Air China

Frankfurt-Shanghai return. No online check-in internationally no advance seat selection unless you call in more than three days in advance (which they don't tell you) terrible customer service - the agent I got wanted to help but was unable to do anything. She recommended I contact Complaints and gave me a phone number that was out of service. Shanghai Pudong staff didn't even have a complaints protocol didn't care. My seat in disrepair - mine was slanted downward meaning that I couldn't relax without slipping into the footwell. Flight came in to Frankfurt late - they didn't advise about coming in late until just before landing when I found out I was missing my connection.

Flew to Bangkok from New York via Beijing in business class December 25 2012. Flight from JFK to PEK was on an older 747. The seats do not lie flat and do not work well. Aircraft was dirty the individual TV screen was fuzzy the movie choice was bad but the food adequate however the service was poor. Seats on the PEK to BKK did not work well. You get what you pay for.

LGW-MEL via Beijing and Shanghai. Visa for Australia sorted out by Air China staff at check in after problems arose. Flights on time and all went well. Uncomfortable wait in Beijing for 9 hrs with little comfort before next flight. Can't understand why we were moved through immigration and around airport terminals to find out that the next flight was from the next airline bay! Planes were good conditioned airbus 330s food was good with choice every time plenty of fluids passed out by staff. Seat comfort onboard to Australia uncomfortable but better on return. Flight late leaving UK on time in to Australia but late landing due to bad weather.

Hong Kong to Beijing. Wanted to fly Hong Kong to Toronto direct but booked flights with points and this routing was the only one available. Aircraft was an old and tired Boeing 777. A bit dirty around the seat area. We flew business and my foot rest was broken and could not be adjusted by the power button. When the seat in front was in the full recline position it encroached onto my space quite a bit. Flight was set for 2.20pm and it left on time and arrived in Beijing 15 minutes early good for me as I had a rather tight connection. The snack was a salad and fried rice. Food was just barely adequate which I didn't finish. Flight attendants spoke some English enough to get by. Would not choose this airline unless I have no choice.

HKG-PEK-NRT 12/12/12. First flight A321 cabin crew excellent although the English speaking FA had a very heavy accent which made it a little difficult to understand her. Service very attentive they actually opened the slippers and blanket pouches for you. Meal service came and they opened the tray tables for you. Breakfast however was watery eggs tasteless chicken sausage and spinach. In the past I have always found catering from HKG to be excellent but this was far from what is usual. Transit in Beijing was good arrived and departed from hard stands business class passengers had their own minibus to take them to and from the terminal. However transit in PEK meant going through an immigration check and there was only one open desk which the immigration officer took 10 mins or more on the passengers ahead of me on line. PEK to NRT on 738 with only 8 seats. Catering was sub par the steak was overcooked and the appetizers were brown tofu and dried fish. Again though the cabin crew were excellent.

Business class Beijing-Sydney only recently upgraded to 777-300 service. Priority boarding for an on-time departure and early arrival. Friendly and welcoming service (with reasonable English skills) and very comfy lie-flat seating including a warm cotton duvet and good sized pillow. 2-2-2 seating 'angled' including a large screen with customizable moving map functionality that was as much fun as the entertainment selection. Food good but not a large selection and a limited selection of drinks but no big deal. Would definitely recommend.

The staff outside meal times were non-existent and chatting amongst themselves in the galleys. I wasn't expecting much English - but at least enough to me what was going to be in my meal. The entertainment system at my seat didn't work and when I alerted a flight attendant it was met with a shrug of the shoulders. HRB-PEK with old aircraft and tired crew. However offering of blankets and pillows on this flight as well as offering second meals did slightly improve my opinion such that I did not give the airline a lower rating.

Beijing-Hong Kong. Final leg of a code-share with Turkish Airlines originating in Denmark transferring in Istanbul transferring to Air China in Beijing and completing segment in Hong Kong. Flight was delayed in total 5 hours. Ground staff gave at least 3 separate explanations of the delay. Passengers gathered around the Gate Desk and demanded answers after waiting more than 2 hours. When the flight boarded passengers came with numerous bags giving no regard to any of the printed limits or specifications on size or weight of carry-on items. The food selection was of significantly low quality. The aircraft itself was dated and seats were below average in terms of comfort. As a frequent international traveler would not have expected Air China to be included as a Star Alliance member. Will not recommend.

Flew in July Sydney to Milan via Beijing round trip. Great price for the trip service on board was excellent on all sectors much to my surprise after reading reviews beforehand. Food although average it was plentiful and there were many drink runs throughout. Staff were also very accommodating and professional despite the language barrier but that was expected as it is a Chinese Airline. I will definitely fly Air China more in the future and they should be commended for their onboard service.

I flew Vancouver to Beijing Beijing to Delhi. The flight crew completely ignored economy class we only saw them at meal times. The other passengers decided they could move seats and sit wherever they pleased and the flight attendants did nothing I didn't sit in my pre-selected assigned seat in either direction. The toilets were filthy and the stench was horrid. It was quite a bit cheaper than the other airlines I looked at but I will not be taking them again on my next trip to India.