China Eastern in Business

[robs12]

Hi, a newbie here & first post.
I'm flying MEL-PVG with China Eastern in Business. I'm also Platinum with QFF. Does anyone know if I can use the Qantas First lounge at Melbourne? Which lounge at Shanghai? Have already worked out that I should take my own in flight entertainment - any other tips?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Are you on a QF flight number?

 

[robs12]

Are you on a QF flight number?

No, not QF, MU.

 

[Must...Fly!]

No, not QF, MU.

I *think* you will get J lounge access from MU (in to the QF J lounge more than likely), but you won't get any kind of access to the QF F lounge.

 

[oz_mark]

I understand they use the QF business lounge in Melbourne so you possibly get into there.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using AustFreqFly

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Robs you will indeed get access to QF J lounge.

MU flying own 330 metal now - wet leased -Shanghai Airlines 776s gone - hard product is OK - in seat power last time I flew 330.

Def BYO IFE - if you are Champers drinker grab MU staff member at check-in and tell them get champagne COLD prior to take off. Food and drinks OK - FAs will bend over backwards to assist you.

I have done 3 x ret MEL-PVG on MU and would do it again in a heart beat.

If its not a rude question how much ret? 2.2K 776 specials now gone - 330 cheapest price is 3.2K.

If you require further info please ask away.

 

[robs12]

Thanks all. J lounge is good enough!
Cruiser, $4K. Just looked at my itinerary and its says operated by Shanghai airlines - Boeing 767-300. Hope it's wrong and you're right!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

4K? How long ago booked? 3.2K readily available if booked 30 days out.

Check their web site - China Eastern Airlines| flights, special airfare, ticket inquiries, discount tickets - clearly states A332 from Oct so I assumed they already started.

I tried booking MEL-PEK/PVG-MEL for Mar 12 and MEL-PVG ret May but 2.2K fares now gone and new discount fare 3.2K - MU rep told me cause A332 now operating. But then again it is MU - who would know.

 

[robs12]

Booked within 30 days. Hope you're right on the A332! Will report back.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh I forgot - MU dep PVG T1 - **** of a lounge - prepare for the worst.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

robs MU website is showing A332 MEL-PVG:



Still would not bet my lefty on it though. I did do lengthy trip report on here re MEL-PVG on 767 - you might be able to find it.

The old seats I poointed out at the time were FABULOUS for sitting in for daytime flight - terrible for sleeping and no ISPS or IFE in english.

But I still thought it was FABULOUS vale at 2.2K ret for direct flt.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi, a newbie here & first post.
I'm flying MEL-PVG with China Eastern in Business. I'm also Platinum with QFF. Does anyone know if I can use the Qantas First lounge at Melbourne? Which lounge at Shanghai? Have already worked out that I should take my own in flight entertainment - any other tips?

Yes sometimes happiness can be forced by setting low expectations. The time for this is now.

 

[robs12]

LOL!! Make my day why don't ya!! My expectations are low anyway..!

Looks like the plane is 346 on the days I am traveling, rather than 332 - A340-600?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Mate you will be fine - it aint SQ or CX but it is quite adequate.

Please take lots of pics and post a report - be honest - positive or negative it helps us all.

As I said worst part is MU PVG T1 J lounge - it really is ordinary.

Many people will really denigrate this MU service - I have flown it 3 times - it is quite adequate to just get you there and get you home in some degree of comfort.

Last week I flew MEL-SIN-PEK in J in SQ / PVG-SIN-MEL in F. Am lucky at moment am generating plenty pts to do redemptions - BUT - that might change - if it does I will be back on MU at the drop of a hat. The DIRECT flt really a bonus - don't like the increase in fares but I think MU might well be forced to lower again going forward.

Will be interested in your report on loading both ways. Have fun - it will be an adventure and needs to be treated that way.

One thing I guarantee is the MU female FAs will knock your socks off.

 

[robs12]

So it was an A340-600 both ways. My expectations beforehand were low... but significantly exceeded!
Qantas business lounge at MEL. T1 lounge at PVG pretty average. Ended up going to the Diner's lounge too, which was better in most respects but not as much food (choice of several hot meals in the MU lounge, just sandwiches in the Diners). Seats not really comfortable in either.
Plane was clean, service very good (pleasant, attentive, good english, lots of hot towels handed out), food good (steak a little rare for my taste, but tender & tasty). Steel cutlery except for the fork which was plastic (& pathetically useless) on the way out. On the return leg it was all steel. Personal screen with choice of about 60 western movies. No really recent releases but plenty of fairly recent and saw a couple of things I hadn't seen before. Amenity kits handed out along with noise cancelling headphones and slippers. Nice blankets. Seats not horizontal but decent recline and comfortable - had a good night's sleep on the return leg. Declined dinner in order to get head down but they still offered a fruit plate & ice cream - and drinks. But no champers either way - didn't have it apparently, though it was on the menu.
Outwards leg on time but return ~1.5hrs late.
No photos I'm afraid. Flight out approx 50% full in Business, if that. Return (Friday night) almost full.
Overall certainly not a bad experience at all - quite good in fact. Given the relative cost, I'd highly recommend it, and will certainly do the same next time.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Glad it worked out ok robs - also good that you reported your experience.

Surprised there was no Taittinger on board - but how were the reds anyway?

Of course the really big + with the MU flts is that they are direct - they are more than tolerable and at 3K or so if you book a month out it is great value IMHO.

 

[robs12]

They had a Shiraz & a Cotes du Rhone - only tried the latter - quite drinkable. To the extent that I had a second glass... ;-)

 

[moa999]

no champers either way - didn't have it apparently, though it was on the menu.

Good balanced report.
A few others would have been scathing about the above.

 

[jetlagger]

So it was an A340-600 both ways. My expectations beforehand were low... but significantly exceeded!
Qantas business lounge at MEL. T1 lounge at PVG pretty average. Ended up going to the Diner's lounge too, which was better in most respects but not as much food (choice of several hot meals in the MU lounge, just sandwiches in the Diners). Seats not really comfortable in either.
Plane was clean, service very good (pleasant, attentive, good english, lots of hot towels handed out), food good (steak a little rare for my taste, but tender & tasty). Steel cutlery except for the fork which was plastic (& pathetically useless) on the way out. On the return leg it was all steel. Personal screen with choice of about 60 western movies. No really recent releases but plenty of fairly recent and saw a couple of things I hadn't seen before. Amenity kits handed out along with noise cancelling headphones and slippers. Nice blankets. Seats not horizontal but decent recline and comfortable - had a good night's sleep on the return leg. Declined dinner in order to get head down but they still offered a fruit plate & ice cream - and drinks. But no champers either way - didn't have it apparently, though it was on the menu.
Outwards leg on time but return ~1.5hrs late.
No photos I'm afraid. Flight out approx 50% full in Business, if that. Return (Friday night) almost full.
Overall certainly not a bad experience at all - quite good in fact. Given the relative cost, I'd highly recommend it, and will certainly do the same next time.

Thanks for your report.. I was also interested as an alternate to my regular. Look forward to try it as well.
Cheers,
jl

 

[mella2007]

Great to see another review on it. I have organised a group to travel with MU next year in Y during peak travel time to Europe. For the price, no one else even came close.