Air China

CA105/CA106 Dalian (ZYTL) - Hong Kong (VHHH). Classified as an international flight but the service is not good. Food and beverages are the same as a Chinese domestic flight. The only entertainment is some small TVs.

Flights in December and January from London to Sydney via Beijing and back. We armed ourselves with our own food and laptops with extra batteries for movies etc. but we have found this to be one of the better flights we have ever been on. The attendants were polite and pleasant and all spoke English. The food was lovely and more than enough to fill you up with drinks at regular intervals. And if that wasn't enough you just press the button and ask for more. Toilets were as clean as you can expect from 300 people all using the same few loos. But after almost every one went in an attendant followed to clean up and replace loo roll etc. Space between seats was more than ample with at least 10 inches between your knees and the seat in front and even when the person in front put their seat back the seat wasn't right in your face. The entertainment was really good with over 40 films in English and games and music and even TV shows. Overall we can not fault this air line and we would most definitely recommend to others especially with it being over £3000 cheaper than other airlines!

Took 4 kids aged 3 to 11 to Sydney from London via Beijing. Check in was great both going and coming with staff giving us configuration of seats we wanted on all legs. Service on planes was good (unless you like to drink in which case Air China wouldn't be my choice!). Movies great for us and kids and food good (although beware the fermented black egg for breakfast which my 3 yo still talks about with horror). All flights took off on time and Beijing airport was fine if a bit limited in choices. Would highly recommend as their price was £2k cheaper than next alternative.

Hong Kong - Gatwick return. Planes fine food ok price excellent punctuality mediocre. I was generally happy with this trip. Seats are comfortable and there are lots of movies to watch after you get the hang of the controls which are not so user friendly. FA's were great and the food was better this time round. However expect the 0155 from Beijing to Gatwick to be delayed as I have looked at its departure time for the past couple of months and it leaves late often very late each time. The plane is there but it waits for all connections to arrive which causes this long delay. Anyway given the good price I would fly with them again.

Return flight TPE-MXP via PVG (Economy Class). Good points: new aircraft's comfortable seats good variety of films and entertainment (big personal screen) nice food on-time arrival. Bad points: as said in many reviews staff quite unfriendly and often with bad English blankets not particularly clean and customer service is awful. No answer even after several e-mails. the call-centre is often busy and seems not to follow our instructions. Apart from that after being connected with an operator who spoke our language (after 4 days of trying) the problem was solved in a very efficient and professional way.

The movie/ was unwatchable - green shadowy and I could barely make out what was on the screen. The headset and overhead light for my seat didn't work. Two bathrooms at the rear of the plane were closed off out of order. PEK-SFO my seat didn't recline. I had to move an empty seat on the other side of the plane leaving my partner alone. The English PA announcements were unintelligible.

CA 851 PEK-LGW 15/01/2013 A330-200 with new flatbed business cabin. Cabin was only 30% full. Nice and clean reconfigured aircraft excellent friendly service. Thick comfy comforters with cotton sheets and matching cotton pillow. Delicious food (I chose the Chinese dish) all served with Cotton tablecloths and real china. New AVOD system with excellent film selection. Hard to believe how bad CA used to be.

Beijing-Chengdu-Hong Kong. Arrived in Beijing to find out that the Chengdu flight was cancelled spent the next 5 hours being bounced around offices and terminals due to total lack of care or internal communications. Finally got on a direct flight by chance when consulting the duty manager which nobody before had mentioned to do.

Beijing-Shanghai (Hongqiao) on a new A330-300 Airbus. The configuration is used as business class on international and as first class on domestic legs. Flight left a little late - we arrived some minutes early. Seat quality meets high expectations. Did not use IFE (except the airshow) on this flight of 95 minutes. For lunch they offer a choice of 4 main courses plus a 'daily special selection'. All food is served on one large tray separate serving of appetizers etc. would probably be too time consuming. Quantity and quality fully acceptable so is the presentation and the cabin crews general service standard. In beverages Air China highlights a choice of 7 different teas 4 coffees. Glasses were refilled almost immediately. Overall Air Chinas domestic first class is a good product and an excellent value particularly if you can book a discounted fare being only marginally more expensive than full economy.

CA 1231 8 Jan Beijing - Xi'An First Class. From check-in at Beijing to arrival in Xi'An an excellent service for a 1 hr 50 mins flight. Staff assisted with self service check in and baggage check-in fast track security procedures and access to the Air China First Class Lounge - huge facility with ample seating eating and entertainment areas. Seating on 737-800 2-2 with total of 12 seats. Hot towel and welcome juice or water on boarding. Very comfortable seat for a single aisle aircraft lie flat seats with ample recline and footrest. Choice of either a Western or Chinese breakfast - excellent coffee and bread basket service. Cereal fresh fruit hot meal of sausages tomato's and omelette. Another hot towel after meal. Attentive but unobtrusive service. Definitely a benchmark service for other airlines I use considering such a short flight.