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This post is particularly for the admits from India who have decided to matriculate this fall and travelling to Hong Kong. One of my best friends had recently returned to HK from India for his work. With the suspension of regular air traffic and travel restrictions everywhere, he had to go through extensive documentation and took him almost three days to reach HK taking multiple connecting flights. Upon reaching HK, he got to know that many students from India who are coming to Hong Kong have no clear information of the process. He was, therefore, kind enough to take time and write down his travel experience and advice for the HKUST admits from India.
Quote:
How to plan and travel to Hong Kong in this situation. It was a unique experience to think, plan, and execute the journey back to Hong Kong. Few tips for people traveling back to HK from India via KL/any other route.
2.If you plan to your trip from India I had to travel within India from one city to another, to catch the flight to KL so I will go step by step -
3. Confirm your VBM(Vande Bharat Mission) flight first and then start looking other connecting flights, from your place and to Hong Kong. like in my case below was my planned itinerary. Pune --> Kochi --> Kuala Lumpur --> Hong Kong. you can get the latest schedule here https://www.mea.gov.in/vande-bharat-mis ... lights.htm
Origin
Destination
Airlines/Hotel
Flight number
Date
From
To
Waiting time
Pune
Kochi
AirAsia
SG 8185
10 Jul
11:15
13:15
23 hours
Kochi
SAJ Earth Resort
10-11 Jul
Kochi
Kuala lumpur
AirIndia Express
IX -1422
11 Jul
12:00
18:45
23 Hours
Kuala lumpur
Sama Sama Express
11-12 Jul
Airtransit KLIA
Kuala lumpur
Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific
KA0734
12 Jul
17:45
21.55
4. Book hotels once you done with air ticket. if you are spending night suggesting to book the hotel. as this is important to be get relaxed. so you will have less chance to get sick.
5. According to new restrictions you will need to book hotel from those selected once for Students University is arranging their own quarantine. contact your university.
EXECUTION
Pune to Kochi flight ( Most worrying part)
If possible, come early at the airport before your flight, stay at some hotel close to airport to avoid stress of reaching airport on time. Also,I can't emphasize enough how much that night sleep in the hotel helped me to relax after all the packing and wrapping up done at home before leaving. Much needed break before the real travel begins.
Carry some extra clothes that you don't mind throwing away. I left all mine and kid's clothes I used in hotel there only to make some space in my overweight bags.
Very Important: Try to avoid taking multiple hard trolleys (e.g I had only one for two of us), here was a big luggage fiasco as people carried a lot of suitcases and extra baggage. (as no checking allowed in transit) and there wasn't enough space in the overhead cabinets. Bring more soft bags which can fit under the seats. Even in Cathay flight I have seen people were facing troubles due to multiple trolleys, which will eventually get resolved but avoiding more trolleys will help you avoid delays at multiple points during your travel.
Keep a pen and a document folder handy and no matter how prepared you come to airport, Air India may always have some surprises for you , some new form to fill. I filled 18 forms before leaving home but still had to fill 4-6 more.
Airports are hot and most of the time the ACs are not working so wear very very light clothes ( but don't forget to keep jackets).
Carry some snacks and lunch with you, can have some heavy meal before boarding as eating inside flight you may want to avoid. Air India's food is pathetic we could not touch anything.
PPE or not, up to you. I did not wear any, but used mask, shield, and caps, in fact wearing gloves and face shields also was a challenge given it was so hot and humid inside airport. If you're at middle seat, Air India will give you PPE kit to wear which is mandatory. Face shields come very handy inside the flight as you may need to bring your mask down for eating anything.
Jackets are must. After the initials few hours of sweating while waiting in the boarding queue, finally when the flight takes off, it becomes super cold. AI won't provide any blanket.
Kochi to KL ( Hard )
If possible, come one day earlu at Kochi airport before your flight, stay at some hotel close to airport to avoid stress of reaching airport on time. Also,I can't emphasize enough how much that night sleep in the hotel helped me to relax after all the packing and wrapping up done at home before leaving. Much needed break before the real travel begins.
Eat a heavy breakfast and then go to airport. usually airport opens at 8am. as there will be few forms needs to fill on the spot.
As you are leaving India : few important things
a. Boarding pass counter: This to keep in handy : Passport, HK visa, HKID, all forms, connecting flights ticket, hotel booking, b. Boarding pass counter: baggage not more than 7 Kg. c. Immigration takes time as long queue and officer may ask you questions d. Security checks : they will you to open up all of baggage to check. so while packing you can pack into few separate cover. like for cloths one cover, for medicines one cover etc. e. There is very less space in plane's cabin as no check-in allowed. so try to bring simple hand bag. it will make your life easy.
Transit in KL ( Smooth )
If you don't want to throw away the clothes you wore in the previous flight - keep a plastic to wrap those up and keep in a separate compartment of your bag or sanitize those. I did the second, using those sanitizing sprays and left them overnight. I wore the same for next flights too and washed after I reached QC.
Take time to relax in Sama Sama express hotel. Vegetarians - Tomato Concase and white pasta both good. American breakfast was good - Toast, beans, scrambled egg, oranges. I got some pasta packed for HK flight which came very handy.
Three hours before flight, you can start to Cathay Pacific counter. It is a 10 mins walk.
Cathay will not allow you to carry water during security check, so don't buy water in KL airport before boarding, I had to throw all bottles.
Ask Cathay Crew in flight to fill your bottles or ask for extra water as post landing you won't find water or time to find water
Please ensure to check what seats are being given to you during checking at Cathay counter, they some times change seats without telling you. It will be better if you pre-booked your seat while booking the ticket.
Arrival at HK (Busy but smooth)
You will be reminded of how efficient people can be, the whole process was super fast, keep you documents - Passport/HKid/ boarding pass handy.
Try to eat something, while you wait for the bus to go to AWE, as later you may not be able to, until you reach Fo Tan/ hotel
In no time you will be in Fo Tan. Multiple flights bringing people now a days to QC and the staff is extremely busy managing and helping so many people together, so be prepared for your immediate needs post reaching QC, expect some delay. Keep dry fruits, cookies etc handy.
Pack some very light clothes for QC stay. You relatives/friends can always bring you packages your need and QC staff will deliver at your doorstep. (this service was stopped during my stay due to lots of package deliveries)
They provide all basic needs - cleaning materials, fruits, water, milk but may take time so ask in advance. be patient! as these people have many requests. if you call multiple time for same thing they will take multiple order. hence avoid it. Also try to communicate with the via Whatsapp, I found that's best as they will get the stuff. sometime over the call they might not understands what we say to them.
Some time they will ring your bell very late night to deliver anything you have asked in the evening, if you want to avoid that, ask for things early morning, so that they will have the whole day to deliver your things.
Food is basic, rooms are basic and you will feel hot especially in the afternoon - but absolutely ok for 14 days.
Nov 20
24 Jul 2020, 08:37
