China Airlines - “safe”?

[MH_fan]

That's a valid point and I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but I didn't see anything that gave me concern whilst I was on board. I feel safe enough to fly thrm and it's a choice I'm making.
I now avoid Malindo because the last time I flew with them, their safety checks in the cabin were of concern to me...allowing passengers to leave their belongings on the floor of the bulkhead seats, not stopping people from talking on their phones after the doors have closed and we're taxiing, and not properly checking that seatbelts were fastened by passengers. If they don't do this, what kind of safety culture does that say behind the scenes then?

 

[Robert K]

flying is still so much safer than being in a car. Unless you are flying a third rate airline from a back water country, which china airlines IS NOT. What are you worried about.

 

[33kft]

What are you worried about.

At a guess, I would say OP is worried about flying with a shonky operator. What good is quoting a baseline statistic like flying being statistically safer than driving when the average prevalence and total distance is way off? I know people who fly once every 5 years and commute 2.5 hours every workday. And those who do make up the statistic of lives lost in commercial air travel do so on airlines which have variable comparative rates of incidence. So your chances of being a statistic are way worse on one airline vs another.

That said, their record since 2002 has been fatality free with minimal incidents. Back then I am sure they would have told you that past performance is not indicative of future outcomes, whereas now they would want to convince you they are. At the end of the day about the best information you could get is to seek feedback from those who have traveled recently with the airline to see what their safety culture consists of, the state of their equipment and the quality of their service.

But if we are just going to quote statistics, historically their record is much worse than QF's - 8 hull losses and 755 fatalities, but if you drill down, over the last decade, QF have had more incidents than China Airlines. And herein lies the problem with statistics.

 

[Melburnian1]

...How do you know that their standards have improved?...

You are perhaps a little unfair on CI.

"Lack of incidents for a decade' is what www.airlineratings.com uses as its benchmark for passing with flying colours a safety assessment (plus a few parameters that must be met), so if it's true that CI has not had any (major) incidents for 17 years, I'd have no hesitation in flying it. I haven't, but I have been half a dozen times on competitor BR, also from Taiwan and thought it - at least as far as safety demos. in the cabin go, which is all passengers can 'assess' - professional.

If CI still has an OZ-like problem with 'Asian type management culture' - in the coughpit case, the FO never questioning the pilot's actions or directions such as IIRC was the difficulty with that OZ seawall incident in SFO - isn't there a good chance that with hundreds of thousands of flights in 17 years, this would in a few cases have led to major problems? That it hasn't - given the absence of loss of life or serious injuries - tells me as a passenger that previous cultural problems are not being handed down to the next generation.

Taiwan is a technologically advanced country, in some ways ahead of Australia. Its major airlines reflect that.

 

[jb747]

I guess you have to use whatever measures you have available to you. I've spent a fair bit of time sharing airspace with various players, who, by your definition are safe, but whom I'd assess otherwise. At the end of the day though, the cost of the ticket will decide.....

 

[jboy90]

I guess you have to use whatever measures you have available to you. I've spent a fair bit of time sharing airspace with various players, who, by your definition are safe, but whom I'd assess otherwise. At the end of the day though, the cost of the ticket will decide.....

I’m a very conservative person and made the decision to not book with them in the end. Maybe a bit of confirmation bias there but at the end of the day I’m not going to enjoy my flight if I have niggling feeling in the back of my mind. Have booked to Hong Kong on Qantas and then onward with Cathay which suits me fine.

 

[Michenny]

We Flew Business class 2018 return SYD-FRA on there a350. Excellent product and service. Only problem was im a big fella 6ft2 100 kilo and i sleep on my side but with the 350 and the way the table is dosent allow much room but the 777 from Taipei to FRA was heaps better. At the moment they have excellent fares but long long layover. Butvwdd will be booking again at end of year for 21.

 

[Quickstatus]

If you look at most airline reviews they are reviews of the inflight experience. The average customer will have no idea of what really goes on behind the scenes.
The inflight experience says nought about safety. Cabin crew don't operate the aircraft and have no bearing on whether an aircraft crashes or not. They may modify the outcome of a crash buts thats like closing the gate when the horse has bolted.

Until an airline has a crash no one really knows. And then when it happens, most dont hesitate to get back on ASAP or wait a year or two and its back to normal.

But you don't need to wait for a crash. The near misses are much more important - eg EK207.

The "China = cheap" metric is not the only metric. There are others:

What about the regional airlines in the USA which rely on low paid flight crew on long working hours, or the airlines who have 200-300hr first officers?
Would you fly in a QF 737 because they didn't check all the pitckforks for cracks?.
Would you fly on QF 9/10 ultra long haul where the pilots waking hours approach 20 hours?
And you got Boeing with their current issues.

 

[moffat39]

We Flew Business class 2018 return SYD-FRA on there a350. Excellent product and service. Only problem was im a big fella 6ft2 100 kilo and i sleep on my side but with the 350 and the way the table is dosent allow much room but the 777 from Taipei to FRA was heaps better. At the moment they have excellent fares but long long layover. Butvwdd will be booking again at end of year for 21.

Michenny I am also a big guy around the same height but a few extra kilos. Flew back in J with them from Vancouver to Brisbane in May last year on the 350. I also felt a little cramped with the seat fully flat and was more comfortable with the seat about half reclined.

Agree that it is an excellent product and service and would have no hesitation flying again with them.

Wife and I had plenty of time for the stopover and loved the 18 hour stopover In Taipei each way. We booked a room at the Novotel near the airport (about five minutes on the hotels shuttle bus which is free) for a rest but also did some tours which we really enjoyed. The Novotel is a great airport hotel and as a Platinum no problems checking in at 6.30am. We checked out at 9.30pm.

