Hong Kong Airport

[cafes]

Transiting through Hong Kong. Never transited there before. A long wait for the next flight around 8 hours. Anything to do there, may be internet? newspapers? good restaurants?

Thanks

[TheWalkingMan]

Transiting through Hong Kong. Never transited there before. A long wait for the next flight around 8 hours. Anything to do there, may be internet? newspapers? good restaurants?

Thanks

8 Hours? Ouch.

It is a nice spacious airport, but 8 hours is a little long. Depending on the time of day, you could take a trip into the city for some sightseeing or shopping.

When heading for luggage pick-up there are usually some information girls about. Tell them the amount of time you have before your next flight and they should be able make some suggestions. If you miss the girls there, then once you pass through customs, there is an information desk and you can ask there. Additionally, the airport has a luggage storage area so you will not need to lug things around.

I have done things like landing at 10~11pm, going into town and getting back for an 8am flight. Piece of cake!

TheWalkingMan

[think_too_mut]

Transiting through Hong Kong. Never transited there before. A long wait for the next flight around 8 hours. Anything to do there, may be internet? newspapers? good restaurants?

Thanks

It has free wireless for everyone, throughout the building. Keep your laptop handy.

It has a string of good restaurants.

Quite a pleasant airport, one of the most (if not the most) efficient on the planet.

[jingjoe]

HK also has a number of quiet areas, with slightly dimmed lighting and pretty comfy chairs that are easy to have a snooze on. It's a great airport.

[backflip]

Take the train into the city and explore. If you get a visitor's visa, you can take the train to Shenzhen (China) and spend several hours at their version of MBK.

[jonniebkk]

well with 8 hours, you should just about make your connecting flight...it takes forever to get around that airport and its various terminals as the place is HUGE

[Cuban]

Enough time to explore the city a bit, depending on time of day - check the the trains are running, getting a taxi would take too long really. If you ever intend to go back there at some point in the future get an Octopus Card to pay for train fares and stuff from 7-11 shops, similar to the Smart Card in Thailand but in HK much more useful.

I would suggest the time for your arrival would govern if you go into town or not?

As others say HK is very well organized, the main train station on HK island is called Central, direct trains from the airport AND you can check in for your flight (dump luggage as well) in the train station here.

This might help.

[Crash999]

Transiting through Hong Kong. Never transited there before. A long wait for the next flight around 8 hours. Anything to do there, may be internet? newspapers? good restaurants?

Thanks

As others have said, you'll have a good 5 hours or so to explore the city. After you go through immigration and customs you can walk straight ahead to catch the train (running every 20min) which will take you right into central. From there you can explore the city- head up to the peak, grab a meal, see the sights, and head back to Central to catch a train back in.

Or if you want to veg out in the airport there are lots of options for food, shops, places that sell books and magazines, and whatnot. HK has a great airport but 8hrs is a long layover anywhere!

[Briggsy]

I'll probably get flamed for this but it's straight up.

Find the airline that is flying to or has connections to Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa. Emirates has a flight that is popular. Head to that check-in desk. For free entertainment, watch the shenanigans as they try and get their hugely overweight bags checked in for free. Or demand that free upgrade. The arguing is amazing. The scene often shifts from the check-in to the oversize baggage check-in. There, the Chinese and the Africans often end up positively spitting at one another.

Also if you like drinking, don't be a dummy and pay silly prices in the restaurants upstairs, go to the 7-11 downstairs where you can drink for under half the price.

[Governor]

I'll probably get flamed for this but it's straight up.

Find the airline that is flying to or has connections to Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa. Emirates has a flight that is popular. Head to that check-in desk. For free entertainment, watch the shenanigans as they try and get their hugely overweight bags checked in for free. Or demand that free upgrade. The arguing is amazing. The scene often shifts from the check-in to the oversize baggage check-in. There, the Chinese and the Africans often end up positively spitting at one another.

I agree with this, I have spent many an hour watching, and filming, these check in desks, you really couldn't make it up.

[think_too_mut]

I'll probably get flamed for this but it's straight up.

Find the airline that is flying to or has connections to Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa. Emirates has a flight that is popular. Head to that check-in desk. For free entertainment, watch the shenanigans as they try and get their hugely overweight bags checked in for free. Or demand that free upgrade. The arguing is amazing. The scene often shifts from the check-in to the oversize baggage check-in. There, the Chinese and the Africans often end up positively spitting at one another.

Emirates flight HKG-BKK is like that too. Every single person has some problem, argues and gets sent somewhere to bring something (a documnt?) back.

But the atmosphere is not very entertaining. It's only that American flag is missing to be burned and stomped onto with bearded men chanting and shouting slogans, like in the news from the Middle East.

Then, those who like to fly Emirates, board the same plane with them.

[nickbk]

If you arrive in the day you really should take a trip to the city center. There's a train every 15 mn and it'll take you to the city center in 40 mn. From there just walk around. If you've never been there, that's worth the look.

[Zpete]

Honkers is a great airport, massive.

On experience, one of the best to sleep over.

What you can look forward to:

• 
  
• possible to sleep under the seats
  
• internet kiosks
  
• some seats without armrests
  
• hard plastic seating
  
• air-conditioning too high
  
• cleaners are noisy
  
• nursery, Kids TV area (near gate 1) has the Cartoon Network playing
  
• Traveller's Lounge near gate 60. Call 852-2261-2068 to book in advance
  
• WiFi and 24 internet cafe
  
• 24 hour buffet
  
• showers
  
• clean bathrooms
  
• Massages
  
• prayer room
  
• seats with massagers
  
• can get cold
  

Most cafes and shops usual rip-off.

There is a 7/11 downstairs, forget where, but normal 7/11 prices, stock up and have ya eats where eva.

Train into city is great option, make sure you leave return in time for checkin.

If ya there late, 2300 on, best find a comfy spot and curl up.

I have a brilliant comment file on Honkers, too big to post here, unfortuneately.

[cafes]

Thanks for the replies!