I took the Maglev to the airport from Longyang Station,which takes about seven minutes at a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour (to the best of my knowledge it's the world's fastest train). While I think it's more practical to just take a cab to the airport, there's something fun about going 431 kilometers…
Continue reading: Week in the Clouds: Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge Shanghai, American Business Class Shanghai to Los Angeles
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Im disappointed in looking at that menu as no veggie option was offered.....I wont be flying this route no doubt....
WOW... I'm impressed... You went 33 miles in 7 minutes on the Maglev!
It is better than a taxi I think when otherwise you wouldn't get there going 280 miles an hour.!
@ JetAway -- Yeah, tell me about it...
@ Ozaer -- Really surprising they wouldn't have a vegetarian option, especially out of China where the meat can be questionable.
@ Bryce -- Well that's the maximum speed, and it's only at it for less than a minute before slowing down. The reason it takes a bit longer is because the station isn't all that practically located, not to mention you have to buy tickets, wait for the next train, etc. In the end the whole trip took me about 45 minutes, which was a bit longer than the trip on the way out.
"I waited in the first class queue and despite being the first person in line, the passenger being helped was taking forever."
Huh? What passenger? Were you referring to yourself? lol
Too bad the catering on this route was horrible, in your other TR, the food seems pretty good (by US carrier standards)...
@ Andy -- Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. There was someone being helped, and I was the first persn in line. I don't consider a person being helped to be in the queue.
I love airline food, even when flying in Y. I love school cafeteria food. I love microwave meals. As not great as that picture of the beef dish looks, I bet I would've loved it. The cheese and bacon sandwich sounds awesome too!
What do you think about F in AA versus J, especially for sleeping? How comfortable were the angled J seats versus the flatbed F seats? Just curious.
@ Dave Op -- I actually think the difference between business and first class on American is huge, in particular for sleeping. In first class I can get a good night of sleep, while in business class I get an "airplane nap" at best. So I think first class is well worth the premium if using miles or upgrading with a systemwide upgrade.
You took the Maglev? I thought they went out of business. Oh, wait...never mind.
What kind of wine did they offer you with your breakfast sandwich?
I love the Maglev. Makes Acela Express seem like a Greyhound bus!
UA's catering out of PVG is actually quite good. I've been in both F and C, and never been disappointed by the meals (both initial and pre-landing).
The catering looked awful. Presentation sucked.
Why didn't you ask for another item off the menu when your sorry excuse for a "Steak" was inedible?
Is it permissible in Business Class on AA or UA to order multiple entrees off the menu like they'll let you do on CX, or it is that really a FC on CX perk?
JRL
not to be picky, as Lucky probably mean the "fastest regular service train", but the TGV Est in France broke the world speed record on rails with 574 km/h. It went so fast that the live newsfeed could not send proper audio and video data from the train.
Regarding security, I think we should all stop with the "being safe" crap, as we all well know that if somebody wanted to make great harm on a plane he does not bring bombs/weapons/whatever by personal item, but instead you just bribe the cargo people, TWA style.
A working group of the EU Commission has deemed liquid bans within Europa as utterly useless already in 2008, too bad the EU Commission said that they could change policies only from 2015 and onwards.
I am ranting, because there is ABSOLUTELY no reason for such absurd security measures on planes and they only annoy the heck out of passengers whilst having absolutely no effect on safety, freedom or whatever positive and comfortable buzzword you want to use.
Ben - I realized there was still the start/stop issue. Really I just wanted to get an idea for the magnitude and was surprised when I converted to miles per hour.
I recommend take the Maglev in Shanghai, rather than a taxi.
Taking the Maglev is a relaxing experience, and going so fast slows down time so you arrive a little younger.
Taking a taxi to or from the Shanghai airport, on the other hand, always ages me...evidently watching my life pass before my eyes several times during the ride takes a toll.
The first, and only, time I took a cab from the airport to downtown my driver got into a game of chicken with a concrete truck. Fortunately, the truck driver gave up, leaving me with a mental movie of his truck skidding down the highway (at an angle) with brakes locked and tires smoking. From then on, it's been Maglev for me!
Ben, thanks for replying to my question on item 10. I love to read an article how the difference between each airline/plane model business class and first class for sleeping. Generally, I would think a flatbed business class and first class difference will be small or not that big. But, I am just making up this assumption, as I have never flown international first class before. My 2 cents for a potential future article.
Re: Brunch vs. Breakfast. Come on, Ben. WIth a 5:30 PM or so LAX arrival, everyone's bio-clocks are going to be screwed up. The simple sandwich option does not sound inappropriate to to me. In fact, given AA's typically awful food service, it is probably a better choice than their 'Standard' breakfast offerings!
I get the main point for the Shanghai flights. I move to LA in July and have a trip there in November. Apparently the flight there is going to take 14hr 25min and going back 12hr 37min. Although I'm not connecting as well as in business class, is the situation I'm in good or bad?
Holy crab, er crap! 😉
You went at 2x the speed a 777 lands at and 1/2 the cruise speed!
More critisisim: (someone tell me how to spell that! 😉 )
Sundae off center, starter off center, potato over the edge on the first main besides the disgusting look.
Toast slices not aligned either! 😉