China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Ask An Experienced Member => Topic started by: Chet Sams on July 03, 2010, 11:29:00 pm
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Ok here we go. For those who have flown to china. Which plane co did you fly with? Or more or less which ones gave you the better experience maybe.
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flew London to Hong Kong several times last year and used. Cathay Pacific. ok if you want a direct flight. Qatar i flew with twice and they were ok. My favourite is Jetairways. They change in Mumbai but no delay there. They give the best service as well. Only downside is the customs at Mumbai are very officious.
Willy
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I've used Cathay as well as Air Canada. Both are fine, although to be honest, I preferred Air Canada because their seats offer regular AC plugs. Cathay requires that you use a special plug in the seat. Hopefully that will change in the future.
Singapore Airlines is also ok. Air China works as well, but it is very no-frills...for short flights, not a problem, but for longer ones, I would probably go batty.
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Will be flying Singapore Airlines. Stop over in Singapore and then onto Shenzhen. For all Aussies making the journey you can fly to Singapore and the onto most regional areas in China from there direct. Of course you can fly direct to HK, Beijing and Shanghai with any carrier from Australia. I have flown Singapore Airlines before Sydney to London via Singapore and I think that they are a fantastic airline. May just beat QANTAS in my book. Will let all know of any problems with my flights later when I start posting about my trip.
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My trip to Beihai i flew from Houston to New Jersey and then from New Jersey to Beijing on Continental airlines once there in China i flew with Southern China Airlines which was wonderful the trip back was the same S C A to Beijing and from there back to the US.
I will never again in my intire life step foot on another Continental Airlines jet, when we got back to the US in New Jersey there was only one security check point out of eight open for 485 plus passengers to go through which to this day i still don"t understand i guess they think you can get off the plane during the flight 35000 feet above the polar cap and put something in your lugage your not supposed to have. But before we made it to the security check point it took about 45 minutes to get out bagage because the trolley was broke down, once through security check mind you having to cut to the front of the line as the American people running that airport would not help nor assist you in doing so and getting through then the rush run looking like O J Simpson running through the airport to my gate only to find out that my gate has been changed to the other side of the airport. Needless to say by the time i make it to that gate i am told the plane has closed it's doors and is fixing to depart. Absolutely no help nor cooperation from any of the people in New Jersey, had to stay the night, was not even offered a hotel room, then catch another flight out the next morning to Atlanta then change planes AND airlines, Delta to finally make it back into Houston. My advice is #1 never i mean NEVER EVER book a flight anywhere with Continental airlines, and #2 never ever go through New Jersey, take a Southwest Airlines jet to LAX then fly Southern China Airlines all the way, you will definitely be treated like a king and a human.
I also had a good friend just a few weeks ago flying Continental here in the states with a plane change and was treated the same way in Houston, when he got to his gate from changing planes the desk attendant laughed at him and said there is your plane but your late and will have to find another plane. Needless to say i was not a pretty seen, he was flying home from his job in Utah to Tennessee to be with his wife during a very serious and lengthy surgery, yes you guessed it he was not there to see her before she went into surgery, and to think had there been any complications .
My two and a half plus cents worth.
Ken
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Guess we are lucky in Australia with a large choice of airlines to fly with , several times so far I have flown with Cathay Pacific direct to HK and then connected with their own internal airlines , so check my bags in Melbourne and collect when at destination , and return the same way , next xmas we will fly direct to Shanghai and on to Shenyang with the same airline with a minimum of fuss this time with Air Asia , regards Robert .
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I've flown Air China, London to Beijing and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong London return. Both where very good but Cathay Pacific had the best in flight entertainment!
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Hell willy. Any time they see someone come through the doors. With those overly bright Hawaiian shirts. Of course there will be issues.
Mustfocus: What type of special plug was it. describe or picture perhaps for the Cathay flight.
Jasonb: I dunno bout that. Qantas flight i took was pretty dam good. Vegas, LAX to sydney was pretty good. Quiet plane, smooth ride, lots of room if you
get the emergency isles. Specially for us tall people.
Longhair: Oh i knew about COntinental loooooooooong time ago. Them and united must have the same crew of people. Try to fly southwest as much as possible.
Paul: yea it seems to be a toss up with cathay and air china. But i think air china has all the same plane transfers. But they seem to be a bit higher.
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Empower is the type of plug... If you're familiar with computer connections, it's sorta like an old PS/2 connector... I've attached a photo I've found off the internet. Usually you need this and an auto adapter to get your notebook working.
