Having completed a travelogue on our trip to Israel last year, I would like to move on to our trip to China the year before. We flew to China from JFK on Air China. We also flew Air China from Beijing to Yichang for a four-day river cruise on the Yangtze River, we flew from Chengdu to Shanghai following the cruise, then Shanghai to Beijing for our international flight back to JFK. In all, we flew Air China five times counting our international flights.
Air China was a learning experience for us. We arrived at the airport with several hours to spare. We wanted to be sure to have enough time built in for weather concerns. The weather held. Unfortunately, you cannot check in for International flights until a couple hours before boarding. We hung out at one of the airport lounges until the ticket counters opened. We arrived a bit early, queued up, and checked in. The check in process was quick and painless. After clearing security, we found a place to relax before heading to the gate, which was a the end of the terminal. When we arrived an hour before the flight, we were surprised to see the queue already stretched halfway through the hallway. We went ahead and queued up and waited.
Boarding went pretty quick. The overhead bins had plenty of room, although other passengers had excessive carry on luggage. I was surprised everything fit. The aircraft was nearly brand new for our flight. The aircraft is a large 747-8I. We flew economy class, which was typical economy class. Tight seats, with minimal leg room. The seats were comfortable considering the size. The entertainment system in the seatback had a nice selection of movies, music and games. Being a new aircraft, the entertainment touch screens were clean (scratch free), responsive and intuitive to use. I have seen some archaic systems that need to be calibrated. So it was nice to have good entertainment for the thirteen hour flight.
The flight attendants were all young and attractive. Mostly female, but there were also several young men working the flight. The service was impeccable. The food was okay, although typical airline food. Nothing you would order at a restaurant. The restrooms were clean and well maintained by the staff. The double aisles allowed for a bit of walking to keep your circulation going. The flight attendants did not appear to mind an occasional stroll.
The internal flights in China had quick and efficient check in procedures. The airports had plenty of concessions to cover any thirst, hunger or shopping urges you might have. We did not arrive incredibly early. The security procedures were thorough enough, but not as invasive as the US. Security was pretty quick. The aircraft were smaller, but also appeared to be well maintained. The flights were short, so there wasn't much time to get uncomfortable. The food on the shorter flights were more like snacks and were not spectacular. But it is more than you get on a domestic flight in the United States.
The flight back to JFK was the worst flight for me. It had nothing to do with Air China. Unfortunately, I had a woman with a child sitting behind me. She had her feet on the footrest, which was attached to my seat. She aggressively rocked the baby most of the flight. I think the baby and I both suffered from shaken baby syndrome by the time we landed. The flight was fully packed, or I would have asked to move. It was unfortunate, but I don't count that against the airlines. I would certainly fly Air China again. The flights were on time, the flight attendants were attentive, the aircraft appeared to be well maintained and the pricing was affordable. Recommended.
