If you’re flying into Hong Kong International Airport, but you’re travelling onwards to Macao then don’t go through immigration. Every article I read before I flew told me to go through immigration, get my bag and then to follow the signs to the HZMB Shuttle. Even the cabin crew member from Hong Kong told me this.
THIS IS WRONG!
You don’t need to clear immigration or collect your bag, you can seamlessly and easily catch the airport direct bus from Hong Kong International Airport from Macao.
I’ll tell you how to do this in this article, and most importantly, I’ll tell you how to get back from Macao back to Hong Kong International Airport without having to go through Hong Kong Immigration.
As a bonus, you’ll also have very short bag check and security lines too.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO MACAO
Step 1: Once you disembark from your incoming flight, look for signs for the E2 Transfer Desks.
Step 2: There you’ll see two large customer service / ticket desks. One is for ferries to mainland China and the other if for the fast ferry to Macao, you don’t want either of these.
Step 3: As you look at these desks there is another smaller desk around the corner, this is the Airport Direct Bus to Macao via the HZMB (or the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao – Bridge. Catchy title!)
Step 4: There you’ll buy your ticket (although my ticket was free as part of a promotion) and give them your baggage receipt from your boarding card. They will get your bags for you.
Step 5: Go and get a coffee, connect to the excellent Hong Kong Airport free Wi-Fi and wait for your boarding time.
BOARDING
Step 6: The gate for the bus is around the corner from the ticket desk. Go past the ferry desks, turn left. Go past the duty free and turn left again. There it is.
NOTE: The gate will open before your departure. Don’t hang around, go the gate as soon as it opens.
Step 7: Once through gate you’ll go down the long escalator to the people mover which will take you to baggage reclaim at the Sky Pier.
Step 8: Collect your luggage (the luggage allowance is one suitcase per person) and wait to be called.
Step 9: Now just board your bus to Macao and enjoy the ride across the bridge
IN MACAO
Once you arrive you will need to find the arrivals door at the bus depot, here you’ll go through immigration, I’m a UK resident and I didn’t need to apply for a visa as a tourist.
On the other side you’re in Macao. Taxis are (as I recall) up one floor, you can take the lift (elevator).
I took a courtesy bus to my hotel, but these courtesy busses aren’t just for hotel guests, they’re for gamblers, day trippers, and anyone who wants to get on them, so if you’re destination is near a hotel or casino with a courtesy bus, use that because it’s free!
FROM MACAO TO HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Step 1: You can buy a ticket at the port (apparently) but I was told I needed to buy a ticket from the Macao Hong Kong Airport Direct Bus website
Step 2: Get to the port in plenty of time, I got there over an hour before my bus was due to depart and I didn’t have huge amounts of time to spare.
NOTE: Also make sure your bus gets you to the airport in good time too, I would recommend that the usual 2 hours before is probably best, especially if you have checked baggage.
Step 3: Once at the port, look for the entrance marked departures, it’s on the upper floor and I had to take the lift (elevator) up one level from where I was dropped off by the free shuttle from the hotel.
Step 4: Assuming your flying directly out of Hong Kong International Airport and not planning to clear immigration and go into Hong Kong (this is who this article is for) and you have bags to check, look for the check-in service as you go in.
Step 5: From there make your way through immigration and security and to the waiting area for your bus. Check in with the desk as you go in.
Your bus will deposit you at the Sky Pier in Hong Kong where you’ll be reunited with your checked baggage.
Step 6: You’ll then go into a departure hall with check-in desks where you can check your bag again (I think this is a security measure. You and your bags go into the airport together)
Step 7: Go through security and you’re airside, ready to go to your lounge or gate.
I hope you find this article helpful, but if you have a question or a suggestion for improvement then please let me know in the comments, an article is a living thing that can be changed and improved as time goes on.
Thank you
Phil