Things you need to do before travelling to Hong Kong under air travel bubble

If you’re looking to take a holiday trip after the air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong was announced on Wednesday (Nov 12), you should be aware that the process is no longer as simple. 

Apart from booking your hotels, flight tickets and planning your itinerary, there are a few things you will need to do. 

Here are the things you will need to take note of:  

Apart from testing negative for COVID-19 prior to departure, Singaporeans travelling to Hong Kong will need to have a confirmed flight ticket and have stayed in Singapore for the last two weeks. 

To get tested, you will first have to submit a request on the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s SafeTravel website along with your confirmed flight ticket details. Upon email approval, you can then book an appointment at one of the approved clinics and testing centres in Singapore – there are over 400 of them in the list. 

Charges for pre-departure testing should not exceed S$200 in total, according to the Ministry of Health.

You will also have to submit an online health declaration form before you check in for your flight, as required by the Hong Kong health department.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, another COVID-19 test which costs about HK$499 (S$87) will be required. You will have to book and pay for this test beforehand. 

Travellers will have to wait between four and six hours for their test results at the airport and there will be no quarantine as long as the results are negative.

Similarly, travellers will have to test negative for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before departure and they can do these tests at recognised clinics in the city.   

A quick check showed that pre-departure COVID-19 tests can cost as little as HK$240 (S$42) at government testing centres, or as much as HK$1,500 (S$260) at a private hospital. 

However, travellers will not need to be tested again before leaving Hong Kong if the time between the COVID-19 test upon arrival and the departure from Hong Kong is less than 72 hours. 

Before heading home from the airport after your holiday, remember to have the TraceTogether app downloaded on your phone or have the token kept close to you. In case you forget, you have to adhere to the safe management measures in Singapore too.

Travellers from both cities must use the designated flights by carriers SIA and Cathay Pacific. From Nov 22 to Dec 6, there will only be one flight a day into each city, with a quota of 200 travellers per flight.

From Dec 7 onwards, the frequency will be increased to two flights per day. However, the travel bubble will be suspended should there be a rise in unlinked cases in either city. 

A quick check on the SIA and Cathay Pacific’s websites on Nov 12 state that earliest available flights out of Singapore will be on Dec 8. For a five-day round trip, Economy Class tickets are priced at $670 on Cathay Pacific and $994 on SIA.

Up for a trip to Hong Kong? If so, check out this list of things to do in Hong Kong to plan your itinerary. 

But if you think the price for the trip is too steep, how about a staycation with your loved ones in Singapore? There are plenty of deals for the festive period and you can find out more here.