justinlee From China, joined Aug 2012, 306 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4569 times:
Hi everyone, thank you for your attention of my first trip report. Living in the mainland china, I found very little exposure of china domestic routes in this forum. Living in Beijing but born in Hangzhou (HGH), I travelled frequently between these 2 cities.
For HGH-PEK route, CA dominants the market and operates 12xdaily departures. But I would like to choose Hainan Airlines (HU), which has better both hard and soft product than CA as a Skytrax 5-star carrier. HU operate 3xdaily on this route and 2 of them are using wide-bodies.
This is the departure hall of Terminal 3 in HGH.
The premium check-in counter of Hainan Airlines and China Eastern.
Due to the foggy weather, a lot of flights are delayed or cancelled. But not mine
Go to the VIP security check, which is quick and smooth. But I need to make an appointment in advance...
Map of the terminal.
Go to my boarding gate...
The plane I take today: Airbus 330-200.
The cabin of HU is shiny red...I know someone think it's too annoying but I love it.
The distance from Beijing to Hangzhou is 1148km
FA started the catering service quickly. The food is so-so by chinese standard.
The cabin is really...totally...red
Arrive at PEK T1 after 1:50. T1 is only used by Hainan Airlines and its subsidiaries.
A lot of Hainan wide-bodies in PEK T1. Here is a 346.
More Hainan...
The end. I strongly recommend you to try HU if you fly domestically in China. The service is really at a different level. Hope this TR finds you well.
celestar From Singapore, joined Jul 2001, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4393 times:
Flying into Beijing and deplaned at Terminal 1 is a God heaven!
Always love that little terminal feel. The new terminal (is it called 5, I forgot) was so huge and it always making me cursing along the way.
Nice TR. Hope to see another one soon.
jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1859 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (3 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3952 times:
Great report - we don't see many China domestic reports on here. Good to see some shots of the new HGH terminal too - as an English-speaker it's tough to find details on many of China's incredible airport expansions.
Widebodies seem to be appearing on more and more of China's east coast domestic routes. I flew SHA-PEK on a China Eastern A330 a few years ago and it was one of just a few widebody flights offered each day. Now that route is almost all widebodies!
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1419 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (3 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3756 times:
Hi Justinlee
Thanks for the interesting report on an airline we don't really hear much of. Hainan have been operating to Zurich in Switzerland, where I live, for quite some time and I've often wondered what their service must be like.
The catering on the flight may not necessarily have been to your liking, on the other hand I can't even remember the last time I received a hotmeal in Economy Class on a flight of only 1 hour and 50 minutes!
On a side note, would you recommend Hangzou for a vacation? If I'm not mistaken they make tea in the region.
newbief1yer From UK - England, joined Dec 2012, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3718 times:
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 8): The catering on the flight may not necessarily have been to your liking, on the other hand I can't even remember the last time I received a hotmeal in Economy Class on a flight of only 1 hour and 50 minutes!
That is true William. I've been spoilt by Chinese domestic airlines- their food is way better than anything on domestic European service. travelled MU and Shanghai Airliens a few times last month, and their food was great , well European standard great.
Saying so, domestic flights arent cheap in china either. I think all the full service airlines are quite expensive, compared to domestic European travel.
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 784 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (3 months 5 days ago) and read 3551 times:
Hi justinlee,
Great first TR and welcome to the forum.
As you say correctly we barely see chinese domestic reports here so it's great to read one again!
Hainan looks great as mostly seems to be the case, although the cabin is a bit too red for my liking.
Quoting justinlee (Thread starter): Due to the foggy weather, a lot of flights are delayed or cancelled. But not mine
wow, those sure are a lot of delayed or cancelled flights, luckily enough yours didn't get cancelled
123 From Bolivia, joined Nov 2003, 739 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (3 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3358 times:
I flew XIY-PEK with HA in Business A330 service (they call it F), it was a memorable flight, only too short - I would never ever doubt in flying them longhaul, if their shorthaul is so efficient, it can only be better when the crew have more time for service on a longer flight!
Apart from a full menu service with options I cannot recall, you had also slippers, reading material, AVOD, smiles, and ontime flight.
justinlee From China, joined Aug 2012, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 3048 times:
Quoting joacocifuentes (Reply 3): I love Hainan, I'd love to try them soon in a long-haul flight.- What can I say ? I love those red seats!
Which route will you try? They are expanding into some niche market like Brussels, Berlin, Budapest and Seattle.
Quoting celestar (Reply 4): Flying into Beijing and deplaned at Terminal 1 is a God heaven!
Yeah...And the check-in+security check takes you less than 20 min.
Quoting jsnww81 (Reply 6): Widebodies seem to be appearing on more and more of China's east coast domestic routes. I flew SHA-PEK on a China Eastern A330 a few years ago and it was one of just a few widebody flights offered each day. Now that route is almost all widebodies!
Available slots in major chinese airports are really limited, especially PEK and SHA. Wide-bodies are the only way to increase capacity
Quoting aerdingus (Reply 7): Pity the food wasn´t so great. It doesn´t look so bad, I probably would´ve eaten it hehe.
The food quality really depends on the catering service provider. In HGH, it's Lufthansa Sky Chef. Generally hot meal will be provided during the meal time.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 8): On a side note, would you recommend Hangzou for a vacation? If I'm not mistaken they make tea in the region.
As a Hangzhounese, I would definitely recommend. But it really depends on your taste. Hangzhou is an ancient city with beautiful landscape, temples, pagoda etc. I would compare it to something like Bern . If you want beaches...nightlife...it's not the right place. But because Hangzhou is only 1 hr ride by train from Shanghai. I would say a package including Shanghai and a 2-day visit to Hangzhou is perfect.
Quoting newbief1yer (Reply 9): Saying so, domestic flights arent cheap in china either. I think all the full service airlines are quite expensive, compared to domestic European travel.
The Y fare for Beijing-Shanghai or Beijing-Hangzhou can range from $100-$200 with $30 tax. Local LCCs like Spring Airlines offer much cheaper price. But unfortunately Hangzhou is not their hub.
aflyingkiwi From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 488 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (3 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2890 times:
Hi,
Great first report. Very nice to see a China domestic report. As you said they are quite rare on this forum. The product looks pretty good for a short flight. You'd be hard pressed to find many of the amenities you received on board on some western airlines.
justinlee From China, joined Aug 2012, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2782 times:
Quoting joacocifuentes (Reply 14): It would be interesting to fly from Budapest or Seattle. When are they starting up these routes ?
These are all existing routes. They started Budapest from 2004 and Seattle from 2008. They will also open up PEK-ORD this September. Here are Hainan's long-haul routes nowadays:
Actually I met several guys connecting on my flight to the PEK-Luanda route. The business connection between China and Africa is strong but the aviation connection is really weak. So the market is there.
123 From Bolivia, joined Nov 2003, 739 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (3 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1814 times:
Quoting justinlee (Reply 17): The business connection between China and Africa is strong but the aviation connection is really weak. So the market is there.
Now you've got SA nonstop JNB/PEK/JNB flights, fyi, apart from the traditional JNB/HKG/JNB flights.
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