Airline Profile: China Eastern Airlines

Featured Image: A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A321 At Hong Kong Airport

The Facts:

Analysis:

Notes:

• – China Eastern’s largest hub is Shanghai Pudong Airport while its second-largest hub is at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Overall, China Eastern is the largest airline serving the Shanghai area.
• – China Eastern’s largest subsidiary is Shanghai Airlines, which itself is also part of SkyTeam. They operate only on short-haul routes within China, although they also do have multiple A330s and 787s. Their 787s have closed suites in business class similar to China Eastern’s A350s, making them the 6th airline to offer closed suites in business class.
• – China Eastern’s other main subsidiary is China United Airlines, which operates a fleet of 737-700s and 737-800s out of Beijing Nanyuan Airport, which they are the sole operator out of.
• – In North America, China Eastern Airlines operates to Los Angeles (2x daily from Shanghai on a 777 and 3x weekly from Nanjing on an A330), Honolulu (6x weekly from Shanghai on an A330), Chicago (5x Weekly from Shanghai on a 777), New York JFK (2x Daily from Shanghai on a 777), Toronto (1x Daily from Shanghai on a 777), and Vancouver (1-2 times Daily from Shanghai on an A330 and 3x weekly from Nanjing on an A330).

Travel Classes:

Economy Class: Economy Class is in a 3-3 configuration on all Airbus A320 series aircraft and Boeing 737 aircraft, a 2-4-2 configuration on all Airbus A330s, a 3-3-3 configuration on all Airbus A350s and 787s, and is in a 3-4-3 configuration on all Boeing 777-300ERs. All widebody aircraft (A330s/777s/A350s/787s) feature personal on-demand entertainment, although no short-haul aircraft feature any in-flight entertainment. WiFi is available for purchase on all Boeing 777s, 787s, and Airbus A350s. Passengers receive meals on longer flights and receive snacks on regional flights. Additionally, passengers are allowed to check two 50lbs bag on all international flights and one 20kg (45lbs) bag on all domestic flights.

Business Class: Passengers traveling in business class on long-haul flights receive amenity kits, blankets, premium meals, and bedding. Passengers in business class also have access to China Eastern Airlines lounges (located at most major Chinese Airports) and to partnering SkyTeam lounges. Passengers also may check two 70lb bags on all long-haul flights. Additionally, personal on-demand entertainment is available on all long-haul flights as well as on select flights operated by narrowbody jets such as the A320 or 737. Business Class on China Eastern Airlines is highly variable and uses many different seat types all of which are listed below.

• Recliner Seat: Business Class on China Eastern’s Airbus A320 series aircraft and on Boeing 737s features recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration. These seats are extremely similar to what you would find on United’s or American’s or Delta’s short-haul business class. The seats sometimes are equipped with footrests, power outlets, or personal on-demand entertainment monitors.
• Angle-Flat Seat: A lot of China Eastern’s Airbus A330-200s and Airbus A330-300s feature angle-flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. These seats are extremely dated and the angle is pretty steep making the seats relatively uncomfortable for sleeping but okay for lounging. Additionally, the entertainment monitors on the aircraft are extremely old. Luckily, China Eastern mostly uses these aircraft on short-haul flights within China where the seats are perfectly acceptable for a 3-4 hour flight. Finally, China Eastern is also in the process of retrofitting their A340s with newer flat-bed seats.

• Flat-Bed (Zodiac Aura): On select Airbus A330-200s, China Eastern features fully flat-bed seats in a 2-2-2 with 180 degrees recline. These seats also have large entertainment monitors and are relatively comfortable for sleeping. They can be found on some of China Eastern’s A330s that are flown on medium-long haul routes.
• Reverse Herringbone: On all Boeing 777-300ERs and on some of their newest Airbus A330-200s, China Eastern features reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. China Eastern uses the Zodiac (now Safran) Cirrus seat on these two aircraft. Reverse herringbone in terms of airline seats means that the seat faces the window/middle of the aircraft and where the actual seat part of it is pointed away from the aisle. Reverse herringbone seats are some of the most popular, private, and comfortable seats on the market, so these seats are definitely going out of your way for. 

• Staggered: Retrofitted Airbus A330-300s and Airbus A350-900s both feature Thompson Vantage XL staggered seats in business class in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are similar to that on SAS, South African Airways, or Qantas. Please note that their Airbus A350s use a modified version of this seat that is nearly identical to the seats Delta uses in their new Delta One suites. China Eastern is one of the first airlines to offer fully closed suites in business class after Delta, JetBlue, and Qatar Airways. The A350 suites have doors that can close the seat off from the rest of the cabin. If at all possible, fly on China Eastern’s A350 in business class as they offer one of the world’s best business class seats on that plane!

First Class: First Class on China Eastern Airlines is available on all Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 777-300s. Passengers receive better service, food, amenities (such as pjs/loungewear), and bedding than in business class. First class passengers can also check two 70lbs bags on all flights. Additionally, first class passengers have access to China Eastern or partnering SkyTeam lounges around the world.

First class has 6 seats on the 777 but only 4 on the A350. First class features closed suites in a 1-2-1 configuration on both aircraft with doors that go almost up until the full height of the cabin. On the 777, the two center seats of the cabin can join to create a double bed, making China Eastern the first to offer double beds in a premium cabin after Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways. On the A350, the first class cabin actually just is in the first row of the business class cabin, although it still does have superior seats with more room. Overall, since China Eastern has amazing seats in business class on all aircraft that have first class, I would call it a waste of miles or money if you were to try and upgrade to first class.

Future/Recently Commenced Routes:

• Shanghai Pudong to Hanamaki, Japan – Begins January 30, 2019 – Airbus A320
• Shanghai Pudong to Jinggangshan, China – Begins January 18, 2019 – Airbus A320
• Kunming to Jinggangshan, China – Begins January 18, 2019 – Airbus A320

Have you ever flown on China Eastern Airlines? Share about your experience below!