Trip Reports - MYSTERIOUS ITALIAN PIZZA ON AIR CHINA FIRST CLASS A340-300 Osaka - Shanghai - Beijing

Click the below link for a summarized video flight review on my youtube channel: http://youtu.be/YX7AusCjM9k?hd=1


I recently flew a 6 sector UA award from Osaka KIX to SYD in Australia during Golden Week in May(4 in F, 2 in SQ J), and thought I would try the Air China international First Class product on their A340-300 aircraft (sure beats the NH flight from NGO or KIX on the 738.

Being based in NGO is not too great for international connections, and in order to maximize F flights, I went by the extremely efficient Shinkansen to Osaka the preceding night, and caught the 0900 flight to PVG.

Having lived in Japan for a while now, I take perfectly punctual public transport for granted (not to mention clean), so here are some shots of the Nozomi Super Express Tokaido Shinkansen service from Nagoya to Shin Osaka (in Green Class)

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Nozomi N700

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12A

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After a night in a nearby hotel (and being stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes with KE crew), I headed by shuttle bus to the familiar, if boring KIX terminal for check in. As it was the first day of Golden Week (Japan's longest holiday), the check in lobby was bustling, but the First line was completely empty.

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Economy for PVG and PEK

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Seeing my Japanese resident card, the check in agent apologized for her lack of english (which is common in Japan), and continued procedures in Japanese, letting me know that I was the only passenger in F, and that she had reserved 1A for me on both flights. All seemed great, except that checked luggage would need to be collected in PVG, and re-checked to PEK. As I was meeting friends in Shanghai (7 hour layover), I didn't want to risk anything, so I pulled out the Japanese cosmetics that I had promised to buy for family and friends, and promptly gave them to the agent who seemed suddenly quite happy... A sacrifice now and then doesn't hurt too bad

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Friendly China Airlines staff from Taiwan smiling across the straight at the rival Air China desks (Made me feel nostalgic for the time when I was based out of KHH and TPE)

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Ended up chatting to TPE based CI staff while on the train to the gate... As usual the Taiwanese were lovely and wished me luck on my trip to the PRC... Don't even know how many times I have been on one of these birds

Air China uses the dumpy JAL lounge at KIX (which is close to the gate, but oh so boring)... The only real food were Japanese rice balls... At least they had some good Oolong tea to wash them down. Lounge was filled with Chinese nouveau riche, decked out in all kinds of LV and Gucci, while chatting loudly... I was happy to escape and wander down to the gate for boarding...

Cheap JAL Sakura Lounge
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AIR CHINA FLIGHT CA164 0900
OSAKA KANSAI 大阪関西国際空港　−　SHANGHAI PUDONG 上海浦東國際機場
FIRST CLASS 1A
A340-300

After arrival at the crowded gate, I quickly showed my passport and boarding pass to the gate agents who let me straight on (before general boarding call)... Thank goodness because the flight was nearly full and I have firsthand experience boarding CA and CZ flights... no mean feat.

I was greeted by a young crew member who led my to my seat and offered a pre departure drink. As the flight was ex Japan, crew were more fluent in Japanese than English, but we found a happy medium in Mandarin, and I felt that the crew were immediately much nicer when they could work in their mother tongue

The First cabin is spacious, leg room ample and in my case, quite empty. Knowing the age of the aircraft, overall condition of the aircraft was good, and the seats themselves comfortable.


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First Class Cabin

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Seat 2A

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AVOD and seat controls (design not as fine tuned as more recent onboard products)

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Seat in full recline

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Air China embossed Pillow

Once we had reached cruising altitude, I was offered a special tea menu... Now I for one enjoy tea, and have become accustomed to Chinese tea in particular... while their alcoholic beverages were below par, the tea (and especially the provision of my favorite Qing Cha) was quite amazing. On the other hand, no menus were available for the meal service and two options were given verbally by the young FA; "Japanese style" or "Italian Style Pizza" (which you will see turned out to be the biggest surprise, and not in a good way).
Seeing as it was a KIX catered flight, I didn't think too hard and went straight for the Japanese option, which was served with tea and a Japanese Sakura themed seasonal dessert (as the flowers were still in bloom at that time).
The oddest thing about the meal (in true Japanese fashion), was that it was basically sushi served with potato salad on crustless bread... Quite odd and not the best tasting either.

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"Suitable for the crowd to lose weight, and feel irritable.."

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After seeing me nibble a bit, the crew brought more tea and offered me the 'pizza' dish... which you can see below, isn't really pizza.
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Instead, it was Japanese Okonomiyaki (which I guess if you really stretch your imagination a bit, resembles pizza)... The taste wasn't great and it looked like it was completely zapped when it arrived at my table... not the best.

Crew were chatty and spoke lots about their home base (all from Chengdu), and gave me some weather information for our arrival at PVG. We then commenced descent, and taxied for what seemed like ages before the crowded rush for the exit...

