I flew business class on Air China's 777 from Beijing, I don't recommend it to anyone
Mine is not masochism, nor is it the ill-concealed attempt to find me purposely bad because so you think I can [...]
Air China
Star Alliance
PEK
China
Mine is not masochism and neither is the ill-concealed attempt to find me specially bad Because that's how I'm supposed to get more clicks. My intention is to tell about the greatest number of experiences on board the planes and airlines that fly to and from Italy, and Air China is one of them.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- 777/300
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- Beijing - Frankfurt
- Price:
- 650
- Book
The best bonuses
ITA does not currently fly to China And for us Italians, the only opportunities to fly nonstop to China are the home carriers, in addition to Neos which, however, in addition to not offering the business class cabin, does not fly to Shanghai or Beijing.
The reasons for the trip
My intention was twofold, to see how the immigration procedure worked now that No visa is no longer required for stays of less than 15 days, previously it was already possible to enter without a visa with a transit time of less than 144 hours, but now the duration of the period has been extended which relieves from the bureaucratic part and allows for a vacation in Asia, including the largest nation on the continent.
Then, there was a willingness to Start reviewing Chinese carriers as well hitherto completely absent on our site and instead are a viable alternative for going to the East and Oceania.
Reservation
This is a itinerary bought on American Express travel portal round trip for less than 1340€, If you are wondering how I can find these fares I tell you. I use Google Flights heavily (aka Google Flights) and that when I find them I communicate them in real time to all whatsapp channel subscribers.
I chose to buy, as I almost always do, on the Amex travel portal for several reasons: plus Membership Rewards points and protection in case of problems with the itinerary.
I like to know that if there are any changes, cancellations, or other situations on my flights. American Express's travel specialists will take care of reprotecting me dialoguing with companies, finding solutions and contacting me in (almost) real time. And so it was, as due to a cancellation, my itinerary was completely disrupted.
At the airport
I arrived shortly after 8 p.m., with my flight to Frankfurt leaving at 2:50 in the morning. Of course I could have been a wanderer for the night in Beijing., but it was winter outside and not on just another day, but the last day, of the Chinese New Year festivities, and the city was deserted.
I arrived in the huge Beijing Capital, not to be confused with the new (and beautiful) Beijing Daxing And I looked for the business check-in desks.
Instead, I found those for Gold Star Alliance card holders, red carpet and rope Premiere model at La Scala.
I also tried to be sold an upgrade to First Class, but after a conciliation I was told it was not possible because my ticket was issued by Lufthansa. Once on board the 8 F seats were all empty.
Here I found out that my flight was not via Munich, but rather via Frankfurt, as I said scrambled itinerary, but I hardly noticed anything thanks to the assistance of Amex Viaggi. A mistake that could have cost me dearly, but which in the end hardly touched me since the flight to FRA left 5 minutes before the one to MUC.
How is such an error possible? Simple I uploaded my flight to App in the Air, the application I use to track all my flights, too bad that when they rerouted me after my flight was canceled, I did not update the itinerary, so I was left with the wrong destination.
My fright over, I headed for the security checkpoints, never so zealous. They literally disassembled my backpack/office and went under the scanner 4 times over my bag Looking for a lost action cam battery.
I took the people mover to move from one end of Terminal 3 to the other (almost 3 km) and reach Pier E, the international flight pier.
What amazed me was to find a deserted airport, although flights departing to the West and Oceania were many and all within the early hours of the night.
Stores and restaurants closed, a scenario that reminded me of when I used to travel in airports between 2021 and early 2022, which was the time of the pandemic, essential travel, and repeat swabbing.
Here instead only one Starbucks open And who has to make billions of yuan every day.
I then headed to the lounge. Air China operates two of the four lounges in this terminal. The third is an independent hall, but it accepts paid admissions or Philippines Airlines passengers. The last is the home of Emirates, the only Gulf carrier that has remained in Capital and has not moved to Daxing.
On the contrary Air China's lounge is open to all, or almost. Of course to Air China passengers and to Star Alliance passengers, an alliance of which the Chinese airline is a member, but also to Priority Pass holders. The full judgment on this lounge can be read in the full review, I will spoil only by saying that it is one of the worst official rooms of a company I have ever visited.
Having Priority pass without paying for it is possible through American Express Platinum, here of course you are thinking "Eh Matteo, but how much is it?" It costs 60€ a month, but if you go on a trip to China, As everywhere else in the world you will need the insurance (which is included in the paper) you will have to sleep in the hotel (and with the card you can get discounts, free breakfasts and upgrades) over That credit to spend at restaurants abroad and endless access to lounges around the world for four people. Here's how the monthly cost pays for itself with just one family trip away from Italy.
