Hainan Mel LHR in J $4.7K

[markis10]

Little bit more expensive than last few years, can credit to Velocity.
$1k in Y if you must!

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/948224

Flying: Hainan Airlines
Cheapest Dates: February - June and October/26
Included: Economy 2x 23kg checked luggage, meals and entertainment
Included: Business 2x 32kg checked luggage, 180-degree lie-flat seats, meals, entertainment and lounge access
Hainan Airlines is ranked #10 in the Skytrax World Airline Rankings
Layover: Haikou

 

[jase05]

Been a while since our last flights with Hainan but they are probably my favourite Chinese carrier and had some great J flights with them.
No idea what there product is like these days though

 

[Austman]

I’ll be doing some regional and domestic flights in J on Hainan in the next week or two.

I will probably do a short TR.

My flights won’t be their long haul J product but some experiences, including their hub HAK airport, will be the same.

 

[Pele]

I’ll be doing some regional and domestic flights in J on Hainan in the next week or two.

I will probably do a short TR.

My flights won’t be their long haul J product but some experiences, including their hub HAK airport, will be the same.

I flew in Hainan economy in January 2025 and found it fine. After my stopover in Haikou I continued on to CAN but in HAK airport I made it into the Fortune Wings lounge which I found more than adequate. Overall the airport is a nice natural light filled high roofed space.

 

[drcam]

I flew with them in Y to Tel Aviv from Beijing last year. They were fine in every way, I even got the whole row (poor man's business) to myself, there were virtually no Chinese on the flight, only Israelis.

 

[jase05]

Last time we flew J with them they were flying SYD-CSX.
We did an open jaw SYD-CSX-PEK and CSX-SYD and for memory it was about $1700.
Very good flights

 

[siri]

Hainan is a great airline and service was great and i flew last dec 2 bus class and service is quite good and price was half of Qantas/ Emirate.

 

[Austman]

I’ll be doing some regional and domestic flights in J on Hainan in the next week or two.

I will probably do a short TR.

My flights won’t be their long haul J product but some experiences, including their hub HAK airport, will be the same.

Thread 'Hainan Airlines regional international and domestic business class review: Good and excellent value but not quite five star.'

Mar 3, 2026

On the Hainan Airlines website it is noted:

"In June 2025, Hainan Airlines earned the "SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline" designation for the 14th consecutive year, ranked 10th in the "SKYTRAX World's Best Airlines" listing, and secured top global or regional honors for Best Airlines in China, Best Airlines Staff in China, and Best Business Class Airline Comfort Amenities."

So, is it 5 star? Recently I took 4 x flights with Hainan Airlines, HU, all in business class.

It was a return ticket from KUL (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) to NNG (Nanning, China) via Hainan's hub HAK (Haikou, China)...

• Austman
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I flew with them in Y to Tel Aviv from Beijing last year. They were fine in every way, I even got the whole row (poor man's business) to myself, there were virtually no Chinese on the flight, only Israelis.

Intriguing. Were the Chinese crew able to cater to a majority foreign audience?

 

[AIRwin]

Intriguing. Were the Chinese crew able to cater to a majority foreign audience?

Standards High/None?

 

[drcam]

The standards were high, at least by my experience. And I couldn't complain anyway getting the whole row to myself, which is paying economy for poor man's business.

I cannot vouch for their service towards the Israelis though, although I didn't hear nobody complaining. I am Chinese, and I got treated like I was family, especially given that there were only about two Chinese people on that entire plane.

 

[siri]

Booked 2 business class via Hainan Airlines from Sydney to Dubai and transit point of 2 hrs with Haikou airport and since Hainan Airlines is virgin partner
airline, points should have been Sydney to Dubai and unfortunately virgin only gave Sydney to Haikou and Haikou to Sydney only and REFUSED to give points from Hakou to Dubai and Dubai to Haikou saying
“Our partnership on Hainan Airlines only allows to earn on the flight taken within or between Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). Since these flights occurred outside the eligible regions, neither leg will earn Points or Status Credits. “

I find this very misleading and confusing. Travellers be warned.

