Air China

Customer Reviews

3 star Skytrax Rating
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Seat Comfort 12345
Staff Service 12345
Value for Money 12345
Customer rating from 770 reviews
4/10
3 star Skytrax Rating
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1/10

"the seating is very small"

(United States)

Trip Verified | Los Angeles to Tokyo via Beijing. Worst airline I have been on. If you are over 6 feet tall you will be miserable and there is nothing you can do. I would never fly with them for several reasons but the fact that they screwed up my itinerary then charged me 800 dollars was the main reason. Its hard finding someone who speaks english. The food was horrible and the seating is very small. I wish I would have read the reviews before I booked.
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteLos Angeles to Tokyo via Beijing
Date FlownSeptember 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
3/10

"connection time got cut in half"

(United States)

Trip Verified | San Jose to Tokyo via Shanghai. Flew SJC to NRT on Sept 4th and boy should I have listened to the reviews. I got very very lucky in the end, but some people on the same plane as me, not so much at all! I had a connection in Shanghai Pudong (PVG), with only 2 hours to connect there to continue onto Tokyo Narita. I consider myself a pretty seasoned traveler (this was my 5th international trip this year). I've read many reviews, so a couple days before, up to the night before the departure, I was looking up stats for this flight to see its on time arrivals. More than 6 out of the last 10 flights landed at least 40 mins late. I was concerned! I got to the airport, relaxed in the lounge at SJC, then noticed my flight was delayed by 1 hour since they claimed the plane arrived late. My connection time just got cut in half! Not only that, when I went to check in my bags, they said I had to collect my bags in Shanghai, and recheck them in and get a new forward boarding pass to Tokyo. With only 1 hour to get through customs and do all that, I felt there was really no way I was going to make it. I looked up Air China flights from PVG to NRT, and my flight was supposed to be the last one out. So my plane got in over 30 mins late, and the customs line looked to be at least an hour long. I had less than 30 minutes now to go through customs and recheck my bags. No way was I going to make it. I decided to just not risk my luck and go into the 24-hour visa-free line to stay overnight. The customs guy asked me why I was in this line, I said, well my flight is about to take off in 10 minutes (and then he asked me why I'm late, and it's like, well my plane just got in, that's why I'm here aren't I? It's not like I'm on the departures side and it's my fault). So anyways, he continues on and finds a supervisor from Air China for us. At this time, the day before, the huge typhoon hit the Kansai region, so all flights to Osaka got cancelled as well. He told the group going to Osaka that they'd have to fly to NRT. He said we'd all be rebooked on the 1st flight available, which would be next day 10AM and we would be provided accommodations for the night. He told us to go find him at the check-in kiosk after we're done with customs and collect our luggage. So once we all collected our luggage, we went to the desk where he told us he'd be at, and was nowhere to be found. So we got in line at the Air China Customer Service counter. There was quite some people waiting ahead of us, and a lot of people who were trying to cut. There was many times where I, or some other people on my flight, had to tell people to back off and wait their turn. The 1st two people who talked to a rep, the rep originally said there are no flights for 2 days. They were upset. But after a while, she found them 2 seats on the flight at 10AM tomorrow and said they were the last seats. Then a couple in front of me, and another 2 girls who traveled together went up, and they were told there were now no flights to NRT for 3 days! So I was getting upset hearing this information. Very luckily for me, I was the 1st one up to the desk traveling alone. The rep I spoke to was very kind, and quickly found a seat for me on the next flight tomorrow morning. The person after me who was also traveling alone, had to wait for 2 days. Next came accommodations, and then they said they weren't going to give us any! Then they sent us to the check-in counters, we waited there, spoke to them, they said to go back to the Customer Service desk!
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSan Jose to Tokyo via Shanghai
Date FlownSeptember 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"No more Air China"

(United States)

