Air China

MUC-PEK-HKG-PEK-MUC over June and July 2012. Check-in at MUC handled very professionally by Lufthansa. Assigned a bulkhead seat from MUC-PEK. Legroom is therefore excellent. Cabin crew spoke very poor English and showed little enthusiasm. The food is nothing extraordinary - portions were small and bland. IFE is AVOD with a reasonable section. PEK-HKG operated by a wet-leased Air Macau A320 - no IFE same mechanical service and poor food options. Service on return leg was mediocre. The excellent IFE hardware with touch screens cannot make up for the lack of film and TV options. Food worse than outbound and the white wine almost undrinkable. Overall a cheap way to get from A to B but don't expect much in the service department.

ICN-PEK-HKG. Flight from Incheon to Beijing was decent but when we arrived in Beijing that's when things fell apart transferring to flight to Hong Kong. After going through immigration and security for the second time in Beijing with 15 minutes to spare until boarding - rushed to the gate to make it on time. Other passengers notify me that the flight has been cancelled due to high winds in Hong Kong. When I tried to speak to a staff member he really didn't speak much English so communication was very difficult. They herded all passengers out of the airport into buses and sent us to a hotel. Told that there isn't any flights to Hong Kong until the next morning but won't say exactly what time. Told if we want our own rooms we have to pay $150.00. A hotel staff member communicates to us that the bus will be leaving at 4am back to the airport. We get to the airport and finally we're told at the counter that there is a flight at 6.30am to Hong Kong. What should have been a 5 hr 40 mins travel time turned into a 13+ hour travel time with the airline hardly communicating what was going on.

We flew economy from San Francisco to Beijing. The plane was full. The plane was very old proven by ashtrays throughout the plane. My seat was very uncomfortable with little leg room. The food was awful. I asked for pork and was told she was out of it after a different attendant took it just as I was about to be served. The chicken was tasteless. The only thing I had to eat was rice. The movie screen picture was horrible. The flight attendants hid behind curtains and only occasionally came out to hand out warm water. I flew on 4 flights within China and they all were just as bad.

Frankfurt to Taipei return. On the way to Taipei I missed the connection at Beijing because the flight was delayed by two hours. At Beijing airport my luggage was missing found it eventually but that took more than one hour. At the ticket counter I was lucky to find a seat on the next flight departing the next day. The company offered to cover my accommodation expenses for the night but that was a basic hotel room to share with two other passengers. I refused their offer which I found disgusting and insulting. On the way back to Frankfurt I had to change flight twice. At every time I had to pass the immigration check to collect my luggage and check in again. Luckily I had enough time to do that. Hongzouh to Beijing was canceled. The company announced the flight was canceled two hours before the departure. Until then the flight was scheduled as normal. The reason for canceling the flight was the disruption of the air signalling system caused by the launch of a space ship. The launch was scheduled to take place at 6.30 pm. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 8.00 pm. Eventually two other passengers and I managed to get the last three seats on to another flight to Beijing. The departure time of the latter was 7.00 pm but the flight was delayed by one hour. No problem from Beijing to Frankfurt. This was my first experience with Air China and will be the last one.

Business/Economy class CDG-PEK-PVG-CDG. CDG-PEK on 777-300ER business class a prized flatbed which is great for a 10 hours flight. My welcome drink was snatched away before I could finish it. Food was plentiful but taste awful. IFE froze and was rebooted 3 times. Crew was robotic. PEK-PVG on A340 in economy. Uncomfortable seat no personal IFE. Crew good for economy class standard. They did 2 rounds of drinks and each PAX was given a tasteless muffin with a fried egg inside. PVG-CDG on 340 Business class old style business class seat and I found myself sliding down the seat the whole night. It was supposed to be angled flat but I would call it flat with bumps. The crew asked me if I would like a welcome drink and handed me a food and drink menu. I ordered red wine and was told that red wine bottle would be opened only after takeoff. Crew service was a little impersonal but did perform their work professionally. Ground service efficient - quick check-in meet and greetings hostess efficient to/from airport-hotel limousine transfers offered. If you find yourself flying Air China business make sure it is on their 777-300ER.

Frankfurt to Shanghai. Old A340 entertainment - 2 screens awful. Service personnel ok but I had the feeling they just wanted to get the flight over and done with sat at the back most of the time occasionally came through with some water. Luggage left in Frankfurt not prepared to put it on another Star Alliance flight - had to wait for same flight next day.

Paris to Beijing in business class on a 777-300 and return from Shanghai to Paris in business class on A340. Seating on the 777 is excellent with new seats large TV screens and a 2-2-2 configuration. On the A340 the configuration was the same but there were older seats smaller TV screens though I cannot complain about seating. On both legs staff were friendly and attentive. What is disappointing was the quality of the meals. I have seldom tasted such bland food and the presentation was horrible. Before take-off only orange juice and water were served. Wines (good selection of French wines) were excellent but must have been very expensive because there was no second serving nor were liquors offered at the end of the meal. Another drawback was the total absence of reading materials in English or in French except a few China Daily newspapers. A large proportion of the offered movies were oldies. If you are not interested in food if you bring your own reading materials Air China is a good option as it is cheap and not too many people fly it so you have plenty of space.

LHR-PEK return in economy. Did the same journey last year this time it was slightly less enjoyable due to the seats I was in on the A330. On both legs 46J and 46L had a dodgy IFE whereas it appeared the rest of the plane was having no problems. Both legs had old interior/IFE seat material was uncomfortable legroom was ok for a small person like myself taller people may have problems. Food wasn't top notch but they still give you 2 full meals. Flight attendants do plenty of drink runs and were friendly. Outbound flight landed 30 mins early inbound landed on time. Will probably fly again as prices and schedules suit me.

London-Beijing overnight return Shanghai-Beijing-London. Outward on a brand new A330 with individual screens and entertainment systems. Food not good and ran out of beer 2 hours into flight. All staff very surly and just sat at the back - no water/drink offers apart from 2 meal times. Shanghai-Beijing on old 747 - again surly staff with no smiles. Beijing-London on old A330 with very poor entertainment system - only 2 films both in Chinese! Food appalling ran out of 2nd choice within a few rows of service starting. Again all staff unfriendly.

SYD-PEK. The seats entertainment and service were all very average. The food was edible but not enjoyable. However it was easily the cheapest flight on offer as far as value for money goes it was all about what you would expect.