Transferring at HKG

Tomorrow we're flying in to HKG on the BA A380 flight. We are then flying on to Sydney on the Virgin flight. There is about 7 hours between the scheduled arrival time and depart time.

Does anyone know if there is a transfer desk after the baggage hall where we can re-check our bags on to the Virgin flight and then go straight through to the departure area and the UC lounge? (We will have done online checkin and have printed boarding passes). Or will we need to exit through security and then re-check our bags at the Virgin check-in counters? If that's the case, them I'm assuming those will open about 3.5-5 hours prior to departure?

The flights are not part of the same ticket (both air miles redemptions) so we will be unable to check our bags all the way through to Sydney.

Thanks!

The Virgin transfer desk is in section W2 in airside arrivals. You would go there if your bags had been checked through from London to Sydney by BA. It is probably worth asking when you check in for the BA flight as I have had bags checked through with mixed airlines and tickets in the past, though not the BA to Virgin combination.

If your bags are only checked through to Hong Kong, then you would pass through the normal immigration checks and collect your bags from the carousel. After customs you enter the Arrivals Hall, and go up one floor to landslide Departures. The checkin desk for Virgin probably won't be open until about 3 hours before the flight to Sydney.

It is easier for the later flight to London as you can make use of the desks which are open primarily for the Sydney customers.

One option if you feel adventurous would be to take the excellent airport express train to Kowloon or Hong Kong (stops in the huge IFC Mall). You can check bags in for most airlines there all day, including Virgin. I've checked baggage in at 10am before. Then you could see a bit of Hong Kong before taking the train back to the airport.

I hope this helps a little.

Osy, that helps a lot Will try to get the bags checked all the way through with BA, but don't hold out much hope of that. Otherwise taking the airport express train in to town, just to drop of the bags sounds like a pretty good option. Many thanks!

Osy, that helps a lot Will try to get the bags checked all the way through with BA, but don't hold out much hope of that. Otherwise taking the airport express train in to town, just to drop of the bags sounds like a pretty good option. Many thanks!

Make sure you buy the same day return ticket for the Airport Express as it is cheaper.