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China Eastern

Discussion in 'Flights' started by Hoodie, Dec 22, 2018.

  1. Hoodie

    Hoodie Hard Yards

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    Has anyone flown China Eastern? Looking at using QF points to get to Canada Business Class?
     
    #1 Hoodie, Dec 22, 2018
  2. Astro66

    Astro66 Still looking for a park in Thredbo Ski Pass: Gold

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    Yes. It's a Typical Chinese Airline. Does the job. Don't expect too much. Chinese airports are a dog's breakfast.
     
    #2 Astro66, Dec 22, 2018
    JoeKing likes this.
  3. Darzee

    Darzee Hard Yards

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    yes, I flew economy to Vancouver with them a few years ago. As astro said, its a very basic airline, seats and food were alright. transiting through Shanghai airport was a real challenge though make sure you have at least 90 mins for your connecting flight. and before the flight lands they switch off the in flight entertainment and do callisthenics for half an hour to "promote health and vitality"
     
    #3 Darzee, Dec 22, 2018
  4. teckel

    teckel Pool Room Ski Pass: Gold

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    #4 teckel, Dec 22, 2018
  5. Pink

    Pink One of Us

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    Be careful with which city you’re transiting through China. Some Chinese airports which have direct China Eastern flights to Australia do not have an international transit lounge and do not have visa free transit. At least, this was the case twelve months ago. We learnt this the hard way by being denied boarding at check in. China Eastern’s customer service was atrocious. They tried to remedy the problem by offering to sell us a full price ticket, via another airport, which was more expensive than flying home earlier and quicker with Singapore Airlines. We flew home via Singapore which was a joy.
     
    #5 Pink, Dec 22, 2018
  6. Pink

    Pink One of Us

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    The China Eastern flight we did take was ok though.
     
    #6 Pink, Dec 22, 2018
  7. Hoodie

    Hoodie Hard Yards

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    I bit the bullet and booked next Christmas’s flight on China Eastern using QF points, wife refused to try and with our daughter wanted to leave a day earlier so they are on Cathay using QF points as well. I hope I won’t regret it... I unfortunately have an eight and a half hour layover in Shanghai, do you think I could train it in to the centre and back again?
     
    #7 Hoodie, Dec 28, 2018
  8. Yardsale

    Yardsale Part of the Furniture Moderator

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    You need to get a visa (which, last I looked was a couple of hundred). The nearest you can get on the maglev is about half way in.
     
    #8 Yardsale, Dec 28, 2018
    JoeKing likes this.
  9. Legs Akimbo

    Legs Akimbo Grumblebum Ski Pass: Gold

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    Shanghai has 72 hour visa free entry
     
    #9 Legs Akimbo, Dec 28, 2018
  10. Hoodie

    Hoodie Hard Yards

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    Yes that’s what I thought for Australians (and a list of others).
     
    #10 Hoodie, Dec 29, 2018
  11. azzski

    azzski Should know better Moderator Ski Pass: Gold

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    It is actually 144 hours now. https://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/visa/free-transit-144-hours.htm

    Confirmed this with the Visa centre - I'm flying China Eastern on my MEL-Pudong-Furano trip soon. I'm in Shanghai for 90 or so hours, jumped through all the hoops to get my visa, only to be told it was unnecessary.

    [​IMG]

    Going to get a friend to write me up a card asking for directions to the 144hr visa-free counter, so I can flash it once I debark.
     
    #11 azzski, Jan 2, 2019
  12. azzski

    azzski Should know better Moderator Ski Pass: Gold

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    One I'm a bit concerned about is whether I need to inform China Eastern about my double ski bag or not - and who do I inform? Conflicting advice online about it. I know it'll be allowed under their sporting equipment rules, but some pages say it's pending approval and you should call (but no number to call).
     
    #12 azzski, Jan 2, 2019
  13. Rollo

    Rollo First Runs

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    Azzski, I have a flight with China Eastern from Sapporo to China coming up and have a 190cm ski bag. Did they charge you any extra fees? Did you end up calling to notify? Cheers
     
    #13 Rollo, Feb 9, 2019
  14. azzski

    azzski Should know better Moderator Ski Pass: Gold

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    I tried to, but after ten minutes on hold waiting for an English-speaking person I gave up. Did not seem to matter.

    I was not charged for any leg for my 200cm ski bag - according to their regs, as long as the bag isn't over 23kgs you should be fine. You can probably save a few minutes on check-in by having a note that says "this bag contains snow skis", because waiting for them to translate that question about your bag to English can get a little tiresome :)

    My review of China Eastern was it's not a bad airline, but they do cram you in.
     
    #14 azzski, Feb 9, 2019
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