Review: China Eastern Lounge Shanghai Airport

@Lucky,
Would greatly appreciate it if you included the day you travelled as it would give us an idea of how old the food was. (Since it was labelled THU)

Any cigaret smell

@Chandan Bhat He flew on Thursday the 28th, as it says in the introduction post of this trip report. Also, I'd assume that since the food was labeled THU, Lucky would have pointed it out of it wasnt a Thursday.

@David,
Thanks a lot. Appreciate it.

Hi Lucky,

I just want to point out that No.20 Lounge in PVG T1 is primarily used for China Eastern international first class passengers. Since MU only has 6 seats in 77W first class cabin, the lounge tends to be quite small. I guess the duty manager wants to bring you a great impression about China Eastern hence brings you to the first class lounge. 🙂

I have to say that it's the very very FIRST time I saw China Eastern to "setup" both of Evian and Perrier water, Ginger Ale, Tonic and Soda water, and even more than 4 kinds of pastries in the self-service bar area in this lounge. And the "Hot Towel" service is the most AMAZING part, just like a Royal Treatment. I have never seen such "items" and service available at this lounge in the past few years.

This was absolutely not the norm for MU. It was way better. Their lounges are truly horrific. Clearly this one was not great, but it was the best that they have and you received truly VIP treatment. Frankly, MU is one of the worst products out there. All of the Chinese Airlines are pretty poor, but MU tends to take the cake in poor service, pilots who smoke on board in the cockpit, FA's that speak little or no English and soft product that is outrageously horrible. All in all, Lucky has seen the very best of a horrible airline. I avoid them as much as is possible. I have flown them many times in the past both international and domestic China. Skyteam should be ashamed, but DL could care less. At least Dragon is decent but it only hubs out of HKG and is not that useful... Hainan/Hong Kong Express is the best of the lot in the air, but the lounge experience is not good. China really does not get service or have the understanding of quality. It is what it is and all of the airlines are defacto owned by the government even if they have different management.

Of course because the admirals clubs are so much better...

I agree .this was quite a nice lounge as compared with the "normal" MU lounges that are terrible. The black chairs looked like 40 years old and everything including the food was very basic and not appealing at all. At least it was better than waiting for my flight at the gate.

Ben,

the problem is that your name is already known to these airlines and they react accordingly, like calling special agent, bringnig special hot meals etc....

You hold double standards between the US and rest of the world. Do the lounges in the US even have food? I know you need to earn commissions thru credit card link and banks. Perhaps China Eastern didn't give you any "benefit" so you wrote a horrible report.

@Hamanaka,
You must not be a long-time reader of this blog. Please catch up by clicking above on "TRIP REPORTS" and then "AIRPORT LOUNGES".

Yes, Admirals Club are terrible like American Airlines...

This is actually not the real first class or business class lounge. This lounge is literally reserved for VIPs. So celebrities, politicians, and MU executives use this lounge. The real first class and business class lounge is by gate 21 and 22. In Chinese fashion, they knew you guys were reviewing stuff, so they gave you the VIP lounge. Do you really think no one else would be in the lounge with you guys? Pudong is MUs hub.

I'm sure this isn't the first time Lucky has maybe gotten some special treatment, it was just so blatantly obvious this time.

Still, if this is the system they are using (smaller loungers for every few gates), it certainly is an interesting one.

Your "mystery shopper" cover has been blown.

Hi Lucky

Your fan from Hong Kong again!

Just wanted to mention that the "For the Edible" sign meant to say "For Consumption on the Same Day".

Thomas

PS Will be flying HKG to PVG in J and transiting to PVG to CDG in F in September - wish me the world of luck!!

Lounge No 20 is not for business class passengers, and it's way nicer than the regular business class lounges, which are very crowded, often very hot, and with terrible food and dirty restrooms. However, MU will allow you to use the showers in Lounge 20 even if you are just a business class passenger, which is nice after a long flight and if you're connecting somewhere else. When I have to use a lounge in PVG I find the DL contract lounge on the upper level (Priority pass accessible) is often the best bet. While it's crowded, the food is turned over frequently enough and it's more convenient than the lounges on the lower level.

The PVG terminal 1 experience is so terrible that Delta routinely hands out notes to Delta One passengers apologizing for the terminal experience upon boarding. T1 desperately needs an overhaul.

Jeez, if that's the best they can offer VIPs, I'd really hate to see the lounges for mere business class pax with no special connections!
I read your reviews of Chinese airlines with a kind of schadenfreude. Better you than me! 😉
(I live in HKG, anything but a mainland carrier)

So Lucky...overall, is Hainan Airlines the best the mainland has to offer for business class?

@Hamanka Lucky has always been very clear in pointing out that most of the US carriers' lounges are well below international standards. He was holding China Eastern to the "international" level of service.

You should see the queue/line in the premium check in area at Air France CD!

Those walls are so blank.

The China Eastern central lounge is now open at Gate 36 near security at PVG. It's quite nice and has a noodle bar with a chef making noodles to order. A big improvement over the old outdated lounges by the gates.

The only issue was by about 10:00am the lounge was a bit crowded with no seating available. I was told they are remodeling the old lounges by the gates so hopefully long-term the overcrowding issue will be solved.

Lucky I have been to PVG in October, same experience, BUT (!!!) I was there also during Christmas, and the central lounge is open and it's gorgeous. Two floors, well divided into restaurant, lounge area, business corner etc. Showers are clean and spacious, food is so much better (there is one curiosity: "vegetarian chicken" HAHA). Definitely worth a try

Not sure whether there are rotating food selections, however the sign in Chinese said that the food was to be consumed on the same day as preparation. Presumably the signs and the stickers are to let people know that the food laid out was freshly provided on that day.

I just experienced the new centralized lounge on thursday. I guess it's a matter of taste, but I found it a little cold, both temperature wise and regarding the general look and feel. The food was really good though. Maybe the best lounge food I've had.

Can I access the new CE Plaza Premium lounge (using Diner's Club card) in T2 even if my flight arrives in T1 & also departs from T1 a few hours later? Will I need to go through customs? (Not a problem visa-wise.) I have used this lounge but while using T1 and found it comfortable & more than adequate. Otherwise I can just risk it and go to Shanghai during my 7 hour stop.

The business class cabin that most of us mere mortals get to use is about the same size, not as nice, and usually filled to the brim - typically with screaming children who run rampant. This is the VIP lounge, not the regular business class lounge. Trust me: if you fly out of Pudong T1, avoid the regular business class lounge like the plague. I always end up at the Starbucks at the north end of the terminal: it's inevitably much quieter, much cleaner, and much friendlier.

The food taste great! But the only problem is the lounge was too crowded .. too many people at the ground floor. Few of the massage chairs were down without maintenance.

Does China eastern have an arrival lounge at PVG? I have a 12hr layover in Shanghai so was planning on leaving my cabin bags before touring the city