerald status (e.g. BA Silver or above) I'd consider just sticking to the airport. The Cathay lounges there are reviewed as some of the best in the world.

 

[zero]

What time are you arriving / leaving?

I would agree with the other responses that unless you know exactly what you want to do, 5 hours between scheduled arrival and departure times isn't really sufficient.

When I landed at HKG a few days ago (15:00) it took nearly 45 minutes from touchdown to stepping off the plane, and I was in business class so one of the first people off. Thankfully I can use the e-gates so never need to wait at immigration, but even priority luggage took another 20 minutes (I appreciate a transit passenger won't be picking up luggage).

On departure (yesterday at 17:00), security is very inefficient because each lane only allows one person or group to unload their bags at a time, and the exit immigration for visitors had the longest queue I have ever seen in 30 years of travelling out of HK

 

[Timmyd]

A contrary view - if you've never been to HK before you could easily go to Central and back, and have a stroll around/ride an old tram/go up to the MidLevels on the escalator and be back in good time for your flight. The Airport Express is every 10 minutes and takes 20 minutes to Hong Kong Station and if you've gone all that way it seems a shame not to get a feel for one of the world's most energising cities. Immigration is rarely as bad as the posters above say, you just need to not hang around and fill the form in while in the queue.

Although as others say, if you have access to the CX Lounges you could very easily pass the time there. Go to the Pier, which are a long walk (by the 60s gates) but worth it, both the First and Business are in my opinion the best in the world within their respective categories.

 

[zero]

Immigration is rarely as bad as the posters above say, you just need to not hang around and fill the form in while in the queue.

There's no more arrival form, in conjunction with the introduction of API (which may be the reason for the recent longer queues - I think the immigration officers now need to match people's passport details to API which may take a few seconds more per passenger)

 

[flymo]

As a HK resident (Until 27th Jan anyway) if only 5 hours I'd stick to the airport. Depending on which gate you arrive at it can take some time to get to the arrival concourse area and the queues are not always short, even for residents. For visitors it can take some time to get though on arrival. If you say 45 minutes to get through immigration from your gat, a 15 minute walk/wait for the train (around every 8 - 15 minutes) then 25 minutes to HK station it all eats up time. You really need to be back at the airport no later than an hour before your flight to get through security etc then get to your new gate. There is an observation deck / smoking place of sorts on the skybridge which links the newer extension to the main terminal. Aircraft taxi under the bridge.

 

[alholmes]

I had a 6-hour transfer back in 2018 and went to the city centre and took the ferry across to Kowloon. Though I was helped by travelling Business class, so one of the first off the aircraft and then fast track through security when back at the airport. It allowed plenty of time, and much preferable to staying at the airport.

 

[Bald Rick]

Hi folks, I just wondered if anyone here had experience at Hong Kong Airport? I've got a 5 hour stopover there between flights, and wondered if it was worth leaving the airport to go into the city for an hour or two, or if the queues and time etc would make this too much of a hassle. Any thoughts? Thanks.

5 hours is a touch too tight. Last time I went I was getting on for 2 hours from touch down to being on the Airport Express.

There was a non-trivial queue for departure formalities and security too.

I don’t suppose either of you know if there is an airside rooftop viewing area for the runway?

There is the Sky Bridge, in T1 (link to the T1 satellite) whcih is an airside viewing platform, but it is indoors. Fab view though, and planes go underneath you!

There's no more arrival form

When did that stop?

 

[zero]

When did that stop?

Around Sept/Oct 2024

 

[TravelDream]

Hi folks, I just wondered if anyone here had experience at Hong Kong Airport? I've got a 5 hour stopover there between flights, and wondered if it was worth leaving the airport to go into the city for an hour or two, or if the queues and time etc would make this too much of a hassle. Any thoughts? Thanks.

It really depends on how long it takes to get off the plane and through immigration.

You need to be back at the airport, fairly conservatively, about an hour before departure time. If you can get off the plane and through immigration within an hour, that leaves 3 hours which is not an unreasonable time for the quick visit to the city, take some photos and do a few touristy things. But it's not a generous time either.

