Article: China Eastern to launch AKL-EZE route in December 2025

[AFF Editor]

This one probably wasn't on anyone's bingo card...

China Eastern will launch a Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires service in December, running 2x weekly. You might even be able to book a seat with Qantas Points.

New Flights from New Zealand to Argentina... with China Eastern?!

China Eastern will launch flights from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland from December 2025, filling a void left by Air New Zealand.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[ap_member]

Fantastic news! Let’s hope the competition helps

 

[simmomelb]

Do we know when bookings will go live?

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Always great to see more 5th freedoms pop up especially in unexpected places.

 

[kiwitripper64]

China Eastern and QF are partner airlines, but will there be any link on this route? Will China Eastern recognise QF status for lounges? Will you be able to get QF SC and points for flying this route?
I suspect not but it would be nice to have another QF route to South America

 

[Mwenenzi]

China Eastern and QF are partner airlines, but will there be any link on this route? Will China Eastern recognise QF status for lounges? Will you be able to get QF SC and points for flying this route?
I suspect not but it would be nice to have another QF route to South America

MU~QF. All on the QF web site--->
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/china-eastern.html
Lounge https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...ner-airlines/china-eastern.html#lounge-access
Freq flyers https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...r-airlines/china-eastern.html#frequent-flyers

===========
AKL new release --> https://corporate.aucklandairport.c...ch-major-china-south-america-link-through-akl

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

MU~QF. All on the QF web site--->
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/china-eastern.html
Lounge https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...ner-airlines/china-eastern.html#lounge-access
Freq flyers https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...r-airlines/china-eastern.html#frequent-flyers

===========
AKL new release --> https://corporate.aucklandairport.c...ch-major-china-south-america-link-through-akl

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

 

[SYD]

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

and QF codeshares within China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

Actually, when QF has a Sth Am Sale, the LA codeshare is sometimes cheaper. Similarly when LA have a Sale, the QF metal is cheaper..!

We can already do AU-EZE one stop (via SCL), so I’d be surprised if QF bother with MU heading that way. Besides, the QF / LA partnership already extends to lounge access and other perks.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The MU/QF partnership appears to be limited to flights between Australia and China.

Even if QF applies a codeshare to enable AU-AKL-EZE on a QF code, expect those will be much more expensive than the MU coded flights - as is the case with LATAM flights to SCL and beyond,

As a new flight to a new location (South America) the QF-MU agreement may/may not be re negotiated.

 

[mushmush]

Perhaps this will motivate Air New Zealand to reinstate their old Auckland Buenos Aires route

 

[kiwitripper64]

They have no spare jets due to the world wide RR engine issues on the 787

 

[anchew]

Looks like they've released the schedule for these flights: China Eastern Plans Auckland – Buenos Aires Service From Dec 2025 — AeroRoutes

MU745 PVG0200 – 1830AKL2030 – 1630EZE 77W 1(M)
MU745 PVG0200 – 1830AKL2055 – 1655EZE 77W 4(Th)
MU746 EZE0200 – 0840+1AKL1040+1 – 1800+1PVG 77W 2(Tu) 5(F)

(Took me a while to work out what the numbes at the end meant haha. It's the days of the week)

Here's another article on it: China Eastern's Flights to Buenos Aires Now Appear on Its Website

 

[SYD]

No one hold their breath thinking they can book CRs via QFF. There haven’t been ANY seats on MU for months (possibly coming up to 1yr and nothings been fixed…)…

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Pity these flight times won't align with the SYD-AKL 5th freedom flight; I suspect that would have made for good value.

 

[woodyren]

No one hold their breath thinking they can book CRs via QFF. There haven’t been ANY seats on MU for months (possibly coming up to 1yr and nothings been fixed…)…

Can any MU flights be booked as CR over the phone?

 

[SYD]

Can any MU flights be booked as CR over the phone?

No. They don’t seem to be able to see them either.

When I tried to get a flight from PEK to Xi’an, I was told that there weren’t any CRs “because QANTAS doesn’t fly that route”!

At the time, I could see seats on pretty much every flight for days +\- via AF/KL (just didn’t have any points)…

 

[elanshin]

As for the overall route, i think i get it. My cousin actually had to do a lot of deals in South America and he would have to fly across to Europe then the transatlantic down across. There's plenty of Chinese activity in South America.

This would be in theory a bit faster (although he probably would rather fly AF/KLM than MU).

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

When I tried to get a flight from PEK to Xi’an, I was told that there weren’t any CRs “because QANTAS doesn’t fly that route”!

Far out; just wild.

 

[SYD]

Far out; just wild.

It was a classic case of HUCA! But still no joy seeing seats…

 

[baarg]

Haven't been able to find any flights from AKL to EZE on this airline (from December 4th), does anyone know anything?