China Eastern Airlines

PVG-BKK A330 SGN-PVG A320. Essentially China Eastern is fine nothing special and a bit rough around the edges. Flight out 30 minutes late flight in an hour late due to PVG ATC (likely congestion due to the Chinese Air Force only allocating 20% of air space to civilian operations so not the staff's fault.) Fairly new planes decent leg room blankets etc. The "meal" in both directions was actually a large showcase of Chinese snack foods. It was interesting to discover "aviation radish" and hickory kernels (actually pretty good and probably some people's idea of heaven) but it's not really a meal. A small selection of beer and wine on the first round - this had disappeared on subsequent drink rounds. IFE consisted of surprisingly good audio channels (bring your own headphones as theirs were no good.) PVG is quite an efficient if pricey (for China) airport but transferring is a pain as you now have to clear immigration customs and check-in again (count two hours). Glad I had a code share for the long haul legs of my journey - I won't be queuing up to fly them again but they're fine if I have to.

December 2013 flew to Australia via Shanghai to return 3 weeks later the flights were all on time the business class seats were great and to be able to lay flat was such a bonus. The food was fantastic and the service on all flights was first class very impressed and would fly with them again.

Return flight from Los Angeles to New Delhi (India). Read many mixed reviews and against my better judgement decided to give them a chance. That was one chance too many. On international flights (over 22 hours) you expect a few things i.e. USB or AC charger a working video screen and/or audio somewhat edible airline food and most of all decent treatment. They failed in all categories. Rudest staff I have ever encountered. Avoid at all costs.

Although cheap from Los Angeles to Shanghai and then to Melbourne a flight time of 25 gruelling hours. The cabin crew looked miserable and didn't make much effort so I felt hesitant to ask for anything. I did ask for an extra bread roll as I was starving and was given a flat out no. Nothing alcoholic worth drinking but wish I'd brought snacks. The movies and all wording on the entertainment screens was Chinese. Not very helpful if you are not Chinese. The first plane didn't even have that option. Just a drop down from the ceiling TV screen like in the 1970's. Not impressed at all.

My flights were from Melbourne to Shanghai Shanghai to Vancouver Vancouver to Shanghai and Shanghai to Melbourne. I was impressed with this airline and flights were all on time on A330-300 planes with individual large screens and great leg room. The hostesses were friendly and always happy to top up my water bottle. The meals were fine as good as or as bad as any other airline but if your looking for alcohol there isn't much available. Before arrival a video takes you through a tai chi workout to get the body moving again. I wouldn't hesitate to fly China Eastern again.

JFK to PVG on Dec 7 and back on Dec 29. Having read many negative comments my experience was in fact quite positive. Both flights were on time despite smog in Shanghai. Flight attendants were friendly and service were good. Meal choice included beef rice or chicken noodle freshly made canned beer was available. Entertainment was less than desired as there was no individual TV panel and little flight information was given. On return trip I was sick with flu symptoms. Staff very kind and helpful offered hot water napkin and ice bags. Overall I had very good experience will definitely fly with this airline again.

Melbourne to Shanghai return. Melbourne Lounge is Qantas Business Lounge. Quite good. Aircraft on both legs is brand new A330-300. Lie flat beds Fair inflight entertainment. Wine/beer/spirits selection is poor. Food is good though. Left and arrived on time. Shanghai Lounge is appalling. Warm beer no wine at all terrible food most uncomfortable chairs imaginable no business areas uses airport wifi which is out of range. Don't bother going to this lounge - find a restaurant/bar upstairs. Apart from this lounge overall package was most impressive and good vale for money. On board product is very good.

Four flights with the airline: one way from Vancouver to Shanghai-Hong Kong-Shanghai-Paris. Outbound trip in economy to Hong Kong was the complete opposite of what I expected. It was a brand-new Airbus with individual seat- back televisions and a range of good movies with subtitles pleasant smiling courteous flight attendants a regular supply of water periodic meals that were of average airline quality best of all a comfortable economy- class seat with decent legroom. After the Shanghai layover of several hours the flight to HK was exactly like WestJet or Air Canada: on-time followed by brisk friendly in-flight service of complimentary refreshments. My luggage arrived in HK promptly. My ongoing flight to Paris several weeks later was a true test of an airline’s customer service. I had severely sprained my ankle in HK mere hours before the flight. At HK airport China Easterns check-in crew volunteered a wheelchair before I even asked then short-cut me through immigration and security and wheeled me directly to the boarding gate even offering to help me shop at duty-free en route. During the flight to Shanghai an attentive attendant asked if I wanted a wheelchair waiting for me there. Again I was pushed in a wheelchair through immigration and security to my Paris flight which had all the creature comforts of the outbound one from Vancouver plus the flight attendant found some Ibuprofen for me. She also arranged for a wheelchair to take me through the labyrinthine Paris airport through customs right to the taxi queue. China Eastern has my gratitude and vote of approval. I wouldn't hesitate to fly them again.

PVG-HRB connecting from an Air France flight from Paris. China Eastern claimed that business class bookings on Air France are economy on their system and failed to connect one of the travellers tickets so there was no seat for him. Checking in for the return leg China Eastern: Denied that we existed. Claimed the ticket had been cancelled. Admitted that it existed but that there were only 3 people travelling. Found the third but claimed that as his name was spelt one letter wrongly on the reservation he would not be allowed to fly - this despite them flying him from Shanghai to Harbin! Diabolical.

My flight from Sydney to New York was grounded in Hangzhou for 5 hours due to smog. They had run out of food supplies to distribute. The flight then stops at Shanghai Airport where we were told to stay overnight at a hotel (as we had missed our connecting flight) and that we would be on the next flight to New York (which was the next day). Arrive at the airport to be told we were only on a waiting list (due to a backlog of delays) despite being promised by the "supervisor" that we were guaranteed seats on the flight. Staff members were incredibly unwilling to help. Avoid at all costs.