Do we have HKG break onroute to SYD

In the early stages of organising our Oz trip in NOV.
family vist- G seats [:D] and much to everyones delight our 4 yr old daughter in tow [}:)] although well travelled..[|:)]

Options to either get into HKG on the VS238 at 12.35 then leave on the VS200 at 19.10? Would there be enough to do to warrant a six hour break in the journey, as some break an obvious advantage [B)]

Or get the VS200 straight through (setting off from LHR later), how much ground time at HKG on the way through?

Any pointers greatfully received.

[HighFlyer]

Personally, I think 6 hours probably isnt much time to realistically do much. I'd prefer to either go straight to SYD with minimal delay (just enough time to freshen up, etc) or stay in HKG for a night or two.

If you check in for your flight and lose your bags you could get down to the harbour (which is very lovely) for a few hours and see some of the sights such as the Star Ferry and have a walk about but you (and especially little one) might be tired from the flight (it is a long flight across a few time zones) so you may just feel like resting when you get there instead of heading out.

If you connect at HKG you tend to get about 2 hours - just enough to shower and rest in the HKG CH [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

I agree with HighFlyer's comments - 6 hours is not much time to do a lot in Hong Kong by the time you have cleared immigration & got rid of your bags for the next flight. Sure, you could get the train to Central and see a little of downtown Hong Kong, but all too soon, it would be time to head back to the airport. Much better to spend a day or two each way in Hong Kong if you really want to see a bit of the place.

James

Hi,

If you have enough time I would over night. On our way home to Sydney we stopped over in HKG for a few days, it is an amazing city, lovely people and great food, I would say 6 hours doesn't really give you that much time, by the time you get out, head into the city. 6 hours would be enough time to head straight to Victoria Peak, but with a child of 4 and after a 12 hour flight, I wouldn't recommend it.

DMB

The Buddha on Lantau Island, or Disneyland, aren't too far from the airport. But I, too. would be inclined to head straight for Sydney unless I was staying a couple of nights.

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Personally, I think 6 hours probably isnt much time to realistically do much. I'd prefer to either go straight to SYD with minimal delay (just enough time to freshen up, etc) or stay in HKG for a night or two.

If you connect at HKG you tend to get about 3 hours - just enough to shower and rest in the HKG CH [y]

Thanks,
Sarah


Thanks, yep sort of firms up my thoughts. We were planning to have couple of nights over on the way back, so will get opportunity to see some bits of HKG.
Also starting to remember the nasty tireness last time at PVG (fell asleep at the gate on route to PEK..)[:I]
3 hrs on the VS200, sounds ideal, mrs NH may get to the showers (I'll remind her to take her running shoes), & mini NH can stretch legs and run off some steam... NH likely to find the bar [}:)]

Once at SYD, what sort of trsf time through to Sydney proper?

[HighFlyer]

If you felt tired on arrival at PVG I'd think you'd feel the same going to HKG. I've flown both routes and it does take it out of you. I dont tend to suffer from jet lag but even I just want my bed after a long flight East.

You arrive in Sydney around 7am. Most of the flights to Oz arrive around this time though I dont recall immigration being overly busy. Dom and some of the other Oz veterans can probably give you a better idea of clearing times. I did find Oz to be a very friendly airport, but when you fly from LHR that isnt hard I guess [:)] You should be in Sydney downtown around 20-30 minutes from leaving the airport.

Have a great trip [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer

You arrive in Sydney around 7am. Most of the flights to Oz arrive around this time though I dont recall immigration being overly busy. Dom and some of the other Oz veterans can probably give you a better idea of clearing times.



It all depends on how many a/c land at the same time. I've now been to Sydney so many times now - always landing on the VS200 - and I've never seen the airport look the same twice. The worst was when we landed at exactly the same time as SQ, TG, EK, KE, CX and a few others and you couldn't even get near the immigration hall for about an hour before even joining the queue for immigration. And then there was the customs queue after that.

On the flip side, I have also landed on the VS200 when there has been no one at immigration and have got through the airport in no time at all.

[quote]Originally posted by northernhenry
[quote]Originally posted by HighFlyer
Personally, I think 6 hours probably isnt much time to realistically do much. I'd prefer to either go straight to SYD with minimal delay (just enough time to freshen up, etc) or stay in HKG for a night or two.

If you connect at HKG you tend to get about 2 hours - just enough to shower and rest in the HKG CH [y]

Thanks,
Sarah


Thanks, yep sort of firms up my thoughts. We were planning to have couple of nights over on the way back, so will get opportunity to see some bits of HKG.
Also starting to remember the nasty tireness last time at PVG (fell asleep at the gate on route to PEK..)[:I]
3 hrs on the VS200, sounds ideal, mrs NH may get to the showers (I'll remind her to take her running shoes), & mini NH can stretch legs and run off some steam... NH likely to find the bar [}:)]

Once at SYD, what sort of trsf time through to Sydney proper?


There's only a stop-over of about one and a half hours at HKG on the VS200/201(hence the sprint for the showers). We zipped through immigration very quickly at SYD (oh the joys of being up front) but we had been told to make haste by the cc as several busy flighs had landed just behind us.
If possible I'd opt to either overnight (or stay a few days) on the way out or travel direct on the 200. Having looked at G fares to SYD recently myself, a lot of them seem to be split journeys with the first bit being on the 238 to HKG and the onward leg to SYD on the 200 (but there are a lot more reward seats seemingly available).
DL

I'd do as Dominic suggested and plan to stop in HKG on the return, the flight from SYD is day time and not so long, so you shouldn't feel to bad.

As to transfer at SYD (I take it you mean to get into the city, not transfer to another flight) well it's a real curate's egg ... it can be 30 minutes on a good day. One thing I found is that if you have one bag only and tick no boxes on the customs form it is much much quicker ...

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Personally, I think 6 hours probably isnt much time to realistically do much. I'd prefer to either go straight to SYD with minimal delay (just enough time to freshen up, etc) or stay in HKG for a night or two.

Thanks,
Sarah


Well all booked, and in the interim missed the G's on the LHR-HKG leg [:I] so stuck with the VS238 to join the VS200 in the evening. Saying that will have the CH in HKG to use & Mini NH can run off some steam before night flight proper on VS200.

Will we be left with seating options for those vacating at HKG, or does the 2nd leg VS200 to SYD rebook from scratch? Obviously we'll be keen to get 3 together with Mini NH in the middle (one behind each other or across aisle?)

Any suggested seating pattern that works well if little one in tow (other than plocking them back in Y [}:)])