Triangle Trip

If you are flying to Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA” or “HKG”) to get to South China (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan and Zhongshan) for business or pleasure, there are many options to go directly from HKIA to Shenzhen and Guangzhou without setting foot in Hong Kong. The best option is to use one of the three to four bus operators that go from HKG to South China every hour.

If you’re visiting Hong Kong for business or pleasure, I highly recommend getting the PCCW prepaid international mobile plan. Make sure your GMS phone is unlocked before you leave the country. You may also want to check out my previous posts on what to see and where to stay in Hong Kong.

PCCW has one of the cheapest prepaid calling plans in the world, and you can even call international numbers with great rates. The two downsides are:

1. You need to memorize a bunch of codes to dial long distance (IDD)
2. You will need to use the prepaid SIM at least once every three months

For your convenience, below are the codes used to dial international numbers from Hong Kong, and codes you’ll need to dial to use the PCCW prepaid SIM from abroad:

*  Calling from Hong Kong to International number:  0060 + Country Code + Area Code + Telephone Number.  If you are calling the US from Hong Kong:  0060-1-212-xxx-xxxx.

*  When you are outside of Hong Kong (i.e., back in the US), you can still use the SIM card to keep it active with favorable rates. To call Hong Kong with the PCCW Rechargeable SIM:  **128* + Hong Kong Telephone Number + # then SEND.

*  While you are roaming and you want to use the PCCW SIM to call the local country (i.e., you are in the US and want to call a number in the US):  **128*001 + Country Code + Area Code + Telephone Number + # then SEND. If you are in the US and want to call a US number:  **128*001-1-212-xxx-xxxx.

You can pick up a PCCW prepaid rechargeable SIM card from HK$28 to HK$100 in value at any PCCW store, malls or grocery stores. Recharging your PCCW prepaid SIM can be done the same way. It’s similar to buying prepaid long distance phone cards across the world, where you buy a prepaid card at a grocery store with an activation code.

With heightened security measures at US airports, Los Angeles International’s (LAX) TSA staff can appear to be slower than usual over the 2009 holidays. But the situation isn’t all that bad. I got to LAX at 11:10AM for a 12:30PM flight in anticipation for delays and bag check. With Medallion status, it took me 50 minutes to check my bags and clear TSA security at LAX’s Terminal 5 for a Delta flight (I had to check a bag because I was carrying California wine back to the east coast.).

Here are some statistics and best practices for your December 2009 and January 2010 holiday travel at LAX’s Terminal 5:

*  Give yourself at least one hour to get through TSA security regardless if your airline status. It still took me exactly 50 minutes to check my bags and get through TSA security; this is despite the fact that I’m a Medallion member, and I know my way around LAX terminals.

*  Forget the status line and just line up with everyone else. I was on the Delta Medallion/First Class line and waited 35 minutes to pass the first TSA security checkpoint – where they check your ID and ticket. The regular line was a lot faster as people who got in line with me passed me on the first checkpoint. There were 3 screeners checking IDs on the normal line vs 1 screener for the Medallion/First Class line.

*  If you’re checking bags and don’t have status, give yourself two hours to check your bags and get through TSA security. The regular bag check line was wrapping around the doors outside the departure terminal at LAX Terminal 5. I also noticed issues with the checkin kiosks as people were complaining.

*  Note that LAX’s Terminal 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all interconnected. You can always checkin at Terminal 5 and use the walkway to get to Terminal 7 or 4.

I dropped off friends at LAX Terminal 6 and noticed the United line was also wrapped around the doors of Terminal 6 and terminal 7. I suggested our best practices (see previous posts: use Terminal 6 vs 7 and quickly get through Terminal 7) to my friends and they were able to clear TSA security in 20 minutes.

Happy 2010 everyone!