Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [203]
If you are booked on a scheduled (but nota charter) flight and are taking the Airport Express to the airport, most airlines allow you to check in your bags and receive your boarding pass a day ahead of your flight at the in-town check-in counters at the Hong Kong Island or Kowloon Airport Express stations between 5.30am and 12.30am. You are required, however, to check yourself in at least 90 minutes before your flight. Some airlines, including Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines and Thai Airways, allow check-in a full day before your flight. See the airport’s website for details.
DEPARTURE TAX
Hong Kong’s airport departure tax – $120 for everyone over the age of 12 – is always included in the price of the ticket. Those travelling to Macau by helicopter (see Click here) must pay the same amount.
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To/From the Airport
The Airport Express line of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is the fastest – and most expensive – way to get to and from Hong Kong International Airport. A gaggle of much cheaper buses connects the airport with Lantau, the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
AIRPORT EXPRESS
Airport Express (AEL; 2881 8888; www.mtr.com.hk) has trains departing from Hong Kong station in Central every 10 to 12 minutes from 5.50am to 12.48am, calling at Kowloon and Tsing Yi stations before arriving at Airport station. The last train leaves the airport for all three stations at 12.48am. Running at speeds of up to 135km/h, trains make the journey from Central/Kowloon/Tsing Yi in only 24/21/13 minutes.
From Central/Kowloon/Tsing Yi one-way adult fares are $100/90/60, with children three to 11 years paying half-fare. Adult return fares, valid for a month, are $180/160/110. A same-day return is equivalent to a one-way fare.
Airport Express has two shuttle buses on Hong Kong Island (H1 and H2) and five in Kowloon (K1 to K5), with free transfers for passengers between Hong Kong and Kowloon stations and major hotels. The buses run every 12 to 20 minutes between 6.12am and 11.12pm. Schedules and routes are available at Airport Express and MTR stations and on the Airport Express website.
BOAT
High-speed ferries run by Fortune Ferry Co ( 2994 8155; www.fortuneferry.com.hk) link Tung Chung New Development ferry pier opposite the airport (and accessible from the termin-al on bus S56) with Tuen Mun in the New Territories. Ferries depart from Tuen Mun between 7am and 7pm; the first ferry from Tung Chung pier leaves at 7.30am and the last at 7.30pm and the journey takes 30 minutes (one way $18).
A fast ferry service called the Skypier ( 2307 0880) links Hong Kong airport with five Pearl River Delta destinations: Shekou near Shenzhen, Shenzhen Fuyong, Humen in Dongguan, Zhongshan and Macau. At the time of writing, the Turbojet service linking Hong Kong International Airport with Shenzhen Airport was suspended. For updates call the hotline ( 2859 3333).
One of the companies operating from the Skypier is Turbojet Sea Express ( 2859 3333; www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk), sailing six to eight times daily to Macau (adult/child weekdays $134/123, weekends $146/131).
Another operator, Chu Kong Passenger Transportation Company ( 2858 3876; www.cksp.com.hk), sails 13 times daily to Shenzhen Shekou (economy class/1st class $220/240) and six times daily to Shenzhen Fuyong (economy class/1st class/VIP room $295/325/355).
The service enables travellers to board ferries directly without clearing Hong Kong customs and immigration. Book a ticket prior to boarding from the ticketing desks located in the transfer area on Arrivals level five close to the immigration counters. An air-side bus then takes you to the ferry terminal. Ferries to Humen depart five times daily and take an hour ($290/340/390), while ferries to Zhuhai depart three times daily and take 50 minutes ($260/315/345).