What's it like to fly Air China - comfort, ammenties, food, etc.?
Apr 5th, 2011, 07:15 PM
#1
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What's it like to fly Air China - comfort, ammenties, food, etc.?
I would love to hear what it's like to fly w/Air China.
I read somewhere there are no t.v./movie monitors for passengers to while away their boredom. True?
What type of food is served on board and what meals will be served on a 12 hr. flight that departs the U.S. around 3 p.m.?
Are the seats/leg room about the same as on most major U.S. & European carriers?
If anyone knows the type of plane usually used on routes between China and the U.S.? (I would like to check out the seating arrangements.)
Thanks for any info!
I read somewhere there are no t.v./movie monitors for passengers to while away their boredom. True?
What type of food is served on board and what meals will be served on a 12 hr. flight that departs the U.S. around 3 p.m.?
Are the seats/leg room about the same as on most major U.S. & European carriers?
If anyone knows the type of plane usually used on routes between China and the U.S.? (I would like to check out the seating arrangements.)
Thanks for any info!
Apr 5th, 2011, 08:34 PM
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It's all 747-400 from the US to PEK. Meaning no personal monitor, only shared big screens. Bring your own entertainment.
You can expect at least 2 meals between US and China. Not sure what they do for the mid-flight snacks.
Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.
You can expect at least 2 meals between US and China. Not sure what they do for the mid-flight snacks.
Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.
Apr 5th, 2011, 08:51 PM
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We leave in 2 days on Air China, but alas that flight is out of Vancouver (and we're flying in biz with personal TVs) so my view might be skewed. Although, as rkkwan says, even then I'm not expecting much.
Apr 6th, 2011, 10:30 AM
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I am in the same boat having to use Air China. Hearing that the food is so bad I am actually considering ordering a Kosher meal, and I am not Kosher. In the past I've noticed that the people who ordered that type of meal, were actually pleased with the food.
I am also disappointed in not having a personal video system. I have been doing searches and cannot find a personal dvd player that has a batter life of 10 or 12 hours.
The "joys" of travel.
I am also disappointed in not having a personal video system. I have been doing searches and cannot find a personal dvd player that has a batter life of 10 or 12 hours.
The "joys" of travel.
Apr 6th, 2011, 11:48 AM
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Unless you are flying Cathy Pacific or Singapore Airlines where they constantly feed you. Otherwise, bring your own snacks and check out reviews from other site about traveling with Air China. Hopefully they have electrical outlet like Air Canada has when we did our international flight from Vancouver to Japan. Then I wouldn't worry about no power to support your laptop for movies and games.
Apr 6th, 2011, 04:19 PM
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HT, yes, I know! I can't quite believe it myself.
Will definitely keep you posted.
Not sure if I'm going to do a live TR (most likely not, due to the fact that I'm only bringing my iPad on this trip.) Yes, we're packing light this time and focusing all my energy on relaxing...after the past few rough months.
Will definitely keep you posted.
Not sure if I'm going to do a live TR (most likely not, due to the fact that I'm only bringing my iPad on this trip.) Yes, we're packing light this time and focusing all my energy on relaxing...after the past few rough months.
Apr 6th, 2011, 06:21 PM
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Okay, I think I should take part of it back. DL and UA's 747-400s have no personal screen or power in economy either, though DL has announced plans to upgrade and UA's new CEO said his product is "unacceptable" to him.
Apr 6th, 2011, 08:58 PM
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Seat guru's site at least says that although the economy seats don't fully recline, they "offer excellent space & comfort". I hope that's true.
First/business classes have not only the personal monitors and nearly fully reclining seats, they also have the power ports to plug stuff in.
I wish they only had 2 seats together along the sides, but at least the center ones (prob. where those of us on a pkg. tour will end up) are only 4 across. Therefore you never have to climb over more than one person to get up out of your row. Since I always want a window and my husband an isle . . .
Food that bad? Hmmm. Maybe I should just carry on a sandwich. I'll probably read until I get sleepy - right around when dinner gets served. Then I'll become wide awake & repeat the process.
First/business classes have not only the personal monitors and nearly fully reclining seats, they also have the power ports to plug stuff in.
I wish they only had 2 seats together along the sides, but at least the center ones (prob. where those of us on a pkg. tour will end up) are only 4 across. Therefore you never have to climb over more than one person to get up out of your row. Since I always want a window and my husband an isle . . .
Food that bad? Hmmm. Maybe I should just carry on a sandwich. I'll probably read until I get sleepy - right around when dinner gets served. Then I'll become wide awake & repeat the process.
Apr 7th, 2011, 09:55 AM
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We flew Air China a fairly short distance - Tokyo to Seoul with a stop in Beijing - but I have to say, it was exceedingly uncomfortable (and I'm a fairly petite person - 5'5" and 115 lbs). Tiny seats that didn't recline much and absolutely rock hard. I wouldn't fly them again.
Apr 7th, 2011, 12:53 PM
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Well, guess I had better bring a beach ball to blow up and lie forward on to sleep. (This actually really works fairly well, although it makes one look like a dork - lol! Those tray tables just don't cut it for headrests. Sitting in ANY seat for 12 hrs. is not going to be fun. And why is it that the people who snore loudly, snort, & exhale like a typhoon are the ones who seem to sleep through everything on a plane?
Apr 7th, 2011, 07:57 PM
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I was pleasantly surprised on our trip in July, from Australia to Europe, via Beijing and via Shanghai on the way back. I had taken our own food, but didn't need it. The food supplied compared quite well with that of United, which is only OK, I'll admit. I thought it would be more "Asian" though. Not a patch on Singapore or Cathay.
The seats were comfy enough, and we are tall people, leg room was better than United. Seats had their own TVs, but programme very limited.
Against, wine arrived after the meal, always, and the attendants were somewhat surly. Boarding in Beijing, I had the most horrible "pat-down" experience, with the woman's fingers INSIDE my money pouch, which was too difficult to take off in public. Next time, I made sure I had it off at check in.
All in all, we had a cheap flight, which although very long, was not as bad as I thought it would be. At the same price, I'd do it again. But as Kathie points out, short haul planes may not rate as well as those from Australia.
The seats were comfy enough, and we are tall people, leg room was better than United. Seats had their own TVs, but programme very limited.
Against, wine arrived after the meal, always, and the attendants were somewhat surly. Boarding in Beijing, I had the most horrible "pat-down" experience, with the woman's fingers INSIDE my money pouch, which was too difficult to take off in public. Next time, I made sure I had it off at check in.
All in all, we had a cheap flight, which although very long, was not as bad as I thought it would be. At the same price, I'd do it again. But as Kathie points out, short haul planes may not rate as well as those from Australia.
Apr 8th, 2011, 12:04 PM
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Kathie and Carabella, from what I could gather off of Seat Guru, they do not sound like the ones like they use in/out of Australia. Coach section has TV, but not individual ones. (That will be more of an issue for my husband than me.) Elec. outlets, indv. TVs & chairs that recline a lot are only in first & business. Yet it did have that part about fairly roomy seats. Leg room is important to my husband. He is 6'3" and has long legs. His knees frequently get slammed when someone suddenly slams back their seat on flights. (The ones I "love" are those who then think it's their God-given right to try to get every inch of recline to make a point after they have felt their seat hit something!) No matter, we'll be flying Air China as it's part of our pkg. and I'm sure it will be good enough. Getting there safely is the important thing.
