Earlier in the week I wrote about China Eastern taking delivery of their first Boeing 777-300ER.
It’s a huge transformation for China Eastern, given that their current Airbus A340-600s are among the most tired planes in the sky, while their new Boeing 777-300ERs feature reverse herringbone seats in business class and fully enclosed suites in first class, including a double bed.
China Eastern First Class 777-300ER
China Eastern Business Class 777-300ER
Here’s a video of the new 777-300ER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMk7_yviZk
China Eastern flying 777-300ER to New York
I had posted about how Los Angeles and New York would be their first 777-300ER destinations, and that the service should commence by November 2014.
Well, it looks like China Eastern’s first 777-300ER longhaul route will be Shanghai to New York JFK, and it will commence on November 15, 2014. Via airlineroute.net, the daily 777-300ER schedule will operate as follows:
MU587 Shanghai to New York departing 11:50AM arriving 1:25PM
MU588 New York to Shanghai departing 3:25PM arriving 7:25PM (+1 day)
Great China Eastern 777-300ER award space
The most exciting aspect of the new flight is how much award space they’re releasing on the flight. China Eastern has up to two first class and two business class award seats per flight.
You can redeem Delta SkyMiles for travel on China Eastern without blackout dates, though keep in mind that SkyMiles can’t be redeemed for international first class.
Still, 140,000 Delta SkyMiles for roundtrip business class nonstop between New York and Asia is tough to beat, especially in reverse herringbone seats.
Personally I plan on redeeming Korean Air SkyPass miles for first class on this flight. At 160,000 miles for roundtrip travel in first class to much of Asia, it’s a value that’s tough to beat. I plan on flying China Southern’s new 777-300ER in the other direction, just to see how they’re holding up after my last experience on one of their A380s.
In general I’m looking at a routing somewhere along these lines:
Bottom line
Between the new 777-300ERs from China Eastern and China Airlines, SkyTeam options between the US and Asia sure are improving.
Anyone else planning on redeeming miles on one of China Eastern’s new 777-300ERs?
I have a Skypass from Korean Air and will try flying China Eastern in December. Will my my Skypass be accepted by CEA at checkin and KE then credit my Skypass miles OR would it be better to just enroll on CEA's Eastern Miles?
Thanks for your attention
I need to fly from JFK to Melbourne, Australia one way on short-notice departing either March 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th or possibly the 10th. I'm looking for business or first class availability.
Lucky wrote in the last few months about award space on American which has literally dried up and only has coach space available on the 7th and 8th.
I have hundreds of thousands of miles on AA, BA, LH, DL, and Avianca...
I need to fly from JFK to Melbourne, Australia one way on short-notice departing either March 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th or possibly the 10th. I'm looking for business or first class availability.
Lucky wrote in the last few months about award space on American which has literally dried up and only has coach space available on the 7th and 8th.
I have hundreds of thousands of miles on AA, BA, LH, DL, and Avianca (for a total of close to 1.2 million).
Obviously, I don't want to blow these miles on a full-fare frequent flier mile ticket.
American should have the best deal at 62,500 miles in business class (although I'm not sure -- perhaps Lucky can advise -- how far in advance one has to claim a ticket to get the mileage saver price). I've called AAdvantage last night and tonight and they can't find anything on AA, QF, JL, CX, or even lesser-known partners like Air Tahiti Nui, Hawaiian Air, and the Fijian airline. I will keep trying.
Delta is offering China Eastern in business class via Shanghai for 80,000 plus around $220 in fees and taxes. I'm probably going to have to go with that.
Lufthansa is offering a routing for 92,000 miles one-way in business class
BA shows no availability.
I welcome any thoughts anyone else reading this has. Thanks!
So...?
Any plans to fly the new config? When are we gonna get a TR?
Less EK/LH, more MU/GA!
Ben: Doesn't Delta have fuel surcharges on MU tickets? While not as bad as BA, I recall them still being pretty substantive (a few hundred dollars), so I feel like you should mention that in this post.
@ Daniel M -- Yep, they do indeed, they're about $200 each way.
KE's holiday period additional miles required only affect KE metal, not KE partners, correct?
@ fauxblogger -- Correct, the peak dates apply to their own metal.
Yay! Battle between China Southern & Eastern! Looking forward to reading both of your trip reports and hoping the flights will be a lot better than the CZ A380 flight earlier this year.
Other than the link above, I think I've only read one China Eastern first class review (and it was on a mid-haul flight and it wasn't very detailed) Look forward to your review and impressions.
I'd inquire as to why you didn't decide to go all the way to Bali or Jakarta and then review Garuda first as well... unless Korean still can't book Garuda first...
@ Euro -- They still can't book Garuda first, or else I totally would.
Wouldn't the cost for roundtrip partner first to asia with Skypass cost 200,000 miles with the new chart and award regions?
@ Bruce -- Nope, not for North Asia. Still 160,000 miles roundtrip.
"I plan on flying China Southern’s new 777-300ER in the other direction"
Glutton for punishment? Or just longing for more Duc de Paris?
Because if I remember correctly, it wasn't the plane itself that was the problem, it was the soft product.
Is it just me or does the F cabin/suites look like a poor mans, been there done that version of a has been SQ suites class?!
I mean sure one always loves new planes but this is so 2007. Although I'm a bit surprised how they're squeezing in suites on a 773 as opposed to the SQ 388s.
For comparisons sake how many F suites/seats do each of the respective airlines have?
First MU 77W trip report online but only in Chinese . The actual F cabin looks nice :)
http://www.flyertea.com/thread-317559-2-1.html
Lol. Have fun on the MU A321.. It's probably worse than the A346. If you wanted to, you could change the NRT-PVG flight to Delta 777-200ER if you wanted some Biscoff, and a reverse herringbone seat.. And I would call the A330's more tired than the A346's. My grandparents flew them, and it was hell.
Why don't you fly directly from CAN to PVG/SHA?
@ Michael H -- I would need a Chinese visa, which I don't have at the moment.
pics of real plane here
http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/09/china-eastern-takes-delivery-first-777-300er-new-bland-livery/