Fare Structure
Fares for the Airport Express are substantially higher than main line fares. Single trips from the Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi Stations to Airport Station (and vice-versa) cost HK$100, HK$90 and HK$60 respectively. Apart from single tickets, same-day return tickets (same price as a single), and one-month return tickets are also available. Some of these tickets are available from all MTR stations and MTR online booking service.
As of December 2005, a trip on the Airport Express from Hong Kong Station to the Airport or AsiaWorld-Expo Station costs HK$100, $50 concessionary rate. The rate for a one-month return ticket is HK$180. Discounts are available for group travellers of 2-4. Hong Kong residents can also obtain discount coupons, such as those sent from credit card companies.
Same-day return discount will be given to Octopus Card users who have stayed in AsiaWorld-Expo for at least 2 hours. The discounted fare costs HK$72 from Hong Kong Station, and includes free connection to other MTR lines. A single-trip from Airport to AsiaWorld-Expo station is HK$5.
The Airport Station does not have any turnstiles or gate barriers separating the paid and unpaid zones of the station.
Airport Express passengers using Octopus cards can connect the MTR urban lines for free, right before or after the Airport Express journey.
There are various promotions as well, such as Group Ticket Discount, free taxi connections, Rewarding program, Asia Miles program, etc. Passengers may also buy discounted tickets from some local travel agents.
In March 2010 the MTR began moves to phase out the magnetic tickets used for single, group, and multiple journey tickets, replacing them with new "smart tickets" that contain a memory chip. The new system was in full operation by June 5, 2010. These new tickets are advertised as:
- "touch" the smart tickets to the processor on the entry gates,
- "go" on their way, and
- "recycle" the used tickets by dropping it a recycle boxes at Airport Express stations.
Due to the high fares and small catchment areas of the Airport Express stations; some travellers may instead choose to either use the cheaper, local Tung Chung Line combined with a bus route, or make their entire journey by bus. Patronage on the Airport Express is cannibalised by the Tung Chung Line running mostly on the same track.
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A standard single journey ticket towards Asia-World Expo
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A standard single journey ticket towards Hong Kong
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A "Group of 2" single journey ticket from Hong Kong Station
Read more about this topic: Airport Express (MTR)
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