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Can I leave the airport and come back in?

  • 06-08-2011 12:29pm
    #1
    Rabies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,258 ✭✭✭✭


    I have a 7hr break in london heathrow before my flight to hong kong. Then another 7hrs there before my next flight to Auckland. If I get my boarding pass at the transfer desk can I walk out and go for a trip to the city to pass the time?


Comments

  • #2
    Stinicker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,102 ✭✭✭Stinicker


    I have done this before in Heathrow twice and once in New York-JFK enroute to Las Vegas, never been to Hong Kong so can't comment.

    The main obstacle to something like this would be if you were only transiting between countries and you did not have a visa permission to enter the actual country.

    However in the Heathrow case this won't matter being Irish and Hong Kong offers 90 days visa free access to Irish nationals also and is classified as different from Mainland China where you would probably need a transit visa if for example you were routed through Beijing and wanted to sightsee for a few hours during the stopover.

    http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm

    Last time I was in Heathrow I had an 8 hour wait for onwards connection to Abu Dhabi & Bangkok and left my luggage at the left luggage place for £8, I was on two separate flights from Ireland with Aer Lingus and Etihad to Thailand. If you are flying from Ireland to New Zealand on the one ticket your luggage will disappear into the bowels of Heathrow and wait there for boarding onto your next flight, providing your luggage is checked through by BMI or Aer Lingus.

    If travelling into London take the Heathrow express otherwise the normal london underground will take nearly two hours just to get to the city centre.


  • #3
    Rabies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,258 ✭✭✭✭Rabies


    Cheers.. I won't be seeing my bags until i hit aucks again.
    Have crap stop over times. Was the only flights available for tomorrow that worked when it was booked.
    2hrs to london? Jesus! Will def get the airport express.
    I have been in hong kong before, don't think it was too long on the train.


  • #4
    McSween
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,298 ✭✭✭McSween


    2 hours is an exaggeration. i have done the underground to london a few times and an hour would be more accurate. in terms of your situation however, the heathrow express is the best option.


  • #5
    Stinicker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,102 ✭✭✭Stinicker


    McSween wrote: »
    2 hours is an exaggeration. i have done the underground to london a few times and an hour would be more accurate. in terms of your situation however, the heathrow express is the best option.

    When I done it took close enough to two hours, I had to change trains as there was track works so it was probably longer than normal, still a long trip and the express is a better if more expensive idea.


  • #6
    Rabies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,258 ✭✭✭✭Rabies


    I took the express in. Heathrow T3 was packed today. Not a seat to be found. Paying £32 return is worth it. 4 trains an hour, only takes 15min. I've done my walking around now. Sitting in a nice bar, had food and relaxing on soft leather couch enjoying wifi and a pint :)


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