E.g. Take the Airport Express to Hong Kong station. Then walk about 5/10 mins to the Star Ferry to take it across the harbour, then a walk around TST and the harbour front there (These are the views - https://cdn.cheapoguides.com/wp-con...ht-star-ferry-istock-RomanBabakin-770x514.jpg / https://cdn.cheapoguides.com/wp-con...nade_LeeYiuTung_iStock-458324965-1024x679.jpg ). Then take the MTR or a taxi back to the airport. Three hours should be enough to fairly comfortably do that.

I think you should pay it by ear and see how much time you have when you get through immigration.

You could however catch a local bus to Tung Chung (about 1.5miles from the Airport) which allows for decent views of the surrounding area and a cable car up to the "Big Buddha" at Ngong Ping if that is of interest. (http://www.plm.org.hk/)

Good God, what a suggestion!

Tung Chung is sort of a new build commuter town. Full of late 90s/ 00s/ 10s residential towerblocks. Not the place anyone should suggest visiting for the views.

The cable car is interesting enough and has really nice views of the airport and mountainous areas on Lantau. But I wouldn't really say it's visiting Hong Kong.

If you are travelling with Cathay Pacific in business class or have OneWorld alliance Sapphire or Emerald status (e.g. BA Silver or above) I'd consider just sticking to the airport. The Cathay lounges there are reviewed as some of the best in the world.

Cathay's lounges are very nice, but there's definitely been cost cutting since Covid.

 

[zero]

E.g. Take the Airport Express to Hong Kong station. Then walk about 5/10 mins to the Star Ferry to take it across the harbour, then a walk around TST and the harbour front there (These are the views - https://cdn.cheapoguides.com/wp-con...ht-star-ferry-istock-RomanBabakin-770x514.jpg / https://cdn.cheapoguides.com/wp-con...nade_LeeYiuTung_iStock-458324965-1024x679.jpg ). Then take the MTR or a taxi back to the airport. Three hours should be enough to fairly comfortably do that.

In order to take the Star Ferry, you'll need to have HKD cash, Octopus or Alipay/wechatpay which require extra time to set up.

I'm not sure on the acceptance of non-cash payments in taxis (as I only take discounted taxis in HK and therefore have to pay by cash as a courtesy), although I guess there is Uber.

Visa and Mastercard contactless are accepted on MTR and regular buses. The Airport Express requires buying a ticket (can pay by card) - you can just board at the airport (no barriers) and buy on arrival though, no need to queue up at the airport to buy.

 

[TravelDream]

In order to take the Star Ferry, you'll need to have HKD cash, Octopus or Alipay/wechatpay which require extra time to set up.

Hong Kong is pretty easy by card, though they do love their older gen tech like Octopus.

The Star Ferry takes cards now.
Amex card holders only pay 1HKD/ 10p, but you got to check the card fees.

TBH I am not sure on taxis. Some do take card, but not many. Maybe Uber would be the better choice.

you can just board at the airport (no barriers) and buy on arrival though, no need to queue up at the airport to buy.

This. Every time there I see people missing trains standing in a massive queue to buy a ticket. There's no need. Just board and pay on arrival. And I am with you on discount taxis.

 

[Bald Rick]

Visa and Mastercard contactless are accepted on MTR and regular buses. The Airport Express requires buying a ticket (can pay by card) - you can just board at the airport (no barriers) and buy on arrival though, no need to queue up at the airport to buy.

This. Every time there I see people missing trains standing in a massive queue to buy a ticket. There's no need. Just board and pay on arrival. And I am with you on discount taxis.

If you want to buy an Ocotopus card at the station, its cash only. (weirdly).

 

[TravelDream]

If you want to buy an Ocotopus card at the station, its cash only. (weirdly).

Not too sure on that.
It sounds likely though. HK is full of contradictions about being a modern city, but with convoluted and outdated processes.

I just thought about the red top minibuses too which tend to be cash only. Been on the Mong Kok Sai Kung rocket many times. But highly doubtful the OP will do that.

 

[zero]

Hong Kong is pretty easy by card, though they do love their older gen tech like Octopus.

The Star Ferry takes cards now.
Amex card holders only pay 1HKD/ 10p, but you got to check the card fees.

