I flew China Eastern Airlines

[Dalescott]

Hi Everybody,
Well I reported last month, I was flying China Eastern Airlines (CEA). It was a very interesting experience, on all levels. The flight out (MU738 Business class) of Melb was in a Shanghai Airlines plane, that has been wet leased by CEA. The Boeing 767-300ER was old, and it showed it, but the seats were comfortable, and were not seat pods, but the old fashion seats. The VOD didn't work at all, but they have got around this by handing out handheld video units which were OK. Planes AV system was totally in audible, and I could not understand a word that was being said. This was because of Plane noise, and lack of volume. Two paper were on offer, they were both from China, the Global Times in English, and the Sing Tao daily in Mandarin. Magazines were CAAC inflight with no English, and the Shanghai Airlines had some, and the CEA magazine Oriental Sky had no English in it also. The business class section was not full in fact far from it. there were 28 seats available, the back row of seating was reserved for crew, that left 22 seats, with 15 seats occupied. Flight attendants were all female, very good and had good English . But the most interesting thing that I in counted was that the coughpit door was being left open, and the pilots were coming and going out of it. and at one stage was left open and as the toilet was next to the coughpit door you could stand and have a look at all of the controls (Is this allow???). The transfer desk at Pudong airport is near the exit to customs, they were typical chinese state employees, very poor english, and no people skills (if you have been to China like I have, you will understand what I mean). If you wait they will process you (do not make a fuss, it is COUNTER productive. I learn't this while working in China). They then lead you through a number of passages, and then you in the departure area. Business class lounge is at gate 22 down the stairs.
All in all, it was OK. Would I use them again Yes. But the price would have to reflect the service levels.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

What did you pay?

 

[Dalescott]

$4200 each

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...there were 28 seats available, the back row of seating was reserved for crew, that left 22 seats, with 15 seats occupied.

Thanks for the report.

From your estimation, what was the seat pitch? And did the seats have leg-rests?

 

[openseat]

Thanks for the report.

Out of interest did you transit without a visa?

 

[Dalescott]

Hi
Can not answer the seat pitch question, but the Shanghai Airlines flight out of Melb was in older seats, and they went right back, but the footrest didn't go all the way up. It didn't form a full bed. The CEA flight from pudong to Europe was in a pod form seat, and it was at around 170 degrees. Both seats had foot rests.
No you don't need a Visa when you transit.

 

[haydensydney]

Thanks for your observations: I've often wondered what it would be like flying these chinese airlines!!

 

[Wezza]

Thanks for the report.

Out of interest did you transit without a visa?

Hi
Can not answer the seat pitch question, but the Shanghai Airlines flight out of Melb was in older seats, and they went right back, but the footrest didn't go all the way up. It didn't form a full bed. The CEA flight from pudong to Europe was in a pod form seat, and it was at around 170 degrees. Both seats had foot rests.
No you don't need a Visa when you transit.

I believe you can spend up to 48 hours in Shanghai if you are transitting without a visa. You can even leave the airport. In Beijing the limit is 24 hours in transit but you cannot leave the airport.