Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 20730 times:
Last time I was unable to get an upgrade because of elections on 1/12, so I managed to get myself an upgrade this time.
Operating Airline: China Airlines (CI)
Flight Number: CI 0007
Operating Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 3rd Generation
Departure from: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 0115
Arrival at: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 0610
Well, you can see from my other thread I just arrived the great Los Angeles area and now I am at the airport again flying international to Taipei. Thread here: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ums/trip_reports/read.main/125210/
I will never do this to myself again as it makes me feel sick trying to fly on so many planes in one day, and traveling around so many airports.
TSA Screening Area in Tom Bradley International Terminal in LAX.
The look after they made constructions to the terminal... do you think it's acceptable? I don't think so...
This... is... just outdated. Qantas has a flight flying to Brisbane and then unknown (?) and Korean Air has a flight flying to Seoul and then Seoul again... (?)
No wonder SQ is canceling their flights from TPE to LAX... there's just too many flights between the two places... one night with five planes going (and there's more in the afternoon, I believe with two from BR and one from CI). The one with Continental is operated by EVA Air, and the one with Vietnam Air is operated by China Airlines (which is the one I am taking).
I think the lounge for Oneworld has moved to an area near Gate 107.
This is the shared lounge for all airlines without an alliance in LAX. The food in here has been upgraded a bit due to various complaints. However, it's still very difficult to find a seat in this lounge... it's just not acceptable.
Since I took a picture for CI, I shall be fair and take one for BR.
The busy lounge.
There's a waterfall mirror and the food counters are right behind it.
My boarding pass tonight... and the gate is at 102... it's a nightmare just to walk from the lounge to the gate. The lounge is located somewhere around gate 121 at 4th floor. Malaysia also got the same problem, but their gate is a bit closer at 104.
Long walkway in the lounge to exit/enter. To the left is the First Class Lounge.
Going on board, this is C Class of the 3rd generation B747-400 for China Airline, which the recline is horrible.
The PTV is under it.
Malaysia's plane at 104. They still have to wait for 25 minutes to depart... so late.
Today's passenger load is not high, but the upper deck is full. Dynasty Class (C) lower deck is only 2/3 full.
Pre-flight drink, apple juice.
In flight magazines and newspaper. You will be offered with a choice of newspapers when you are in your seat by the FA. Various choices of magazines are available once the flight is above 10,000 feet, and you can always ask the FA to bring you one.
New headset for Dynasty Class... it's a little better than the ones we use in Economy, and it reduces lots of outside noises.
Menu for supper/breakfast.
I forgot to take the menu in English, so I will have to do my own translation here... may not be correct.
Supper page (they don't call it dinner), which offers...
Appetizer
Sunkist Salad topped with Lobster.
Main Dish - Choose one out of the options
Cantonese Marinated Pork with Rice
Goose Liver on top of Filet Mignon with Potatoes
Japanese Teriyaki Salmon with Rice
Fresh Fruits
Breakfast page, which offers...
Western Style (There's also cereal if desired)
Fresh Fruits
Yogurt
Smoked Salmon with Salmon inside the Egg and Fried Cake
Selection Bread with Cheese or Jelly
Chinese Style
Congee with four dishes on the side. I will not translate the name of the dishes as it will not make sense and is very complicated to translate. Sorry!
Chinese kind of dessert
Complimentary drinks offered.
It's a list of A....... (Yeah I don't drink, so...)/Spirits/Beer/Tea/Coffee
There's also soft drinks and juices not listed that are available as well.
If you are a frequent flyer to China Airline's Dynasty Class, you will know that they will come to you to take orders approximately 15 minutes after they hand you the menu. They simply ask you for your choice for Supper and Breakfast, then ask for the drinks you'd like for the Supper. It seems like they are in a rush tonight to serve... maybe they are trying to put passengers to sleep? It seems like there weren't enough FAs on this plane, only 3 that I spot for the entire C cabin... most of the time there's only 1 FA on the lower deck.
For this aircraft, it's 10.4" PTV for Dynasty Class w/AVOD.
For Economy Class, it's 6" PTV w/AVOD.
Crabtree & Evelyn Amenity Kit. It's the same one as last year.
Slippers.