We loved Taiwan so much that we are planning a 2 week holiday in May this year. Will fly China Airlines again in PE. On our flight to Vancouver last year we flew PE and were very impressed. Only 7 seats across on the 350.

 

[maia200]

I booked J BNE-SYD-TPE and return TPE - BNE at the end of Feb. I booked through the Qantas website so thought they would be recommended as they are a partner airline.

 

[Michenny]

Michenny I am also a big guy around the same height but a few extra kilos. Flew back in J with them from Vancouver to Brisbane in May last year on the 350. I also felt a little cramped with the seat fully flat and was more comfortable with the seat about half reclined.

Agree that it is an excellent product and service and would have no hesitation flying again with them.

Wife and I had plenty of time for the stopover and loved the 18 hour stopover In Taipei each way. We booked a room at the Novotel near the airport (about five minutes on the hotels shuttle bus which is free) for a rest but also did some tours which we really enjoyed. The Novotel is a great airport hotel and as a Platinum no problems checking in at 6.30am. We checked out at 9.30pm.

We loved Taiwan so much that we are planning a 2 week holiday in May this year. Will fly China Airlines again in PE. On our flight to Vancouver last year we flew PE and were very impressed. Only 7 seats across on the 350.

Hi Moffat39, we to stayed @ Novotel( China airlines picked up the Tab) i didnt mind it, but the handbrake didnt like it at all. This time we will do one of the free 4hr tours. Have you done a review for the PE. Am interested to know how you went. At moment fares in BC are under 4000 rt to FRA for end Aug 2020. Any info on your experience in PE would be excellent

 

[p--and--t]

After witnessing good availability on China Airlines to Taipei (a dream destination of mine), I wanted to get thoughts on their safety.

I know they’ve had a number of fatal crashes (many years ago now), and I’ve read some descriptions of some flyers avoiding the airline since then as a result. I’ve also read how the difference in culture and English not as a first language has played a role in past fatalities across some Asian airlines.

Obviously a number of people here are comfortable flying with them. Can I safely assume they’re safe to fly now and have learnt lessons from their past? (I’m hoping for a yes so I can book some business awards)!

I flew with them 2011 on an extraordinarily cheap J fare. Comfy seats (for the generation), on time, acceptable meals, courteous staff.

The only complaint I had was the IFE arrival video advised everyone that Sydney was the capital of AU.

 

[AIRwin]

China Airlines to rename? – Business Traveller

New names have been proposed such as “Formosa Airlines” or “Taiwan Airlines.

www.businesstraveller.com

 

[moffat39]

Hi Moffat39, we to stayed @ Novotel( China airlines picked up the Tab) i didnt mind it, but the handbrake didnt like it at all. This time we will do one of the free 4hr tours. Have you done a review for the PE. Am interested to know how you went. At moment fares in BC are under 4000 rt to FRA for end Aug 2020. Any info on your experience in PE would be excellent

Sorry for the late response - given the current circumstances may not be relevant but will still respond.

Firstly the Novotel - i am Accor Platinum and had a great experience. Cost of the room was around $145AUD which was a standard room but both times upgraded to their suite which was best suite I have ever stayed in . Allowed check in at around 6.30am and then had breakfast in the lounge. They delivered a French bottle of red with cheeses and chocolates to the room. Would have no hesitation in staying again.

Day tour - we had booked our own tour. From memory around $170 for the two of us for 8 hours. It was good value for a day tour with a driver and car. The driver spoke very good English.

More to come later.

 

[MH_fan]

Good god, no. They shouldn't change it. It is, after all, Taiwan (Republic of China). I like the name of China Airlines. It's simply people's ignorance (and sometimes stupidity) when they get China Airlines and Air China confused.

 

[Isochronous]

Good god, no. They shouldn't change it. It is, after all, Taiwan (Republic of China). I like the name of China Airlines. It's simply people's ignorance (and sometimes stupidity) when they get China Airlines and Air China confused.

The China brand has been trashed by communism though, so if CI want to boost their market appeal they need to distance themselves from the word.

 

[Robert K]

They should totally change their name. I'm from Taiwan, and it's embarrassing.
very very very small minority of people on the planet know that ROC is actually Taiwan.

You would not believe how many times I get the response "Oh I LOVE Thai food" when I tell people I'm from Taiwan.

Taiwan's identity is especially important now. With all the medical supplies Taiwan is sending around the world on CI planes. The press photos have the plane in the background. Why let china take credit for our good will?

Taiwan has never been ruled by china. Sure, Taiwanese people are ethnically chinese. But it's the same as Americans vs English.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

I'm not from Taiwan but absolutely hate it when I tell people that I am flying China Airlines and they give me this disgusted look "are you sure an airlines from China is safe?"

Love Taiwan and love flying China Airlines, wouldn't mind it if they changed their name

 

[TomVexille]

They should totally change their name. I'm from Taiwan, and it's embarrassing.
very very very small minority of people on the planet know that ROC is actually Taiwan.

You would not believe how many times I get the response "Oh I LOVE Thai food" when I tell people I'm from Taiwan.

Taiwan's identity is especially important now. With all the medical supplies Taiwan is sending around the world on CI planes. The press photos have the plane in the background. Why let china take credit for our good will?

Taiwan has never been ruled by china. Sure, Taiwanese people are ethnically chinese. But it's the same as Americans vs English.

Or the QF check in agent who kept insisting that we needed a visa for our trip to TPE (xHKG), until her supervisor pointed out that we were going to Taiwan.

 

[MH_fan]

Wow. People's ignorance about Taiwan is astounding! Well, I suppose a name change would be easier to deal with than the uphill battle of correcting people all the time that Taiwan is not China (mainland) or even Thailand...
If they're to change their name, then I would propose Taiwan International Airlines!