Departures
Below are step-by-step departure instructions for you to enjoy a quick and smooth journey to your boarding gate.
Departure Procedures
We offer a range of check-in options for travellers. Make sure you have all your travel documents ready, including a valid passport, air ticket or booking confirmation and any necessary visas.
- Counter Check-in: Enjoy round-the-clock check-in at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Click here to see which check-in aisle your airline is using.
- Self Check-in:
- Smartphone Check-in: Passengers who complete online check-in and scan their travel documents using the participating airlines’ mobile apps before arriving at HKIA can proceed directly to the Smartphone Express Bag Drop counters for baggage drop.
- Smart Check-in Kiosks: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have more than 100 Smart Check-in kiosks for convenient check-ins. Learn more about the facilities here.
Passengers are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for passport control and security procedures. Please contact your airline if you have any enquiries. Click here for airline contact details.
In-town Check-in: Passenger can also complete check-in and/or baggage drop-off at the following locations^:
- Home, office or hotel in downtown Hong Kong*
- Hong Kong West Kowloon Station*
- Airport Express Stations
- Selected S.F. Express stations*
^The services are only available for passengers taking participating airlines.
*The above services are provided at a cost.
To avoid any delays, please ensure that all your baggage is packed according to your airline’s security guidelines.
-
Self Bag Drop: Passengers who use the Smart Check-in Kiosks can use Self Bag Drop counters to check-in the baggage.
Smartphone Express Bag Drop: Passengers who completed online check-in and scan their travel documents using participating airlines’ mobile app, can proceed to Smartphone Express Bag Drop counters to check-in the baggage.
- Hand Baggage: Several measuring gauges can be found at each check-in aisle in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for passengers to check if their hand baggage meets the Airline Operator Committee’s guidelines. Hand baggage must not exceed 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (22” x 14” x 9”).
Passengers travelling to selected destinations with participating airlines can proceed to the Self Bag Drop counters/ Smartphone Express Bag Drop counters in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to check in your baggage.
Passenger can also complete check-in and/or baggage drop-off at the following locations^:
- Home, office or hotel in downtown Hong Kong*
- Hong Kong West Kowloon Station*
- Airport Express Stations
- Selected S.F. Express stations*
^The services are only available for passengers taking participating airlines.
*The services are provided at a cost
To ensure the security and safety of all travellers, your hand baggage will be inspected and a body scan may be conducted. Please have your travel documents and boarding pass ready for inspection before having the security check.
Get more tips and information about the process here.
Please make sure you have the following documents ready before reaching the immigration counter.
-
Hong Kong Residents: Hong Kong Identity Card.
-
Other Visitors: Valid travel document.
Related Services
Passengers are advised to arrive at your boarding gates at least 30 minutes before flight departure.
Hong Kong International Airport is equipped with e-Boarding Gates to provide touchless and convenient boarding experience to passengers. You can use the e-Boarding Gates to board your flight with a simple face scan at the camera.
To be eligible to use the e-Boarding Gates, passengers must be aged 7 or above holding valid travel documents and have completed their identity check at e-Security Gates.
Please read our Privacy Policy for more details.
Related Services
Have your boarding pass and travel document ready before entering the Departures Immigration Hall.
Passengers aged 7 or above holding electronic travel document can use the e-Security Gates. For those who need staff assistance, please procced to the Assisted Channels.
Please read our Privacy Policy for more details.
We want to ensure a safe flying experience for all travellers and have implemented strict security regulations that are in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Read our tips below so that you will have more time to enjoy at Hong Kong International Airport before boarding your flight.
Electronic and metallic items in your hand baggage or on person should be placed in a separate tray for security check.
Starting from 13 August 2018, all transfer passengers at HKIA travelling with LAGs contained in tamper-evident sealed plastic bags are required to go through enhanced security screening by a specialised LAGs screening equipment at the transfer passenger security screening points.
In some cases, the LAGs in the sealed plastic bags will have to be removed from the bags for screening. When cleared, the LAGs will be repacked in a new tamper-evident sealed plastic bag provided by HKIA.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time for the screening. Should you have any queries, please contact your airlines
Please walk through the archway metal detector. You may also be subjected to hand search.
For passengers departing for the U.S., please note that additional security measures required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on electronic devices are in place at HKIA. Passengers affected are advised to contact their airlines for details.
