Xiamen Airlines

✅ Verified Review | Flew from Amsterdam to Tokyo via Xiamen on Xiamen Airlines. No seat reservation or online check-in is possible with this airline. The KLM ground staff were unaware of the transit procedure in XMN. They told us to tag our bags to NRT but apparently it had to be picked up in XMN to be checked-in again. The flight on the Dreamliner to XMN was good. Loadfactor about 40% so a whole row of seats for myself. Food was served 1 hour after takeoff and 5 hours after takeoff. On both services meals were exactly the same. Didn't see the crew for the last 5 hours of the flight. Entertainment system had hiccups all the time and wifi was not available on frame B-2769. Flight was on time. Transfer procedure at XMN is troublesome. Crew on the plane told us not to fill out the immigration form since we were only transiting. At the immigration we were send back to the end of the queue to fill out the immigration form. We also had to deliver a paper version of the ticket with our names to the immigration which we did not have. They didn't thrust the itinerary in the CheckMyTrip app. After a lot of discussion they provided us the 24-hours visa for China. Don't follow the signs to the departure hall immediately if you have a long layover. The check-in desks are located in a secure area without any restaurants or shops. Check-in was opened 2 hours before departure and we couldn't get back to other parts of the airport from security. So waiting on some steel couches for a few hours without anything to do. The flight to NRT on an old and worn B738 was delayed for 90 minutes. Sitting on the tarmac without air-conditioning for 60 minutes. No reason for the delay was given. Food was good on this flight however. I had a bad experience on the flight from NRT to XMN. It was said to be a non smoking flight, but not for the crew. All of a sudden the seatbelt signs went on without any obvious reason and the smell of cigarette smoke appeared from the air-conditioning system. After 5 minutes the smell of smoke disappeared and the fast seatbelt sign was switched off again. This happened 3 times on the 4 hour flight. Having learned from my previous transfer at XMN, it went smoother this time. Altough not possible to buy food at XMN since creditcards were not accepted and the ATM's were out of order. The flight to AMS on the 787 was packed this time. Chinese people carry lots of hand luggage so overhead bins filled up quickly. I skipped the first meal because I wanted to sleep. The flight did arrive on time in Amsterdam.

✅ Verified Review | Amsterdam from Taipei with 11 hours layover in Xiamen. They provided a free hotel accommodation for passengers with a long layover at Xiamen. The 737-800 has a newer interior than the one I was in on my way to Taipei. The Boeing 787 the same as the one on my way to Taipei. Both flights were on time. We had a constant turbulence on the first couple hours on the second leg of my journey, so the meal service was suspended accordingly. The flight attendants acted quickly as soon as we flew in a clean air again and resumed the meal service. There were a significant number of babies/toddlers on the flight to Amsterdam and most of them were crying and screaming constantly. Airlines should limit the amount of babies/toddlers on board for long haul flights. Simply unfair for the other 200+ passengers. It must also be a torture for those kids too.

✅ Verified Review | Amsterdam to Taipei via Xiamen. Flown for the first time with this airline, good seating and IFE system. The food was tasty and abundant. Fight attendants are professional and worked efficiently. Both flights were on time. My luggage couldn't be checked through all the way to Taipei, so I had to collect my luggage at Xiamen and check in again. This means twice immigration procedures and twice security checks, queueing and waiting at Xiamen. Quite unnecessary on 2016 standard. The lavatories on their 787 were very cramped. I am 5'7" and barely could turn around without hitting anything. The lavatories were kept reasonably clean during the flight. The 737-800 had a simple and old interior but sufficient for a short last leg of my journey.

Amsterdam to Taipei via Xiamen. This Xiamen Airlines flight wasn't fully booked so we could pick out our own seats. The seats were comfortable, inflight entertainment had a lot of movies. The cabin crew was nice. What I disliked though was that you couldn't book a seat beforehand and thus had to rely on luck to get a good seat. Also, they didn't transfer my baggage directly, so once in Xiamen, I had to get my baggage and check out, and then check my baggage in again. In Amsterdam they seemed unaware that they were unable to transfer my baggage automatically, so I had to wait for a long time to get some answers, and nearly was late for my flight.

Xiamen to Amsterdam with Xiamen Airlines, and the horror of a 12 hour flight. Food was terrible, entertainment system with no function, and the toilet like a railway station and dirty. Here I would rather not go to the bathroom. The staff was completely overstressed. The only positive thing I can say, the flight was on time. Never again with this airline.

Flew Xiamen Airlines from Beijing to Hong Kong via Xiamen. Provided a very good service. I had the opportunity to fly in its newest aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which had very comfortable seats, a complete entertainment system and a beautiful cabin. I was surprised that good food was served on a domestic flight (PEK-XMN). The cabin crew was very attentive and professional. My next flight from Xiamen to Hong Kong was operated by a Boeing 737-800. The flight was delayed for two hours, so that wasn't good. Anyway, the crew were very attentive and good food was also served.

Xiamen Airlines, Fuzhou to Taipei on a B737-800. No entertainment system, leg room is the smallest of any airline I have flown. The meal was poor - no taste in a lunchbox with no tray. The drink (red bean juice) was served when the meal is done. The staff are at least polite.

Xiamen to Amsterdam. Bit of a mixed bag. The food and seat comfort were quite decent but a few other issues would make me think before travelling with Xiamen Airlines again. Cabin crew had very limited English to the point they didn't understand the "word" vegetarian when they came around with the meal. The cabin temperature fluctuated greatly on the flight and to make matters worse, I was sat next to overweight passenger who smelt strongly of alcohol and had no concept of personal space. After he had elbowed me for about the 10th time, I decided to look for another seat but by now everyone was sleeping and simply decided to stick it out. I could have asked one of the crew but given their level of English, I thought better of it. The economy seats have UK style power sockets so useful for laptops as the inflight entertainment is somewhat limited although the screen and entertainment system was quick with none of the usual lags I have experienced on other airlines.

Flew Xiamen Airlines from Singapore to Hangzhou and back. Crew were generally helpful, however there was one male flight attendant who was exceptionally rude. Note that mobile phones cannot be used throughout the flight (even in airplane mode), as this is China Aviation Authority ruling. Food is acceptable. The cabin seats are not very comfortable. Xiamen Airlines is not recommended for medium or long haul flights.

I have flown Xiamen Airlines over the last year 2 to 3 times per month. The last three flights have been horrible. My last from Xiamen to Singapore was 2.5hrs late taking off. The airline held the aircraft because an incoming connecting fly was late. That's just wrong. The food was horrible and no water service. The cabin crew was very unhappy and not very helpful. I will do best not to fly on Xiamen Airlines again.