Air China Business Class to/from PEK

[skywalkerLAX]

Hi all !

Just wondering if anyone has recent experience with these flights?

They seem to have reconfigured some flights incl the SYD one to a 180 degree flatbed now.

This is an article from last year.

I don't expect much in terms of service but the schedule is great and the seat looks ok. My last bmi redemption. Thoughts?

Cheers
S

 

[trooper]

Flying PEK-SYD in early June... US Airways redemption!

Will report back.... as you say it is meant to be the new lie-flat... fingers crossed!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

swL I'm tipping you are going to be surprised at the level of service - product delivery ain't going to be a la SQ or MH but the level of genuine desire to serve by all Chinese FA's I have experience dom and inter is outstanding.

CA's new planes I have flown dom fabulous so SYD-PEK should be very good - just don't sit down the back - Y totally diff story.

 

[QF1]

I would not recommend Air China to anyone. While the inflight service is Ok, its simply not worth taking the chance unless you have no other option. If you want a direct flt, try QF, if you are looking for *A partners, try SQ, and if you do not prefer QF but still want One world, you always have CX via HKG.

 

[Platinum A332]

I would not recommend Air China to anyone. While the inflight service is Ok, its simply not worth taking the chance unless you have no other option. If you want a direct flt, try QF, if you are looking for *A partners, try SQ, and if you do not prefer QF but still want One world, you always have CX via HKG.

CA is the only direct option to/from PEK. QF stopped flying to PEK in 2009.

 

[Wezza]

I recently flew on CA SYD-PEK-SVO return, though only in Y. But I can report that on both SYD-PEK & PEK-SYD was the full flat bed J seats.

And as far as the service in Y, no problems at all. Crew were very attentive & courteous. Oh, if it makes any difference the pilot on both legs was Australian.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And as far as the service in Y, no problems at all. Crew were very attentive & courteous.

In my experience Chinese FA's ALWAYS this way - the only problem I have with Y is the state the bathrooms get in and seem to stay in.

 

[Wezza]

In my experience Chinese FA's ALWAYS this way - the only problem I have with Y is the state the bathrooms get in and seem to stay in.

I rarely used the bathrooms, so I didn't really notice.

 

[sydunipete]

I flew Business Class CA last year as part of a longer trip and I experienced three very different long haul business class products. My trip report is here:

Sydney to Iceland via China. Mostly J, some China Domestic Y and Magnetic Levitation! - FlyerTalk Forums

In short I understand they have a mix of their old business class cabins and brand new on the Sydney to Beijing route and I don't believe it's predictable what product you will get. The older one is just ok (considering how low the fare is) and the new is almost world class. (170 degree lie flat beds). Yes the service is just average, the meal service is rushed (no so bad if you want to sleep), wines are pretty average and their english is the worst I've experienced in any *A carrier.

But if you want a bigger seat (I'm 6'4") and you're not too precious about white linen and en extensive wine list, then I think it represents good value for money. Excellent value if you get the new product.

 

[yohy?!]

I would not recommend Air China to anyone. While the inflight service is Ok, its simply not worth taking the chance unless you have no other option. If you want a direct flt, try QF, if you are looking for *A partners, try SQ, and if you do not prefer QF but still want One world, you always have CX via HKG.

What 'chance' are you referring to exactly? Have you confused Air China with China Airlines possibly?

 

[trooper]

Ok... no photos (yet) Sorry...

Flew PEK-SYD on CA's new 777 last week.

Pluses: New seat is very good. Same (as far as I could tell) as TK's new product. Goes completely flat but like some other seats is actually more comfortable for sleeping with a slight up angle of the head/shoulder area... and such adjustments are easy to make with the control panel.. Excellent Quilt (bags marked "First Class Only" so that may be a temporary thing... nice slippers and L'Occitane amenity kit. FA's very attentive. Arrival documents and Express passes handed out before departure.. (THAT I liked)

Minuses: While the food quality was perfectly alright there really was little choice. Two offerings for Mains on both Western and Chinese choices.. with the second choice being the same vegetarian option on both menus. Appetisers/desserts etc were decent. B'fast choice was "Western" or "Chinese".. no options...

Very little choice of Spirits... Chivas, Gin, Vodka. That's all that was listed. No idea about the wines (I can't drink wine!)

Entertainment system seemed good until you got "into it"... Again, choice was limited..at least of recent releases. Movie options were passing strange.. "Thirty seconds over Tokyo" (!!!)

Enjoyed the flight overall... but then for me the seat is 80% of it.. and that seat is a good'un!