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

[baarg]

You can book China Eastern flights via Flight Centre or Aunt Betty as well (cash backs are available with the later). When I booked them a month or so ago they were lower cost options over Trip.com

My concern is in relation to reliability. If anyone has experiences with Aunt Betty, it'd be good to know. I didn't read good things about them. Thanks

 

[markis10]

Aunt Betty = flight centre, ymmv. I have had a couple of irrops on trip.com bookings and they were very proactive with emails and options, a bit too proactive last month when I snagged a 10 hour earlier flight at Sydney avoiding a long lounge stint. Got three emails asking if the change was OK and only stopped when I replied.

 

[bodog]

My concern is in relation to reliability. If anyone has experiences with Aunt Betty, it'd be good to know. I didn't read good things about them. Thanks

I booked China Eastern with them and the process was easy enough. We received the tickets within 48 hours

Not sure what else I could expect from them (given they’re an online agency owned 100% by Flight Centre group)

 

[baarg]

I think most sites are very straightforward when booking and paying, but not that responsive when things go wrong. Thanks all for your input. I read better reviews with trip.com than others, but aware experiences vary for everyone

 

[AIRwin]

Frequency doubling after the first year:

China Eastern Doubles Buenos Aires Flights From Dec 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0600PDT / 1300GMT 27MAY26 China Eastern from December 2026 plans to expand service to Argentina, as the carrier’s Shanghai Pu Dong – Auckland – Buenos Aires Ezeiza increases from 2 to 4 weekly, effective 05DEC26. This route is operated by 777-300ER. MU745 PVG0150 – 1730AK

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[aplmac]

So we're flying SYD-AKL_EZE in November this year. The SYD-AKL legs are AirNZ, AKL-EZE legs by China Eastern. Booking made by a TA - first time we've used one in donkey's years.

What we have discovered is that, because the tickets were issued by a TA, we are not able to access our booking on China Eastern's website or app, despite having a PNR. This is apparently because China Eastern 1) don't use PNRs at the moment (they've taken customer feedback and will maybe consider it sometime soon) and 2) unless the ticket is purchased directly from the airline, you can't use the website or app to Manage your Booking, anyway.

Not using a PNR, such access requires three factors: ticket number, name, and ID Document number. So thinking it might be a passport number issue I went to China Eastern's Sydney office. They verified my booking and ticket was all in order, but there's no passport details attached to our booking and anyway, they couldn't add them as the tickets were TA issued (which TAs can do without supplying traveller ID, even though we had provided that), and those details would be captured at the checkin desk on the day. Regardless, wouldn't have mattered, as only tickets purchased directly from the airline can be used to access their website and app!

The TA indicated that there was nothing more they could do, either.

So the bottom line is that the only the TA can manage our flights due to how the tickets are issued. It also affects our managing the AirNZ flights, even though it has it's own PNR because it was all done through China Eastern. If there are any issues, the airline's system will notify the TA, and hopefully the TA can reach us.

Something to be aware of, which we weren't at the time, having been independent travelers for decades.

 

[markis10]

Chinese airlines are best booked by a ta unless your fluent in Chinese and their apps (taobao fliggy etc), one of the better ta’s is trip.com, very proactive should irrops occur, which often do in the mainland.

 

[aplmac]

Chinese airlines are best booked by a ta unless your fluent in Chinese and their apps (taobao fliggy etc), one of the better ta’s is trip.com, very proactive should irrops occur, which often do in the mainland.

Fair enough, I suppose - and I guess this is what TAs exist to do. Just feels weird not having any semblance of control of our booking management. I blame my SIL - she organised it all
I'll use Flighty and Flight Update apps to keep a behind-the-scenes eye on things...

 

[woodyren]

Chinese airlines are best booked by a ta unless your fluent in Chinese and their apps (taobao fliggy etc), one of the better ta’s is trip.com, very proactive should irrops occur, which often do in the mainland.

Agree. We have EZE-AKL on China Eastern booked with Trip as it was the easiest option. We often book flights with them and they have so far been very good. The China Eastern website is terrible and we had the same issues with trying to load our booking.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

That's annoying. I booked a SYD-AKL trip via Amex Travel last year and I recall issues with the general manage booking function, but was able to access a separate interface just to select seats. A quick Google revealed this site which now just blanks out (at least on both browsers I tried), so that's of no help to you now. Alas. Enhancements.