hong kong

Tag Archives for hong kong.

Hong Kong Still Imposes Mandatory Quarantine On Arrival, Set To Reduce To 3 Days

by Gary Leff on August 8, 2022

Aug 08 2022

Eventually Hong Kong (and mainland China) will lift pandemic restrictions. The city has focused on its relationship with Beijing, and the Peoples Republic of China has kept draconian Covid restrictions because much of its population has remained immunologically naive and they’ve been unwilling to using mRNA vaccines (since those represent failure of Chinese science compared to the West) and other key treatments.

China needs to keep Covid-19 in check until getting past the 20th Peoples Congress at which President Xi is expected to break with convention set by Deng Xiaoping and receive a third term. Uncontrolled spread of Covid (and invasion of Taiwan, for that matter) represent too much risk to take on for the Chinese leader before that.

Why Hong Kong Is Scapegoating Cathay Pacific For Covid-19

by Gary Leff on February 14, 2022

Feb 14 2022

Hong Kong is will reportedly be suing Cathay Pacific over its latest and worst outbreak to date of Covid-19, which the government is blaming on two crewmembers.

American Airlines First Class Awards To Hong Kong Wide Open 4+ Passengers

by Gary Leff on November 24, 2021

Nov 24 2021

For April, July, August, and September 2022 there are plenty of dates with availability for two passengers on the Dallas – Hong Kong flight in first class at 84,000 AAdvantage miles apiece. Next year there may be hope of visiting Hong Kong, or of using this flight to connect onward in Asia on American’s partner Cathay Pacific.

Availability on American’s Dallas flight is great because it’s a useful connecting point for most of the country.

New Airline Launching To Celebrate The End Of Freedom In Hong Kong

by Gary Leff on September 6, 2021

Sep 06 2021

There’s a new Chinese airline forming out of Hong Kong, expected to partially launch in four weeks, with an explicit aim of celebrating – and fostering – the turn of Hong Kong away from the west and towards the Chinese Communist Party.

Greater Bay Airlines plans to make its inaugural flight – a charter to Beijing – on October 1, the 72nd anniversary of the Community Party takeover of China.

How One New Priority Pass Lounge Shows The Failure Of Asia In The Pandemic’s Re-Opening Phase

by Gary Leff on June 19, 2021

Jun 19 2021

Cathay Pacific carried an average of just 774 passengers per day in May. Only around 2000 passengers per day used the Hong Kong airport. That’s only 1% of pre-pandemic volume. As a result, Cathay Pacific has just one lounge open – The Wing First Class lounge.

The Wing first class lounge joins Priority Pass effective Monday, June 21.

Superspreader: 25 People On A Single Flight Test Positive For Covid-19

by Gary Leff on April 18, 2021

Apr 18 2021

Indian airline Vistara was banned from flying to Hong Kong for two weeks earlier this month after bringing in passengers who tested positive for Covid-19 on two separate flights.

While four passengers initially tested positive on April 4th’s Delhi – Hong Kong flight, 25 people on that flight have now tested positive.

Cargo Catches Fire Moments Before It’s Loaded Onto Plane In Hong Kong

by Gary Leff on April 14, 2021

Apr 14 2021

Over the weekend, Vivo Y20 cell phones and accessories which were made in Guangdong, China and headed to Bangkok caught fire as they were about to be loaded onto an aircraft in Hong Kong.

British Airways Flight Attendants Held In Hong Kong 14 Day Forced Government Quarantine

by Gary Leff on September 24, 2020

Sep 24 2020

British Airways cabin crew who tested negative for Covid-19 on arrival were nonetheless rounded up from the SkyCity Marriott near the Hong Kong airport and taken to a forced 14 day quarantine in a government facility when one member of the crew tested positive. The airline’s pilots were allowed to return to London.

In Hong Kong, Morning Airport Arrivals Take Less Than An Hour From Landing To Negative Covid Test (Don’t Show Up In Afternoon)

by Gary Leff on August 22, 2020

Aug 22 2020

Back in May the process for entering Hong Kong was one of the most excruciating things I’ve seen in travel, taking the better part of a day. It involved being bused to the EXPO Center, long waits for testing and results, and receiving a monitoring bracelet.

While transit has opened up in some cases, the process for actually entering Hong Kong is still stringent – but has been substantially streamlined.

Man Walks Out Of Hong Kong Airport After Three Months In Transit

by Gary Leff on July 4, 2020

Jul 04 2020

A Cathay Pacific passenger boarded a flight from Canada to Hong Kong back in March, intending to connect to Vietnam. Hong Kong transit was shut down March 25. Vietnam closed its border to arrivals. He lived inside the airport for three months.

Then he walked out.