I chose "Goose Liver on top of Filet Mignon with Potatoes."
Sunkist Salad topped with Lobster.
Special picture of Goose Liver on top of Filet Mignon with Potatoes.
There's three type of bread available to choose. I only took the Garlic Bread cause I don't like the other ones.
At the same time, they will ask you if you want beer or tea/coffee (if you had beer, they will ask if you want tea/coffee, vice versa).
Fruit Platter.
There's Chocolate Moose Cake, Cheese, Pineapple, Melon, Honey Melon, Cranberry, and Grapes. No Ice Cream today...
Chocolate and Green Tea. I asked for Green Tea as the drink after the meal.
I went to sleep after the meal, and the FA left a bottle of water, so I did not watch any movies.
Crabtree & Evelyn Lotion, Liquid Soap, and Shave Cream inside the lavatory.
When I wake up and went to the lavatory, one of the ill FA asked if I'd like Taiwanese Fried Noodle, I took the offer and also asked for water. She gave me another bottle of water along with the noodle.
Today's route went in the great circle, by going around Alaska, Russia, and Korea. We did not pass Japan today.
Instant noodles that I asked for...
Milk is offered prior to breakfast. They will come to you again for the second time when the meal has served.
I took the western style breakfast, finally a change from before (no longer an omelet).
Smoked Salmon with Salmon inside the Egg and Fried Cake, there's also spinach and tomato on the side.
Fruit... this time is Sunkist, Grapefruit, Strawberry, Kiwi Fruit, and Papaya.
Croissant and another pick (I don't know the name but it tastes very well).
My customized seat! I just took pillows from the other seat.
As well known by everyone, it doesn't recline well.
Davescj From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 2266 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 20315 times:
Interesting TR. I was amazed at how few FAs for a premium cabin. Is that the norm on China or was it a fluke? I've always seen 9 pax to 1 FA in international biz.
Phileet92 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 292 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 19617 times:
Wow Nice report. i guess that was a cheese danish with the croissant? how much do C tickets to TPE cost these days? I saw a little girl in a Biz seat in one of those pics. thanks for sharing!
-phileet92
Travelling is not all about the destination. its about how you get from point A to point B and everything in between.
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 19515 times:
I hope everyone enjoyed the Trip Report.
To Davescj:
A friend of mine told me that the number of FAs in Dynasty cabin should have been 3 upstairs and 2 downstairs. However, for this specific flight, there's only 3 FAs for the entire Dynasty Cabin. 64/5 = 12.4 Passengers per FA (not the 9 suggested). In this case, I believe there are only around 45-50 Passengers in C, so it's about 50/3 = 16.6 Passengers per FA. The Purser (served bread) and an Economy FA (served drinks) came to help the Dynasty Cabin during meal services, though. It was not too bad as the cabin is only 2/3 full, yet we can see the reductions in the number of FAs already due to fuel costs rising. The Manager of CI said they will modify the number of FAs per route base on passenger loads in early April.
To Rogerbcn:
The A340-300 C of CI offers a better product, which is not used on most USA routes except TPE-SEA. I am looking forward to their retrofitted B747-400 product at the end of this year or the beginning of the next year. I heard they are reducing the 64 seats in C to 49 seats.
Services are adequate and never had to rang a bell for it. The FA goes around the cabin very often even during red eye flights. The Purser seems to like kids very much and often came to our cabin to play with them and helped setting up beds. They are getting a bit better by talking a bit more to the passengers (usually they are passive unless they think you need help), but still has room for improvements.
To LH4116:
Yeah, I think it's Danish, but what's inside is not cheese, it's something mild-sweet.
To Phileet92:
The one I fly with is an upgrade, so there's no costs in association with it (no fuel surcharge, taxes).
For the fare I bought for my mother traveling on August 9th, the fare we got is USD 2,750. I just checked their website, they have two fares for the same cabin ticket (C) flying out this week from LAX, one is 2,785 and the other is 3,625. All the rules for both pricing are the same... so I suppose the price will go to 3,625 if the cabin ever fills up. That family has a baby and a little girl there (the baby does not occupy a seat).
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4664 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 19434 times:
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 5): Yeah, I think it's Danish, but what's inside is not cheese, it's something mild-sweet.
