In October 2022, Hong Kong announced plans to give away 500,000 airline tickets upon its reopening, in an effort to boost tourism. With Hong Kong having now fully reopened (and lifting all travel restrictions), this giveaway will finally be happening. While most of us won’t be eligible, I still think this is an interesting initiative to look at.
In this post:
Hong Kong will lure tourists with free airplane tickets
As of March 1, 2023, Hong Kong will be launching its “World of Winners” ticket giveaway, sponsored by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAKH). With this, we’ll see 500,000 airline tickets given away to travels in major markets, to support Hong Kong’s recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors. These were tickets that the government bought from airlines back in 2020, to help the sector survive.
The majority of the 500,000 tickets will be given away in phases by three airlines based in Hong Kong — Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines — through their respective channels in major passenger markets.
Tickets will be given away for different kinds of activities, including lucky draws, first-come first-served, or “buy one get one free,” depending on the carrier’s plan and local regulations. More details will be provided over time.
Tickets will primarily be given away to other markets in Asia, in phases, with the promotion lasting for around six months:
- Tickets will be given away in Southeast Asia as of March
- Tickets will be given away in Mainland China as of April
- Tickets will be given away in Northeast Asia and other markets as of May
The terms clarify that tickets through this giveaway will be in economy, and that all related surcharges, fees, and taxes, will be the responsibility of the passenger to pay.
Inbound passengers who win the giveaway tickets will also receive special offers on hotel accommodations, shopping, and entertainment, offered by business partners who join the promotional activities.
Here’s how Jack So, Chairman of AAHK, describes this initiative:
“We bought the tickets from the airlines during the most difficult time under the pandemic, and that is a testament to our confidence in the future of Hong Kong’s aviation industry. The campaign will generate a multiplier effect on boosting air traffic and enormous publicity for Hong Kong. Since the relaxation of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for inbound travellers last year, passenger traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has started to pick up, especially in the last quarter. We also have had a good start of 2023 with the resumption of normal travel with the Mainland. HKIA has always been a major international aviation hub. We are confident that passenger traffic will continue to rise.”
I’m curious to see how this promotion plays out
This is a unique promotion we haven’t seen offered anywhere else in the world, and I’m curious to see if it proves successful. Hong Kong wouldn’t have such a steep curve with its tourism recovery if it didn’t remain closed for nearly three years, but regardless, I’m delighted that has finally happened. For context, Hong Kong saw 56 million visitors in 2019, while in 2022 that number was right around 600K.
What I’m most curious to see is how many of the 500,000 tickets being given away are actually used. It’s easy to register to win something, but to actually use a ticket is a different story:
- You’re still on the hook for the taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges, and some tickets will be given away as a buy one get one free offer
- The savings here are potentially not that huge — for example, Cathay Pacific has ~$200 roundtrip fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong, and $100 of that is taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges, so winning this giveaway would essentially save you $100
- For those traveling regionally to Hong Kong, the cost of a flight is only a small percentage of the overall trip cost; even if there are some sort of discounts for hotels and other activities, this trip still isn’t going to be cheap
Bottom line
Now that Hong Kong has lifted its travel restrictions, the government will launch its campaign to give away airline tickets. You can expect around 500K tickets to be given away starting in March 2023, over a period of six months. It seems that this is primarily targeted at other travelers in Asia, and those who win will still be on the hook for taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Given how expensive it can be to travel to Hong Kong, and since travelers are still on the hook for many ticket fees (which in some cases are half of the cost of a ticket), I wonder how many of the 500K tickets will actually be used.
What do you make of this campaign from Hong Kong?
how do I apply for the free ticket I'm a American Citizen
I've been avoiding Hong Kong due to wariness about the security law as a military veteran, and overseas Chinese organized crime in other cities and routes from the Sam Gor networks, 14K is a terrorist organization.
That airport isn't bad, and the worst of it doesn't happen there, Cathay Pacific is a great airline, but they don't ship this stuff to China.
It costs 20% less to fly Cathay through Hong Kong, but nope. Never...
I've been avoiding Hong Kong due to wariness about the security law as a military veteran, and overseas Chinese organized crime in other cities and routes from the Sam Gor networks, 14K is a terrorist organization.
