Has Anyone Tried Air China In Europe? — Aviation Polls Forum

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Has Anyone Tried Air China In Europe?

SK736 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 414 posts, RR: 0
Posted (4 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1792 times:

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I've just discovered that Air China operate ATH to MUC with a one way fare of only £72! This seems like a great way to try an airline I wouldn't normally get to use, but I wondered if anyone had any experience of flying this route with Air China.

15 replies: All unread, jump to last

Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48
Reply 1, posted (4 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1758 times:

Do they have 5th freedom rights?

Cheers,
Cameron

SK736 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 414 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (4 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1743 times:

Quoting Longhornmaniac (Reply 1):
Do they have 5th freedom rights?

Yes they do - that's how I know the fare is £72!

Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48
Reply 3, posted (4 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1693 times:

Quoting SK736 (Reply 2):
Yes they do - that's how I know the fare is £72!

I suppose that makes sense.

Cheers,
Cameron

OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24894 posts, RR: 60
Reply 4, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1621 times:

I did a similar route and loved it :

Air China A330 Business Class Beds With Pics+Vids (by OA260 Dec 18 2008 in Trip Reports)

OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"

Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24
Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1615 times:

Quoting SK736 (Thread starter):
I've just discovered that Air China operate ATH to MUC with a one way fare of only £72! This seems like a great way to try an airline I wouldn't normally get to use, but I wondered if anyone had any experience of flying this route with Air China.

One problem with flights that operate a short tag-on sector after a long international flight is that the cabin may be quite messy on boarding, unless all passengers are required to deplane at the intermediate stop to permit cabin cleaning and grooming. Not sure if that's the case at ATH on CA flights from China. Those types of 5th freedom flights are also, in my experience, more prone to delays, and if there's a major problem you get less rerouting assistance than if you're booked on a carrier with more frequent service.

OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24894 posts, RR: 60
Reply 6, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1594 times:

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 5):
Not sure if that's the case at ATH on CA flights from China. Those types of 5th freedom flights are also, in my experience, more prone to delays, and if there's a major problem you get less rerouting assistance than if you're booked on a carrier with more frequent service.

My flight was routed BJS-CDG-ATH and was spotless and no delays. I think CA have it well organised. I have seen other airlines who have issues with tags AI KU etc...

OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"

BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1869 posts, RR: 1
Reply 7, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1556 times:

Fly air china ath-muc. It was the cheapest by far on the route.

Just fine, and fun to fly an a330 on what would normally be a regional route.

They're not handing trophies out today

visualapproach From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2012, 77 posts, RR: 0
Reply 8, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1529 times:

I flew the route two or so months ago. Full lunch served ATH-MUC, would recommend it.

HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6471 posts, RR: 27
Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1527 times:

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 5):
One problem with flights that operate a short tag-on sector after a long international flight is that the cabin may be quite messy on boarding, unless all passengers are required to deplane at the intermediate stop to permit cabin cleaning and grooming. Not sure if that's the case at ATH on CA flights from China.

Routing is PEK - MUC - ATH - MUC - PEK.
-HT

Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !

Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24
Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1458 times:

Quoting HT (Reply 9):
uoting Viscount724 (Reply 5):
One problem with flights that operate a short tag-on sector after a long international flight is that the cabin may be quite messy on boarding, unless all passengers are required to deplane at the intermediate stop to permit cabin cleaning and grooming. Not sure if that's the case at ATH on CA flights from China.

Routing is PEK - MUC - ATH - MUC - PEK.

Seems like a strange route to ATH. Wouldn't it make more sense to stop in ATH en route to MUC? Who would want to fly such a roundabout route to ATH, involving flying in the wrong direction for almost 1000 miles? I wonder what their typical load factor is on the MUC-ATH-MUC sectors, especially in the premium cabin? Doesn't sound like a very profitable operation, especially with the economic situation in Greece.

OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24894 posts, RR: 60
Reply 11, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1435 times:

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 10):
I wonder what their typical load factor is on the MUC-ATH-MUC sectors, especially in the premium cabin? Doesn't sound like a very profitable operation, especially with the economic situation in Greece.

I guess they know and wouldn't operate it if it was not viable.

BTW don't get caught into the ''economic situation '' band wagon. Despite this there are still a lot of rich people using premium cabins in and out of ATH. I see it all the time on my regular flights out and back. Mid week early December my BA B767 was packed in all classes and that is low season.

OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"

airtrainer From Belgium, joined Aug 2003, 1519 posts, RR: 13
Reply 12, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1395 times:

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 10):
Seems like a strange route to ATH. Wouldn't it make more sense to stop in ATH en route to MUC? Who would want to fly such a roundabout route to ATH, involving flying in the wrong direction for almost 1000 miles? I wonder what their typical load factor is on the MUC-ATH-MUC sectors, especially in the premium cabin? Doesn't sound like a very profitable operation, especially with the economic situation in Greece.

Distance is about the same according to great circle mapper. I guess they have more connecting pax in MUC ? I'm planning on flying the ATH-MUC leg in 2013 (rather than MUC-ATH with an early departure), would be curious to know about their load factor...
Link : ATH%0D%0APEK-MUC&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=&PATH-UNITS=mi&PATH-MINIMUM=&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=&MAP-STYLE=" target="_blank">http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=P...STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=&MAP-STYLE=

Life is short : eat dessert first !

Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24
Reply 13, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1325 times:

Quoting OA260 (Reply 11):
Mid week early December my BA B767 was packed in all classes and that is low season.

But do you know what fares the J passengers were paying? I've been on many flights where most of the premium seats were occupied by Y class passengers since on routes with little premium demand they overbook Y by the numbere of J seats expected to remain unsold. Many airlines do this as a standard practice, especially during off-season periods rather than leave premium cabins empty.

ajs123uk From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2007, 55 posts, RR: 0
Reply 14, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1316 times:

I flew muc-ath and the cabin wasn't particularly messy, there were a few empty seats so plenty of room and a hot meal was served.
An interesting flight for around £70, and would like to do more similar types of trips

SK736 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 414 posts, RR: 0
Reply 15, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1282 times:

Well thanks everyone for your replies and contributions. I've now booked my flight on Air China from MUC to ATH for just £70, a real bargain! My itinerary will be MAN/MUC on LH, overnight at MUC then MUC/ATH on CA, ATH/LHR on A3 and finally LHR/MAN on BA. Really looking forward to it and hoping my connections all work!

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