Trip Verified | I flew Air China business class for the first time. I thought being part of star alliance they would be good. I land in Bombay and was told that the bag containing all my clothes was in Beijing and would come the next day. I was connecting to Bangalore and requested they deliver to Bangalore. After 4 days of calling and getting the runaround, I was told that the bag was found and would arrive the next day which is the day I was coming back to the US. Basically I got my bag 2 hours before my return flight. I had to buy clothes, toiletries and all the meetings were pretty much ruined. Also my bag was completely broken. Since the time I have come back I have called and asked for compensation and I was told to submit all details to their Los Angeles center. I did that and since then I have been emailing and calling to follow up and nobody has any answer. No more Air China. The fare was $1000 cheaper than United but not worth it.
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat TypeBusiness Class
RouteLos Angeles to Mumbai via Beijing
Date FlownAugust 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
3/10

"Won't fly Air China again"

(Canada)

Trip Verified | Beijing to Manila. Worse after flight service ever. This is our last leg of our flight coming from Canada to Philippines for our family vacation The airplane looks fine but nothing compared to our original flight, we supposed to fly thru All Nippon Airline (ANA) but for some delays in Canada it was re booked to Air China. Upon arriving at Manila only 2 out of 10 luggage arrived, a ground staff spoke to us and after verifying our claim stub he told us that the remaining luggage's were still at Beijing. We ask them how this happened but they told us that they don't know, the only thing they noticed is that missing luggage is normal to Air China. Its true because when we claim our luggage after 2 days, there's other people claiming their luggage. So for every Air China flight there will be unlucky persons that will not have their luggage with them upon arrival. After inspecting our luggage's we found out that 2 of our hard case spinner luggage is broken. The luggage is almost brand new, this is the only second time we use it. And it will not break unless its not properly handled. No apologies from, they said its normal for a case to break. Again this is normal to them. We made a claim report and the best they can offer is about 15% of the price. Won't fly with Air China again.
AircraftBoeing 737-800
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteBeijing to Manila
Date FlownAugust 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
3/10

"bad quality white bread"

(Germany)

Trip Verified | Seoul to Beijing. What Air China are serving to eat is very bad. Two small slices cucumber in a bad quality white bubble bread. Nothing more - is that funny ? Shame on you.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSeoul to Beijing
Date FlownSeptember 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
5/10

"seats were fairly comfortable"

(United Kingdom)

Trip Verified | Beijing to Vienna. Check-in went smoothly, I asked for a window seat and the only one available is on the last row. There wasn’t a toilet at the back of the A330, which made the journey a lot more pleasant. The seats were fairly comfortable, and the legroom was average. The aircraft was clean, although the IFE was very old. The quality isn’t great, but it was usable. The screen wasn’t a touch screen, so I had to use the remote, which was quite confusing at first. On the home page, it said “press any key to continue” but in fact you can only press the “enter” key at the back of the remote and I only figured out how to scroll down, not up. At least the flight was a night flight so I didn’t have to use it too much. There was only one meal served, which was breakfast but it was fine as the flight took off at 3AM so we went to sleep immediately. The crew was friendly and frequently went up and down the cabin serving us with drinks. The flight overall was alright, I would fly Air China again if the price is right, although not on their A330.
AircraftA330-200
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteBeijing to Vienna
Date FlownAugust 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
1/10

"Worst experience ever"

(Australia)

