Routes / Los Angeles / Los Angeles to Hong Kong
Los Angeles Hong Kong
1 nonstop pairs ·
3 nonstop airlines ·
55 nonstop flights/week
Only two airlines fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, and one of them is based there. Cathay Pacific and United both run daily from LAX, so you are picking between carriers, not scrambling for a seat.
Book Cathay Pacific. Their 777 has a wider economy cabin than United's 787, and the food and service run a level above what you get on a US carrier in the back of the plane. United runs a comfortable 787 on the same daily schedule, and at equal pricing, Cathay is the stronger pick in every cabin.
This is a 15-hour flight westbound, long enough that the business class gap between the two airlines could change which one you book. Cathay flies a suite with a closing door. United Polaris is a good flat bed, but not the same product. If you are spending for a premium cabin, fly Cathay.
At Hong Kong International, take the Airport Express train instead of a taxi. It reaches Hong Kong Station downtown in 24 minutes and runs every 10 minutes. On your way home, you can check in and drop bags at the downtown station hours before your flight, then walk around the city without hauling luggage until it is time to go.
Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in Hong Kong.
Best Overall
LAX → HKG
1 airline
55/wk
14h 33m
74% on-time
Cathay Pacific.
Also bookable via United Airlines, Delta Air Lines.
Cathay Pacific from LAX when premium cabin matters on a 15-hour flight.
Nearby cities · connections only
~21mi
San Bernardino
Connecting
~65mi
Palm Springs
Connecting
~67mi
San Diego
Connecting
~111mi
Tijuana
Connecting
Decision Guide
Pick What Matters to You
Best pair by where you're coming from
Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.
Santa Monica and the Westside
Best
The closest neighborhoods to LAX that people actually want to stay in. Lincoln Boulevard south to the airport takes 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour. During the evening rush, the 405 backs up and the drive can double.
Downtown Los Angeles
Good
The FlyAway bus runs from Union Station to LAX and avoids freeway traffic entirely. The most predictable ground transfer in the metro area. Driving the 110 to the 105 ranges from 30 minutes to over an hour.
Hollywood and Mid-City
La Brea south to the 105, or surface streets through Inglewood. Thirty to forty-five minutes depending on time of day. No direct transit link to LAX. Rideshare or drive.
The Valley
Flexible
Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Studio City. The 405 south through the Sepulveda Pass is the only freeway option and is notoriously slow during rush hour. Budget 60 to 90 minutes from the north Valley.
South Bay and Beach Cities
Best
Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach are 15 minutes from the terminals. The South Bay is close enough that the airport is a non-issue. From deeper Orange County, the 405 north runs 45 to 60 minutes.
Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley
Flexible
The 210 to the 110 to the 105 is the route, and it takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. No good transit option to LAX. Leave early.
For most Los Angeles-area travelers, LAX → HKG is the default.3 airlines, 55 flights/wk.
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Best pair by where you're staying in Hong Kong
Your Hong Kong airport matters as much as your Los Angeles airport.
Central and Sheung Wan
Best
The financial district and the neighborhood just west of it. Walking distance to the Star Ferry, Lan Kwai Fong, and the Mid-Levels escalator. Hotels range from luxury towers to boutique spots in Sheung Wan's back streets. First-time visitors and business travelers base here to be in the middle of everything.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Good
The Kowloon waterfront across Victoria Harbour. The views of the Hong Kong skyline from the promenade are the draw. Dense with shopping, restaurants, and mid-range to upscale hotels. The Star Ferry to Central takes seven minutes. A strong base for travelers who want harbour views and easy access to both sides of the city.
Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
Good
East of Central on Hong Kong Island. Wan Chai mixes older local restaurants with newer bars and co-working spaces. Causeway Bay is one of the densest shopping districts in the world. Hotels cost less than Central for a similar location. Good MTR access to everywhere on the island.
Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po
Value
Deep Kowloon. Street markets, dai pai dong food stalls, and budget guesthouses. Mong Kok is loud, dense, and full of energy. Sham Shui Po is where locals shop for electronics and fabric. Not polished, but the street food here is some of the best in the city.
Tung Chung and Lantau
Tradeoff
Next to the airport on Lantau Island. Tung Chung has outlet shopping and a cable car up to the Big Buddha. Useful if you arrive late and want to sleep near the airport before heading into the city. Not a place to base a full trip unless you are visiting Hong Kong Disneyland.
