Air China SHA-PEK flights on 789 and 748 are quite nice. Have not taken CA's int'l routes, they are simply too expensive for a mediocre hard product. Service wise, check up Skytrax, you will be shocked.
Well let's put it this way since I have also done quite a few reports on air China. 1. Air China is not cheap! At least on routes from North America to Beijing, price is not cheap at all! Instead, it is even more expensive than ANA if you set your final destination like Beijing. ANA is actually way cheaper in some months, like September or March... 2. Quality on Air China is horrible: like I said in my report, food for business class simply taken out from economy trolley. Chinese option? Only 3 pieces of chicken could be found in your main dish, portion is really small, I'd rather choose United at this point since portion is generous. And if you want more, CA attendant will always say sorry we are run out of it...... 3. Lounges in Beijing airport, although it is air China flagship lounge, it is only slightly better than United red carpet club, which will boost itself in 2017 with new Polaris lounge. By then it is comparable to one of the best lounges then.
well yeal air china is a old school Chinese airline want more do u want to ask for where most FA are from northen part of china which people are extremely rude and selfish
There is not so much competition against Air China in and out of Beijing in terms of international routes. This airline is overprotected by the government. The Chinese aviation authority demand the 3 largest state-owned airlines to avoid direct competition on international routes.
Like you said. China Eastern (based in Shanghai) and possibly China Southern (in Guangzhou) are better run airlines than Air China. Looks like the annoying loud kid near you wouldn't shut up and his parents didn't do anything to quiet him, that's not tolerated in ANY Business class. Sigh, looks like Chinese airlines still have a ways to go to improve their service.
Always thankful to fly business class but there is clear difference with ANA's service, and Air china's 747-8 business. Anyways I try to write as objectively as possible. I left out my footage of the rotting flower in the lavatory.
Air china is also often not the cheapest option in business... Couple that with rotting flowers in the lavatory and average food and inconsistent service, it really makes one wonder if they spent it well. You are welcome to see the praise I heap on air china''s 747 business and hainan airline business class if you do feel this FR is too negative.
+Asia Travels I know air China is still better than it use be and u can't AnA with air China it kinda makes no sense more reasonable is like JAL vs air China
I actually like JAL better than ANA. I think the food taste better on JAL than ANA. So it would seem even more skewed. Then again everyone have different experiences and I report what I see. Either way no excuse for the rotting flower in the lavatory.
Half the facilities do NOT work properly And when you you complain, do they care? Maybe its their command of English. Is that an excuse. The FA's are flying an international route. English is the language of international aviation, So?
I do not like that I was already profiled even before I took my seat. When the FA presentes the menu, I asked for the Western option: beef tenderloin cooked medium rare. The meal that came was the Chinese option. When i told the FA that I do not like bamboo shoots she just stared like I was nuts to complain. Well, I am 3rd generation Chinese Malaysian. I DO NOT LIKE BAMBOO SHOOTS AND CONGEE!!! I speak enough Cantonese to negotiate Hong Kong and can get by in Beijing. But I DONT speak Chinese! I paid for your so called "Business Class". Dont patronize me.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Never again.
Oh well done, Air China. The bubbly was a cheap champagne(never heard of it); not even a Moet.Ah Great Wall white wine ,say no more. China is making great progress in wine making but not yet. and not to be served in Biz Class. Chauvinism or just cheap?
What a great flight review and a good tour of PEK.
perfect always dear ..
best wishes
Beautiful takeoff engine sound
Another great review!
Thanks! Btw you have an amazing spotting instagram. Any new trips coming up?
Thanks! I will be flying Qantas domestic and international flight at the end of next month :)
Nice trip report. This plane must be very old, the cabin looks dated, especially the IFE.
Yeap I think they usually reserve these for short haul flights
I felt like I was in a time warp.....which was nice for a change. Don't be too harsh on them :)
Very specific report!
Air China isn't that bad, but they need to get better entertainment systems!
Oh dear. No priority boarding for business class and teeny tiny IFE screens.
I think there is priority boarding tho.