Trip Verified | Beijing to Shanghai. Worst experience ever had with an airline. Totally irresponsible and rude to customers! My hands are shaking so much now with anger. I purchased a ticket this morning from Air China counter for a flight going from Beijing to Shanghai this afternoon. From Shanghai onwards, I’m to catch an international flight booked with another Airline. I’ve booked my Air China ticket ensuring there is around 3 hours transit time in Shanghai. Having been to Shanghai Airport many times before, I know that 3 hours is more than sufficient time for transit even with one hour delay from previous flight. Firstly the attendant who sold me the ticket reassured me there will be no delay with the flight today. The flight was meant to depart 14:30pm, at 14:00pm there was an announcement saying the flight is delayed due to air traffic control and Air China staff refused to advise passengers the new flight time. At 17:00pm here I am sitting at the airport, flight is delayed almost 3 hours and flight still hasn’t departed. I contacted Air China, I asked them if there’s anyway they can compensate me because now I have definitely missed my next flight, as well as my hotel for the next night in Tokyo, the 3 day trip I booked from Tokyo. The answer is no, it’s your own fault, also reason provided now is that Air China won’t make compensation for weather related delays (how funny now they change the reason of delay from airport traffic to weather while it’s a clear sunny windless here in Beijing, they lied outright because they know they are not liable for weather related delays. Regardless of the fact many other similar flights by other airlines have departed on time today. So now I’m $2,000 out of pocket, tired, frustrated and angry and I need book another flight to Tokyo later which will add more to my expenses. I cannot believe the fact when they apologise for one minute delays in public transport in Japan while Air China lies to avoid responsibility of a delay from their own doing (who knows what the truth is). I’m absolutely done with this company and will never travel with them again.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteBeijing to Shanghai
Date FlownAugust 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"Worst airline ever"

(United States)

Trip Verified | Los Angeles to Bombay via Beijing. Worst airline ever. The flight from LAX to Beijing on July 11th 2018 at 2:30 PM was cancelled and I was ordered to wait 24 hours for next flight and sent to a motel in LA. Later in the evening a customer service representative from Air China called me to say that they cannot book me for next day instead I have to wait for three more days due to complications with my connecting flight from Beijing to Bombay. She refused to cancel my ticket asking me to talk to my ticket agent. She also refused to confirm the flight cancellation (from LA to Beijing on 7/11/2018) and the website was showing the flight to be regular and not cancelled (although, all 300 passengers were accommodated in motels, etc.). My travel agent tried to contact several times but no air-china customer was taking the call even after 40 minutes wait on the phone. My electronic complaint to air china was responded with a web address/phone-number to talk to where no one picks up phone. I spent another $1000.00 to purchase a ticket through Delta airlines to go to Bombay. I am travelling internationally for over 35 years now and have traveled in many airlines. Based on the customer service, stone-walling any questions and for pure lying on their website and information centers, no one can beat air-china for the worst airline award. It is now four weeks I am trying to connect to someone there who would at least apologize but hey they don't consider anyone humans. My advise, better spend extra $100+ and book in one of the reliable airlines.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteLos Angeles to Bombay via Beijing
Date FlownJuly 2018
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
8/10

"special price for this trip"

(Norway)

Trip Verified | Stockholm to Manila via Beijing. From Stockholm to Beijing with air China, the plane went almost on time. The inflight service was excellent, very friendly staff, good choice of food, and time for a pretty long sleep in between. The seat was made into a long enough bed. I really enjoyed this part of the trip. After a long wait in Beijing (the lounge was ok, but I miss chairs that you can lay down in), the flight to Manila went almost on time, it was a Boeing 737, with 2+2 seating, this flight was nice, but you just want to be finished with the long trip, so I do not remember much of this 4 hours flight. Air China had a nice special price for this trip, without the price I would have taken another option, with a much shorter transit stop.
AircraftA330
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeBusiness Class
RouteStockholm to Manila via Beijing
Date FlownJuly 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
1/10

"don't choose Air China"

(Estonia)

Not Verified | Stockholm to Manila via Beijing. Worst customer service ever! Would not recommend this airline and will I never fly with Air China again! - lost our baggage and nobody cared to search for it - six months later we have not recieved the compensation (although it has been promised to sent to us months ago) Every little move and step with them takes months. Nobody did not care to call back and check if baggage was recieved or not. I have never seen this bad customer service.. this is definitely a next level for a bad customer service!! If you want to save your time and nerve cells just don't choose Air China!
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteStockholm to Manila via Beijing
Date FlownFebruary 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no