Download GPX file for this article
22.3152113.9350Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Arriving passengers picking up their checked luggage at HKG

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG IATA), also known as Chek Lap Kok 赤鱲角 (the name of the island of reclaimed land containing the airport), is part of Lantau in the west of Hong Kong. Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the airport opened in July 1998 and has since been named "World's Best Airport" by Skytrax 8 times.

Understand

Those who remember the daredevil approach of aircraft prior to landing at the old Kai Tak Airport don't need to guess why Hong Kong decided to build a new airport somewhere else. The Kai Tak Airport was the primary hub for air travel until the 1990s. Two runways too short, one terminal building too small, hills that made takeoff and landing tricky, and weaving so close to high rise residential buildings that passengers could see residents eating dinners during landings were just a few of the drawbacks. A new airport was be eventually built north of Lantau Island, adjoining three of its northern islands into what is now a world class airport.

There are many direct flights to Hong Kong from every inhabited continent in the world. Most major cities in Europe and North America are all served with at least one daily flight, and flights between Hong Kong and other major cities in Asia and Oceania are frequent. Cathay Pacific operates one of the longest air routes in the world, between Hong Kong and New York City (JFK). Major carriers at the airport are Cathay Pacific, its subsidiary airline Dragonair (mostly operates routes within China as well as some routes to other parts of Asia), Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express.

Check-In at MTR stations

If you have paid the fare for the airport express train, you can check-in your luggage and print boarding passes at the airport check-in desks at the Hong Kong and Kowloon MTR stations. Some airlines such as Cathay Pacific allow you to drop off your bags up to one day before travel and not have to deal with luggage as you enjoy your final day in Hong Kong. To enter the check-in areas, you must scan your airport express ticket or Octopus card and the fare will be deducted immediately. However, you do not need to enter the airport express station immediately. You can go and do other things, then the same ticket/card will give you free access to airport express on your next entry.

Ground transportation

Hong Kong is one of the few cities in the world where you can get between the city centre to the airport in less than 30 minutes via the Airport Express. There are also plenty of other cheaper options.

Airport Express

The Airport Express is the quickest and most comfortable way to get to either Hong Kong Station in Central (24 minutes, $100 single/same-day return, $180 return), Tsing Yi Station ($60 single/same-day return, $110 return), or Kowloon Station ($90 single/same-day return, $160 return). Trains run every 10 minutes . All stations have free porters to help you get heavy bags on and off of the train; there is no need to tip. Children aged 3-11 get a 50% discount. If you travel with other people you can get a group discount if you buy your ticket from the staff at the counter. If you take a taxi to reach the airport express, you are entitled to a 50% discount. Tourist travel passes sometimes include a return journey on the Airport Express and some airlines sell duty-free tickets during the flights. A cheap way to get to Central is to take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi, and change to the Tung Chung MTR line, which costs in total $72.5 one-way or $135 return. A free connection from the Airport Express to the MTR is offered if you use the same Octopus Card to change from the Airport Express to the MTR at Central, Kowloon, or Tsing Yi stations. The transfer is free no matter which station you exit the MTR. Free transfers toshuttle buses to area hotels are also provided for users of the airport express.

MTR

If you want to save around $70, an alternative way is to take the S1 bus from the airline terminal to the nearby Tung Chung MTR station ($3.50, 15 minutes), where you can transfer to the Tung Chung MTR line to Kowloon ($18, 27 minutes) or Hong Kong ($24, 30 minutes). The Tung Chung line runs the same route as the Airport Express except it terminates at the Tung Chung station and has four additional stops. Note that the MTR system has luggage restrictions and in any case, carrying luggage on the MTR may be cumbersome. This method will take about 45-60 minutes more than the airport express.

Bus

Buses are cheap ($10-$40), more scenic, and have longer operating hours, yet are slower. Depending on where you are going, they may be more convenient than the trains and they run 24 hours (unlike the Airport Express). A complete list of airport buses is available online. There is also an information board at the airport bus terminal. Two companies run buses from the airport: Citybus ('CityFlyer') and Long Win. Buses travel over the scenic Tsing Ma Bridge, the seventh longest suspension bridge in the world. Buses with routes beginning with "A" (Airbus) (cost: $20-40) have free Wi-Fi internet and take a more direct route than buses with routes beginning with the letter "E" (External) (cost: $10-20), which travel via the cargo terminals and airport offices. Buses with routes beginning with "S" (cost: $3-4) are shuttle buses - as noted above, the S1 bus operates bus service to the closest MTR station.

