Review: China Eastern Business Class A330 Shanghai To Colombo

It isn't just the seat that's similar to Malaysia - China Eastern's color scheme and logo are also very similar to Malaysia's.

To your comment about whether they might have made a last-minute change to a "special" crew, given that the flight departed from the airline's main hub that seems entirely plausible.

Looks like you opted for the champagne and passed on the "finest wines"'on their list. Excellent decision. The Night Harvest sells at Walmart for about $6.50 and the Jacobs Creek about the same.

As a wine broker I'm never too impressed with the wine offerings in premium cabins but frankly I've never seen anything this laughable.

@Donna - You haven't seen Lucky's report on China Southern, with $5 sparkling wine in first class?

@02nz - I missed it but will take a look. Clearly a new low.....

Seats look like the same as on TG's 772. Flew it on a one hour flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai; made for a great ride!

Dear China eastern marketing person,

Because we know you made special arrangements for Luckys flight we realize that this flight is an anomaly. The real experience is probably a few factors worse.

So we can conclude from this review that China eastern sucks big time. Next time don't single out people to give special treatment. You will just increase the distrust towards your airline.

Hey Ben, were the crew also as hospitable to the other passengers? Could be a good indication if they were generally an 'all-star crew';)

I think that's the same seat Thai has on their 777-200/200ER's. When I flew from BKK-KTM and back I flew a non-ER and ER 777-200 in different directions (I can't remember which flight had which plane). Strangely, the two planes had slightly different seats, the differences being how the tray table stowed and other minute differences. For all intents and purposes they were the same seat though; 2-2-2 configuration, 60 inches of pitch, angle-flat seats. MU's a330 business class seats in this picture look identical to the ones I had from BKK-KTM, while the flight from KTM-BKK had the slightly different ones. Again, I can't remember which direction had which plane though.

The ground crew waived goodbyes on my MU A330 SHA to TPE too. I think it's normal practice. Also, I didn't mind the angled flat seat and I kinda prefer this sleeping posture, at least for a power nap. MU has updated A330 with the 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seats on flights to Australia, New Zealand and Europe. But for Asia, it's this older version of A330 to NRT, TPE...etc. They do run the new B777 to BKK sometimes. MU also ordered B787 and A350 so those are coming soon.

I was considering taking MU for a flight from Shanghai to Frankfurt, because it is the only flight leaving late at night. But I really have doubts after these reviews. Anyone has experience with this particular flight? The airplane seems to be A330, but with full flat-bed 2-2-2 seats. So at least sleeping should be OK...

Hi Ben,

It seems that you absolutely was treated in a special way in MU flight. I have taken their long-haul and short-haul business for many times and never did I receive a thank you card like that.

@Credit - good, keep flying your American Airlines and their genuine all-star crew, I'm sure China Eastern will really miss your whining and moaning on your cheapo Skymiles award

With the exception of the handwritten card, I've experienced pretty much all of the above on China Eastern flights. But maybe only about 50% of the time, as they're inconsistent. In fact, I had a flight yesterday that was quite good. So while I'm sure you did receive extra care and attention, your readers shouldn't assume that their flights will be completely different either.

By the way, some of these posts really do bring out the biggest bigots on the internet. A lot of really demeaning racist stereotypes on the comments here about Chinese people. Anything positive about Chinese is quickly shot down as "propaganda." Unbelievable how naive and brainwashed some people are about China actually.

But Jim, what if I happen to get in that 50% ? Nobody wants to risk a long flight on a 50% gamble with that kind of service. Well, maybe some... but not me.

@Dee - well it's really up to what your other options are, and how much you like Chinese food/tea. On US-China routes, the American carriers are not great either.

My main point was actually that MU service is typically not at the extremes that Lucky experienced. Usually not as "noxious" as the first flight, nor as good as the second, but somewhere in between.

Do you need a visa if you have a layover and are staying in the airport?

Hi Ben, did you have any issue with your usual two carry-ons? Flying china eastern next week (J) and I'm slightly afraid as their website says one carry-on of 5kg max

there's 1.3billion people in China and they couldn't find one that knows English? Ffs. That's embarrassing.

Lucky,

Do you know if this flight has since been suspended. I can't seem to find any CMB-PVG revenue flights in late may at all. thanks

I flew China Eastern business class from JFK to Shanghai and then returned on the same route. I can assure you that the treatment this person received was not what the normal Joe Blow gets. The service is atrocious and the food is disgusting. The flight back to NY was worse than on the way over. The flight attendants could give a rat's behind about you. I would take a cranky 70 year old Delta flight attendant over these people any day. It seems like a chore for them to even acknowledge you. I actually had a flight attendant tell me I could not listen to music on my iphone when it was in airplane mode. Sorry lady, but China's top ten list, or songs by other various "never heard of you before" singers from their pathetic excuse for on-board entertainment is not gonna cut it. I won't even go into the equally crappy movie selections. Needless to say, I tucked my headphones into my shirt and hid them with my hair so the music nazi would not see them. After the flight attendants served their horrid excuse for a meal (which seriously had me longing coach food on delta), they disappeared never to be seen again until we were about to land. I shutter to think about having to fly this airline in coach if this is their idea of business class. Thankfully this was a work trip so it was not on my dime. Do yourself a favor and pay the extra money to fly another airline. If you insist on flying CE, pack your own food, entertainment, and anti-depressant because you're going to need it.

"We hit some light chop on the climb out"

Must have been behind one of the Delta departures...