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?
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