Transit through Beijing airport

mrslomax

Hi - we are due to fly to Hong Kong via Beijing to pick up a cruise on 14th February. Our TA has told us that the FCO advice does not apply as we will not leave Beijing airport. Can anyone let us know if this is true please? We still want to travel but would be much happier flying direct now.

bradders1983

The advice may not apply but how does the TA expect you to get to Beijing if everyone is cancelling the flights?

bradders1983

Oh, and Hong Kong is nearer to Wuhan than Beijing is. Thought this was worth pointing out.

Voyager2002

The enquiry is best directed to your insurance company: a standard term in most travel insurance is that you are not covered if you travel against FCO advice.

mrslomax

Thanks for your replies - we are flying Air China so I expect the flight will still go. I have contacted our travel insurance provider & they are checking with the underwriter.

bradders1983

My point about Hong Kong being closer to Wuhan than Beijing is still stands, it makes no sense at all that you are happy to go to HK in the middle of a city with millions of people, but not to Beijing through an airport transit lounge

eDicky

Your flight from Beijing to Hong Kong, if it operates, is likely to carry mainly international passengers like yourselves. Permits for Chinese nationals to enter Hong Kong are being withheld, among other measures to reduce risk of spread to the territory. Chinese nationals are restricted from international travel in general, so Beijing airport will be much less busy. Of course, the situation may change in the intervening period before your planned travel.

Voyager2002

bradders1983 wrote: »

My point about Hong Kong being closer to Wuhan than Beijing is still stands, it makes no sense at all that you are happy to go to HK in the middle of a city with millions of people, but not to Beijing through an airport transit lounge

Except that it is far easier and more usual for people from Wuhan to visit Beijing than Hong Kong. There are all sorts of reasons for visiting the capital of your country (Beijing) while the decades of separation between Hong Kong and China mean that few people in Wuhan have any connections there. (The language is different as well.) Furthermore, Chinese people would need a permit from their local police before being allowed to enter Hong Kong, while there are no such restrictions on travel to Beijing.

mrslomax

Thanks everyone - we are visiting HK to pick up a cruise. The cruise company will now deny boarding to anyone coming from Mainland China so our TA has changed our flights to Qatar through Doha. Great result!