That airport isn't bad, and the worst of it doesn't happen there, Cathay Pacific is a great airline, but they don't ship this stuff to China.
It costs 20% less to fly Cathay through Hong Kong, but nope. Never again. 80000 free tickets to SF Bay residents, no kidding. No.
The savings are not that big *for you* ... For others it may be attractive
Likely will be B0G0... but the real deals are all the free drink vouchers at luxury hotels, example Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental etc.
BOGO is such a silly acronym. Buy one get one.. so you have.. one? :)
BOGOF at least makes sense! :)
Since no one is really talking about the actual campaign, let me start.
Consider the timing of the release, and nothing from the airlines. I take it this hit the airline by surprise too.
A good intention campaign that isn't fully planned. Just like those stupid travel bubble idea that the execution was a mess.
Promote HKG supported by AAHK, then why leave out Greater Bay Airlines?
Or this is forcing larger airlines...
Since no one is really talking about the actual campaign, let me start.
Consider the timing of the release, and nothing from the airlines. I take it this hit the airline by surprise too.
A good intention campaign that isn't fully planned. Just like those stupid travel bubble idea that the execution was a mess.
Promote HKG supported by AAHK, then why leave out Greater Bay Airlines?
Or this is forcing larger airlines to increase flights so the airport can charge more fees. Ka-ching!!
So in the name of promoting HK, airlines are now forced to carry 500,000 people spike for 3 months and throw scheduling into chaos.
The dead giveaway that this is all about airport trying to generate revenue, "Outbound tickets from Hong Kong". Can't think how would that promote tourism at all.
Is this a government level fund diversion scheme to a small group of beneficiary is yet to be seen.
Conveniently, some smoke and morror protest will divert our attention away.
Hong Kong has already changed, even the opinion of its citizens are aligning with the mainland.
Look at the HK PORI surveys. I don't know if this is a genuine opinion change, a result of outflow of HKers who disapprove of China, inflow of mainlanders or HK PORI being coerced by the mainland government to paint a more pro China picture, but HK is no longer what it was, even when we're talking about people who live there.
How has Hong Kong changed for visitors?
Talk about changing the question. No one has to care about the goalpost you set up yourself.
I rather not support a totalitarian regime by spending money in HK, nor do I want to be reminded of how the mainlands killed my birth place.
@David
Well if your standards of totalitarian is HK, then you should also avoid most of world not just the most of the Middle East or most of South East Asia.
Including the well known ones that people don't realize like Singapore or Holy See.
Eskimo is totally right. David needs to avoid the rest of the world since most countries have oppressive and or corrupt governments. I support the people of HK and will continue visiting HS as long as it is safe to so. I am sure HK is still a lot better than San Francisco where I live.
I never did and have no plans to visit the middle east. As for Singapore, perhaps it would be wise to brush up on the difference between authoritarian and totalitarian governments.
Exactly @David. You need to brush up on the difference between authoritarian and totalitarian governments.
Focus on the similarities of Singapore, China, DPRK, and Holy See.
But really you can't take the blame, The disciples and the Lee dynasty did a better convincing job.
Agreed on @Eskimo.
DPRK and Myanmar would be a big no. Singapore? Not remotely sure.
However @David missed the major issue here - We can all agree that Hong Kong has changed, depends on your viewpoint it could be "better" or worse, in the sense that it now closely aligns with China in every aspect of the society.
If I would want to visit just a model Chinese City, odds are I would be better off in Shanghai.
The typical “Hong Kong has changed, I’ll never go back.” nonsense in the comments.
For residents? Sure it’s changed, for the worse.
But except for lingering COVID hassles, explain how Hong Kong has changed for visitors?
You are being so 'simplistic'! Of course it will change for visitors. If the core mentality changes for the residents. This will also effect/affect the experience of visitors.
Its now run by the chinese dictatooship and human rights are no longer a thing?
Agree with the previous posters; HK will never be the same. Also with the slow death of the local Cantonese dialect; in favour of the official Beijing mandated Mandarin/ “Putonghua".
How will it “never be the same” for visitors?
Because so much of what made unique and especially interesting to visit is being lost/forcibly eroded. Culturally its changed a ton in a decade and it will only continue.
Locals who have a foreign passport would be the biggest winner.
Yet another example showing how much HKG has changed in the past few years
HK is ruled by the Commies now. It will never be the same.