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justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

A long overdue TR..

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/197256/

Coming up next - AI "The NonStop" from JFK to DEL.

me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

AWESOME!

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GuyFromBOM · Member Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 544 Location: VABB

Nice TR, with good pics..! Smile

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The more I fly 9W, the more I prefer AI | FlightDiary: 59 Boeing + 30 Airbus + 9 ATR + 1 Embraer

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Bala, thanks for sharing another nice report with us. MNL has thus far been an exotic destination, after such a long period of no direct connection with India. And of course, PR, too! The highlight of your reports include the little things around you that you notice. We look forward to your return trip - please cover the India part of it as well. Given your frequent trips out of India from BLR, DEL and BOM (mostly, I guess), we get updates on the international sections of these places. HKG is good for spotting, provided the weather is fine. It is unfortunate that you got some rather inclement weather there.
A question about HKG: is the `transfer' area for all airlines, or primarily Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air? (You have written about CX) I need to know this, since I have a trip to PEK lined up, I fly AI DEL-HKG and CA, HKG-PEK; and vice versa. PR did a through check-in from MNL-BNE for you - and your ticketing was done separately. I wonder is AI will check me through from DEL-PEK, or whether I will have to collect my baggage at HKG, and go to the CA check-in counter there. Through check-ins are obviously very convenient, and though HKG is quite efficient, I would still not like to risk getting to PEK without my luggage, with each carrier divulging itself of its responsibility. My recent Moscow trip had an acquaintance make the entire trip without his luggage as Aeroflot had messed up big time at DEL. He had been through checked-in at CCU on Air India, but the luggage was finally traced to Aeroflot at DEL, much after he had got back from Moscow, and back to CCU. While I have not had any untoward incident with AI (I have had this with United Airlines), I would not want to have one with the AI-CA combination.
Thanks, Sumantra.

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Nice TR, I love HKG airport.
How long was MNL-HKG?
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abhigopal · Member Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 172

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thanks, Bala - I'll see how it goes, depending on whether AI through check my baggage for DEL-HKG and HKG-PEK, and CA, for PEK-HKG and HKG-DEL. Just wondering as to why immigration in HKG is a pain - Indians have a visa on arrival at HKG. I've tried this once in 2001, and another time, in 2010. Is there something I am missing here?
Cheers, Sumantra.

abhigopal · Member Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 172

Nope, but there are some departure taxes to be paid I think. Please do check this before (and if) you decide to clear immigration and come back landside to check in. The immigration itself is a Visa on arrival and hence shudnt be a pain.

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Abhigopal and Srinivas, thanks a lot for your replies. The departure tax is thankfully accounted for in the airline ticket itself (and saves last-minute Forex blushes), and is not needed if one departs on the same day itself. Srinivas - this is a nice idea, though my laptop cooling pad and analog SLR take up a huge amount of space in my carry-on (I usually take one piece along, to be consistent with the piece concept at some places e.g., LHR). I guess I'll try it this time - thank you!
And yes! HKG is a spotter's paradise! There are lots of exotic airlines from across the world, and there is an excellent view of the two runways. If one is able to somehow get the reflections away, one gets some nice pictures. I have very pleasant spotting memories from my 2001 and 2010 trips - the first one had me transiting HKG (on Cathay both ways), the second time, my destination was HKG itself. This finally woke me up into writing my first trip report.
http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/airlinersindia-ftopic10018.html
However, I did not click too many cellphone pictures at HKG, as the report shows. I'll possibly try, this time round.
Thanks, Sumantra.

abhigopal · Member Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 172

Sumantra - When are you going to be in HKG. I am transiting HKG on 5th.

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

I plan to transit HKG on the 16th and the 23rd of this month.
At least we can look forward to your trip report preceding mine!
Cheers, Sumantra.

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Srinivas and Abhishek - I asked both my travel agent (who has contacts in AI), and Air China itself, as to whether my baggage would be through checked-in DEL-HKG-PEK, and vice versa (DEL-HKG and HKG-DEL on AI, HKG-PEK and PEK-HKG on CA). The answer was a negative at both ends. AI usually doesn't mind on many routes, but I guess CA is the factor here. So I have to clear Immigration and Customs at HKG, and check-in again - bad luck, no `transfer' for me. There is another negative connotation: on the second leg, I'll have to wait land-side till the Air India counter opens (it opens at around 3:15 pm or so), so this gives me less spotting options as compared to what I would have had, had I been able to avail of an air-side transfer. Worse still, I asked Air China if they would put me on the earlier HKG-PEK flight in case I was able to clear customs and immigration at HKG quickly? This would save me quite a bit of time, and effectively give me about half-a-day more to explore Beijing and its surroundings. The answer was a comprehensive `No'! I really wonder why - most airlines do this seamlessly, I believe!
Cheers, Sumantra.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

Cool report, thanks.

Immigration in HKG can be a pain in either direction. Fortunately though the queues are often enormous, they often move rather quickly.

Unless you've been unlucky to arrive right after a flight from the Philippines (or on a flight from the Philippines in your case, Bala). Then prepare to set up camp!

Also, there is no visa on arrival in Hong Kong. We don't need a visa at all.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

I am at Beijing right now. Yes, a trip report is due.
AI did check in my baggage from DEL-PEK, and I used the transfer desk at HKG. All worked out fine, I hope the same for the return trip, too!
Cheers, Sumantra.

G-BYGB · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject:

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

G-BYGB · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:08 am Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Oh - I had hoped for an impending travel. Have a nice trip!
We hope for a trip report, too!
Cheers, Sumantra.

G-BYGB · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:04 am Post subject: