China - Best First Class Option From LAX To Shanghai?

I'm leaving in the next few days and have 100,000+ miles in United, British Air, US Air, plus Amex Membership Rewards points. Any ideas on the best first (or business) class value from LAX to Shanghai would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time.

UA and MU are the only non-stop options. I've flown this route a few times in the past 6 months and have avoided both airlines, based on past long haul experience with them. Instead i flew NH in C through Tokyo, either NRT or HND, and was quite impressed with their product, both in the air and on the ground. Service, seats (new 777), etc all far better on NH. The NH options are LAX-HND-SHA or LAX-NRT-PVG.

UA and MU are the only non-stop options. .

Also AA. ( One World miles)
CA (Star Alliance Miles)

What's the best F class?

Don't know, only flown C on AA and UA.
Like UA seats better.

Also AA. ( One World miles)
CA (Star Alliance Miles)

What's the best F class?

Don't know, only flown C on AA and UA.
Like UA seats better.

Forgot about AA.
I think CA makes a stop in SFO or PEK though.

Forgot about AA.
I think CA makes a stop in SFO or PEK though.

Code share with UA?

Thought I heard last year they had two daily flights LAX to
China, that is Air China.

More importantly for the OP, he wants to redeem a first class award ticket "in a few days": I doubt "which is best" is the appropriate question, as opposed to: "which is available"?

Award seats sometimes are available at last minute, but for 100k miles, I'm not even sure they can get a RT ticket. AA would offer an 'anytime award' for 130k one-way.

I've only travelled long-haul F on BA and LX, so can't comment on this particular scenario, should OP be lucky enough to have a choice.

tb

Daily Double Flights LAX - PEK?


See only single flight?

Air China adds a second non-stop flight from LAX starting Sept. 1, 2011. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui and Mayor Villaraigosa were both present at the ribbon cutting ceremony. According to Mayor Villaraigosa, this flight service is expected to increase the number of travelers from LAX and generate approximately $626 million in economic impact.


LAX-PVG Award Availability

Saver Availability on UA now: F 70K miles one way
C 60K miles one way

Also Saver Availability on AA starting 4/19 F 67.5K miles

If you're going to do first, Japan Airlines is my favorite.

If you're going to do first, Japan Airlines is my favorite.
-1

JAL

Joke Air Lines

-1

JAL

Joke Air Lines

Don't knock until you try it; the Japanese tax payers are subsidizing those amazing beds and the massages in their NRT lounge.

Can't fault their lounges at NRT, good food and good bar.

Comp 15 min foot massage is nice also.

I think I'd also back LAX-HND-SHA on NH. NH is simply fantastic and you can regain some of the transit time because you land in SHA. The last thing I'd want is to book a F ticket and get stuck on some old UA 777 with the tape IFE, unless you're looking for a trip to PVG via memory lane. :D

I think I'd also back LAX-HND-SHA on NH. NH is simply fantastic and you can regain some of the transit time because you land in SHA. The last thing I'd want is to book a F ticket and get stuck on some old UA 777 with the tape IFE, unless you're looking for a trip to PVG via memory lane. :D

Two questions:

1) there isn't F on either of those flights, is there?
2) how are the connections (in both directions)?

It was a couple of years ago, but I flew LAX - PVG on China Eastern in First. The service was good, the food and wine were decent, and the seat was a lie flat bed. I slept nine hours (!). Back then, MU was a bargain - my first class seat was less expensive than flying business on AA. At today's prices, I'm not so sure MU is a value over AA or UA.

My return was F on Asiana through Seoul - that was nice! I believe the daytime flight out of LAX (13:10) has first class seats, but not the middle-of-the-night flight. You might be in business class from Seoul to PVG and back.

Two questions:

1) there isn't F on either of those flights, is there?
2) how are the connections (in both directions)?

You are right, there isn't F on either of those flights. I thought there was at least F on LAX-HND.

any more recent experience? I'm flying A in AA LAX-PVG on a 777 and wondering what others have experienced.

any more recent experience? I'm flying A in AA LAX-PVG on a 777 and wondering what others have experienced.

I took this flight 4 times last year 2 times in business, 2 times in First. It's normal AA first class service. You'll get the lie flat seat, a bit better Champagne, a nicer salad and a hot fudge sundae. Other than that it's virtually the same meal service as in business class. You'll also get PJ's and turn down service will be offered. There is a lighter meal before landing in Pudong as well.

If you're upgrading from business class it's worth it, if you're paying for first I'd save the money and stay in C class. The best sleep I've had on this flight has been in C class row 8 although staying up the entire night before in Vegas might have had something to do with that. I find AA a bit better than UA in first so I'd choose it over UA and definitely over MU where they are super stingy with the drinks.

You might be in business class from Seoul to PVG and back.

I got a F seat sold as C once (April 4- ICN-PVG). So just 'cause your ticket says "business class" doesn't rule out the possibility of F- seating-wise, at least.

Also, regarding LAX-HND-SHA-
connection times seem to be more than 5h each way, so there's not much in the way of time savings. And there's definitely no F on the HND-SHA segment.

If you're flying on short notice, and want F, you will most likely only find seats on UA.

At that point, I'd rather use the miles and fly C on NH or OZ, which are both good choices - 90k US miles (best value for me).

AA stuff generally requires a lot more planning than *A, and when US gives you those rates....it's generally the best deal.