Cheap Flights from New York (NYC) to Hong Kong Intl (HKG)

If you’re flying from New York City to Hong Kong, your flight route will take you halfway across the globe, from the bright lights of the Big Apple, to Hong Kong’s glowing forest of skyscrapers, in a city that is one of the world’s most important financial centers. These tips from Skyscanner will help make sure that your journey between these two buzzing urban centers is hassle free.

Flight Route Options

You can fly directly from New York City to Hong Kong from either Newark or JFK. Flights from JFK are hosted by Cathay Pacific, which also flies out of Newark. Other airlines flying from Newark direct to Hong Kong include United and American. Direct flights last around 16 hours. Of course, if you don’t mind a connection (and a chance to stretch your legs) there are many more options of airlines and routes available. Most overseas flights will provide you with complimentary meal services, in-flight entertainment and at least one free checked bag, but it’s always best to check the specifics with your airline in advance. Skyscanner’s airline information pages will give you a quick summary of all the key details for your airline.

You can arrive to any of the NYC airports by car, taxi, or a range of public transportation options, including bus, train, or metro. No matter how you get there, make sure to figure in plenty of time for travel, particularly if your arrival time coincides with rush hour traffic, as this can add minutes if not hours onto your journey.

Immigration

US citizens traveling to Hong Kong are not required to have a visa for stays of under 90 days. However, your passport must be valid for 1 month beyond the date you plan on leaving Hong Kong. If you plan on travelling to the People’s Republic of China from Hong Kong, you must apply for a visa, as you cannot travel to China without one. For more details on visiting Hong Kong and neighboring countries, please refer to the information on the official government website.

Landing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong international Airport (HKG), which is also known as Chek Lap Kok, has been named the “World’s Best Airport” 8 times. There are two terminals, but all arrivals come into Terminal 1.

The Airport Express Train is a quick and convenient way to get into the city, running every 10 minutes, but tickets are expensive. For a more reasonably priced route, you can take the S1 bus to the Tung Chung MTR station, and from there take the MTR Tung Chung line to Hong Kong, Kowloon, or Tsim Sha Tsui. There are also a number of buses to connect you throughout the city, though traffic jams may slow them down depending on the time of day. Buses beginning with A are more direct than E buses, and also include free Wi-Fi. The airport also provides taxis, and if you’re interested in renting a car, have a look at Skyscanner’s car rental search for Hong Kong, to find your ideal car at the price that’s right for you.

Time Zone, Currency, Practicalities

Hong Kong is 12 hours ahead of New York. The currency is Hong Kong Dollars (HKD, HK$), which are worth around $0.13 in US dollars, though of course it’s good to check the exchange rate as you go, since it changes from day to day.

If you’re looking for plug converters, Hong Kong uses a British three-pin plug (type G) with 220 Volts at 50 Hertz.

The official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, while many people also speak Cantonese. Due to the long-term British colonial presence in the past, you’ll find that English is still widely spoken.