Taxi

Taxis are a relatively expensive option, with a journey from the airport to Central costing $250-350. The taxi area is clearly signposted near the Airport Express and has separate queues next for each taxi colour:

  • Red taxis are for destinations on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, although they are also allowed to go to the local town of Tung Chung as well as Disneyland on Lantau island. If you are going to Hong Kong Island, asking the driver to driver to use the "Western Harbour Crossing" will avoid congestion, but will result in an additional $50 toll charge.
  • Green taxis are restricted to the New Territories (other than Lantau island)
  • Blue taxis serve Lantau Island only. Useful for getting to quickly getting to local Lantau sights before your flight, although there are not many of them and often there are none waiting at the airport.

The information desk after customs can provide you with an estimate to your hotel and maps to show the driver. Seeofficial taxi fare table. Do not take private cars and vans operating as illegal taxis since they are not licensed and in case of accidents, your insurance will not cover you. Generally they are operated by non-Chinese and will be in white or black vans, rather than the ubiquitous blue and red Toyota Crown Comforts. They will approach you inside the airport.

Note that taxi queues are available at both Kowloon and Hong Kong stations, although the queues are very long at weekends.

Ferry

There are no ferry services from the airport to destinations in Hong Kong. However, Turbojet operates a service ($254, 50 minutes) directly to Macau. You can land in Hong Kong and travel directly on to Macau without having to pass through Hong Kong immigration. If you do pass through immigration then the train journey to the Macau ferry terminal will take you about another hour with a lot of walking, so taking this direct ferry is a great option.

Get around

The airport has 2 terminals, with the MTR station in the middle. It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk between the terminals.

Terminal 2 is a check-in only facility, all flights depart from Terminal 1. You can clear security at either terminal. There are more shopping opportunities before security at T2, but its shops close earlier. There are lots of shopping opportunities after security as well.

On the airside you can reach some of the outer terminals with a 'People Mover' train in the basement.

Do

Entertainment

Hong Kong Airport has an impressive IMAX cinema in Terminal 2 (land side). This is a great way to spend a couple of hours waiting for a flight. 3D glasses are provided for free. IMAX 3D films cost around HKD $120.

Lounges

  • Cathay Pacific has 5 lounges spread around the airport. 'The Bridge' lounge in the centre is the largest and offers showers and barista coffee. Generally lounges open at 05:30
  • Korean Air has a tiny lounge with seating and basic food and drinks. It does not have any shower or bathroom facilities.
  • Qantas/BA has a large lounge with showers, food, internet terminals and plenty of drink.

Eat and drink

Airside restaurants

On the airside, there are some standard eateries in the food court around the arrival gates including McDonalds and Starbucks.

If you haven't checked in yet, then walk on over to the second floor of Terminal 2 for a large food court with a rather good variety of options.

Buy

Hong Kong has no duty on most goods besides alcohol, therefore the concept of duty free in the airport itself is rather meaningless. Nevertheless there is the usual selection luxury brands on the air side, as well as opportunities for last minute souvenirs such as Chinese cookies and a large Disney store.

If you need to kill some time before checking in, then there are a variety of shops in and around the Terminal 2 check-in desks. Shops dedicated to toys, electronics and Hong Kong specialties can be found.

Connect

There is a free Wi-Fi facility (after accepting terms and conditions) and a hotline (2188 7799). The Wi-Fi is throughout the air-side areas and has a fast connection speed. The Wi-Fi SSID is "#HKAirport Free WiFi". There are also free Internet terminals, but as of August 2013 they can be faulty and slow and the browsers do not work properly with some websites.

Cope

Services at Hong Kong International Airport are generally far better, or at least on par, with those at other major international airports.

  • Left Luggage: There is a manned left luggage facility in the arrival hall, perfect for securely storing your luggage at the airport, for around $55–$80 per day (depending on duration). It is open from 6am to 1am. There is another left luggage facility close to the bus station between Terminals 1 and 2.
  • Baggage Packing Service: Both Terminals 1 and 2 have a fast and efficient service to wrap up your baggage in cardboard or clingfilm and strap it up. Very useful if your airline restricts the items of baggage you can check in. A typical boxing costs around HKD $230.
  • Chemist: There are two 'Mannings' stores airside in the airport, each of which stock medicine, baby milk powder and chocolate. If you need any of these then one store is near the North immigration gate, and the other is next to Gate 60.
  • Smoke: There are a few smoking rooms conveniently located around the air-side
  • Post Office: There is an efficient post office in the airport, providing boxes, wrapping material, scissors, and tape. Mailing items is sometimes cheaper and easier than paying airline baggage fees.

Sleep

There are three hotels in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Via the Airport Express, you can access more hotels in central Hong Kong very quickly.

  • Regal Airport Hotel – connected to the terminal building
  • Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott – near AsiaWorld-Expo
  • Novotel Citygate – located in Tung Chung New Town, a 10-minute taxi ride away

Nearby

This huge airport travel guide to Hong Kong International Airport is a usable article. It has information on flights and ground transportation as well as some complete entries for food and beverage options at the airport. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.