Custard...
Wow... you ate a lot during this flight! Safety record aside, I have always had a wonderful memory of flying CAL as a kid countless of times between SIN and HKG. The used the 747-200, 747SP and eventually the A300 and I flew them all. Awesome flight attendants they had.
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 18802 times:
To Ryanair!!!
Yeah... custard... that's the word... Sorry, my English is not that great even though I live here for a long time.
I believe the flight attendants on CI are on par with the standards that SQ and CX offers, except that their English may not be as excellent. Even though I believe they have a ok-good product on board, other records of the airlines brings them down, such as hardware refurbishing, routes served, number of frequencies, and "safety record." Therefore, most people who value safety record as top priority will not take CI at any cost, even CI slowly improves.
I have another trip report that I might be posting that's in relation to CI and also CZ, but since reports for CI do not come so often on this forum, and maybe people will think I am just blindly supporting CI by posting these reports, I am still debating if I want to post it.
Triple7man From Thailand, joined May 2005, 683 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 18726 times:
TBIT at LAX is always a fascinating place because you have so many flights departing for the Orient and Australia/New Zealand. I'm flying to LAX from NRT Monday, so I'll have to stop by and see how all the remodeling looks. (I'm flying AA and we have our own Customs/Immigration at Terminal 4).
Anonms From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 564 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 18552 times:
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 7): maybe people will think I am just blindly supporting CI by posting these reports, I am still debating if I want to post it.
I don't see how that's a problem. CI's a great airline, and they haven't had any major incidents that were both fatal and their own fault since 2002.
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 18150 times:
To AA7295/Triple7man:
I think Terminal 4 of LAX is the best.
The remodeling is only done on the section I pictured... the ones behind it are still covered with the construction boards. All the other ones are not yet remodeled. Maybe it will change during the summer.
To Anonms:
Has the exploding incident in Naha from last August received a result yet?
I'll post the other trip in a bit.
Zoom1018 From Vietnam, joined May 2005, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 18122 times:
Great trip report! I was to book a CI flight to LAX but later changed to BR for I wanted to try out the 773ER.
Looks like the CI's FAs in J cabin worked very well compared with what I experienced with TG's.
Ronerone From Jordan, joined Aug 2004, 1550 posts, RR: 54 Reply 13, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 18084 times:
Very nice TR. CI is definitely one airline i want to fly, especially on their AUH-TPE route. Lately there has been several positive TR's on this airline.
As this is my first time to see the 3rd generation seating on CI, i was not too impressed with it, however service seemed good and meal offering was quite generous.
Only one thing though, had i been on that flight, i wouldnt have had any choice of main meal suitable for me. I dont like goose or seafood, and im not a big far of pork.
Thanks a lot for sharing this report! I hope to fly CI sometime soon.
Regards,
Roni
A Stop Away From One-Stop, Is Non-Stop : Airbus A340-500
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 17622 times:
To Zoom1018:
I think they did a fantastic job, but it's never accurate to compare unless you try it yourself. Everyone has different experience with different airlines, and it's probably not the same after all. How was the service and hardware of the BR 773ER? My mom tried their Premium Laurel once and it's angle flat doesn't sleep well, your thoughts?
I have never tried TG, but I have heard their products are not that bad...
--
To Ronerone:
I believe the arrival/departure time for AUH to VIE is pretty bad, but to TPE is probably ok. Their 3rd generation seating is not too great... it's ok to sleep, but definitely not on the comfortable zone. However, I think the excellent FAs do make up for it though! Sometimes you just can't get all the aircrafts to be refurbished at the same time, and currently their A343 product is the best. I hope once their retrofitted 744 is on the road (heard it will be flat), it will serve LAX-TPE first.
You can always try to pre-order your food. If you did not get a chance to do it, the FA usually creates a fruit platter plus instant noodles for you (or you can try the Taiwanese fried noodles that's pictured).
I believe the arrival/departure time for AUH to VIE is pretty bad, but to TPE is probably ok. Their 3rd generation seating is not too great... it's ok to sleep, but definitely not on the comfortable zone. However, I think the excellent FAs do make up for it though! Sometimes you just can't get all the aircrafts to be refurbished at the same time, and currently their A343 product is the best. I hope once their retrofitted 744 is on the road (heard it will be flat), it will serve LAX-TPE first.
