Chinese airlines to join Star Alliance

[jjpb3]

From a BD Q&A thread at TOF (question #14):

[W]e are pleased to advise that Air China and Shanghai Airlines will be joining Star Alliance on 1 December.

Any experiences with these two?

[KeithMEL]

That'd be one huge expansion.

No experience with either carrier unfortunately.

[YK@HKG]

Nah....no exp so far....only tried Dragonair for travels to the mainland.

[UMD]

I have experienced both of them and to me Shanghai Airlines is definitely a better airline in terms of service despite its smaller network I think this is a good choice since Star Alliance will now have 2 main hubs in China (Beijing and Shanghai).

[IanDeYoung]

Great. Now i can go around china without using just SQ.

[jhm]

Any experiences with these two?

I've taken CA domestic from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing (667 miles) - a 744 (3-class) in F with their new seats but I don't think you always get this for that route. Identical to the AA Flagship Suite (a better bed than SQ old F and BA CW IMO) but with AVOD. Attentive service, typical Chinese domestic food. Transfers to/from the plane in a minibus just for F pax (I think I've mentioned this before - a small airconditioned van with lots of seats, all with ivory silk covers matching the curtains!)

As for FM, I've tried Beijing to Shanghai Pudong; and Shanghai to Changsha vv - all in F and on planes with 3 classes. The tighest seat belts I've ever come across - it was a struggle to put it on and I only just managed to avoid asking for an extension belt to save embarrassment.

The opinion on TOF I read is that FM are the best out of CA, MU (China Eastern), HU (Hainan Airlines) etc in terms of not cancelling flights due to not enough pax being booked!

[WSSS]

No, no experience with flying with any of the Chinese carriers. This is a good piece of news since *A will have a network across China. Its quite a big expansion for the alliance. Soon, KF passengers can earn miles when flying with CA or FM and that's quite good if one only possess KF membership.

[jhm]

Just to mention also that when I took my flights last August, I filled in the application forms to join the FFPs for CA and FM (why not ?).

Nothing was received from FM until many months later when I received a membership pack in the post (all in Chinese) and Flying Crane FFP card. They also sent me e-mails after each flight (again in Chinese) confirming that the miles had been credited.

I haven't heard from CA at all - still waiting...!

[jjpb3]

I've taken CA domestic from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing (667 miles) ... As for FM, I've tried Beijing to Shanghai Pudong; and Shanghai to Changsha vv ...

I just knew you'd already flown them.

Thanks to you and to UMD for sharing your experiences.

[YK@HKG]

I haven't heard from CA at all - still waiting...!

Strangely, I have received an Air China FFP without even applying for it last year, that's when they were still under Asia Miles (I think)

The card is a blue-ish one with a slightly enlarged white Air China logo in the middle.

[blast-off]

I've taken AC last year...in Y though...and their service were really below standard....might not be the same standard with other *A carriers....

[upright man]

I flew on Air China last month, from SIN-Chengdu. (Is Air China synonymous with China Airlines ? Thats the airline CX took 25% stake in right?)

It was an A319 with only 8 business class seats in 2 rows. Service was good cos only 3 pax in business class. Food/drink quite basic.
I applied for their FFP online but forgot to give the number on check-in.

Will post a few pics soon.

[9V-JKL]

Air China = China
China Airlines = Taiwan
I wldn't mix the 2 especially if you're Taiwanese

[upright man]

Air China = China
China Airlines = Taiwan
I wldn't mix the 2 especially if you're Taiwanese

Oops, sorry, apologies to our Chinese and Taiwanese friends here.

In that case, yes its Air China I flew last month. They sold a 25% stake to Cathay Pacific last year, and are now a sort of partner airline to them. (This move also prompted SQ to look into buying a stake in China Eastern).

Edit : then how can Air China be joining Star Alliance if its 25% owned by CX ? I am thoroughly confused now........

[The High Flyer]

Air China = China
China Airlines = Taiwan
I wldn't mix the 2 especially if you're Taiwanese

This may not be a problem in the future if the current leadership gets its way in changing everything related to China and ROC to Taiwan. Imagine a Taiwan Airlines...