seeking china eastern business class review

[dmitri]

Hi all,

I have just booked 2 x QF business class awards on China eastern- Shanghai to Brisbane. Just chasing any reviews from AFF folk.

Cheers, Dmitri

 

[Forg]

Did that cost the same number of points as if it was on QF metal?

 

[straitman]

Did that cost the same number of points as if it was on QF metal?

I believe they have a similar/same cost in points but have a lot more availability than QF metal rewards.

 

[dmitri]

Did that cost the same number of points as if it was on QF metal?

Hi Forg,it was 156000 points and $350 taxes- Tokyo-Shagahai- Brisbane.

 

[Forg]

I went looking online ... a review is hard to find, isn’t it?
The only thing I could find claiming to be a review is the Courier Mail bailling-up some guy who once flew on a ‘plane & asking him what he thought ...

So it looks as though they’re flying an A330 between Shanghai & Brisbane with an upgraded cabin; SeatGuru says the most common A330 they have is an older layout with older seats, but the photos from Shanghai-Brisbane I could find are showing a herringbone-pattern seat layout. I suspect you’ll have an older setup between Tokyo & Shanghai with a grainy little screen & window seats that trap passengers in, but it’s not a long flight.

I’ve not heard or read anything else nor experienced myself, but I redkon you’ll know what the Business Class experience will be like if you’ve been on a middle-tier Asian airline. Note that I’m guessing here; but am 95% sure I’m right. The service will be remotely polite, requests for anything will be met quickly but it won’t be like the best crews who somehow appear just before you think you want something. The onboard entertainment choices will be between really average & terrible. The food will be pretty 2nd-rate. The lounge in Shanghai will be pretty average, depending on the time of day it may be hard to find a seat & the food/beverage choices will be poor (QF doesn’t have one in Shanghai do they? Or CX?).

I found some references to a free limo service in Brisbane for J & F pax, but it didn’t say much ... might be worth asking them if you don’t already have transport, although most services like that are only for getting to the airport (don’t suppose they offer something similar in Tokyo?), and thinking about it you’ve got a QF ticket so it’s probably not relevant anyway.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have done MU MEL-SIN-PVG/PEK a number of times in J years back on ultra cheap comm tix ~2.2K ret - that was b4 i really joined AFF and learnt how to fly pointy end on top tier carriers.

MU is a big step down from top tier - hard product on new metal is quite good - on old it is cough. Soft product also a big step down - crew will bend over backwards to attempt to serve you - they will display total intent to please - they just lack the polish of top tier.

F & B will most likely totally disappoint. Think filling cardboard cup with ice then pour in Champs - leave for 5 mins to cool - then pour into Champagne glass!

Meal may or may not be acceptable. Who knows - this is MU - expect the unexpected and all will be good. Years ago I did MEL-PVG-LAX and ret - PVG-LAX sectors were on brand new metal and excellent product all round.

I have not flown MU for years now and have no intention doing so again unless I absolutely have to. I flew CA in May MEL-PVG and it was totally disappointing - 2 bots Champs to 18 J pax and ran out within an hour - ordered a G & T and got a full glass of G as no T onboard - no relevance to MU I clearly understand but just indicative of Chinese carriers.

Mainland Chinese carriers still have a long long way to go - but as always YMMV - who knows you might get the flt of a lifetime - I have even seen other AFF members here rate PR J as acceptable - we all have differing views.

Oh and I did do a rather extensive review of one MU trip I did - if I knew how to search I would do that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think cruiser and forg have summed it up pretty well.

The new seating is the same as offered by any other airline. The crews will try hard but are limited by what they’re given. The food may or may not be ok, depending on the point of origin and the dish itself. But for a full flat bed on a non-stop long haul it’ll be perfectly fine. Take your own PJs and IFE.

 

[Haplo]

I have flown with them in J SYD/PVG. I think food and service is better than QF, at least based on my personal experience.

 

[Limewood]

Interesting looking at Sydney to Shanghai in J x 2 to pick up ship back to OZ.

Im now reading China Eastern in/out of OZ not so good here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting looking at Sydney to Shanghai in J x 2 to pick up ship back to OZ.

Im now reading China Eastern in/out of OZ not so good here.

I think many of those posts reflect a mismatch between expectation and delivery. If you’re after a flat bed, and the availability is there, what more do you need? MU isn’t going to give you an ‘experience’ like you might get on Qatar or Singapore. But that’s not what they offer.

 

[China flyer]

agree with all of the above except the one comment it is better than QF. It is far cheaper by $ and much more availability on points however, the food, drink and entertainment, and China side lounge will be a huge difference i.e. substandard. Staff will invariably be friendly and try their best to the extent sometimes of being embarrassing especially if you are not Chinese looking and jolly them along. However, they have very limited materials to deal with. Looked at simply as value for $ and points with managed expectations on those other items, it is great with new planes and the seats mentioned. Sales are being made by MU in Australia in bulk tickets with the add-on's of a limo service each flight (at either end but not both) and a return connecting China domestic flight on the MU network which is huge. Great for regular business travelers who go to factory towns an hour away. This adds even more to the value proposition. However, no QF status points I think, in any MU class. Better accruing Skymiles points in SkyTeam if you can use those.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

welcome to AFF Cina flyer!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

FWIW I think I did 2 TRs on MU flts but I have no idea how to search but if someone who does can post the links it might help.

 

[Limewood]

In our case, using points via QF for 2 x J one way (coming back to OZ on ship), it's a daylight flight so no flat beds required, would use Qantas lounge on departure, I see J award seats ex SYD / PVG for our dates 156K points (in toto) and a mere $194 in fees, very reasonable for a change.

 

[Forg]

^ If you don’t want to sleep & you have enough points that you’ll have J lounge access anyway, what’s the reason to spend the extra points on a J upgrade over a PE/Y+ upgrade? Given we’re talking about an airline where the food/drink isn’t going to be any good? Is PE/Y+ not a Thing and flight timing is a lot better than QF?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In our case, using points via QF for 2 x J one way (coming back to OZ on ship), it's a daylight flight so no flat beds required, would use Qantas lounge on departure, I see J award seats ex SYD / PVG for our dates 156K points (in toto) and a mere $194 in fees, very reasonable for a change.

I would absolutely see flat beds as essential on that flight... it’s a long 10+ hours, and a good sleep means you can hit the ground running for a great evening out in Shanghai!

 

[Limewood]

We don't sleep on daylight flights wait till latert hat night where possible, even so the the bed can't be that bad.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We don't sleep on daylight flights wait till latert hat night where possible, even so the the bed can't be that bad.

Depending on the aircraft but I think it’s just the standard reverse herringbone found on CX and others.

 

[dmitri]

As stated by a few above I have a 1020pm flight so I am just happy to get a lay flat bed for minimal points and taxes. Decent food and few movies I haven't seen will be a plus. Anytime I'm not in economy is a good flight.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

As stated by a few above I have a 1020pm flight so I am just happy to get a lay flat bed for minimal points and taxes. Decent food and few movies I haven't seen will be a plus.

dmitri be prepared - bed may be ok but don’t set your sights too high on the food and IFE front.