China Eastern Airlines

✅ Verified Review | Flew Bangkok to Paris via Shanghai with China Eastern Airlines. After reading all the reviews I was a bit worried about flying with them, but in the end it wasn't that bad. You get what you pay for. My first two flights were operated by very old planes, and to my surprise, on the flight from PVG to CDG they didn't even have PTV's so it was a very boring flight. From CDG to PVG the plane was brand new, and entertainment system was nice. PVG to BKK was operated by Shanghai Airlines, quite new aircraft although not very clean. The worst part of the flight was transiting in Shanghai, it took me nearly 2 hours to validate my boarding pass and go over the security check. Food was also not very good, although crew came around with drinks quite a few times during the flight. All flights were on time and my checked bag arrived quite quickly as well. Maybe I was lucky, but this airline is not bad.

✅ Verified Review | I am extremely happy flying domestic first class with China Eastern from Beijing to Shanghai. At Beijing Airport with premium check-in and lounge. This something you will not find in the US. Onboard was a very warm welcome from the cabin staff who were friendly. At first I swapped seat with some guy who wants to sit with his friend. So, I got his window seat and didn't really like it. Later I asked to switched to an aisle seat and was no issues. The only problem I had with flying in China is I have to turn the phone completely off. This is a business trip and I needed to take some notes/emails on my phone. Ended up writing it on a piece of paper. On boarding, drinks and hot towel were provided. The food (I believe I had the Chicken) was the same as economy food and nothing special. The plane was very clean. All magazines were up to date.

✅ Verified Review | I flew China Eastern Airlines from Changchun to Hong Kong on via Shanghai Pudong. The first flight (an A321-200) was pleasant despite the fact is was near full capacity. The legroom was ample compared to similar aircraft from other airlines that I had flown. Inflight entertainment from drop down cabin screens. The cabin crew were courteous, but unable to communicate English fluently. The meal was served shortly after take-off plus drinks and hot beverages. The second leg from Shanghai Pudong was an older version A320 with classical seat and limited seat pitch. I found it difficult to move my leg and any movement is restricted. A big disappointment as it was not equipped with in-flight entertainment. Inflight meal was slightly better, probably because this is an international flight and provided with ice cream as well. Overall flying experience with China Eastern is acceptable though it is not the best China based airline that I had ever flown it.

As other reviewers have stated, we were interested in the low fares offered by China Eastern. We actually flew out of Chicago on the first day the route from Chicago to Shanghai was offered. The check-in line was a nightmare, but we excused them given it was their first day in O'Hare airport. The flight left an hour late, but arrived in PVG on time. The plane itself, which was a relatively new 777-300ER, was comfortable and our seats were great (though we had to swap with another passenger so my wife and I could sit together). The long flight to PVG was one of the smoothest flights I have ever experienced, so I would give a high rating to the pilots. Unfortunately, that's about the extent of the positive aspects of this airline. Their flight attendants really should have a better grasp of English if they are going to keep adding North American routes. It was frustrating to communicate even simple requests. Perhaps the greatest downfall of this airline is being based at the Shanghai airport. That place is dreadful and cause enough for us to avoid China Eastern from now on. While the pilots and the planes earn nice marks, the language barrier and the horrific transfer experience mean we will be using another airline next time.

Tokyo Haneda to Shanghai Hongqiao with China Eastern Airlines, and if you have a choice use another airline. Seats uncomfortable, aircraft not cleaned. I moved the blanket to sit down and the previous passengers part drunk bottle of water was under the blanket. It was a mid afternoon flight and I was asked what I would like to drink to which I replied a Gin and Tonic. Flight attendant surprise and reply, we don't have cocktails. You can have Cola, tea or a glass of wine with the meal. I chose red wine as I was having what they described as western meal is pizza. Tray arrived, so called pizza was a slice of baguette and all the topping had fallen off onto the plate, what a mess. Glass of wine - a 1/4 glass was a better description.

