Practical tips
- If you are flying to Hong Kong from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport—Hong Kong International Airport
HKG
(known locally as Chek Lap Kok). It has two terminals connected by driverless train and two separate concourses - North Satellite and Midfield. Terminal 1 is one of the largest in the world (90 boarding gates are located on the upper level), and Terminal 2 serves just as a check-in point for passengers who are then transported to Terminal 1 for their flights.
Despite its daunting size, though, the airport's minimalistic layout aims to ease navigational problems. Things run surprisingly smoothly after the arrival - there are short wait times at immigration (up to 15 minutes), and luggage arrives at the carousel within 10-15 minutes.
There are various options for shopping, dining, and entertainment, including SkyMart in Terminal 1 and SkyPlaza in Terminal 2. Free WiFi is available throughout all terminals ("#HKAirport Free WiFi" network, no registration required), and there are plenty of outlets for charging mobile devices (Hong Kong/English plugs and USB only). If you want to relax during your layover, you can purchase a lounge pass for one of the 24-hour lounges (some of which offer showers) or head to IMAX Theatre in Terminal 2 (with Hong Kong’s largest IMAX screen).
These are also the best (and cheapest) airports to fly into Hong Kong. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce, and airfare decreases as a result.
- Once in Hong Kong, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, and Greater Bay Airlines. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation) and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Hong Kong can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Scoot, VietJet, Air Busan, Hong Kong Express, Spring Airlines, and Thai Smile. If you have a layover in Hong Kong and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money.
Flights to Hong Kong
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Hong Kong. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Hong Kong, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston have direct flights to Hong Kong Intl with United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. These flights are between 14 and 16 hours long, and you can book them for around $800 one-way.
Direct flights from Canada to Hong Kong depart from Toronto and Vancouver and you'll be flying with Air Canada, Cathay Pacific or Austrian Airlines. Expect to pay 900-1100 CAD for a one way flight that last between 13 and 15 hours. - Hong Kong is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Hong Kong with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. If you are booking a ticket to Hong Kong with two connecting flights the best airports for a layover are Manila, Seoul, and Tokyo. - The best airlines to fly to Hong Kong from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hong Kong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Hong Kong?
The best time to book flights to Hong Kong is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Hong Kong flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Hong Kong flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in China. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Hong Kong less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Hong Kong, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Hong Kong from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Hong Kong — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. If you are flying direct from Europe to Hong Kong be prepared to spend at least 11 hours on a plane. Cathay Pacific has the most non-stop flights to Hong Kong International Airport. There are also European airlines that serve routes to HKIA from London and Manchester (British Airways), from Frankfurt and Munich (Lufthansa), from Zurich (SWISS), from Helsinki (Finnair), and from Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Hong Kong include Air China, Air France, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Finnair, Hong Kong Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Hong Kong from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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Airlines flying to Hong Kong | Air Busan, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Air Tahiti Nui, AirAsia, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Iberia, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, Kalitta Air, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Loong Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mongolian Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Philippines AirAsia, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Spring Airlines, SWISS, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Tianjin Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Airlines |
---|---|
Airlines of Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Greater Bay Airlines |
Main airports in Hong Kong | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) — Hong Kong |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €700 – €1100 (from Europe) ✈ $1100 – $1600 (from USA) |
Hong Kong: The gateway to China
Geologically and culturally speaking, Hong Kong is a key gateway to Mainland China. With many English speakers and familiar standards of life, it’s a good city to “acclimatize” to China.
Hong Kong is well-connected with the Chinese mainland. Its international airport has regular flights to over 40 cities, including Beijing (3 hours 20 minutes flight time), Shanghai (2 hrs 30 min), Guangzhou (1 hr), Chengdu (2 hrs 40 min), and Xiamen (1 hr 25 min).
Many key cities in the Chinese mainland have a 144-hour visa–free transit policy, which allows anyone to enjoy a longer stay (up 6 days) in China without a visa — a great opportunity to take an extension tour while transiting through the country. Please note that you will be required to present an onward ticket departing the Chinese mainland within 144 hours.
The cheapest time to fly to Hong Kong
The cheapest time to fly to Hong Kong is between June and September. This is a low tourist season and the monsoon season – the weather is rather hot and humid, and there’s a lot of rainfall. As there are not many tourists visiting the city, this is the best time to look for deals on flights and hotels.
Months between June and September are a good time to fly to Hong Kong if you want to experience its nightlife or visit its high-end malls and local markets around Kowloon (like the Jade Market or Temple Street Night Market) for great shopping opportunities. For those interested in culture, the ancient Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng Festival) happens in June – with spectacular boat races and amazing parties thrown around the harbor.
When planning your visit to Hong Kong, try to avoid Chinese national holidays and large conventions, when flight and hotel prices soar (even during the off-peak season). Check out the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s events calendar for updated information.