I've mentioned this before, but for those of you booking seats, this site will definitely help...
http://www.seatguru.com (http://www.seatguru.com) Seat maps, what type of power, where not to site (bulkheads and stuff)
Just noted that some of the Cathay planes now have standard US AC power plugs...so if you carry a traveller's kit (and are from countries that don't use the US standard), then you should be good to go. For those that don't have one, I picked one up in HK's airport (yeah, I know...a little overpriced, but worth it) for around $30 that came in a little cube marked "Power Station"... has all the plugs you need... one other thing...if you use multiple power adapters, carry a small power bar rather than multiple adapters (I usually charge off the laptop/USB)
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ive always flown Air China out of San Francisco direct to Bejing the reconnected there or straight to Guangzhou
from S.F. never had any problems with service at all
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I have flown Air Canada, and Japan Airline...I thought I heard that Japan Airline went bankrupt. I have heard a lot of really good stories about Cathay Pacific. I would like to fly with them sometime.
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Japan Airlines technically went bankrupt, but they're still around (similar to a chapter 11 bankruptcy)
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Mustfocus. I take it this item goes into the empower then ill need a cig adapter to the laptop.
http://www.magellans.com/store/Adaptor_Plugs___Converters___Airline_Power_Adaptors?Args= (http://www.magellans.com/store/Adaptor_Plugs___Converters___Airline_Power_Adaptors?Args=)
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Correct. Usually you can buy the empower adapter and the auto adapter as a bundle.
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I am taking my wife to visit the Uk by Jet Airways and indian company. They allow 30 kg baggage per person unlike the 20 usually allowed. I will take a large suitcase each as I have a lot to bring back to China as I cloe my place there.
Willy
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Willy,
have two extremely large bags and put the others inside it and you will have 2 empty bags to fill
when you get to the UK.
thats what we are doing when we go back to the USA.
just a thought
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How much stuff do you think I own Ted. I could get all my possesions into my hand baggage!!!!!!!!!
Seriously about booking planes in China. Ted put me onto ELong. It is based in Beijing but offer great prices on tickets. And you get to speak to a real person speaking english. You do not have to have a credit of debit card either. You can transfer RMB to their bank account. at a cost of 50 rmb of course. But no one can get your card details though.
AND the price they have given me and my wife are the lowest I have had in 4 flights to the UK. It is part of Expedia.
SO TED why did you not tell about them sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willy
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well Willy i thought you were bringing lots back.
thats good that you liked the ELONG site. and were happy with the person speaking english on the line. its to bad they cant say the same
on the other end of their line!!
they also hand deliver the tickets and you just pay them with RMB. saves the 50 rmb costs.
my goodness its like training a baby to take his first steps.
its only for people who reside in China. the service doesnt work for visitors or it can but the prices are different and you have to pay online
if not from China.
Otherwise i would have mentioned it before !!!!
now back to your corner for a few days lol!!!!!
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Elong, nice site Ted,
I use this guy in Beijing,
Wang Biao
Beijing Bao Sheng Air Service ltd
E-mail wangbiao_2998@yahoo.com.cn
He's an excellent man, very funny, and you can haggle over the price too. Just tell him how much you have found a flight for and he will do his best to undercut it, never fail me yet! Willy have an good trip, my wife loved London.
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Thanks Paul one more bargaining chip when looking for prices here for flights. once Sara gets her visa
to go to the USA then i will be in the market for a couple of cheap flights.
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I had used Air China on my first Trip , was ok .. but narrow seats in Econo. My three other's were Asiana . I stayed with them after the second flight , because they used newer Planes and more comfortable seats . The Stewardess's were obsolutely wonderful and even the Food wasn't as bad as other's , including Lufthansa which I always use to Germany .
I see here , nobody even mentioned Asiana Airlines ? This is the one I'm with and will stay with . Qing likes China Eastern , I wonder why ?
On a side note , I also go over Seoul ( Korea ) all the time . Beautiful Airport ( to our standard's ) , that Qing thinks I have a Girlfriend there . haha
Singapore Airline , I wouldn't take a free flight from them . They canceled my first Flight Reservation and screwed up my whole Schedule over Singapore to Shanghai . Had reserv. in Singapore , Kuala Lumpur ( with Train Ticket's ) and SH . They wont see my Face or a recommendation from me .. never .
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I had used Air China on my first Trip , was ok .. but narrow seats in Econo.
This will not be a problem for Ted. He always has to book three seats. One for his wife and two for him.
I am not saying he is heavy but when they find his seat number they have to reload the cargo to the opposite side just to balance it out.
Lucky I am not on the same plane otherwise we would be flying sideways all the way. LOL LOL ;D ;D
Willy
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Willy as usual i really appreciate the kind words from you. the next time i stay at your house i will replace your Viagra
with this chinese pill that looks like it which is for people who retain water and makes them piss all day. ;) :-X