My second experience with China Eastern Airlines, from Toronto to Phuket via Shanghai. This time I requested food I could actually eat, Western food. They called it western food but it was the same as what everyone else was served. Uncomfortable seating, a bad experience, same as the first flight. Why they have flight attendants with rudimentary English, working Canadian flights is quite remarkable, as there must be quite a few Chinese with English as a second language to choose from? It makes for a very poor rating in an area where service is highly regarded and incredibly important. Luckily the flights were on time but boring with limited programming and film in English.

✅ Verified Review | Paris CDG to Manila via Shanghai, flying China Eastern for my first time, and it made me want to cry. The seats are incredibly unconfortable and 11 hours flight was something close to hell. The meals were different than the flight attendant told us (couscous with vegetable is not a rice) and if there would be any other option than to eat, I would go for it. The cabin staff did not go through the plane regularly to offer anything, and I had always to ring a bell to get a glass of water. During the 9 hour long transfer in Shanghai Pudong Airport we did not get any meal vouchers or drinks. We were trying to speak with the staff on the information desk but they did not help us at all. Flight was delayed for other hour but no one was concerned to announce it - people were waiting in the queue because on the table there was "boarding", but for almost 1 hour nothing happened. I am used to travelling long haul flights with different airlines, but until now I could not tell how bad air travel could be as it is with China Eastern.

Vancouver to Kuala Lumpur via Shangai return. We spent 3 months traveling through Malaysia and Thailand. We traveled to Asia and back to Canada by using China Eastern Airlines so we flew on two different dates on 4 flights with them and I feel our experience was pretty common for them. This is the worst experience we have had with an airline. Their planes are good. Relatively new and in good condition and their prices for flights are good - however from there it is a deep slide downhill. From your first dealing with them to the last goodbye you will be treated poorly. My wife was yelled at for asking if her seat was close to a bathroom as my wife a medical bladder condition. There isn't a language issue going on here just an uncaring poor staff issue. The flight attendants do the minimum. You get poor meals and even though they have coffee, tea, wine etc on the carts at mealtime they will bypass you and offer you nothing. At check in or between flights they don't give you needed information for flights or connections and don't ask as you will be yelled at or treated very rudely. My wife and I try very hard to be undemanding and polite and were treated with indifference or rudely by airline staff. When we deplaned in Shangai to make a connection to Vancouver Canada in our haste an expensive hat of mine was left in an overhead bin. I enquired at their check in quickly after we were off the plane while we were dealing with our transfer to our next flight if somehow I could retrieve my hat. I was dismissed with a wave of a hand and told to go to lost and found (not told where this was). I was then told rudely that I would be gone there a very long time and never would get it back. Even though I was only off the plane minutes it was obvious they would not help and I would never get it back. I never did. This just fit with our overall experience with China Eastern. My advice is that there are lots of airlines out there that offer quality service at reasonable prices. You don't have to deal with airlines like this one. Vote with you cash and hopefully poor airlines like with will just disappear. Have a good trip by going elsewhere. Do not fly China Eastern.

Sydney to Shanghai on China Eastern. If you want to fly paying the least amount of money, this is the airline for you. If you want more than 10 hours of virtual torture think very seriously about flying with this airline. The way I got through the it was I thought about the alternative - it was about $400 more to get on Qantas. First thing to do is get some of your own food in your carry on. The food onboard is not fit for consumption. Second try and pick a seat. We didn't and despite being told we had "good seats" we were next to the toilet and smelled urine all the way. Be prepared with a good book because entertainment is non existent. If you have any money avoid this flight, it just isn't worth it.

Shenzhen to Shanghai Pudong. Online check-in did not work for some reason and China Eastern Airlines website overall is pretty bad. But self service check-in at the airport was fine and flight too. On time, pretty good food for such a short flight and nice crew. Seats were reasonably spacious, but not so confortable. Announcements were in English and Mandarin, but hard to hear.