We will be using Continetal on our upcoming trip from Newark to Beijing, returning from Hong Kong to Newark.

Any comments on their service and level on comfort? We will be flying coach.
We will be traveling in March. Are flights normally packed? We fly frequently to Europe and the Caribbean, but this will be our first time in China.

Thanks for any comments.

You can find my report for CO99 a year ago in this thread. It's the 2nd of 4 flights I took.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34549939

My parents and lots of relatives fly CO98/99 EWR-HKG all the time, so I am quite familiar with it.

But a points:

No, it shouldn't be packed in March. Beijing flight may be pretty empty. HKG maybe 70% full.

Service is better than other US airlines or CO's European routes. I mean, there's a printed menu, a hot towel service. Food is edible.

I assume you're quite familiar with CO's 767/777, so I won't repeat them here.

I was also very pleased with Continental's Honolulu to Newark and Newark to Delhi non-stops.

Even in economy the 25 hours of air time was quite bearable. Plenty of food and hot towels, and decent seatback entertainment.

Oh, just checked with my parents. No more of that stupid "half-cup noodles" on EWR-HKG mid-flight Instead, they gave out an ice-cream; and the usual sandwich. Not bad!

rkkwan,

Thanks for your response. As it happnes the flight from Hongkong to NJ is quite full due to a Continental Airlines meeting in Hong Kong, so it seems.
Most of the seats were already taken, and only the ones in the middle were left. The last row with the 2 seats was empty, so my husband requested 44a & B, whcih I think you also had???
The agent told my husband that that seat does not recline. Is it true?
Thanks for any input.

Angela

If the plane is quite full, absolutely definitely take 44A/B. Those are the favorite seats of mine and my parents (who fly this route at least twice a year) now.

Full recline. And becuase nobody is behind you, you can recline your seat on the whole trip (except take off and landing) and nobody will bother you or kick your seatback.

The lavatories are directly behind you, but the doors open to the rear, so no one will stand next to you. You also won't hear or smell anything. The FAs will leave water and sandwiches at a shelf close to you from midflight.

You won't get extra room between the seat and the window, as the seats are aligned with the A/B seats in front. But that means the aisle is wide there, so you won't get bumped by the cart or other people walking by.

The downside are 1) you get off the plane last; and 2) engine noise is slightly louder towards the rear of the plane. Also, some of the overhead luggage space may be taken up by crew equipment, so board as soon as your row is called, which should be first.

But enjoy your flight. It's one of the more comfortable trans-Pacific flight out there, as long as you're not very tall, as legroom is mediocre.

i flew that leg when it was brand new and thought it was about the best long haul i had ever taken...