Fisher1 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Hi all We have always booked a couple of nights stopover on flights to Oz, but this time the flights seem a lot more expensive so we have been wondering if we can face doing it in one go. I have just found a Cathay Pacific flight which is relatively cheap and has a stop to change planes in Hong Kong. On the outward leg this is a stop of sixteen hours and on the return leg the stop is eleven hours. I want to know if you can leave the airport during such a long break? If we could nip to an airport hotel with a good alarm clock, this flight could really save us a packet. Thanks in advance for replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Hi all We have always booked a couple of nights stopover on flights to Oz, but this time the flights seem a lot more expensive so we have been wondering if we can face doing it in one go. I have just found a Cathay Pacific flight which is relatively cheap and has a stop to change planes in Hong Kong. On the outward leg this is a stop of sixteen hours and on the return leg the stop is eleven hours. I want to know if you can leave the airport during such a long break? If we could nip to an airport hotel with a good alarm clock, this flight could really save us a packet. Thanks in advance for replies. Hi, We done it all in one go last year because we could not face a stopover, we flew to Bangkok stopped for refuel which took 1 hour then flew on to Sydney as well as doing an internal flight as soon as we landed there, we also had 3 kids with us and to be honest it really was not that bad, the cost for your info for the 5 of us was £4500 and that included returns and 2 internal flights with Quantas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieF8 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 You can take a Transit Tour http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/local-tours/transit-hongkong.html There are also lounges where you can eat and take a shower http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/passenger/transfer-transit/all/shower-pay-in-lounge/pay-in-lounge.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jove Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 when we go we plan to stop over in hong kong or mybe beijing if possible. my partners aunt lives in hong kong so that would be a nice stop over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Ropey HOFF Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 We stayed over in a lovely hotel for one day in Singapore and it was far better than going straight through the time before, we were refreshed when we got to Brisbane with stopping over, but we felt ill flying through when we went to Perth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 Yes, there are some lovely places to stop over. We have stayed in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok at various times. Thanks Steve and Andy for your advice, specially about the transit pay lounges Steve. What I would really like to know is whether you are allowed to leave the airport when you are officially on a straight through flight but with several hours between planes? I am really confused about this - when is a stop over not a stop over? Help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieF8 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 If you want to go and see HK on your own then you have to clear Security & Immigration and check in again when you come back but, check the conditions on you ticket to see if you are allowed to do that or ring the airline You will have to check back in and go through security to get back into the departure lounge - and leave enough time to do it You may be requested to collect your backs and re-check them in, you can leave them at Left Luggage though while your out and about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 Thanks, StevieF8 Complicated then - I had a feeling it might be. Really appreciate the info as it will help deciding on the flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 PS Daughter has just got back with her comment on proposed straight through fllight 'It's a bit full-on' This is daughter-speak for 'absolute hell on wheels, don't do it'. Hmmm back to the drawing board I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest themanns Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I say don't bother with booking flights with hours to spare coz as soon as you get doing something its time to come back.. Singapore Airlines all the way anyway!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 We have just been looking into flights to oz and have priced up London-Bangkok-singapore-Bali-Sydney-Brisbane which came in at £932.08 pp! considering a single flight straight through has been coming up not much less, we thought that to be pretty good. Accommodation not included hence not that expensive once there.