It’s easy to get spoiled and think of business class as being very “bleh,” given that many of us are able to redeem miles primarily for international first class travel on foreign airlines. But it’s also important to keep things in perspective. In my case, I booked an $1,100 coach ticket from Tampa to Shanghai…
Continue reading: Awesome flight on American to Shanghai!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Since I read that you liked the pool at the PH Tokyo you HAVE to check out the one at the PH Shanghai (newer and even more impressive - irrespective of the smog/clouds/weather in general). Enjoy!
Also: check out the dumpling store "Ding Tai Fung" in the same building (2nd or 3rd floor I think) - it is very nice and safe for foreign stomach (alternatively check out the outlet in the Superbrand Mall next to the TV Tower and the new Ritz Carton Pudong - this one has nice views on the river).
Will be back to my beloved Shanghai in March. Can't wait...
Ham
Looks like a great trip.
How does one go about confirming upgrades as far in advance as possible for so many legs of a trip?
I hear you about the angled flat seats. Sleeping on LH C was tough. And dang, 90th floor. Truly, your head is in the clouds... 😉
Next time post a pic of such authentic Chinese flight attendants. No need to post pics of the "seniormamas" 🙂
@ dmodemd -- At the Park Hyatt? I used a Diamond Suite upgrade, so Park Suite.
@ Hamurabi2008 -- Thanks, can't wait to check them out.
@ boberonicus -- LOL, fair point...
@ FlyerM -- I just checked upgrade inventory before making my booking on Expert Flyer. Since I was flying during a slow travel period upgrades were easy to come by.
So are you unofficially done with the Airline Formerly Known as UA? Can't blame you if so...
While no one here posted about it, apparently some are offended by my use of "authentic Chinese." Please don't be.
I was using it to differentiate from non-authentic nationals like me. I'm German, have a German passport, and could live in Germany for the rest of my life if I wanted to... but I've spent my whole life living in the US, so as far as 99% of people are concerned, I'm American. Nonetheless I speak the language, so if I were a flight attendant and was language qualified, someone would refer to me as "the German flight attendant."
By calling her "authentic Chinese" I simply mean that she's actually Chinese, to a much greater degree than I'm German. I suspect she lived there for most of her life, and I didn't know how else to phrase that.
Glad to hear you had such an awesome flight, Ben. Though the empty international biz class cabin doesn't bode well for the longetivity of that flight...does it?
I can sleep pretty well in the seats.
Remind me - you're Exec Plat? so the upgrades were free???
Thanks!
I flew AA from LAX to PVG on Jan. 24 in Biz. I occupied an aisle bulkhead seat, and the other 2 bulkhead seats were vacant. Yes, it was nice to be able to have all the empty space and extra blankets and pillows.
I like AA biz class to Shanghai, FA are attentive n go out of their way to help you, too bad they dont get the accolade bec they get put with the rest of the bad service in US
I am glad you liked the AA LAX-PVG flight. Even when it is on time, there no immigration lines at PVG. On return, there are no reasons to show up earlier because Cathay lounge there is mediocre. Also, when I made this trip 6 months earlier, the food on return was not as good as from LA. You may compensate for this having a good time at F lounge at LAX.
Lucky,
When will AA launch new business class seats on this route (PVG to LAX)?
@ Happy -- We don't have a timeline yet. American will reconfigure their first 777-200 with the new business class in the first half of this year, though it'll likely be two years before the entire fleet is reconfigured. We don't know at what point the Shanghai route will get the new product.
Lucky. Thanks! I am flying my parents from HKG to LAX in July this year. I now have two options: HKG - PVG - LAX (Dragonair and AA both in J) or HKG - LAX (CX in Y+, since no award availability in J). Which should I put them on, assuming AA will have old J seats from PVG to LAX?
@ Happy -- I'd probably do American business class. At the end of the day it's better than premium economy.
Another possibility is to route via NRT to LAX. But on the dates my parents want to fly, only 1 seat available for the NRT-LAX leg. Will AA open up more spaces for redemption close to departure date? And would JAL do the same when it is closer to departure date?
@ Happy -- Yes, both do sometimes open up more space as the departure date approaches, though it's not something I'd count on.