CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES
 

Seeking comments about this airline, both within China and from the USA to China...

comfort
timeliness
food
reliability

of special interest is personal experience with international flights from USA..

thanks

bob

I have no personal experience with China Eastern, but when I was researching airfare for one of my trips to SE Asia, the reviews I read where dreadful. They made United seem like a luxury airline. China Eastern is cheaper than most of the other Asian carriers, but I think you get what you pay for. We wound up using Korean Air and were very pleased, even in economy coach. You might want to ask this question on the air line forum as well. I've gotten good responses on that forum to my airline questions.

We did use China Eastern for one or two flights within China, and I had no complaints that I remember. It was several years ago, so I don't remember details.

Recently we flew on six flights within China on China Eastern. All flights were on time and offered hot meals. The aircraft all seemed to be quite new. I had read the poor reviews but didn't have the same experience; our flights all were good.

thanks

international anyone??

bob, I was on both China Eastern and China Southern for flights within China in September. They were both so similar that I can't remember which flights were which, but there was no difference whatsoever (other than language and cuisine) between those flights and the last few flights I've taken on United and Delta within the US. Completely unremarkable, but no problems to speak of.

if we were to fly on CEA for the overseas flights i just don't want to be miserable for 15 hrs or so....
you know what to expect on cathy, korean, united, etc, but not on CEA.

Bob, like a true fodorite, you have been back from your last trip for just long enough to edit all your photos, and you have commenced research for your next adventure ......I like your style.

Clearly, you should expect the worst. Worse than DL or UA. Expect them to take you there and nothing more.

I flew China Eastern from Mandalay to Kunming, and again from Kunming to Shanghai, last year.

Conditions were just fine, service professional, planes appeared to be new.

You'll be fine Bob just give them your patented smile and they will serve you well.

I just flew yesterday on china eastern from shanghai to new york. We got bulkhead sears at check in no problem. Service was good. Three meals served. I had ordered fruit plate, and it was better than what I was served on AustrianAir 2 weeks ago between Narita and Vienna. Daughter had regular meals and they were actually good. IMO much better than united except for no personal entertainment. We were very pleasantly surprised.

thanks kim, that is the flight i might be looking at or one to HK...

was it 2X4X2 seating??

2x4x2 except the last few rows which were 2x3x2. Spent a night in shanghai - want to go back. Bulkhead seats were roomy with huge legroom. Armrests don't go up though but we don't care about that. Other seats don't seem to have great legroom but economy never does. Some people had a whole row. One man who was originally seated next to T was severely mobility impaired and they moved him to business class after doors closed, which I thought was nice. Staff was very nice I thought.

thanks kim

Kim,

Where did you stay in Shanghai?

Aloha!

The Kerry. Not good for sightseeing, but 20 minutes by car to the airport. Fabulous club lounge, and a special promo price that made it perfect for a 20 hour stop.

we have decided to fly korean overseas but will still use CEA internally and to bkk....

I would not recommend China Eastern except for flights within China (where you do not have much of a choice anyway). In the responses above there was a mention about lack of personal entertainment -- well that is a big gap for a 12-13 hour flight (in my opinion)....At any rate - I have had a bunch of experience in flying with various Chinese airlines both internationally and within China -- here are some thoughts on my blog:

http://site.chinafinds.com/travel/20...china-eastern/

"I have had a bunch of experience in flying with various Chinese airlines both internationally and within China -- here are some thoughts on my blog:

http://site.chinafinds.com/travel/2010/10/flight-on-china-eastern-from-shanghai-to-tokyo-a-review-of-at-least-one-flight-on-china-eastern/"

You weren't happy with CEA's in-flight entertainment. AirAsia solve that problem easily.

They don't provide any :)

Cheers, Alan, Australia.
Born Under a Wandering Star

<<You weren't happy with CEA's in-flight entertainment. AirAsia solve that problem easily. >>

Yeah, but AirAsia is a low cost carrier...and China Eastern is not. So not quite following there.

BTW, Bob, you chose wisely. China Eastern is a flying cesspool. As mentioned, you don't have much choice when flying internally in China. It's going to be China Eastern, China Southern or Air China...or a mix of the 3. There really is no difference between them. You'll get from Point A to Point B but that's about all you'll get. I can guarantee one thing: after flying internally in China, you'll have a brand new outlook on US carriers. :)

I would rather fly a rusty prop plane with a drunk heart patient as a pilot than China Eastern overseas.

well billy, i guess that says it all..

happy new year to you and david.

>>I can guarantee one thing: after flying internally in China, you'll have a brand new outlook on US carriers.<<

Granted I only took 4 flights internally in China so my experience is limited, but to be honest, my flight home from Atlanta on Delta was utterly distasteful compared to the four completely uneventful flights in China! So we didn't have seatback entertainment, the flight were short (and I didn't have seatback entertainment ATL to BOS either!)

honestly i rarely use the seat back system except to watch the progress of the flight...K however uses more than her share---other customers have complained...

WORST 2 FLIGHTS I'VE EVER TAKEN IN MY LIFE and I'll never forget the nightmare of China Eastern.
I bought a round-trip ticket from China Eastern and they lost my luggage both times!! I arrived in Sydney, Australia with no fresh clothes or underwear and had to live that way in a hotel for 2 days before they finally found it. No apology, no money refunded.
Coming back home they lost my luggage again! I'm still waiting for them to find my 2 bags, their phone numbers either are out of service or just keep ringing with no option to leave a message.
Besides having the worst phone service and losing my luggage constantly, the plane is dirty, completely uncomfortable, puts pork in your vegetarian meals, the flight crew have terrible attitudes and were very rude, they only show Chinese commercials or Chinese movies with no subtitles, and yes the plane does have a certain putrid smell. I couldn't listen to the radio because it only had Chinese artists, the films were all in Chinese with no dubbing, and there was absolutely nothing I could do on a 30 hour plane ride from NY to Sydney.
I even remember when they tried to hand me a burger and I told them I'd rather have some peanuts because I don't eat meat, they were so rude and told me to 'Just Try It.' I had to beg them for 2 bags of peanuts instead, which they handed me with such disdain.
I paid $1,100 of my hard-earned money (which was very hard to save) and got treated like a stowaway in a ship's cabin. It was absolutely dreadful and I urge anyone considering using their airline to Please Re-think it.
I'm never using them ever again!!

I can only say that this is what one needs to expect on long hauls from the cheapest airline from NYC.

others have warned of this, btw

my flts were short and I decided I could stand the problems anticipated

I took EVA from NYC to Taipai. Midnight to 6am, all slept soundly and brkfast good. Prefer EVA to Delta/United. But EVA not as good as Korean/Asiana.