You can always try to pre-order your food. If you did not get a chance to do it, the FA usually creates a fruit platter plus instant noodles for you (or you can try the Taiwanese fried noodles that's pictured).
Thanks for the great info. I will most definitely fly to TPE in CI one time.
I see their TPE-bound crew every Thursday on my way back home from work
Regards,
Roni
A Stop Away From One-Stop, Is Non-Stop : Airbus A340-500
Anonms From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 564 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 17315 times:
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 11): Has the exploding incident in Naha from last August received a result yet?
I'll post the other trip in a bit.
Yeah, it was attributed to some mechanical issue that was found on an ANA 738, as well, IIRC. There's a thread on it in Civil Aviation, and Wikipedia has the info, too.
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 16605 times:
To Ronerone: What do you do that makes you see their TPE bound crew every Thurs?
To BA319-131: Maybe you will have to take the fruit platter or order your meals online prior to flying... but I think most of the meals you order online are not that good (unlike SQ's book the cook).
To Anonms: I see.
To Munichpictures: I agree w/you that TBIT in LAX is definitely one of the ugliest and inconvenient terminal ever.
To AlexEU: The FAs are really good at getting away with it... they usually say "Welcome to Taipei" when we land. For the immigration process and the custom rules, they usually say "According to the rules of Republic of China..."
Christao17 From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 894 posts, RR: 9 Reply 21, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 16561 times:
Nice report, thanks. I fly BR and havn't flown CI so it is nice to see what the competition is offering.
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 7): I have another trip report that I might be posting that's in relation to CI and also CZ, but since reports for CI do not come so often on this forum, and maybe people will think I am just blindly supporting CI by posting these reports, I am still debating if I want to post it.
I wouldn't worry about what others think. Just post whatever reports you'd like to. You'll find most readers are appreciative of your efforts and won't worry about whether your editorial policy is fair. =)
Excellent TR and you've done a great job with the language despite not being a native English speaker. I hope CI upgrades their fleet soon, as they seem to have the potential to be a fine carrier!
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 16217 times:
Forgot to ask; did any of your CI flights have the camera's so that you could watch the take-off, and the approach with the landing. I thought that was a neat feature, I don't know how any airlines offer this extra.
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 7):
I believe the flight attendants on CI are on par with the standards that SQ and CX offers, except that their English may not be as excellent.
I agree, they also appreciate the passengers that help out when needed. On my last flight with them LAX-TPE an elderly Vietnamese gentleman quit breathing, my wife did her thing, got my breathing on his own again, and the attendants emptied the drug free shop and gave my wife a full bag of goodies.
Done four trips with China and never had a compliant with the service.
AlexEU From Serbia, joined Oct 2007, 1792 posts, RR: 2 Reply 24, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 16091 times:
Quoting Coolfish1103 (Reply 20): To AlexEU: The FAs are really good at getting away with it... they usually say "Welcome to Taipei" when we land. For the immigration process and the custom rules, they usually say "According to the rules of Republic of China..."
Ok, thanx. I would love to visit Taiwan... Is it safe place?
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 16061 times:
To Christao17/Nimish:
Thank you for your support, it's already shared. As of now, BR is a better option for Business fliers because of their Premium Laurel Product and their mileages may also be credited to CO.
To AirCop:
For the A333, A343, and B744 (3rd Generations), during "daytime" landings/takeoffs, they will display the landing/takeoff views in both the front (while taxing to takeoff/landing to taxing) and the under (after takeoff to 10,000 feet/below 3,000 feet to landing) direction. You may also view it via the PTV by selecting Flight Reviews (I do not know the exact English translation) button (3rd button from the right on the top list from the PTV picture I took) via AVOD. For all other versions of their fleet, the service is not offered. I am glad you liked CI's service, and they usually hand lots of duty free items to passengers who help on the flight showing the appreciations for the help.
To AlexEU:
I should say it's a 24-hour safe place to travel in the city area and it's far better than most Southwest Asia cities (exception examples: Singapore), but it's never 100%.
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