Around 1:30 a.m., with boarding scheduled for 2:10 a.m., I headed to gate E13. Here so many passengers had built themselves makeshift bedding moving chairs and/or using strategies borne out of years and years of flying without lounge access.
People were in line as early as 30 minnutes before boarding, and only when boarding was initiated did I understand why. There is no priority boarding.
The green light goes off and everyone can board, no announcement, no nothing.
On board
I took the direct finger on door 1 and to get to my seat I walked through Air China's first class cabin.
CA offers first class on many of its long-haul aircraft. On this 777/300 are 8 seats in two rows, the classic 1-2-1 configuration.
Past the galley and door 2 you arrive in the business class cabin. There is no disappointment in finding out that the setup is 2-2-2 Because I knew and was therefore prepared.
Fortunately the girls at the check-in counters had not beaten me up, I didn't have a neighbor, and on a configuration like this it is a very valuable upgrade.
The chair
The chair is overrecognized and on these pages overreviewed. It is the same as Royal Jordanian's, of La Compagnie and many other airlines around the world. This is the old Collins Diamond, in its basic version, but wider since we are on a 777.
It becomes a bed, but has no other special functions.
The advantage of choosing row 1 over the others is that you have a few more inches in length and Much more legroom.
Little storage space. A small cavity under the monitor and an open space in the structure behind the passenger. There is then a small "hole" in the front structure that houses the screens, but I never understood what it was intended for.
What's not there is privacy, the small partition between the two seats is fine just so you don't bump elbows with your neighbor. Then it's like sleeping with a stranger in the room.
In bed mode the seat is saved, but to fly to China there are products 100 times better than this 777.
Nothing to say about the bathroom, except that in the drawer where other carriers put basic necessities, here there was waste.
Service
Kind staff, for the first time they "unbusted" my slippers and I even saw some passengers helping to put them on only after a few more flights in China did I realize that Is customary for all carriers.
The interaction though was basic, sure it's an overnight flight. You get on, you eat, you sleep, you eat, you get off. But the language barrier also played an important role.
In place besides slippers, pillow, blanket (bagged) and amenty kit.
In general, however. was some of the lowest service I have ever received in business class. No menu or wine list, tray service, and tinfoil being removed in front of passengers' eyes, with the complexity of the case. (Burning ceramics, little trolley space, many items to locate.
Amenity kit among the worst in the last 10 years.
Plasticous as if Air China took the stockpiles of all the items "abandoned" in the name of sustainability by other carriers. Even to the touch, the small Occitane-branded pouch is really cheap, like the contents.
IFE
Small screen with 10-year-old touch technology.
Operating system that looks like it was designed with Front Page in 2004, no navigable map, and quality far from the 4K of modern booths.
Remote control old and placed in a really awkward spot, low quality headphones. The power outlet and traditional USB outlet are saved.
Absence of wi-fi, or rather the connection is there but only to connect to the infligth portal where the same content is present on the screen. I have no idea if there are no screens in economy, otherwise I do not understand the point of offering this service.
Food & Beverage
A real disappointment. Net that nothing or almost nothing is explained. Chicken noodles or veal sandwiches (free translation from English) are offered for dinner. The attendant then to clarify tells me "Hamburger type."
I decide on this solution and get the worst business class meal I have ever received.
A flaccid sandwich with an unidentified cheese melted inside and two, I repeat 2, thin slices of meat, something like pastrami. But thick as a credit card and covered with pepper. Completing the very sad tray the same cake that was offered in the lounge and fruit.
And for those who might be thinking "but you were expecting a hamburger on a plane" I share the hamburger I had on board Singapore in business class just to name one.
It doesn't get any better at breakfast. The choice is between "Chinese or Western" this time I opt for local dishes. Of the service I mentioned above, In the tray this time is a shrimp dumpling, a pork patty a bao and an unidentified tasteless object along with a cabbage leaf.
Same fruit as dinner, a bowl of Congee. That would be oatmeal in the Asian version, a small bag with I don't know what, an egg and some vegetables.
In a nutshell, the worst catering I have ever found in business class, but by detachment. If we then add that of the lounge, it is an en plein.
In conclusion
I did not have high expectations, so I was not particularly disappointed, but we are far worse off here than Air India, and I thought the Indian company was, of the larger ones, the worst off.
Only positive note? No nauseating smells in the cabin, already this was a plus of this flight.
Pro
- Staff
Against
- Gastronomic proposal
- Amenity Kit
- Attention to detail