Questions and Answers

This will be my first business class experience, an Alaska miles award flight on Hainan Air, San Jose, CA to Beijing. I think (but am not certain) it is the older 2-2-2 front-facing seat arrangement. I can’t access a visible seat map to determine how many other seats are taken (probably not many, the flight is four months away). Any advice on what preferable seats, or seats to be avoided?

[QUOTE=”BeeTee, post: 62842, member: 5012″]This will be my first business class experience, an Alaska miles award flight on Hainan Air, San Jose, CA to Beijing. I think (but am not certain) it is the older 2-2-2 front-facing seat arrangement. I can’t access a visible seat map to determine how many other seats are taken (probably not many, the flight is four months away). Any advice on what preferable seats, or seats to be avoided?[/QUOTE]
If you are ok with giving the flight date, I can check the seat map from my end. I have expertflyer premium and can see the seat availability on your flight.

[QUOTE=”Rohit Deshpande, post: 62856, member: 2645″]If you are ok with giving the flight date, I can check the seat map from my end. I have expertflyer premium and can see the seat availability on your flight.[/QUOTE]
I can also post a picture here showing you the seat map on your flight once I fetch it

[QUOTE=”Rohit Deshpande, post: 62857, member: 2645″]I can also post a picture here showing you the seat map on your flight once I fetch it[/QUOTE]
Thank you! Flt 7990, 6/19.

[QUOTE=”BeeTee, post: 62859, member: 5012″]Thank you! Flt 7990, 6/19.[/QUOTE]
(Image attached).You may have struck gold on this one. So for your SJC-PEK route 6/19 you don’t even have the forward 2-2-2 layout. Based on this layout you have their newer reverse herringbone seats on their new 787-9s. This is the seatmap attached and the white seats are open for selection, the solid blue seats are selected already, and the X’d out seats are blocked by the airline for the time being.

SeatGuru doesn’t have a seatmap for it yet, but here’s the plane info from HNA’s website:

[URL]https://www.hainanairlines.com/HUPortal/dyn/portal/DisplayPage?COUNTRY_SITE=INT&SITE=CBHZCBHZ&LANGUAGE=GB&PAGE=BSES#001[/URL]

I’d crosscheck with it for which seat you want based on position relative to bathrooms or engine/wing views, and get booking! Hope this helps. Happy travels!

[QUOTE=”Rohit Deshpande, post: 62873, member: 2645″](Image attached).You may have struck gold on this one. So for your SJC-PEK route 6/19 you don’t even have the forward 2-2-2 layout. Based on this layout you have their newer reverse herringbone seats on their new 787-9s. [/QUOTE]

Thanks! That is good news indeed, I’ll see if they can book me in one of those single window seats. Your help is much appreciated.

[QUOTE=”BeeTee, post: 62874, member: 5012″]Thanks! That is good news indeed, I’ll see if they can book me in one of those single window seats. Your help is much appreciated.[/QUOTE]
Oh don’t worry about the airline. Once you book the award and pay the miles + taxes, you should be given a PNR code to access your reservation on Hainan’s website and from there you can select the seat that you desire.

[QUOTE=”Rohit Deshpande, post: 62876, member: 2645″]Oh don’t worry about the airline. Once you book the award and pay the miles + taxes, you should be given a PNR code to access your reservation on Hainan’s website and from there you can select the seat that you desire.[/QUOTE]
Actually the code didn’t work for the web site, I had to use their online chat, but I now have a window seat booked! Thank you again, I’m really pleased about the 1-2-1 situation. I was told I have to call their “hotline” closer to the flight date to specify any meal preferences. They don’t seem to have things arranged to allow customers to manage the “partner” reservation via their web site.

[QUOTE=”BeeTee, post: 62877, member: 5012″]Actually the code didn’t work for the web site, I had to use their online chat, but I now have a window seat booked! Thank you again, I’m really pleased about the 1-2-1 situation. I was told I have to call their “hotline” closer to the flight date to specify any meal preferences. They don’t seem to have things arranged to allow customers to manage the “partner” reservation via their web site.[/QUOTE]
Glad to be of help. Another final thing to note: As you get closer to the flight date, keep checking seatGuru to see if they’ve uploaded that seat map as there often times are 3-4 seats in the cabin that are completely missing a window, seatGuru will show those seats and you don’t want to end up an unlucky one. But otherwise, hope you enjoy the fantastic flight on a great airline! My personal 2 cents, don’t request any special meal. Just show up for the flight and enjoy the good authentic Asian rice and meat cuisine that they have to offer. Of course, any dietary needs come first, but otherwise, enjoy the flight. Just leave a reply here again if you need me to show an updated seat map in case of seat changes or any such thing. Cheers!