China Eastern Airlines
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"Almost as awful as Air China but tolerable"
I swore off Chinese airlines after a terrible experience with Air China, but this one was by far the cheapest option, so I reluctantly booked it. At least we arrived safely, so that’s the only positive. However, the rest of the experience was underwhelming. First, how can an airline run out of hand soap in the toilets? The bathrooms were far from clean—overflowing bins, wet floors, and no soap. When I mentioned the issue, staff simply said they had run out and suggested I find soap in another toilet. That was unacceptable. The food was just awful on every flight. It was barely edible, and I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t offer something more plain, more universally acceptable. The in-flight food was not nearly as good as you'd expect from a Chinese airline. To top it off, there were snacks and wipes that were out of date. As for in-flight entertainment, it was nice that there was something to watch, but the movie options were outdated. We had titles like Dune (not the recent one) and Hunger Games, so I’d highly recommend bringing your own entertainment if you decide to fly with this airline. Bottom line: We’d only choose this airline if there were absolutely no other alternatives. And when flying with them, make sure to bring your own food, hand sanitizer, and entertainment to avoid further disappointments.
"Not too bad"
This is an economy airline, and while it’s not luxurious, the aircraft was new, clean, and moderately comfortable. As expected, the food was Chinese-based but okay. On the first leg of the journey, we had an English breakfast. The in-flight entertainment had a limited selection of English films, but that’s to be expected on a Chinese airline. The staff was functional but not particularly friendly—though they weren't rude either. It could be a cultural thing. While it wasn’t my first choice to book this airline, my experience wasn’t as terrible as some reviews suggest.
"Worst of the worst"
I wrote a positive review about this carrier last year, but my opinion has drastically changed. I’ve been trying to create an account on their website to claim my miles, but it's been impossible. I tried again a few months later, and still, it NEVER WORKED. They provided me with three different hotlines, but none of them were functional. The website itself is a nightmare. It doesn't work properly, and honestly, it feels like it hasn’t been updated since 2005. What frustrates me the most is that I was relying on this airline for my trip this year, and now it seems like we won’t be able to go because other carriers are charging way too much.
"Excelent"
Before booking, I read some negative reviews about this airline and was worried. However, I soon realized that it’s impossible to please everyone. In my experience, the service was excellent, the food was delicious and served twice, and the staff was very helpful. Overall, I had a great experience, and I would highly recommend this airline.
"5-star experience"
Such a great experience! The entertainment system was good, but honestly, I was so comfortable that I fell asleep and didn’t even realize it was the middle of the flight! The food was absolutely fabulous—way beyond what I expected. And when it came time to land, the landing was soooooooo smooth—it felt like butter. Overall, an amazing flight!
"Disappointing"
I had read the reviews before choosing this airline and was aware of its bad reputation, but I thought people might be being too harsh. Unfortunately, right from check-in, I realized they were not exaggerating. I had paid for Economy Plus, but when they changed the airplane, it turned out that the new aircraft didn’t even have an Economy Plus section. I thought maybe I would be upgraded to business class as compensation, but no, I was downgraded and directed to ask for a refund! Unbelievable. I’m sure any decent company would acknowledge their mistake and handle it better than this. They gave me a paper with instructions to go to the ticket counter in Shanghai, which is both inconvenient and unhelpful. I ended up paying more for what I hoped would be a better experience, only to end up with even more trouble. If you can, avoid flying with this airline.
"The worst airline in the world ! Avoid !!!"