HKG is the right Hong Kong airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from HKG.
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Which pair your airline flies nonstop
Loyalty programs drive airport choice for frequent flyers. Here's where each airline operates.
| Airline | LAX–HKG |
|---|---|
| United Airlines | ✓ |
| Delta Air Lines | ✓ |
| Cathay Pacific | ✓ |
Most airlines fly LAX → HKG.0 airlines serve multiple pairs.
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Ranked by on-time performance
On-time = departing within 15 min of schedule. Higher competition tends to keep airlines punctual.
LAX → HKG
#1
74% on-time.
3 airlines competing.
LAX → HKG has a 74% on-time record.High competition keeps airlines punctual.
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Lounge access by airport and terminal
Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.
Limited Lounge Options
Ontario does not have the lounge infrastructure of a major hub. Options are minimal. The terminals have food courts and a few sit-down restaurants past security. For the kind of short, low-stress trips this airport handles well, the gate area is comfortable enough.
SNA Terminal
No airline lounges. No Sky Club, no Admirals Club, no United Club. The terminal has a handful of sit-down restaurants and decent seating, but nothing behind a door. The tradeoff: you spend 20 minutes in the building instead of two hours, so a lounge matters less here than at a larger airport.
LAX T4 Flagship Lounge
Top Tier
American Airlines Flagship passengers and oneworld Emerald on premium cabin tickets. Sit-down dining, shower suites, and a quieter space than the Admirals Clubs in the same terminal. One of the stronger domestic lounges in the building.
LAX TBIT Oneworld Lounge
Good
Inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Open to oneworld business and first class passengers. Large footprint with tarmac views, hot food, and bar service. An airside connector from Terminal 4 reaches TBIT without leaving security.
LAX T2/T3 Delta Sky Club
Good
Open to Delta One passengers, SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum members, and Amex Platinum cardholders with a same-day Delta boarding pass. Food, drinks, and shower access. Gets crowded during the eastbound red-eye push in the evening.
LAX T7/T8 United Club
Good
Standard United Club with food and drinks. Requires United Club membership or Star Alliance Gold status. No Polaris Lounge at LAX, which is a step down from what United offers at Newark or SFO.
LAX T5 (JetBlue)
No lounge. JetBlue does not operate a dedicated lounge at LAX, so Mint passengers board early but have no pre-flight space. Terminal 5 has food options and seating, but nothing behind a door. The one gap in the Mint product .
No Airline Lounges
Burbank does not have airline club lounges. No Admirals Club, no Sky Club, no Centurion. The terminal is small enough that the lounge question does not come up. You clear security, walk to your gate, and the wait is short.
Gate Area
Limited food and coffee past security. A few options on the landside before you clear the checkpoint. The tradeoff for Burbank speed is less to do at the gate, but the wait is usually short enough that it does not matter.
No Lounges Available
Long Beach Airport does not have airline lounges or independent lounge facilities. The terminal is small enough that the absence is painless. A bar and a few restaurants sit past security. Boarding happens quickly at an airport this size.
The Pier Business Class Lounge
Top Tier
Near gate 65 in Terminal 1. One of the best business class lounges in the region. Open layout with a noodle bar serving made-to-order dishes, shower suites, and a quiet zone called The Sanctuary. Access with a Cathay Pacific or oneworld business class boarding pass, or oneworld Sapphire and Emerald status.
The Wing First and Business Lounge
Top Tier
Near gate 1. The first class section has private cabanas with daybeds and bathrooms. The business section is more crowded but has a long bar and noodle station. First class access requires a Cathay Pacific or oneworld first class ticket, or top-tier Cathay status. Business passengers use the lower level.
Plaza Premium Lounges
Good
Multiple locations in Terminal 1, including near arrivals. Walk-in entry starts around HKD 500, or accessible with Priority Pass and certain credit cards. The larger locations have hot food, showers, and decent seating. A reasonable option for economy passengers who want a meal and a quieter seat before boarding.
Other Airline Lounges
Flexible
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and several other carriers operate their own lounges in Terminal 1. Access requires a business class ticket or qualifying elite status. Quality ranges from functional to forgettable. If you have lounge access through a credit card or status program, check which lounge your card covers before heading airside.
Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.
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Ranked by flights per week
More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.
LAX → HKG
#1
55/wk (~8/day) — 3 airlines.
LAX → HKG: 55 flights/week.8 departures per day.
Explore LAX → HKG
Getting to the airport
Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.
Rideshare
Best
Pickup is on the arrivals level outside each terminal. Wait times are usually short given the lower passenger volume. Rides to downtown Riverside take around 25 minutes. Rides to downtown LA run 50 to 90 minutes depending on time of day and freeway conditions.
Metrolink (via connecting rideshare)
Flexible
Ontario Airport does not have a direct rail station. The nearest Metrolink stops are a short rideshare away. From there, trains run to LA Union Station in around 90 minutes. Slower than driving but useful if you want to skip freeway traffic into the city.
Taxi
Good
Taxis are available outside the terminals. Fares to nearby Inland Empire destinations run around $25. Rideshares are typically cheaper for all distances.
Rental Car
Good
The rental car center is across the street from the terminals. A short walk gets you there without a shuttle bus. Quick and easy compared to the off-site rental car process at LAX.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Best
Pickup at the curb or a short walk from baggage claim. Fares run around $10 to $20 to Irvine, around $15 to $25 to Anaheim. Quick and simple because the terminal is small and the pickup zone is close.
Rental Car
Good
Counters inside the terminal complex. If you are visiting Orange County for more than a day, a car is the default. The 405, 55, and 73 freeways connect SNA to Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim within 15 to 25 minutes.
Taxi
Good
Metered fares from outside baggage claim. Short rides to nearby cities run around $15 to $30. Practical for a quick trip to a hotel in Irvine or Costa Mesa without waiting for rideshare surge to settle.
Hotel Shuttle
Value
Many Orange County hotels run complimentary airport shuttles to SNA. Check with your hotel before arranging other transport. The airport is small enough that shuttles pull up right outside the terminal.
FlyAway Bus to Union Station
Best
Runs every 30 minutes from LAX to Union Station for around $10. Travel time ranges from 30 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Union Station connects to Metro rail, Metrolink commuter trains, and Amtrak. The only real public transit link from LAX until the People Mover opens.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Flexible
Pickup from the LAX-it lot, a dedicated area outside the terminals that adds 10 to 15 minutes of walking and waiting. Fares run around $30 to $60 to most LA destinations, with heavy surge swings during peak hours. Fast when the pricing cooperates, expensive when it does not.
Taxi
Good
Metered fares from the curb at every terminal. Expect around $50 to $80 to Hollywood or downtown, more in heavy traffic. Pricing is more predictable than rideshare during surge periods because there is no algorithm involved.
Rental Car
Good
Free shuttle from terminals to the consolidated rental car center on Aviation Boulevard. LA is a car city, and most visits beyond a couple of days end up requiring one. If you plan to cover multiple neighborhoods, rent at the airport and skip the daily rideshare math.
Taxi or Rideshare
Best
To Hollywood, around 15 minutes and around $15 to $20. To downtown LA, around 25 minutes and around $20 to $30. Rideshare pickup is steps from baggage claim, and the airport drop-off loop is short enough that drivers do not spend ten minutes circling.
Driving and Parking
Best
The parking lot sits across the street from the terminal. No shuttle bus, no garage maze, no terminal train. Walk from your car to the check-in counter in under five minutes. Daily rates run lower than LAX garage parking.
Metrolink
Good
A Metrolink commuter rail station sits near the terminal. Trains run to Union Station in downtown LA in about 25 minutes. Service follows a commuter schedule, not an all-day frequency, so check departure times before counting on it.
Metro B Line via North Hollywood
Flexible
The North Hollywood Metro station is about four miles from the airport. A rideshare from Burbank to the station takes about ten minutes, and the B Line runs to Hollywood, Koreatown, and downtown. Not a direct airport connection, but workable if you are heading to a Metro-served neighborhood.
Rideshare
Best
Pickup is outside the terminal on the arrivals level. The airport is compact enough that you are in a car within minutes of walking out. Rides to downtown Long Beach take around 10 minutes. Rides to downtown LA run 30 to 50 minutes depending on freeway traffic.
