Sitting on a seawall in Hong Kong, Chanda and I took a moment to reflect on how we got here. Our journey started with a flight from LAX to Tokyo, followed by a five-hour flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. That second leg felt similar to a cross-country flight in the U.S., and we booked it through HK Express, a budget airline similar to Spirit or Frontier. As expected with budget airlines, there were no first-class options, no complimentary snacks or drinks, and strict baggage policies. We opted for bulkhead seats for extra legroom, but honestly, the extra space was minimal. Despite the no-frills setup, the flight was on time, and the staff was incredibly friendly, making the experience as smooth as possible.
One unexpected quirk of the flight was that Bluetooth devices weren’t allowed. No wireless earbuds, no streaming—nothing. I tried connecting mine, but they simply wouldn’t work. Looking around, I noticed something strange: nearly everyone on the flight was either sleeping or just sitting quietly. It was easily one of the weirdest flights we’ve ever been on. Thankfully, I had a book and some offline games on my tablet to pass the time. Another surprise was how strictly they enforced baggage rules. Our backpacks were supposed to be under a certain weight limit, but instead of weighing them, they checked their size and tagged them for under-seat storage. If you’re used to tossing your bag in the overhead bin, be aware that some airlines here won’t allow it unless it’s properly approved.
One embarrassing and costly mistake we made was with our airline booking. Our middle names weren’t included, even though they appear on our passports. In the U.S., this usually isn’t a big deal, but in Asia, it can be a problem. We had to pay nearly $50 per person to have it corrected at the airport, which was frustrating, considering how carefully we had double-checked our reservations. Luckily, we caught the same issue on our return flight early enough to email the airline and get it fixed for free. If you’re traveling in Asia, always ensure your name matches exactly as it appears on your passport to avoid unnecessary fees and stress.
Despite those hiccups, our arrival in Hong Kong was surprisingly easy. The customs line was long—stretching what felt like a mile—but we made it through in under 30 minutes, much faster than anything we’ve experienced in the U.S. The airport was modern, clean, and incredibly efficient. So far, this part of our journey has been smooth, but we’ll see how things go in Shanghai, where the visa approval process kicks in. Remember, as always, whatever you decide to do, just get out there and do it!
Website: https://www.hkexpress.com/en
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