I recently flew with China Eastern Airlines from Seoul to Amsterdam while traveling with my disabled son, and unfortunately, the experience was far from satisfactory. I had booked a transit hotel in the terminal to ensure a smooth connection due to our early flight time. However, because China Eastern has a strict check-in requirement of only 3 hours before departure, we were unable to use the hotel room as planned. The airline staff showed no flexibility or support in this situation, forcing us to scramble for another hotel at the last minute, which caused unnecessary stress and additional costs. In addition, despite multiple requests to be seated next to my son—who requires constant care—we were assigned separate seats for the second leg of our journey. We were only able to sit together after pleading with another passenger to swap seats, a situation that could have easily been avoided with proper attention. To top it off, the tray table at our seat was broken. We had to prop it up with a pillow and a magazine just to be able to eat, which is simply not acceptable on a long-haul flight. Overall, this experience was frustrating and stressful, and I would not recommend flying with China Eastern Airlines again.
"Pleasantly surprised, comfortable trip and real value for money!"
I flew on two different aircraft for this journey. The A330 from CMB to PVG was relatively new, clean, and offered surprisingly great legroom. The B777 from PVG to YYZ wasn’t as new, but it was still clean and had good leg space. The meals were quite good—on the 6.5-hour flight from CMB to PVG, we had a main meal, and on the 14-hour flight from PVG to YYZ, we had two main meals plus a sandwich service. The in-flight entertainment worked well, though the selection of movies could be improved, as it was a bit limited. The crew were efficient and friendly, and both flights departed and landed early, which was a pleasant surprise. I was honestly surprised by how comfortable the trip was, especially after reading so many mixed reviews. Overall, it turned out to be a very comfortable and enjoyable journey!
"Booking a ticket is frustrating"
It seems like you're having a frustrating time getting answers! For flights from Bangladesh to San Francisco with layovers, the visa requirements generally depend on the countries where your layovers are located. If you are transiting through countries where you don’t leave the airport, you may not need a visa for the layovers. However, if you are changing terminals or leaving the airport, you may need a transit visa or a regular visa, depending on the country. In terms of the U.S., if you’re traveling to San Francisco, you’ll likely need to go through U.S. immigration, so a U.S. visa or an ESTA (for travelers eligible under the Visa Waiver Program) is typically required, regardless of whether you have layovers. It's best to check the specific requirements for the countries you're transiting through, as rules vary by country. You can also check with the airline, as they should be able to confirm if you need any additional visas for your layovers or if you qualify for any visa-on-arrival options.
"Got a vegetarian meal!!!"
To book a vegetarian meal with China Southern, you need to call their international customer service line: 0086-21-95530. The call initially starts in Chinese, but don’t be discouraged! Simply wait for the English service option, and you'll be able to connect with a representative who can help you book a vegetarian or vegan meal. They speak good English! It took me a while to find the right number, as I tried several others, but this one worked perfectly.
"Great Airlines"
Amazing food, very comfortable seats, and great service! The legroom was excellent, and the entertainment screen was fantastic. For a budget airline, it exceeded expectations. I would definitely recommend this airline 100%!
"Great value flights. No complaints here!"
They often get bad press, but we had a great experience. It was really good value for money. The food was great, and my husband (6'4") had enough legroom. While the film selection wasn't vast, it was sufficient for the flight. The flight departed and arrived on time. After reading the bad reviews, I was initially concerned, but there was no need to worry. We would happily book with them again!
"Unfortuntely, overall not too pleasant."
The movie selection on Eastern China Airlines was unfortunately very limited. Unfortunately, the staff (flight attendants) had very little to no English, which made communication difficult. Additionally, the flight attendants seemed quite serious and didn’t smile or engage much with passengers, which made the overall service feel rather impersonal. In the future, I’d consider traveling with this airline only as a last resort. That being said, I will admit that the landing was very smooth.
"AMAZING! GOOD PRICE AND FOOD !"