Oh interesting. What do you mean by card fees here?

Even though it's old tech, Octopus is still much faster than contactless/barcode.

If you want to buy an Ocotopus card at the station, its cash only. (weirdly).

Octopus effectively started off as electronic cash. If it was possible to pay by card, people would buy and top them with card, then get a refund in cash, costing the MTR/Octopus the merchant fees.

HK residents can however set up an auto-top up from several local HK credit cards.

Perhaps around 2015, an Octopus vending machine at the airport was introduced which accepted credit cards to buy preloaded new Octopodes. I promptly purchased around 50 cards, used them for a bit then refunded them, earning credit card points on HK$150 per card that I got back as cash.

During Covid, this machine disappeared, but I think I saw it was back again when I arrived in HK last week.

As far as I know, the fees to smaller merchants to accept Octopus used to be around 0.5% (likely negotiable downwards for larger merchants), but recently in a drive to increase acceptance there was a promotion where merchants got charged no fees and could attach a small reader to their phone where the money would be sent straight to their bank account. So a lot more small shops that were previously cash-only started accepting Octopus since covid.

There now exists an Octopus app for tourists which allows you to use your phone as an Octopus, but I have been told that this comes with extra fees, and also you are forced to pay in the home currency of your bank card, with a 5% or worse loading on the exchange rate to HKD.

 

[TravelDream]

Oh interesting. What do you mean by card fees here?

Even though it's old tech, Octopus is still much faster than contactless/QR code.

The fees Amex charge for overseas transactions. Foreign transaction fees might end up quite pricey, though I think my Amex is 2.99% which is basically nothing on 10p.
I generally use Starling overseas as it charges no fees at all.

There now exists an Octopus app for tourists which allows you to use your phone as an Octopus, but I have been told that this comes with extra fees and also you are forced to pay in the home currency of your bank card, with a 5% or worse loading on the exchange rate to HKD.

That you are.
There's a Hong Kong one which requires both a HKID number and a HK credit card.
Then there's the tourist one which you have to load in your home currency with a pretty poor conversion rate.

 

[stuartmoss]

To be honest, I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk with the time I have. The money situation seems a bit complicated, I use Amex and Visa only. Is it possible and worth my time paying for the business lounge at the airport, and taking it easy? I’ll be returning to HK for three days in 2027, so can see the sights then.

 

[TravelDream]

To be honest, I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk with the time I have. The money situation seems a bit complicated, I use Amex and Visa only. Is it possible and worth my time paying for the business lounge at the airport, and taking it easy? I’ll be returning to HK for three days in 2027, so can see the sights then.

The money situation really isn't that complicated.
All public transport options (apart from a few obscure options you won't use) accept cards. There was some outdated info above that doesn't apply now.
Taxis are a bit different as not too many accept in taxi card payment. Though there are options to use card like Uber or a local app called HKTaxi.

Shops almost universally take cards. Though market stalls and similar don't really.

Of course, there's an element of risk in going into the city. You could certainly see the highlights in the 2-3 hours you would have there, but it's really up to you.

As for paid lounge options, your main choice is one of the Plaza Premium lounges. Though expect long queues to enter, a crowded space and underwhelming food options. If you want quiet or space, there are far better spaces in the terminal for that. I certainly wouldn't pay to enter.
There's another lounge called the Kyra lounge, but I've never been.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks TravelDream, I’ll have a look online at the lounges, if I can find a good view of arriving and departing aircraft, I’ll be happy wherever I am.

 

[jamesr]

As a Hong Kong resident, I agree that 5 hours is probably a little too brief. Whilst the airport is normally pretty good for short queues, you’d still have little time to do much by time you reach the city other than get back again. If your flight lands an hour early (as long haul flights occasionally do), it might be worth a punt.

My favourite lounge (on a Priority Pass) is the Chase Sapphire lounge, walk right to the back behind the bar and it’s always nice and empty, has a QR scan ordering service which will bring you some decent Cantonese food choices alongside the normal western stuff.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks James, my 5 hours has now become 4 hours as Cathay have re-timed my outgoing flight, so I won’t be leaving the airport now anyway! Next year I’m going to do a stopover.