Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - China Airlines in C or alternatives?

I'm planning on heading to southeast asia this winter and was able to score two business class seats on China Airlines using SkyMiles out of JFK. I'm having a bit of buyer's remorse and would consider using a free reissue to another airline.

Pros: Schedule is generally good, especially because the JFK flight leaves late on Friday night. I'm assuming service will be better than Northwest or Continental.

Cons: Stopover in Anchorage is a real pain (have to exit the aircraft). The C seats apparently ancient and nothing close to lie-flat. I can't seem to figure out if there's AVOD or not, I've read conflicting information.

Thoughts: Limited alternative on Continental, more alternatives on Northwest mainly on 747s. My main question - how does CI compare to Korean Airlines? I don't think I'll be on Korean's new sleeper seats, and at the moment the connections are not great. The flight out of JFK is not currently available. How are Korean's non-flat sleeper seats?

Would you take a less desirable connection on Korean vs. China? Would you take China over a domestic option? (Delta's lie-flat option NRT flight via JFK is not available).

Thanks for your help.

I believe that Delta and Singapore are partners. Can you use your miles for seats on Singapore Airlines? They would be my first choice over any domestic carrier and probably better than China Airlines or Korean Air.

I believe that Delta and Singapore are partners. Can you use your miles for seats on Singapore Airlines? They would be my first choice over any domestic carrier and probably better than China Airlines or Korean Air.

Singapore apparently has very high ($500+) taxes and fuel fees and would likely still be my first choice, however all flights had only one seat available.

You can refer to kaichun1216's post in regards to what aircrafts China Airlines will be utilizing in JFK-ANC-TPE v.v. There's PTV in Business Class but is on limited choices.

Some of the 74C is already renovated again into 33A style of pod seats, so the seat recline has been modified slightly to approximate 166 degrees. However, I am unsure if all 4 of the 74C have been renovated... let alone the 744 seats.

I think Korean Air also uses an ancient aircraft on the JFK route, but they are also renovating the aircrafts... so if you value the connection time and stopovers, you should choose Korean Air. Otherwise, China Airlines and Korean Air are about similar in the rest.

KE - depends on whether you can get the old style seats vs. the new ones on the JFK route in terms of seat comfort. Service wise, they're pretty close to CI IMO.

since when has Delta had co-op with Singapore ailrines, even top tier *A passengers find it impossible to redeem miles with them

CI A330 seats are awful, you cannot sleep in them, you need A340 style seating.

since when has Delta had co-op with Singapore ailrines, even top tier *A passengers find it impossible to redeem miles with them

About 10 years, iirc.

CI A330 seats are awful, you cannot sleep in them, you need A340 style seating.

Agreed. I flew HKG-BKK in one of them and it's extremely uncomfortable. Lucky that it was only a 3 hour short flight.

The meal service was also only mediocre. The CI lounge at HKG was also a joke. It does not even have PC for quick and simple Internet access. I did not bother to see if there's wifi. The lounge has no toilet. No food or drink to speak of and if you want something simple, such as glass of water, "there's the tap, sir". Yes, tap water only!

The only good thing about the flight was the fare. The business class fare was cheaper than what CX wanted to charge me in economy. I got what I've paid!

I believe that Delta and Singapore are partners. Can you use your miles for seats on Singapore Airlines? They would be my first choice over any domestic carrier and probably better than China Airlines or Korean Air.

It's easier to find gold in my backyard than F or C reward seat on SQ.

Agreed. I flew HKG-BKK in one of them and it's extremely uncomfortable. Lucky that it was only a 3 hour short flight.

The meal service was also only mediocre. The CI lounge at HKG was also a joke. It does not even have PC for quick and simple Internet access. I did not bother to see if there's wifi. The lounge has no toilet. No food or drink to speak of and if you want something simple, such as glass of water, "there's the tap, sir". Yes, tap water only!

333 is used on TPE-HKG-BKK v.v., not 33A.
There's PC in the lounge in HKG, I believe 3 of them.

I think exiting plane is the same at any stopover. You need to do the same thing if you take other airlines, unless there's a true direct flight to TPE. Anchorage airport might not be as fun as other Asian airport though.

333 is used on TPE-HKG-BKK v.v., not 33A.
There's PC in the lounge in HKG, I believe 3 of them.

My particular flight was operated with the refurbished 333 installed with just 5 (vs. 6 of the old configuration) rows of the new shell type angled lie-flat business class seats. I reaffirm my earlier statement that these "new" seats are extremely uncomfortable.

Yes, you're correct that there were PC's at the lounge but none of them was connected to the Internet when I was there. I asked one of the attendants and was told that they did not have Internet connection.

I pre-selected my lunch entree on line but the CI FA did not seem to know about it. The cabin was only half full and lucky that I got my choice.

The miles also did not show up in my DL account and I had to write in to get them.

As I said before, I got what I paid.

I still think 343 is the most comfortable seat that they have, despite the fact it's 150 degrees and not 166 degrees... though I think 33A seats are okay.

PC not connected? That news to me.

I do agree that the online meal selection is a joke, and I think they are still testing it.

DL takes about 6 weeks to post miles to CI, not sure about the other way =) How much did CX want to charge you in Economy anyways? It's hard to imagine that a Business Class ticket to be cheaper than Economy.

I still think 343 is the most comfortable seat that they have, despite the fact it's 150 degrees and not 166 degrees... though I think 33A seats are okay.

PC not connected? That news to me.

I do agree that the online meal selection is a joke, and I think they are still testing it.

DL takes about 6 weeks to post miles to CI, not sure about the other way =) How much did CX want to charge you in Economy anyways? It's hard to imagine that a Business Class ticket to be cheaper than Economy.

CX's economy was about HK$240 more expensive than CI business. Not much (US$30) but it was really ridiculous to pay more to fly economy on CX than business on CI although CX's overall service level may be superior. I bought my ticket through Zuji.com and those were the prices quoted.

Notwithstanding, taken the price into consideration, I'd still rate CI overall experience as satisfactory. CX's business class would be better but I would also have to pay about several times more than what CI charged.

It's easier to find gold in my backyard than F or C reward seat on SQ.

And I heard you live on the 25th floor :D

^We flew Syd tpe bkk return in September in business class and found both the seating on the a330 & a 340 excerlent for sitting eating and the best for sleeping we are not short guys and had ample leg room ok the food could have been better in some of the meals , the drinks were fine and good French wine very good english speaking f/a's very clean aircraft took off and landed on time every flight, also good lounges in both Tpe & bkk but for what we paid ( this was half the price of thai airways) we got very good vaule for our hard earned Aus. dollars.
The most dissapointing lounge was the qantas lounge in sydney ok it was late departure but they only had half the lounge open the floors had food all over them and the tables had not been cleaned for some hours it got quite crowded and we found the food poor a lot of empty bottles in the wine bars, staff with attitude and very dirty bathrooms .
We will CI again if the price stays down and could really find nothing wrong with them well done China air

the A330 seats are just awful to sleep on, more so if you have been spoilt with true lie flat