China Eastern Airlines Passenger Reviews and Customer Trip Reports

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  4 September 2009 by M Heather   (UK)

Beijing - Shanghai - Hong Kong business class. This airline could be really good, if only it could get its service on the ground equivalent to its service in the air. On arrival at Beijing for the flight to Shanghai we were told that the flight we were booked on was delayed, but they had no idea how delayed except it was very delayed! So, as there is no point getting cross in China, I stood my ground, was unfailingly polite and was reaccomodated (and upgraded to first class) on a flight going to the old airport in Shanghai. This was a much better result than I first appreciated, as the old airport is only 15-20 minutes from downtown. But goodness knows who is in charge of their ground operations, as China Eastern offer an hourly shuttle service to Shanghai, yet the flight we boarded at 1800 was apparently - per the gate display - the delayed 1500 departure! Onboard the service was gracious, caring, with excellent food and on demand entertainment on a very new A330-200. Leaving Shanghai for Hong Kong, my hopes weren't high when I saw the first two Shanghai - Hong Kong flights had been cancelled that day. I was booked on the third. Yet they must have pulled some rabbits out of some hats, as we were only 5 minutes late taking off, and once again the service (on an A321 this time) was superb. I can't quite remember whether it was a four or five course lunch but you probably get the picture. So 1/10 for the ground operations (and they only get that for the upgrade), 8/10 for the inflight product.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  3 September 2009 by D Patva   (Australia)

Sydney-Shanghai-Xian-Beijing return. Aircraft run down, no care attitude, warm beer and cold green tea/coffe. Flights delay and cancelled on Xian-Beijing without any reason. Headphone looked used, as not in cover and just left in seat open, so recommend to take your own headset and some reading material to kill your time when flight is delayed and to avoid any scratchy movies.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  18 August 2009 by R Chan   (Singapore)

Chose to fly MU as I was looking for a cheap fare from Singapore to Seoul. A340-600 aircraft interior was worn and poorly maintained. Inflight entertainment virtually non-existant except for a badly sub-titled chinese movie shown on flip-screens around the cabin. Transfer in Shanghai to Seoul was painful. Passengers had to clear immigration, collect baggage, and then re-check in at the departure hall. On Shanghai-Seoul sector, Korean stewardesses seemed to be doing all the work while the Chinese crew stood with folded-arms. My advice: Fly MU only if you really have to.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  10 August 2009 by D Hanson   (USA)

LAX-PVG. PEK-PVG-LAX. At LAX we were 1.5 hours late getting on the plane and once on the plane, we stayed at the gate for around 4 hours before the A340 taxied to the delayed flight terminal and bussed back to the regular terminal. Turns out we were going to be delayed for a long time, so China Eastern bought everyone a room in a nice hotel close to the airport and paid for 3 meal vouchers. The next day we left on time. Food on the flight was ok. The staff was friendly and did the best they could - my Chinese is bad and their English not so great. Beijing to Shanghai went pretty well - food, service, schedule went well. PVG-LAX, our flight was about 2 hours late, flight went pretty well and I have no complaints that were China Eastern's fault. I would avoid China Eastern, but if money is an issue for you (like it is for me) than China Eastern is not terrible - but you should count on being a few hours late and be flexible with your schedule.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  30 July 2009 by C Chua   (Singapore)

Singapore to Shanghai. Interior worn, food was bad but okay since the ticket is cheap. Most of the staff were friendly but were so preoccpuied with their duties, I need to remind them twice when I asked for the arrival card. On the day of my departure (to Singapore), while queuing to have my baggage to be check in, the ground staff was extremely slow despite a long queue of passengers were awaiting for their turn. Eventually I got my boarding pass and my baggage check in after a long wait. For short distance, travel by MU is okay but for long haul, perhaps I need think twice.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  27 July 2009 by H Leong   (Hong Kong)

Return trip between Kunming and Diqing. The aircraft was a 737-300, and so was at least 15 years old, and shows it. The interior was worn and service was poor. A miserable two attendants were onboard serving a full flight of over 100 people. When serving snacks (consisting of a bottle of water and biscuits made entirely out of sugar), the co-pilot came out of the cockpit to assist the stewardesses. Personally, I've never seen this before and I would have felt more secure if I didn't. Since the flight was only an hour long, there was no entertainment to speak of, but at least the check in was quick enough. The flight, considering its short length, was not cheap and hence I would advise you to refrain from taking China Eastern unless you have no other choice.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  23 July 2009 by G Chew   (UK)

Guangzhou-Wuhan-Shenzhen. Outbound on new Embraer 145. Comfortable seat, small snack with limited drinks. Return the next day was meant to be back to CAN, but due to bad weather in Shanghai, flight was delayed over 2 hours. A meal was served in the airport when the delay was first announced. When the updated time was announced, I went to the First Class lounge to see if they could do anything as I was planing on getting the bus from CAN to Shenzhen city, but would now miss the last one. The staff managed to book me on the next flight direct to Shenzhen. That flight was also delayed, but I still left before my original flight to CAN did. Service forgettable - no beer available. Miles for both segments posted within hours of the flight. WUH-SZX segment I was rebooked in Y class so got far more miles than if I had stayed with my original cheap ticket to CAN.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  8 July 2009 by C Zampogna   (Australia)

Melbourne to Beijing via Shanghai and Sydney. When I booked my flight, the China Eastern office told me that I would fly to Beijing (stopping over in Shanghai.) I doubled checked my flight the night before departure and it was revealed that we were to stopover at Sydney. The service was great, FA's were attentive, friendly, helpful and served with a smile. The food however was terrible. Staff brought around trolleys with drinks every hour or so. One thing that really disappointed me was that there was no inflight entertainment on the seats. I could only watch Chinese movies on screens dotted around the cabin. The only other entertainment option is to listen to music. Mostly Chinese, there is a good channel, (3) with western music. The seats have not much legroom and don't even have footrests. There were also many announcements saying to return to your seat because of turbulence.' The flight was delayed for 2 hours because of air traffic, when we finally arrived in Shanghai, we were rushed off the plane to transfer to Beijing. A China Eastern Manager rushed us through immigration etc. to the waiting plane. When we arrived in Beijing, we went to the baggage carousel. We waited and waited, but our luggage never came. (other people's as well.) It turned out that the airline forgot to load our luggage. We were stuck with the same clothes and very limited money for 2 days.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES customer review :  29 June 2009 : by S Foster  (China)

The worst airline I have flown, and I have to fly them regularly. They are late (at least 9 times out of 10), cancel flights at the drop of a hat, and are unapologetic and unhelpful in changing arrangements. Service is at best indifferent, but usually rude. The food can be inedible, and if you fly outside of narrowly designated meal times is limited to bread rolls and sweets - even on medium haul flights. Inflight entertainment is boring and often not in English.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES review :  29 June 2009 : by Wilfred Ng  (Hong Kong)

Shenzhen to Shanghai (2 hour trip), got on plane, closed doors then tell you there will be delay. Only reason being "air traffic control" which is something they blame on too often now. Sat on plane for 2 hours before take off. Shanghai to Guangzhou (2 hour trip). This time officially delayed for 30 minutes, so got on plane 30 mins after scheduled time, then same trick. Close door and blame it on "air traffic control". This time delayed for 3 hours. So in summary, I spent more time on plane waiting for take off then actual time in the air. Why they have the tendency to keep you waiting inside plane rather than tell you honestly flight to be delayed for 3 hours therefore don't come so early is beyond me. This airline simply has no sense of being on-time and being state owned, there you have it.