Long Beach Transit and A Line
Value
Local buses connect the airport to downtown Long Beach and the A Line light rail station. The bus ride to the transit mall takes around 15 minutes. From there, the A Line runs north to downtown LA in about an hour. Inexpensive but slow for anything beyond the Long Beach area.
Taxi
Good
Taxis queue outside the terminal. Metered fares to downtown Long Beach run around $15. Rideshares are typically cheaper for longer distances.
Rental Car
Good
Rental counters are inside the terminal and the lot is a short walk away. No shuttle bus required. One of the easiest rental car pickups at any LA area airport.
Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.
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Red-eye vs daytime departures
Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.
Westbound from LAX
Good
Departures leave LAX around midday. You eat lunch, watch a movie, and then the cabin goes dark over the Pacific. You land in Hong Kong in the evening local time. Head straight to your hotel. This is the easier direction to adjust because you arrive at bedtime.
Eastbound to LAX
Tradeoff
Flights leave Hong Kong in the afternoon or evening. You arrive in Los Angeles the same calendar day. Sleep is harder on this leg because your body clock fights the schedule. A flat bed in business class helps. Economy passengers should bring what they need to sleep because the seat will not do the work for them.
Sleeping on the plane
Best
Both carriers fly widebodies with lie-flat beds in business. The 787 Dreamliner that United operates has lower cabin pressure, which makes a real difference over 15 hours. In economy, pick a window seat and bring noise-canceling headphones. The cabin goes dark for six to seven hours in either direction. If you can sleep on planes, you arrive functional. If you cannot, no seat fixes that.
LAX → HKG has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.
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Premium cabin options
Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.
Cathay Pacific Business (Aria Suite)
Top
The Boeing 777-300ER carries Cathay's latest business class cabin. Closed-door suite, direct aisle access from every seat, a 24-inch screen, and restaurant-style meal service. Cathay is flying home to its own hub, which means the crew and the catering run at peak level. Lounge access at both ends of the route.
Cathay Pacific First Class
Top
A small cabin at the front of the same 777-300ER. Wider seat, better food, more space. The difference over the Aria Suite is real but incremental on an already comfortable aircraft. Availability is limited and fares are steep. Worth it on points if you have them.
United Polaris
Good
The 787-9 Dreamliner has Polaris business class in a 1-2-1 layout. Every seat has direct aisle access and lies fully flat. The hard product is good, a half-step behind Cathay's Aria Suite. The Dreamliner's lower cabin pressure and larger windows are real advantages on a 15-hour flight. United often undercuts Cathay on business fares.
Premium Economy
Value
Both carriers sell premium economy. Cathay offers a wider seat, extra legroom, and better meal service than the back cabin. United's Premium Plus is comparable. On a 15-hour flight, the upgrade from economy makes a noticeable difference, and fares sit well below business class. A reasonable middle ground if business is out of budget.
Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.
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Connecting through Los Angeles from a domestic flight
Five or six nonstops leave LAX for Hong Kong every day. Connecting through a third city adds six to ten hours to a flight that already takes 15 to 16. The fare savings are modest in economy and negligible in business. Take the nonstop unless you want a deliberate stopover in Japan, Taiwan, or South Korea.
Arriving ONT
ONT has no Hong Kong nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.
Arriving SNA
SNA has no Hong Kong nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.
Arriving LAX
Best
Book LAX → HKG. Same airport, no ground transport needed.
3 airlines, 55/wk.
Arriving BUR
BUR has no Hong Kong nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.
Arriving LGB
LGB has no Hong Kong nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.
Self-connecting
Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.
Check which Los Angeles airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book Hong Kong from that same airport.LAX arrivals → LAX–HKG
LAX → HKG
Know Your Airports
Los Angeles & Hong Kong Airport Profiles
Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.
Los Angeles Metro
LAX
Los Angeles International Airport
Primary
Nine terminals arranged in a horseshoe around a central loop road that crawls during peak hours and stops entirely during evening pushes. Upper level is departures, lower level is arrivals, and the drive between terminals can take 20 minutes even though the physical distance is trivial. Signage works if you already know where you are going and fails if you do not.