I was traveling from Singapore Changi Airport to Shanghai Pudong Airport as a layover to London Gatwick Airport. The air stewardesses were incredibly nice, and the food was absolutely amazing. The best steak I had wasn’t in London, but on the plane! Before the flight, I had read many reviews mentioning that the seats were not reclinable, but to my surprise, I could lay fully flat. They provided blankets and pillows, along with a pack that included an eye mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a comb. I also received slippers, and the flight attendants offered a wide variety of snacks and drinks. I had to decline after the fifth drink! They even provided towels to wipe your face. The Singapore lounge was decent but a little crowded, with limited food options. The Shanghai lounge, however, was exceptional. It had a large seating capacity and even offered wine and showers, which was a nice touch! The London Gatwick lounge was just alright, offering the typical English breakfast with scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, fruit, yogurt, and drinks. There was also wine available. One thing to note for London Gatwick is that almost everything could be bought, including fast track for 8 pounds if you aren’t in business, first, or with sky priority. I went to the Number 1 lounge, which could be bought for around 32 pounds. Overall, the service was fantastic, and it definitely exceeded my expectations despite some negative reviews I had read before.
"Slightly better than budget airline"
The departure flight started off well with the stewardess being quite caring, though I did notice that they seemed to be more attentive to native travelers. During the second round of drink service, many options had already run out. The seatbelt sign stayed off the entire journey, even though we encountered some turbulence. The return flight was disappointing. There were not enough pillows available, and drinks ran out after the second service. The soy sauce meat rice had very few pieces of meat, and the ones present were mostly fatty. The entertainment system was also problematic — the sound wasn’t working, and I had to request a reboot. To make matters worse, no stewardess bothered to greet us goodbye, except for the two stationed in front. Luggage collection was slow, but I'm unsure whether this was due to the airport or the airline's fault.
"Pleasant flight and Great prices"
Five of us flew to Rome with China Eastern, and we were able to afford the trip thanks to their amazing prices—just $1090 return to Europe. Our flight to Rome was on the new Airbus A350-900, and the seats were as comfortable as you can expect in economy class. The aircraft was new, and the crew was pleasant. The food was below average for airline standards, but we didn't mind too much. In terms of entertainment, the selection was limited, but we had plenty downloaded on our phones, so it wasn’t an issue. The plane wasn’t full, and we were able to spread out and sleep comfortably. Shanghai Airport was nice and quiet, with affordable and tasty food options. We did experience some challenges on the way to Rome, mainly due to the limited English spoken by airport staff, but it wasn’t anything major. The return flight was very similar—less stress in Shanghai—and for the last leg of the journey, we were on an older Airbus, which seemed to have more legroom. The staff was always professional and pleasant. If China Eastern continues offering such great prices, I will 100% fly with them again!
"Worst food and selection on long international flight"
The food was extremely Chinese, which may be fine for locals but isn't suitable for many international travelers. The level of spices used was intense, making it hard to enjoy, and even the Chinese man sitting next to me didn't bother to eat. To make matters worse, there was no tomato juice available, and even the cola tasted oddly spiced. The plane was cold, which made the experience less pleasant. Additionally, there was a lack of basic amenities—no cream or soap in the toilet. Honestly, even the local Chinese airlines offer better food and service than this. It's a cheap option, but if you're looking for a comfortable, well-served flight, you might want to consider other airlines.
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines, commonly branded as China Eastern, is one of the three major airlines in China, alongside Air China and China Southern Airlines. The airline is headquartered in Changning District, Shanghai, and operates primarily out of its two main hubs: Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Ranked as the second-largest airline in China by passenger traffic, China Eastern plays a significant role in the country’s domestic and international air travel market. In 2021, the airline reported an operational revenue of 67.1 billion RMB and held total assets of 286.5 billion RMB, underscoring its financial strength and scale. China Eastern joined the SkyTeam alliance on June 21, 2011, becoming the 14th member alongside its subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines. This alliance has helped extend its global reach and enhance connectivity through shared routes and services. As a major carrier based in one of China’s most prominent cities, China Eastern continues to be a vital link between China and the rest of the world.
Address
The Board Office, Block A2, Northern District, 36 Hongxiang Sanlu Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
Website
https://us.ceair.com/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+852-2862-8688