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireyD Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Hi Shell15 that's a really good price! What airline was that with? Our final destination is Darwin which is a little more awkward in that there's not as much choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I flew from Glasgow to Perth on Sunday via Hong Kong - did it in a onner! Was dreading it - had 2 hours in Amsterdam then it's 10 hours to HK and 7 hours in HK before the Perth flight (8 hours). I survived. HK airport has lots of free computers and if you have your own computer free wifi. They have charging zones where you can charge up your pc. I went for a shower but it cost $20 US! There are three places that have showers and two had big waiting times so we had to go to the third one. use of the lounge costs more. Shopping in the airport is quite good and there's several meal options. The chairs are long enough to stretch out on fully across three seats with no arm rests so I had food, computer time, shower and then a kip at the gate. Time went by quickly and felt refreshed enough to stay awake on the Perth flight and enjoy the films on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Hi Shell15 that's a really good price! What airline was that with? Our final destination is Darwin which is a little more awkward in that there's not as much choice. It was the travel agents co-operative, where I live they in the tesco super store. Very helpful and came in much cheaper than Thomas Cook. For another couple of hundred quid we are going to do it. Just need dates now, the most frustrating part!! good luck Sorry forgot to add the airline was BA and Quantas.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 We have just been looking into flights to oz and have priced up London-Bangkok-singapore-Bali-Sydney-Brisbane which came in at £932.08 pp! considering a single flight straight through has been coming up not much less, we thought that to be pretty good. Accommodation not included hence not that expensive once there.. check skyscanner - one way London to Brisbane is 617 pounds with Malaysian airlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 check skyscanner - one way London to Brisbane is 617 pounds with Malaysian airlines. Thats very cheap! But we would never get a flight to Bali and Thailand for £315 so we are going to take advantage of it. My mate uses skyscanner and they always come up good value.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Skyscanner one way - London Bangkok - $737 Bangkok to Singapore $59 Sing to Bali - $81 Bali to Sydney $404 Sydney - Brisbane $68 Total $1349 = 895 pounds. Prob could get it cheaper as some of the budget airlines are cheaper on certain days BUT you'd have to pay extra for 20ks baggage or more so if your flights allow for baggage and choice of seat then it's an OK deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 im in uk though so wonder if they the same. will check..thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 *the price does include 25 kg luggage allowance.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 Yes I think you're right. We are now back to stopovers and Singapore air - I think we've decided it's worth paying the extra! Thanks everyone for the input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GeorgeD Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 If you want to go and see HK on your own then you have to clear Security & Immigration and check in again when you come backbut, check the conditions on you ticket to see if you are allowed to do that or ring the airline You will have to check back in and go through security to get back into the departure lounge - and leave enough time to do it You may be requested to collect your backs and re-check them in, you can leave them at Left Luggage though while your out and about Not sure if you'll need to check in again...I've left the airport twice at Dubai with 8 and 16 hour stopovers, and twice at Kuala Lumpur for 8 and 20 hour stopovers. As long as you are continuing with the same airline you should be able to check in all the way through...which means you get your boarding pass for the second flight at the first check in or online. If you didn't get a boarding pass for the second flight when you first check in then you would need to go and check in for the second flight irrespective of whether you leave the airport or not, which isn't the case. You will definitely need to clear security and passport control both out and in though. This can take a bit of time (quickest I've done passport control at Dubai to leave the airport was an hour!) KL was quicker. never been to HK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Some airports have hotels within the transit area so you don't have to go through passport control. Singapore definitely does, I think KL does too, sorry don't know about HK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GeorgeD Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Some airports have hotels within the transit area so you don't have to go through passport control. Singapore definitely does, I think KL does too, sorry don't know about HK Yes, KL does. We stayed at the KLIA Pan Pacific which is connected to the airport but not airside, so you had to go through passport control & security. There is a smaller airside hotel though, so you can stay there and not go through security/passport control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Yes, KL does. We stayed at the KLIA Pan Pacific which is connected to the airport but not airside, so you had to go through passport control & security. That is a great hotel......not cheap, but the best airport hotel I've stayed at. Even had a leg massager in the room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GeorgeD Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 That is a great hotel......not cheap, but the best airport hotel I've stayed at. Even had a leg massager in the room. Totally agree...the food in the restaurant was amazing, and the staff were very friendly and professional. We paid $160-ish for 3 adults in a deluxe room (1 double bed, 1 cot) for 1 night room only. Actually not that bad compared to Oz prices. Food was also reasonably priced for the quality (and portion size!) The menus are iPads. They hand you an iPad each for you to order wirelessly from your table. All food we had in Malaysia was cheap and very, very good quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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