Interesting Experience PVG-PEK (QF4009) - China Eastern Codeshare

[ChrisGibbs]

Was a passenger on QF129 SYD-PVG connecting onto QF4009 PVG-PEK on Monday 27th June. Sitting in the China Eastern lounge at PVG we were advised our service to PEK had been delayed due to thunderstorms in the Beijing area. We were due to depart at 910pm arriving into PEK at 1140pm. We eventually boarded around 1030pm and the doors were closed ready for push back and were advised there were still delays and we didn't yet have a departure time. At around 1230am (2hrs after boarding) the Captain advised us the flight had been "cancelled" but said we should stay on the plane and "have a sleep" until we could depart. With that announcement there was a bit a commotion with passengers in the cabin moving around and getting irate. I was sitting in 6C which is the first row of business class on the China Eastern A320's. Not long after the announcement I had a random guy come up from Economy trying to push his way into the spare seat next me - yelling at me in Mandarin and trying to move my legs feet that I had up on bulkhead. I saw the horrified look on the Flight Attendants faces who came from behind the curtain to see what the commotion was all about. I simply said to the guy "sorry I don't speak Mandarin". So the guy then tried the same thing across the aisle and made it into the vacant window seat put the blanket over himself and settled in for a sleep. The female Flight Attendants tried unsuccessfully to get him to go back to his original seat. Eventually a male flight attendant forcibly moved him back to his original economy seat along with much yelling and screaming from both the passenger and crew. The CSM apologised to both us sitting in Row 6 and said the passenger felt he was entitled to a seat in Business given the delays in the flight. We eventually took of from PVG at 1:45am arriving into PEK at 4:15am around 4 1/2 hrs late. The China Easter crew did a great job in what could of eventuated into a difficult situation.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Sounds like a typical day in chinese aviation

 

[JessicaTam]

Sounds like an "interesting" delay.

 

[yohy?!]

Probably air corridor congestion combined with weather which is part and parcel for China domestic ... Be glad pax didn't start trying to rush the exits or subdue the FAs!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A china eastern A320 (in common with just about all A320s being operated in China/Hong Kong SAR) is no place to be stuck for any amount of time

While the codeshare between QF/MU might offer some benefits... transferring at PVG to get to PEK is not one I'd be taking. There are better options to fly SYD-PEK non-stop, avoiding potential (often lengthy) domestic flight delays, and those non-stop services have better seats (including full flat beds in business).

 

[Isochronous]

Not to mention that once QF get 789s we will have a direct SYD-PEK service.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

A china eastern A320 (in common with just about all A320s being operated in China/Hong Kong SAR) is no place to be stuck for any amount of time

While the codeshare between QF/MU might offer some benefits... transferring at PVG to get to PEK is not one I'd be taking. There are better options to fly SYD-PEK non-stop, avoiding potential (often lengthy) domestic flight delays, and those non-stop services have better seats (including full flat beds in business).

Many years ago QF operated a non stop service SYD-PEK 3 days per week. I took this service about 6 times across a 12 month period and on 2 occasions landed in Hong Kong due to congestion / delays on the northern china airways. Over the passed 2 years I've done SYD-HKG-PEK on QF/CX(KA) and had delays of up to 90-120 minutes on average on the HKG-PEK sector... When booking off the QF website the only options that come up are the SYD-PVG-PEK or SYD-HKG-PEK services. From a OneWorld perspective the Air China non stop service isn't an option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Many years ago QF operated a non stop service SYD-PEK 3 days per week. I took this service about 6 times across a 12 month period and on 2 occasions landed in Hong Kong due to congestion / delays on the northern china airways. Over the passed 2 years I've done SYD-HKG-PEK on QF/CX(KA) and had delays of up to 90-120 minutes on average on the HKG-PEK sector... When booking off the QF website the only options that come up are the SYD-PVG-PEK or SYD-HKG-PEK services. From a OneWorld perspective the Air China non stop service isn't an option.

Totally agree Oneworld options aren't great... but for me, I have to draw the line. On paper (objectively), QF/MU doesn't really make sense. Angled lie-flats (= no sleep for me), cramped A320s, at best a lengthened travel time of a couple of hours - but far more likely - many hours extra due to delays (as you experienced). No real benefit except some status credits.

Air China... non-stop, hours shaved off travel time, full flat beds, arrive relaxed and refreshed. But admittedly... no PJs!

If you multiply the extra scheduled travel time (transit in PVG + the flight PVG-PEK) by 6 times a year... that's 48 extra hours of time. Delays add on to that, possibly bringing it closer to 3 days extra over non-stops. Once QF gets full flats on the PVG route it becomes slightly more attractive for me... at least I can sleep on the long hauls.

 

[smit0847]

Nothing surprises me with mainland chinese anymore.