Air China A330-200 business class
Published: 05/08/2009 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Air China »
BACKGROUND Air China offers 15 daily direct services from Hong Kong to Beijing, six of which are operated directly by the Chinese state-owned carrier and the remaining nine are codeshared with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair. Unlike its Oneworld Hong Kong partners, Air China is part of Star Alliance and has its own Phoenix Miles programme. Hong Kong Express and China Southern also operate on this route.
CHECK-IN I checked in early at Hong Kong Central Station. Although no one was staffing the Air China counter, a check-in clerk soon appeared. I checked in one piece of luggage and asked for a window seat. I was allocated 11A and I then headed for the Airport Express ride to Hong Kong International Airport. On arrival, I headed for the Air China lounge, which is opposite Gate 16. You can take the lift or an escalator to reach upstairs. The lounge was fairly quiet. Aside from a basic array of snacks and drinks, both soft and alcoholic, there are around a dozen workstations with free wifi. There are also four shower units. The 1020 flight was called at 0950 and I headed for Gate 31, which was a good 10 minutes walk away.
THE SEAT The plane was an A330-200, with a 2-2-2 configuration in business class. Seat 11A is the first row and has a little extra legroom as a result. The seat was a standard business class seat and not one of Air China’s newer products. The IFE was rather limited in choice so I stuck to a book. Rows 11 to 16 are business class, offering a total of 36 business class seats on this 251-seater plane. Flight attendants offer you slippers.
FOOD AND DRINK I was shown the printed menu by a flight attendant to choose from, The main meal course was a choice of Chinese-style barbecued ribs, sole or a vegetarian meal. I opted for ribs and they were tasty if unexceptional. There was a variety of cheese and pre-wrapped crackers and a limited choice of flavours of Haagen-Dazs ice creams. Later there was fruit and the offer of cognac. Service was very attentive and my orange juice was continually refilled without prompting. However, English-language skills were poor, which is surprising given the international make-up of the passengers on this route. Nonetheless the flight attendants were friendly and eager to help.
ARRIVAL The pilot’s landing announcement came half an hour before touchdown in Chinese and English. Business class passengers were disembarked first, within about five minutes of reaching the gate at Beijing’s Terminal 3. I then took the shuttle train to immigration and baggage.
PRICE Air China’s online booking offers Business Class return flights for HK$9,611 (US$1,240)
VERDICT This was a fairly unexceptional service on a competitive route that shows that China’s flag carrier still has some way to go to catch up with the service and product levels of its Hongkong compatriots.
CONTACT airchina.com
Kenny Coyle
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