 

[AIRwin]

Booked 2 business class via Hainan Airlines from Sydney to Dubai and transit point of 2 hrs with Haikou airport and since Hainan Airlines is virgin partner
airline, points should have been Sydney to Dubai and unfortunately virgin only gave Sydney to Haikou and Haikou to Sydney only and REFUSED to give points from Hakou to Dubai and Dubai to Haikou saying
“Our partnership on Hainan Airlines only allows to earn on the flight taken within or between Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). Since these flights occurred outside the eligible regions, neither leg will earn Points or Status Credits. “

I find this very misleading and confusing. Travellers be warned.

It's published on the Velocity website:

Frequent Flyer - Velocity | The loyalty program of Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Hainan Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class with a HU flight number and operated by Hainan Airlines. You can also redeem Reward Seat with Hainan Airlines online. Learn how to earn and redeem Velocity Points with Hainan Airlines.

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Velocity Points cannot be earned on:

• Reward Seat bookings
• Charter flight bookings
• Fare classes other than as specified above
• Codeshare flights (any flight with an HU flight number that is operated by an airline other than Hainan Airlines or Virgin Australia)
• Hainan Airlines operated flights, outside of those operated between Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).
• Upgraded fares: Members travelling on upgraded fares that were purchased with Points or by bidding for an upgrade will earn as per the rules of the original fare class purchased.

 

[BCons]

Just had a look at their sched for a likely late Aug trip - Syd to LHR is 42h 45m duration 2-stopper that has 3.5h layover in Haikou and 15 hrs hanging around Beijing. Hmm

 

[siri]

It's published on the Velocity website:

Frequent Flyer - Velocity | The loyalty program of Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Hainan Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class with a HU flight number and operated by Hainan Airlines. You can also redeem Reward Seat with Hainan Airlines online. Learn how to earn and redeem Velocity Points with Hainan Airlines.

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Velocity Points cannot be earned on:

• Reward Seat bookings
• Charter flight bookings
• Fare classes other than as specified above
• Codeshare flights (any flight with an HU flight number that is operated by an airline other than Hainan Airlines or Virgin Australia)
• Hainan Airlines operated flights, outside of those operated between Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).
• Upgraded fares: Members travelling on upgraded fares that were purchased with Points or by bidding for an upgrade will earn as per the rules of the original fare class purchased.

Some people may have no time since its Pretty sorry affairs if airline says its our partner airline but you have to read our partner policies.. btw this is a single travel booking from point one to point 2.

 

[Austman]

Booked 2 business class via Hainan Airlines from Sydney to Dubai and transit point of 2 hrs with Haikou airport and since Hainan Airlines is virgin partner
airline, points should have been Sydney to Dubai and unfortunately virgin only gave Sydney to Haikou and Haikou to Sydney only and REFUSED to give points from Hakou to Dubai and Dubai to Haikou

I noted the same in the first post of my TR on Hainan.

 

[jase05]

Some people may have no time since its Pretty sorry affairs if airline says its our partner airline but you have to read our partner policies.. btw this is a single travel booking from point one to point 2.

I’ve just got into the habit of reading everything just to make sure over the years. In saying that though if the fare is attractive enough I’m not too bothered if I earn little or nothing.

 

[siri]

I’ve just got into the habit of reading everything just to make sure over the years. In saying that though if the fare is attractive enough I’m not too bothered if I earn little or nothing.

Agree, i never cared about points anyway but hope airline wordings should be clear and not open for interpretation. It took virgin 3 months to sort this. Next time i will use Hainan ff program rather than virgin.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree, i never cared about points anyway but hope airline wordings should be clear and not open for interpretation. It took virgin 3 months to sort this. Next time i will use Hainan ff program rather than virgin.

You can prolly still credit the sector to Hainan? The points will be unattached.

 

[markis10]

Always worth checking wheretocredit Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program