Just a few months ago it was confirmed that the Hong Kong Tourism Board would be giving away 500,000 free flights to the city-state in a world-first effort to boost post-Covid travel. March 1 marked the first phase of such an extraordinary global effort, earmarking a parcel of free Hong Kong flights to Southeast Asia.
Now it seems like the rollout is finally coming to Australia as part of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s extensive ‘Hello, Hong Kong’ campaign.
It was recently confirmed that no less than 6,020 round-trip flights will be given away to Aussie travellers for free, presenting a chance to experience Hong Kong’s world-class hospitality scene, underrated hiking trails and the various other elements that make the city-state one of the most referenced destinations in Asia.
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Cathay Pacific will lead the charge, dropping the free Hong Kong flights offer for Aussie travellers from 12 PM AEST on Monday, May 29.
There will be caveats, of course. First off, you’ll have to contend with cattle class as only one adult economy ticket per person is being given away for free for services outbound from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Second, while the tickets will be free, you’ll need to take care of any associated taxes and surcharges.
There are a few more things to note before you head on over to the campaign website (linked below). You’ll need to make sure you’re a Cathay Pacific member and be logged in to access the deal. Fortunately, it’s free to sign up so we suggest doing so right now before the free flight offer opens. Needless to say, they’ll all be gone in a matter of seconds as Cathay Pacific is only offering tickets on a first-come, first served basis.
All tickets are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and non-reroutable, as you’d reasonably expect. You also need to be an Australian resident over the age of 18.
Travel dates for the free Hong Kong flights are between now and Wednesday, February 28, 2024. You can stay for as little as two days or as much as a month and a few blackout periods will apply so make sure you’re planning your trip carefully.
The ‘Hello, Hong Kong’ campaign also includes something similar to what the Australian government did with their Dine & Discover vouchers during covid.
Free drink, dining, shopping and transport vouchers will be up for grabs from over 16,000 outlets in Hong Kong for visitors who are in town for 90 days or less. But you’d need to opt for just one offer, choosing between a welcome drink valued at more than HK$100, a gift worth more than HK$100 at various attractions and museums, or – the wise choice – a HK$100 cash voucher to use at more than 140 venues.
Most importantly, after you’ve locked in your free flights to Hong Kong, you’ll need to decide on what you’re actually going to do there. Flights are still fairly expensive, so you’re saving quite a bit of budget which you can redirect to better experiences once you’re on the ground. For ideas on what to do in Honkers, you can check out our very discerning Hong Kong travel guide here.