Walking between terminals means exiting security and re-entering, which makes airside connections slow and frustrating. The Tom Bradley International Terminal sits at the bend of the horseshoe and handles most international traffic. Terminal age and condition vary widely: some have been renovated in the last few years, others look and feel decades old. An Automated People Mover is under construction to connect the terminals to a new Metro station and a consolidated car rental facility.
Security lines swing unpredictably by terminal and time of day. The evening red-eye push backs up multiple terminals simultaneously. Budget extra time and do not rely on a short queue. Food and retail inside security have improved recently, particularly in the Bradley terminal and the recently refreshed domestic terminals.
Hong Kong Pairs
1
HKG
Airlines
3
Flights/Week
55
ONT
Ontario International Airport
No Nonstop
Closest nonstop airport
LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) · 47mi from ONT
SNA
John Wayne Orange County International Airport
No Nonstop
Closest nonstop airport
LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) · 36mi from SNA
BUR
Hollywood Burbank Airport
No Nonstop
Closest nonstop airport
LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) · 18mi from BUR
LGB
Long Beach International Airport
No Nonstop
No high-frequency connections found. Check LGB routes for all options.
Hong Kong Metro
HKG
Hong Kong International Airport
Primary
Hong Kong International sits on reclaimed land off the north coast of Lantau Island, connected to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island by road and rail bridges. Terminal 1 handles nearly all passenger traffic in a single long building with gates stretching in both directions from a central departures hall. Walking from one end to the other takes 15 to 20 minutes. A midfield concourse adds more gates, connected to the main terminal by an automated train.
The terminal is clean, well-signed in English and Chinese, and moves efficiently even during evening departure peaks. Food options run from quick noodle bars to sit-down dim sum. Free Wi-Fi covers the building. Security is fast by international standards.
Los Angeles Pairs
1
LAX
Nonstop from Los Angeles
55/wk
Into Hong Kong
24 min
Airport Express to Central
Coverage Matrix
Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs
Not all planes are the same size. The aircraft type below each checkmark tells you whether you are getting a widebody (777, 787, A350) with wider seats and a quieter ride, or a narrowbody (737, A321) with a single aisle. On flights over five hours, the difference is significant.
LAX–HKG
Cathay Pacific
✓
777-300ER
777-300ER
Delta Air Lines (codeshare)
✓
A350-900
A350-900
United Airlines (codeshare)
✓
787-9
787-9
Quick Reference
Route Facts
Total Nonstops
55/wk
Across 1 pairs
Airlines
3
3 on LAX–HKG
Fastest Pair
14h 33m
LAX → HKG
Distance
7,278 mi
11,710 km
Los Angeles
5 airports
ONT, SNA, LAX, BUR, LGB
Hong Kong
1 airports
HKG
Best OTP
74%
LAX → HKG
No Nonstop
ONT, SNA, BUR, LGB
No Hong Kong nonstops
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Los Angeles to Hong Kong flights.
On a 15-hour flight, yes. Cathay's Aria Suite on the Boeing 777 is a closed-door suite with direct aisle access and restaurant-style dining. United Polaris on the 787 Dreamliner is a good lie-flat seat without the doors or the food quality. If both fares are within a few hundred dollars, Cathay wins. If United is dramatically cheaper, Polaris still gets you there rested.
The Airport Express train is the fastest option. It leaves every 10 minutes and reaches Kowloon Station in around 20 minutes, Hong Kong Station in Central in 24. Free shuttle buses connect each station to nearby hotels. A taxi to Tsim Sha Tsui costs around HKD 300 and takes around 30 minutes. For Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, the train beats a taxi on both speed and price.
No. LAX is the only Los Angeles airport with nonstop Hong Kong service. Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, and John Wayne do not have transpacific flights.
Fares tend to drop in late January through March and again in September through early November. Avoid Chinese New Year, the summer peak, and the December holiday window. Shoulder season economy fares can run hundreds of dollars less than peak. Set fare alerts on both Cathay Pacific and United because they do not always discount at the same time.
A connection adds six to ten hours on a route that already takes 15 to 16 nonstop. The savings are sometimes a few hundred dollars in economy and negligible in business class. Connect only if the price gap is large or you want a deliberate stopover in Japan or Taiwan.
No. US citizens enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport needs at least six months of validity from your entry date. Hong Kong immigration is separate from mainland China. If you plan to cross into Shenzhen or the mainland, you need a separate Chinese visa.