My first experience with China Eastern Airlines (MU)

[MH_fan]

Had the pleasure of flying China Eastern (MU) for the first time in their J product from SYD to CDG via PVG. Check-in in SYD was easy and I was given lounge invitations for the QF Business Lounge but was told I could use the SkyTeam Lounge if I wanted after I asked. Decided to go to the SkyTeam Lounge but was told I couldn't use it and that MU have an arrangement with QF to use their business lounge. I reminded the SkyTeam lounge agent that MU was part of the SkyTeam alliance and I am entitled to use it but she said no and insisted I go to the QF lounge, which I eventually did. Weird but okay then. Boarding for the flight was on time and efficient. Priority boarding done well. The flight to PVG was on the A350 and, let me say, their business class hard product was excellent! The seat was wide and comfortable. It had doors, which you could close after the plane reaches cruising altitude. There was a menu specifically for that flight route, as previously I'd seen on reviews a big rotating menu lasting the whole year and you had to find the section for your flight for that month. No champagne for PDB and just juice or water offered. The cabin crew were excellent. Reasonably good English and very polite and friendly. The lunch service was good. The food was pretty decent and plentiful. IFE is where the weakest link is. Limited selections and no noise-cancelling headphones. However, there is Bluetooth available for you to pair your own device with the IFE. The pillow was plush and the duvet is one of the best I've had in the air! The amenity kit was very basic and not really good enough for a business class. There were no lotions or lip balm, just eye shade, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and ear plugs. However, pyjamas were offered (only M or L sizes) and they were good! The seat was wide enough for me to sleep on my side with legs curled!! Toilets always kept clean and were spacious (apart from the very front one behind the coughpit).

The flight was on time and the transit in PVG was surprisingly easy and smooth. Used the MU lounge (No.137) in T1, which was alright. Had decent Chinese food. Didn't use the shower facilities, as I didn't feel like it at the time.

Flight from PVG to CDG was on their B777-300. Priority boarding enforced and saw a couple in front of me sent to the general boarding line. Managed to get seats in the 2-row mini cabin behind the F cabin. The seat was the older kind (similar to the ones on VN) but still perfectly acceptable. They felt wider than the other airlines who use this seat (including the footwell). Again, the crew were excellent. The flight leaves around midnight. I was too tired to eat, so skipped the meal and went straight to bed. However, when dinner was offered, there was no menu for me to peruse and the FA just had a copy in her hands. Not only that, not all the courses were available either, which I thought was rather odd. Managed to sleep solidly for 7 hours out of this 12-hour flight. Breakfast was great (went with the Chinese option). Toilets were really spacious and always kept clean. Flight was on time too. IFE was the same on this flight as was the basic amenity kit.

Overall, an excellent product and absolutely worth the price I paid of about 5.8k return. Pics to follow...

 

[MH_fan]

 

[MH_fan]

 

[MH_fan]

 

[MH_fan]

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Looks a lot better than I expected!

 

[SYD]

Some hit and miss bits in there. The lounge situation in SYD did sound odd. But if you just want a flat bed from Oz to Europe on one ticket, that’s quite competitive in the current market.

What was the wine selection like?

 

[MH_fan]

Some hit and miss bits in there. The lounge situation in SYD did sound odd. But if you just want a flat bed from Oz to Europe on one ticket, that’s quite competitive in the current market.

What was the wine selection like?

Yes, I thought the lounge situation in SYD was odd too. The seats are very good (which is the most important thing). The champagne was not the best but at least it's still champagne. Didn't drink wine on the flights but I have got a picture of the wine list!

 

[MH_fan]

Looks a lot better than I expected!

It certainly is! And for <$6k, it's a bargain!

 

[markis10]

The lounge situation in SYD did sound odd.

Probably the result of the QF alliance when QF exited PVG. One of the gotchas with that alliance and QFF with status is no lounge access ex China in many cases as they don’t have too many of their own lounges. The J product is good and at times can be had for $1500 return ex Sydney to China.

 

[MH_fan]

That's what I found odd. Fine to use the QF lounge if the ticket is QF stock but my ticket was with MU and I should be allowed to use the SkyTeam lounge if I want to!

 

[MH_fan]

Just got back from my trip and here's an overview of the return flights. Originated in Madrid, so had a codeshare AF flight to Paris, which was very good. For some strange reason, the check-in agent in Madrid could only get the CDG-PVG boarding pass but not the PVG-SYD one, which was really strange. Transit in CDG was smooth and easy. Used the AF Lounge in T2E in Hall K. The lounge here has been renovated and it is quite nice. Lounge agent was able to get me the PVG-SYD boarding pass by reaching the MU check-in agents at the airport.

Boarding was reasonably organised and efficient. It was an evening flight, so had the full dinner menu, which was great! The CDG-PVG flight is on the B777-300ER. It was very comfortable and slept a solid 6 hours on this 10.5 hour flight. The crew were lovely but English wasn't so good this time. Pyjamas offered once again. Transit in PVG was smooth and easy and I ended up in their No36 lounge this time. There were good shower facilities here. I like the No36 lounge better than the No137, which I had used on the way over. Again, the PVG-SYD flight was on the A350-900 with the enclosed suites. Had an "aisle" window seat this time. The true window seats are much better and more spacious but less storage available. Priority boarding enforced and flight was on time.

Overall, it is a very good product, in my opinion, and priced well. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

 

[MH_fan]

 

[MH_fan]

 

[MH_fan]