HK Express Review 2026: Baggage, Seats & HKIA Arrival | TRVLOGUE

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HK Express Review 2026: Baggage, Seats & HKIA Arrival | TRVLOGUE

Booking Flights to Hong Kong & HK Express

Flight Review & Airport Arrival Guide

Words & Photos ©High Couple

'Should we take a trip to Hong Kong?'

If you're currently asking yourself this,

you're probably wondering how much flights cost

and what the current arrival process looks like.

Today, I'll walk you through expected flight prices

and share an honest review of flying HK Express,

the region's popular low-cost carrier,

plus a step-by-step guide to arriving in Hong Kong!

Let's start with how much you should expect to pay.

If you're flying out of a major hub (like Seoul/Incheon),

and you're flexible with your dates, you can easily

find round-trip tickets in the low ~$230s,

even with today's higher fuel surcharges.

There are plenty of departure times to choose from,

and snagging this price for a weekend trip is a steal!

On the other hand, if you're flying from smaller

regional airports (like our flight from Busan),

options are limited and it costs ~$40 to ~$75 more.

Expect to pay around ~$270 to ~$300.

For our recent family vacation,

my parents flew out of the main hub for ~$300,

while we paid ~$380 flying out of our regional airport.

To summarize, for flights in May/June 2026,

~$230 from major hubs

and ~$270 to ~$300 from regional airports

is considered a very reasonable price point.

You can easily compare and book

Hong Kong flights using the link below!

Check Hong Kong Flight Deals Here

Next up, let's dive into our experience flying

HK Express to get there.

We booked an early morning flight departing at 7:40 AM,

so we arrived at the airport around 5:00 AM.

The check-in counters weren't open yet,

and thankfully, the lines weren't too crazy.

While HK Express does offer mobile check-in,

it doesn't allow for free seat selection,

so we opted to check in at the counter.

HK Express has a strict 15 lbs (7kg) limit for carry-on bags.

Because this is quite low, you'll likely need a checked bag.

(Checked bags are allowed up to 44 lbs / 20kg.)

We paid to check one bag and kept the other as a carry-on.

At check-in, they weighed the carry-on and attached

a tag proving it was under the 15 lbs limit.

They are notorious for weighing bags at the gate,

so make absolutely sure you stick to the weight limit!

Another critical thing to note:

The boarding gate closes strictly 30 minutes

before the scheduled departure time.

As you can see on the ticket, our flight was at 7:40 AM,

but boarding was strictly set for 7:00 AM.

The aircraft features a standard 3x3 layout,

typical for short-haul budget flights.

The front row offers extra legroom,

but the standard seats further back are pretty snug.

I'm a 5'11" (180cm) adult male, and while I fit,

my knees were definitely feeling a bit cramped.

There's nothing fancy about the seats aside from a tray table.

All in-flight meals and drinks must be purchased.

Also, keep in mind that they strictly prohibit

bringing outside food or drinks on board.

The flight took about three and a half hours.

Since there's no seatback entertainment,

I highly recommend downloading movies or bringing a book.

Once we landed in Hong Kong, we headed straight to immigration.

To get to the main arrival hall,

you have to hop on an airport shuttle train.

Be prepared for a fair bit of walking!

After getting off the shuttle,

just follow the 'Visitors' signs to reach immigration.

There are no paper or electronic arrival cards anymore,

so you only need your passport to clear immigration!

However, immigration officers may occasionally ask

for proof of a return ticket or hotel booking,

so it's smart to have those printed or screenshotted just in case.

(They didn't ask me any questions at all.)

From clearing immigration to reaching the baggage claim,

it took us about 20 minutes.

The bags took a little while to come out,

so the entire arrival process took about 30 to 35 minutes.

Pro tip: Before you exit the arrivals area,

there's an HSBC ATM where you can easily withdraw cash.

That wraps up my guide to flight prices,

flying HK Express, and navigating the airport!

Hong Kong is an incredibly easy city to travel in,

and experiencing its unique blend of Chinese

and British culture makes it a highly rewarding destination.

While summers can get a bit hot (around 85°F+),

the cheaper flights make it a fantastic budget-friendly getaway!

If you're debating a trip to Hong Kong,

I hope this review helps you plan your next adventure!