Air China

Sep 19 2014 Flight 982 New York to Beijing. Flight 179 Beijing to Manila returned on Sep 27 2014 flight 180 Manila to Beijing. Then flight 817 Beijing to Washington DC. My first time on Air China I was very pleased with everything flight was on time the crew very attentive to the passengers. I had 4 meals on my flight all were very good. I will be flying Air China now for all my international flights.

Flying CA regularly. Mostly FRA-PEK-CGQ. One of the worst Star-Alliance airlines. Especially frustrating is the absolutely abominable call center and ground staff - they do not only convey a lack of interest into their customers they are simply incompetent when it comes to handling delayed passengers or flight rebooking. The airline's website is a joke (booking flights there often doesn't work at all or is as complicated as applying for a tax refund). Flight experience itself - there have been improvements over the years but only gradually. The food for example is still one of the worst you can get. All in all - only fly Air China as long as you can get hold of a very cheap ticket and you're very patient when it comes to finding staff willing to help you when you're delayed or want to change something regarding your booking.

Very pleasant business class flight on Air China from Beijing to Houston on gleaming 777-300. The highlight is the seat. It creates a very comfortable lie-flat bed and comes with a large fluffy duvet and large pillow - making for very restful sleep. Cabin crew was friendly attentive and hard-working albeit robotic programmed and not proactive in responding to passenger needs/desires. Food was decent - about average for international business class. Wine list was decent too but crew served white wine and champagne warm. We had to constantly ask for refills of wine and water in very small glasses. Air China would do well to learn the fine points of premium service from Star Alliance partner Asiana. Inflight entertainment had handful of American movies/TV but an understandably heavy emphasis on Chinese entertainment offerings. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend Air China's international business class but you may need patience with the staff and dealing with their lacking English language skills.

Round trip: Houston - Beijing - Shanghai. Beijing to Shanghai was altered and an hour and half delayed. Worse Beijing to Houston was cancelled without notice nor a reason. Had to stay an unexpected day for next flight.

SYD to PEK then PEK to LHR Airbus 330-200 second 777-300. After reading so many negative reviews my expectations were very low and I was dreading the experience as I had never flew business class before apart from Jetstar business. Having said this we were pleasantly surprised at the service food and the cabin. Both flights were without a doubt the best trip I've had. Comfortable beds totally lie flat in Airbus around 30 in business class so it was extremely quiet and personal. Toilets were always clean FA were attentive whilst they may have had difficult in speaking fluent English we got by. Inflight entertainment was the only drawback in terms of selection not up to date movies but nonetheless there was something you could see. As this was a night trip I enjoyed the sleeping arrangement more. We had a layover in Beijing to break the trip. The other leg to London plane was newer and business class had about 80 people so I think the attentiveness from FA was a little less but that's understandable again food bed and toilets were great. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Air China I would certainly fly with them again.

Flew SYD-PVG-Narita-PEK-SYD. Check in was done by another airline in Sydney I was first in line and requested an exit row seat (being told by Air China they were allocated on first come first serve basis but I was told none was available yet there were vacant exit row seats available on the flight. The toilets on each flight were not clean when I got on the flight nor were they cleaned during the flight. No Movies on demand. The air hostess doing the English announcements was impossible to understand. Wanted us to buy duty free but there were no duty free brochure in the seat pocket on any sector. The food was pretty ordinary. They were cheaper than other airlines. Their seats did not recline into your face. Seats were comfortable and despite all of what I said above I would fly them again based on overall value for money.

CA 1330 CAN-PEK (Sunday at 10.30am departure). CA is not my go-to carrier because they are priced higher on average and they don't have much flight time options for this route comparing to China Southern. Unless someone pays for your flights this under 3 hour-ish flight usually can just get away with economy seats because it is too short to enjoy anything premium. I got a half-priced business class deal this time so I tried it. Overall: I think it really did not mean much unless you are saving up miles with them. The word "lukewarm" can summarize my entire experience from the lounge service (staff) to the in-flight lunch (room-temp un-appealing Asian dish) that was served 60 minutes before landing - imagine how they ushered me to finish the meal within 15 minutes. No friendly name calls like United (they don't even greet you by name) and they skipped me for drinks and hand towels because I took a nap. I suppose I need to be alert the entire time to be adequate enough for serving? The only CA advantage I can recall is when there is delays relating to the oh-so-Chinese "air traffic control" CA flights always gets to leave first after the delay - almost always. Take it if you are tight on time.

CA 176 13th July 2014 left 24 hours late so we went 14th July and return was CA 173 23rd July from Beijing. This is the worst airline I have ever been on. 1) 24 hours late leaving. 2) The return flight had the rudest staff I have met. 3) There was one bottle of white wine in business class. 3) The movies are ancient or straight to DVD. 4) The food is disgusting. 5) The seats are uncomfortable. I could go on and on but save yourself grief and fly someone else.

Business Class flight from Bangkok to Beijing (CA980). Air China uses on this flight a 737-800 with 8 seats in business class. This business class is possibly one of the worst of its kind: old and bad seats no footrest in the front row very little reclining possibilities no individual entertainment decor and atmosphere totally depressing. In addition horrible food (tasteless boiled shrimps on rice no dessert) champagne without bubbles (bottle must have been opened many times and kept warm). Only highlights: decent toilet kit friendly attendants good schedule for connecting flights from Beijing (only reason for me to take this flight. This class is an insult to business class it would not even qualify as economy de luxe on other airlines and as to the food it is better to eat before the flight. Air China is a shame for Star Alliance.

Flew JFK-PEK-PVG rude staff at JFK not enough food on planes good seats friendly staff at Chinese airports.