Air China SHA-PEK flights on 789 and 748 are quite nice. Have not taken CA's int'l routes, they are simply too expensive for a mediocre hard product. Service wise, check up Skytrax, you will be shocked.
Well let's put it this way since I have also done quite a few reports on air China.
1. Air China is not cheap!
At least on routes from North America to Beijing, price is not cheap at all! Instead, it is even more expensive than ANA if you set your final destination like Beijing. ANA is actually way cheaper in some months, like September or March...
2. Quality on Air China is horrible: like I said in my report, food for business class simply taken out from economy trolley. Chinese option? Only 3 pieces of chicken could be found in your main dish, portion is really small, I'd rather choose United at this point since portion is generous. And if you want more, CA attendant will always say sorry we are run out of it......
3. Lounges in Beijing airport, although it is air China flagship lounge, it is only slightly better than United red carpet club, which will boost itself in 2017 with new Polaris lounge. By then it is comparable to one of the best lounges then.
well yeal air china is a old school Chinese airline want more do u want to ask for where most FA are from northen part of china which people are extremely rude and selfish
nice im northern chinese and the FAs on my Hainan flights and 747 flight were all beijingers
Asia Travels no offence but I am from sounthern china I also take air china quite often
Asia Travels SFO-PEK-PVG
Totally agree with you, but the flight attendents are quite nice tho.
There is not so much competition against Air China in and out of Beijing in terms of international routes. This airline is overprotected by the government. The Chinese aviation authority demand the 3 largest state-owned airlines to avoid direct competition on international routes.
Like you said. China Eastern (based in Shanghai) and possibly China Southern (in Guangzhou) are better run airlines than Air China. Looks like the annoying loud kid near you wouldn't shut up and his parents didn't do anything to quiet him, that's not tolerated in ANY Business class. Sigh, looks like Chinese airlines still have a ways to go to improve their service.
no china eastern is actually the worst
Where’s the china flag on the plane?!? Because of japan?!
air china me parece bastante chunga, nunca vi sonreir a una azafata china en un video, hasta las norcoreanas de Air Koryo son mas amigables
pero el mundo se ha vuelto loco o que
A lot of undeserved negativity here. The business class layout is no different to the A330 business class layout on Singapore Airlines.
Man so Much negativity
I can't help but agree with him. If you are going to spend thousands on an airline ticket, you expect good service. Simple.
Always thankful to fly business class but there is clear difference with ANA's service, and Air china's 747-8 business. Anyways I try to write as objectively as possible. I left out my footage of the rotting flower in the lavatory.
Air china is also often not the cheapest option in business... Couple that with rotting flowers in the lavatory and average food and inconsistent service, it really makes one wonder if they spent it well. You are welcome to see the praise I heap on air china''s 747 business and hainan airline business class if you do feel this FR is too negative.
+Asia Travels I know air China is still better than it use be and u can't AnA with air China it kinda makes no sense more reasonable is like JAL vs air China
I actually like JAL better than ANA. I think the food taste better on JAL than ANA. So it would seem even more skewed. Then again everyone have different experiences and I report what I see. Either way no excuse for the rotting flower in the lavatory.
Try taking Hainan air rather than CCA.
As you said, Hainan Airline is much better.....
Half the facilities do NOT work properly And when you you complain, do they care?
Maybe its their command of English. Is that an excuse. The FA's are flying an international route. English is the language of international aviation, So?
I do not like that I was already profiled even before I took my seat. When the FA presentes the menu, I asked for the Western option: beef tenderloin cooked medium rare. The meal that came was the Chinese option. When i told the FA that I do not like bamboo shoots she just stared like I was nuts to complain. Well, I am 3rd generation Chinese Malaysian. I DO NOT LIKE BAMBOO SHOOTS AND CONGEE!!! I speak enough Cantonese to negotiate Hong Kong and can get by in Beijing. But I DONT speak Chinese! I paid for your so called "Business Class". Dont patronize me.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Never again.
Oh well done, Air China. The bubbly was a cheap champagne(never heard of it); not even a Moet.Ah Great Wall white wine ,say no more. China is making great progress in wine making but not yet. and not to be served in Biz Class. Chauvinism or just cheap?