HK scraps quarantine
 

Surely this is good news for the industry. What is interesting is the fact that over in 'Fragrant Harbour' forum it's not being mentioned. They are too busy bleating and beating each other up.

Their sending condolences to a Pilot colleague who committed suicide. Not sure comes into bleating and beating perhaps you should consider apologising?

Also no change to crew designation conditions so there is nothing to celebrate.

Why you ascribe my comments to a particular thread is beyond me. Suicide is a horrible thing. I never referenced that particular thread or topic. My comments are about the constant bickering on the Forum which Blind Freddie can see. There is nothing but negativity and sniping at each other. I had a wonderful time in HK and have moved on. Surely this is a positive step and if you have been around long enough you would be aware they weren't suddenly going to drop all the stupid rules overnight and turn back the clock.

new to Pprune are we ?

Yes, it is obviously good news, but let's not get Stockholm Syndrome. The small print is still a farce and will keep the vast majority of tourists away.

pathetic HK gov. When they tighten restrictions for travellers they straight away do the same to aircrew. When they relax restrictions, then the airlines have to approach the government to get restrictions eased in line or better for aircrew

This is good news only for the company because they can now pump up the price to certain destinations such as Japan, Korea and other Asian cities and people will still take it. Pilots? Not so much. Nothing changed on the work front and they are still being treated like sh*t. Now you know why no one talks about it here!

I'm afraid it will be out of the pan and straight into the fire. Most can see that. Others are excited about some hard earned dollars coming their way. But the money will soon wear off when your eye balls are hanging out of your head at 5 am on your 26th sector that happens to be a min rest two crew back of the clock flight. The long term sickness will continue after a brief respite as the "overworked no life balance phase" beds in, in entirety.

It’s true nothing has changed in aircrew designation conditions yet, but realistically after dragging their heels for a while they will either have to let us out again on layovers, or at the very least let us test and go on returning to HK. What we really need is both, but two and a half years of crushing disappointment are not conducive to optimism, Maisk Rotum (I suddenly see what you did there :}).

Anyway, fingers crossed.

I agree.

I think it is difficult for the Government to see things outside its own small bubble. I say this as a former Hong Kong resident who wishes Hong Kong and all living there well.

Seen from the outside, the idea of in a best case scenario having to take 12 covid tests to visit HK does not appeal. I haven't taken a single test for ages now. Most of the rest of the world has moved on with vaccination and the severity of illness changing the practical reality of living with covid.

In the worst case, if one of those tests shows positive, then my plans are completely thrown in the bin and I may have to face an unknown period in an unknown location separated from my wife who will also face a similar mess as a close contact.

From a tourist's point of view, why take the risk and face all that hassle when most other places don't suffer these burdens?

I appreciate that the HK Government thinks HK is special enough that tourists will put up with this anyway, but I suspect they are wrong. I won't be visiting until all the restrictions are dropped, and as someone with family in HK I have a greater desire to visit than many.

It is, however, good news from the perspective of anyone living in HK, and it does at least show a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for people like myself who would like to visit.

It is, probably though, even better news for Singapore who will continue to benefit from a more progressive view. Until such time as HK takes this long term threat more seriously, it is perhaps doing itself more long term harm than it realises.

Maybe a tad off topic, but can anyone tell me what the routine is for transit pax at the airport - specifically PEK-HKG-LHR ?

Routine? There is none, you just fly to HK transit as normal and then jump to LHR and enjoy freedom. There is the "quarantine" orange zone. But with the new changes I guess they will remove it?

If restrictions aren't dropped asap, I am taking the next month or two off. I really have had enough. With recent tragic losses there is no push back with crew needing the time off, even from the company doctors. Look after yourselves, no one else will.

Thanks Rei,
I too would appreciate an update on the transit rules if anyone hears of any changes.
Rgds to all,
Oz2

Yes, thanks Rei ....

Be aware that you cannot do this on ID travel. Unless you are travelling with a company which gives you both boarding cards at your point of departure. With CX it is a classic "Cannot"

On a ID ticket can one land in Hong Kong and exit the airport, then board another flight say 1 day later or does one have to wait until the 3/7 days have passed?

Have a punt. What do you think ? Whilst CX crews are still locked in their rooms downroute

Well if one cannot get on an outbound flight within the 3/7 days you are not going to get many tourists staying over in Hong Kong. Full Fare or ID.

yes you just have to call a stupid number and be on hold for an hour to tell them you will not be there for your day 2,4,7,100 PCr tests . Otherwise they will lock you up next time you come to Hk

Too little, too late.

Helpful for returning Hongkongers & people who at least now can go out on vacations or business. Absolutely no use for visiting tourists and business people.

Don't forget prior to Covid the average length of stay of visitors to HKG was 3.3 days. So, who is going to want to wear a mask, have to use the idiotic 'LeaveHomeSafe' app, be restricted where they can go, have to do multiple tests...when you can go many many other places and not have to put up with all that mither..?

Add to that the fact that 85% of Hong Kong’s tourists came from up north …and they ain’t coming back any time soon…
Tourism in Hkg is dead for the time being.

Can someone say with some certainty - who offed themself? Keep reading references to it. Can keep the personal details secret if that’s your faith, but on the big picture maybe someone can lay the general details?

Yes the person is known. It is for certain what happened. I will not name here or private message. If you work for CX you can easily find out when you fly next.

Already second day of the new rules here in HK… if you’re a passenger. If you’re a crew member, you still are locked up abroad and must test and hold for hours at a far-flung terminal on arrival into HK waiting for your PCR test result.

You can see why there’s the odd bit of bleating.

CX will do all it can to keep crew locked up down route, even if the government decides to remove all restrictions on flight crew, chances are they will still keep us locked up down-route. They don’t want to lose productivity after all.

I will leave the room anyway, I am at a stage where being fired doesn't really bother me anymore. I think my mental health is more important than blind compliance.

Your probably right, but what the company also must know is that not letting us out on layovers is a significant driver of crew tacking 1 or 2 months off, not just a few days for a mild cold or flu.

Also....Keeping crew locked up down route might also increase crews reporting sick down route. After all, if your sick, you are permitted to go out and seek medical attention and get medicine even if you have called med link!