HKG AA-CX Connection?

**kland0912** · 30-Aug-2016, 03:20 PM

Hi All!

My husband and I will be taking our first journey to Bali in just over a week now. He is an AA employee (I am a former employee as well). We will be non-rev on AA LAX-HKG arriving 8:10a, and the CX flight to DPS we will zed on is departing at 10:10a. 2 hours is a terrifyingly tight cnx to me but we are going to give it our best!

Can anyone explain the logistics there? The HKG airport website says nothing about passengers in transit clearing immigration - will we have to go through immigration prior to checking in for the CX flight? I'm nervous of course, because I know we aren't allowed to check-in with CX or get a boarding pass until arrival at HKG, and CX says we have to be at the passenger services desk min 60 minutes prior to departure. Can we use the CX transit desk for this?

If it makes any difference, we are traveling super-light... a backpack for each of us. Any insight you all can provide is GREATLY appreciated!

**isppilot** · 30-Aug-2016, 11:39 PM

Hi and welcome!

I have been to HKG although it was on a revenue ticket. From what I understand for nonrev, you will need to clear immigration in HKG upon arrival and then check in with Cathay Pacific. You will be cleared on the flight at the check in counter and then will have to clear immigration and security again then make a mad dash to the gate, some of which are quite a hike from the check in counter. You will not be able to use the transit desk and they do not clear at the gate like they do here. Two hours is tight so you may want to account for an overnight in HKG in case you don't make it. I believe we have a CX member who might be able to check loads for you.

I looked into nonrevving to DPS as well. Unfortunately, we don't have a zed agreement with Garuda Indonesia which would open up a lot more options (i.e. flying into Jakarta then over to DPS) but some alternative routings to consider are DFW-ICN then KE to DPS, DFW-DOH-DPS on Qatar Airways, LAX-AKL then to DPS on NZ or LAX-SYD then to DPS on Jetstar. Hope this helps. Safe travels!

**offroader** · 31-Aug-2016, 01:14 AM

Cathay Pacific, like most non-US carriers, are VERY strict with carry on bag limits. If it is over 15 lbs (and a lot of the time they do weigh them at the gate) you will have to check it.
You will have a better chance if you can carry on your bag on the LAX-HKG route.
Since you have to go to the ticket counter anyways to check in remember you might be checking your backpack. If you are flying out of HKG on Thursday’s there are two flights one with CX the other with dragonair.
I used a ZED on CX once before and had a seat assigned 4 hours before the flight.
MyIDtravel actually shows the AA LAX-HKG/CX HKG-DPS as an option so MyIDT thinks the connection is possible, however accurate that is.
Good Luck

**flyingbusman** · 31-Aug-2016, 05:32 AM

OK let me give you the run down since I'm based here.

Basically you need to get out of the plane as soon as possible to get to departure area at the end of Row A where the check in counter for CX staff is 60 min before departure.

Assuming you are at gate 40 to 60 (most likely ), it will take you 10-15 minutes to get back to main building where the immigration is. Walk 5 min + go down 3 floors via escalator, take a driverless train (5 min), go back up 3 floors (5 min)
10-15 min queue for immigration + 5min clearance. RUN out of arrival hall (5 min), Go up 2 floors to departure hall (5 min), run to row A (5 min)

In conclusion, I think you are very brave. Let me know if you want to go for it I'll give you more details on how to run and the fastest route out

**Migflanker** · 31-Aug-2016, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by flyingbusman

RUN out of arrival hall (5 min), Go up 2 floors to departure hall (5 min), run to row A (5 min)

In conclusion, I think you are very brave. Let me know if you want to go for it I'll give you more details on how to run and the fastest route out

FB when you say a five-minute run, are you talking Usain Bolt or M7 in her five inch heels.

Kland, sometimes you just have to pin FB down on his terms.

Welcome aboard

Mig

**kland0912** · 31-Aug-2016, 10:45 AM

Thank you all for the helpful hints and suggestions.

flyingbusman: I would say we are going to be brave, and we are up for the challenge. Seriously we are packing 4 lightweight outfits each and wearing our "nonrev" outfits. So 15 lbs should be totally doable. That being said, we are abundantly aware we may not make it, and that's ok too... one thing I've learned about 20+ years of non-revving is we have to be flexible. The good news is, the AA flight is WIDE open in the front of the bus, so I think we're going to get off the plane quickly. I've already briefed dear hubby that we're gonna have to hustle.

So yes, any and all suggestions on how to make the transition smoothly and quickly are most welcome.

**flyingbusman** · 01-Sep-2016, 02:45 AM

I tell you what, when is your travel date? if its not within the next 1-2 weeks, let me go ask the transfer desk in the restricted area if they allow you to check in from there, then you can skip the immigration part.

One more thing you have to note if you are doing CX, smart casual no jean dress code. Not that they won't let you on but if Y is full, they may push you to PEY or C, and thats when your dress code comes into play. I got pushed back to Y once while holding a C boarding pass when they saw me wearing jeans. After that I never ever traveled wearing jeans or shorts LOL

Also odds are Y will be full and C will be quite empty, mostly will be maid and their families, no more summer holidays and public holiday. Except around 15 Sep there is a chinese holiday and another muslim holiday. actually come to think of it starting 15 sep (chinese moon cake festival) to like first 1-2 weeks of Oct (china national day), avoid CX and as they will use up all CX capacity. China long holidays are scary because you may run into days of no seats available. This is what happen when 1 billion people go on holiday

**flyingbusman** · 01-Sep-2016, 04:27 AM

Originally Posted by Migflanker

FB when you say a five-minute run, are you talking Usain Bolt or M7 in her five inch heels.

Kland, sometimes you just have to pin FB down on his terms.

Welcome aboard

Mig

Reminds me of the people in the airport that I see every week running after their gates.

The worst part is my airline connects to US bound in HKD and its always late. Just last week I was in the train where the ground staff next to me lied through the walkie that he was already crossing security with the passenger. Asking them to hold the door

**kland0912** · 01-Sep-2016, 06:29 AM

Hahaha, I wouldn't DREAM of wearing jeans to non-rev. My mom was the first in the family to work with AA back in the early 90's, and she put the fear of god into me "If you dress wrong *I* will lose my flight benefits!" and I rather enjoy getting into a premium cabin. I know in recent days AA has lifted some of their dress restrictions, but I looked at the info on flyzed on CX, so I will always stick with slacks and a sweater.

And no flip flops... there will be plenty of time for that in Bali.

Our dates are outbound 12 Sept, return 23 Sept... I think I'll ask on the flight load threads, on the IDtravel site the flights look good, but better safe than sorry.

**mrs767er** · 01-Sep-2016, 07:13 AM

Kland. This place is very interesting--it made for a great excursion (near Tabanan)
Yeh Panas Penatahan
Yeh Panas Natural Hot Spring Bali (Penatahan Hot Spring)
https://www.welt-atlas.de/photo_of_y...s_bali_6-67-68
The private springs are very nifty and the water looks/smells awful but your skin feels rejuvenated afterward.

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