Travel cheaper to and from the airport
Hong Kong’s taxis are great and readily available. But you can save a few dollars if you take the Airport Express instead – part of Hong Kong’s fantastic MTR network. It costs HK$100 (~US$13/A$19/€12) to get to Kowloon Station from the airport.
You can save even more by taking the bus from the airport: Citybus A21 to Kowloon or A11 to Hong Kong Island cost less than half the train. You will travel in a comfortable, double-decker bus with air-conditioning and large luggage racks to store your luggage. The bus stop is situated outside the Arrival Hall on the right side (look for the Ground Transportation Centre sign).
In-Town Check-in
Sometimes, your hotel check-out time is hours before your flight departure time. In that case, go straight to In-Town Check-In office located at the Kowloon MTR station, drop off your luggage, check in for your flight, and collect your boarding pass. You’ve just got a few extra hours to enjoy Hong Kong city!
In-Twon Check-In is available as early as one day in advance or as late as 120 minutes ahead of your flight departure time. Among the airlines that accept Day Before Check-In are Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Hong Kong Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.
Please note that Airport Express fare to the airport will be charged when you enter the In-Town Check-In area (you can reuse the ticket at any time on the same day).
Store your baggage at the airport
If you want to explore the airport (check the largest IMAX screen in Hong Kong!) or head into the city during your layover, use the convenient baggage storage located on Level 5 of Terminal 1.
The price for one piece of luggage is just HK$12 (~$1.5/A$2.3/€1.4) per hour or HK$140 (~$18/A$26/€17) per day.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Hong Kong has only one time zone all year round – HKT (Hong Kong Time) which is UTC+8. It is 13 hours ahead of New York, 8 hours ahead of London, and 3 hours behind Sydney. Among other countries that observe the same UTC+8 time zone are China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines.
Unlike western countries, Hong Kong does not have an associated daylight saving time.
Get a VPN before traveling to Hong Kong
In 1997 Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. As democracy in Hong Kong is slowly being eroded by growing interference from Beijing, its internet freedom status has slipped to a “partly free” (ranking by advocacy body Freedom House). The internet in Hong Kong isn’t as heavily censored as in mainland China (yet), however, it is monitored – and if you’re a traveler, you should be concerned.
For this reason, we recommend installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app on your phone and laptop before visiting the city. It will not only encrypt your internet traffic but also protects you from any future censorship introduced in Hong Kong by the Chinese Communist Party.
Using a VPN in Hong Kong is still legal, so you will not break any local laws.
Download My HKG app for real-time updates and notifications
If you are traveling through Hong Kong Airport, make sure to download the official app to receive real-time updates on your flight status, gate changes, baggage arrival, etc, or to navigate the terminals with interactive maps and wayfinding assistant. The app will also help you to find and connect to the airport Wi-Fi via its Auto Wi-Fi function, and the integrated helpful chatbot will answer your inquiries about HKIA.
You can download the My HKG app for your Android or iOS phone.
Domestic flights from Hong Kong
Most domestic routes in China are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Xi'an from Hong Kong Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, and Greater Bay Airlines.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Chinese destinations.
Flights to Hong Kong
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Hong Kong. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Hong Kong. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.
Direct flights to Hong Kong depart from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Auckland with Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Qatar Airways. Expect 8-11 hours on a plane and ticket prices ranging from 500 to 800 AUD one-way. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Hong Kong, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, QueenstownZQN
, and DunedinDUD
. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Hong Kong via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Hong Kong are AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Scoot, VietJet, Air Busan, Hong Kong Express, Spring Airlines, and Thai Smile.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
40–80% off flights to Hong Kong
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Flights to Hong Kong
from major hubs in Asia
- Hong Kong International Airport (known by locals as Chek Lap Kok) is the 4th biggest airport in Asia, and is well-connected with most other Asian hubs. You can fly direct to HKIA from Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, among others.
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Hong Kong look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Hong Kong will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting China and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Hong Kong dataset
User Review
4.6 (591 votes)Flights to Hong Kong
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. The optimal time to book international flights to Hong Kong is 2–8 months in advance, with a "prime booking window" at 4–6 months before departure for the best bargains.
In economy class, medium to long-haul flights to Hong Kong range from $150 to $600, and can go up to $1,000 for routes exceeding 6,000 km. Round-trip bookings offer savings between 20% and 35%. Strategic planning like early booking, flying in low-season, booking directly with airlines, or chosing a route with a layover can save an additional 5–30%.
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About the author
Maksim Koval
Aviation industry expert, digital editor at Tiket2 since 2010, and the pioneering founder of the Air Traveler Club.
Maksim is a Bali-based seasoned travel writer, avid flyer, tinkerer, photographer, motorbiker, animal lover, and the truest evangelist of the company. His dedication to providing valuable insights and engaging content has established him as a trusted voice in the industry.
You can contact him via email at maksim[at]tiket2.com.