Queries on travelling in and out of Macau

Question

Heya - I was in Hong Kong last September, but missed out on Macau. This time around we're heading to East Asia again and am determined not to miss it. Here are my questions:

1. My first flight is BOM-HKG (Mumbai to Hong Kong). I have already bought the bonded bus ticket. Can I instruct the check-in agents at BOM to tag our bags to Macau directly? Because it seems counter-intuitive that I do the process only after landing at HKG, when my bag is likely going round and round the belt already.

2. My next flight is MFM-DAD (Macau to Da Nang). I think this should be straightforward. No questions here.

3. On the return, we are doing DAD-HKG-BOM (HK Express on DAD-HKG and Cathay Pacific on HKG-BOM). Being an Indian citizen, I have a PAR for a Hong Kong transit. Is this sufficient to exit immigration and re check-in? Or is there some way I can have HK Express tag my bags all the way to BOM, seeing that HK Express and Cathay Pacific are sister airlines? (Note that the PNRs are different).

4. Lastly - if I have an option of USD vs HKD when coming in to Macau, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Answer

Here’s a detailed breakdown of your queries regarding travelling in and out of Macau:

1. Tagging bags from Mumbai (BOM) to Macau via Hong Kong (HKG)

Unfortunately, most airlines do not allow tagging your luggage directly to Macau if you are transiting through Hong Kong using a bonded bus. Even if your first flight is with an airline that flies to Hong Kong, your bags will need to be collected at HKG for customs before you take the bus to Macau. The bonded bus essentially counts as a separate cross-border entry, so your luggage must follow standard immigration and customs procedures.

2. Flight from Macau (MFM) to Da Nang (DAD)

This is straightforward as you noted. You check in at Macau airport, go through Macau immigration, and your bags are tagged to Da Nang. Standard procedures apply.

3. Return journey DAD-HKG-BOM with PAR

Since your flights are on separate PNRs (HK Express and Cathay Pacific), baggage cannot be checked through to BOM automatically. You will need to collect your luggage at HKG, clear Hong Kong immigration, and re-check in for your Cathay Pacific flight.
Having a Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) is sufficient for Indian citizens to exit Hong Kong immigration during transit. Make sure your PAR is approved and accessible for the officer at the counter.
Even though HK Express and Cathay Pacific are under the same group, separate bookings generally prevent through-checking of baggage. Plan for at least 2–3 hours for this transfer to be safe.

4. Currency preference in Macau: USD vs HKD

Both USD and HKD are widely accepted in Macau, but the MOP (Macanese Pataca) is the local currency.
HKD is usually preferred for small transactions and is often at par with MOP in casinos and shops.
USD can be used in some tourist areas but you may get a less favorable exchange rate or receive change in MOP.

Overall, bring some HKD or MOP for convenience, and USD can be used as a backup in certain locations.

In summary:

Baggage from Mumbai cannot be tagged directly to Macau via bonded bus; collect at HKG.
Macau to Da Nang is standard, no issues expected.
On return, collect bags at HKG and re-check in; PAR allows exit through immigration.
Prefer HKD or MOP in Macau; USD is acceptable but less convenient for small payments.