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

While I have flown Air China before, and am well aware of their standards, especially in comparison to NH or OZ, I tried it for kicks and out of boredom from the usual.

PROS:
Kind staff who were willing to joke and laugh (although probably different outcome if in english)
Spacious, if dated F seat
Clean and well maintained (surprise factor)

CONS:
No menu and very lackluster catering
Somewhat violent disembarkation from rear Business class doors.

I certainly wouldn't pay for F on Air China, but would be willing to fly them again in the future.

Stay tuned for continuing F sector to PEK in following posts, and click to see a full video of the trip report on my youtube channel: http://youtu.be/YX7AusCjM9k?hd=1

I liked this nice little review, thanks for posting. The idea of Okonomiyaki on a plane sounds really great but yeah, the actual thing doesn't look so hot.

For First class, the meals do not look substantial at all. I'd be rather disappointed.:td:

The idea of Okonomiyaki on a plane sounds really great but yeah, the actual thing doesn't look so hot.

I'd be rather disappointed.

I do love proper Okonomiyaki, but this was a little sad ;) Lucky it was early, I wasn't so hungry anyways:p

Having flown similar length flights with CX or OZ in F, the difference was certainly felt, but overall the staff made the flight (on both sectors)

Lounge was filled with Chinese nouveau riche, decked out in all kinds of LV and Gucci, while chatting loudly... I was happy to escape and wander down to the gate for boarding...

I feel your pain.

Nice report.

What did you expect? Food on Air China is ALWAYS terrible.

What did you expect? Food on Air China is ALWAYS terrible.

I beg to differ; CA has made marked improvements in the food category during the past several years. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure that flight is catered in KIX by a Japanese company.

I beg to differ; CA has made marked improvements in the food category during the past several years. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure that flight is catered in KIX by a Japanese company.

Lots of airlines have catering organized by companies in overseas ports, but it is not always bad, unfortunately CA is still a little bit behind in this category.:rolleyes:

Interesting report.

As the times of reward availability change to lessor and more restricted amounts, CA seems to be one of the few that actually have seats available on some long haul routes.

However, it seems that although the catering isn't up to what other carriers may offer in First. Many asian carriers such as TG, SG are able to offer catering that can appeal to both western and asian travellers.

Looks like I would fly them in a pinch - but avoid the pizza... :D

Interesting report.

As the times of reward availability change to lessor and more restricted amounts, CA seems to be one of the few that actually have seats available on some long haul routes.

However, it seems that although the catering isn't up to what other carriers may offer in First. Many asian carriers such as TG, SG are able to offer catering that can appeal to both western and asian travellers.

Looks like I would fly them in a pinch - but avoid the pizza... :D

Okonomiyaki really isn't pizza; I'm not a fan of it even at famous restaurants. But, this is a non issue wrt 99% of CA's flights because it only shows up ex-KIX/HIJ/FUK ime.

What did you expect? Food on Air China is ALWAYS terrible.

Why terrible? I though the foods is so delicious but, I like Chinese foods.

While taxiing, spotted a few fellow *A partners (and some ex's) I had flown Shanghai Airlines way back in 2007 when they were still a member of star... interesting to say the least (CAN-SHA)
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TK
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After being granted a transit visa, I rushed to the maglev station at PVG to catch a quick ride downtown... I have been through PVG before, but had never taken the German made maglev (one of two permanently operated maglev lines... the other being the linimo service near my house in Nagoya)... Typically bright red and gold design at the station.
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普通票 Common Ticket
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A stark difference to the Japanese run Shinkansen... I love the hospital theme
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After returning to PVG (with only 30 minutes to departure), I rushed through security and caught the complimentary 'golf cart express' to my gate, offered to all First and Business passengers... Even though a A340 was scheduled for this flight, we still had a remote gate boarding, so I caught the private minibus, as opposed to the completely packed normal bus (curiously, no information was given, so other F pax just guessed and boarded the separate bus) We had some good views including the always present UA744.
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Gate Agent (I tried waving)
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CA tails
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Lunch served aboard was better than the previous flight, but nothing special. Still no menus, but tea was always refilled without asking
I was getting tired after my rushed afternoon in Shanghai with friends, so I had a bit of a nap after sipping some lovely chrysanthemum tea.
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Load was about 80% on this flight, but the purser, who was a grouchy woman in her 50s started warming up to me, and by the end of the flight had organized some fun things for me to do during my 7 hour layover in PEK before my night flight to SIN... I really did appreciate her recommendations (even if it was just for dinner and a movie).
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Overall, had a good experience on CA, food was a miss but service really was something special. I feel much the same towards the Taiwanese flag carrier, China Airlines; catering isn't always the best, but service is always heartwarming (Air China service was great too, but not as good).
As I was not allowed to check in for my continuing SQ connection until about 2330, I left PEK and returned much later in the night for what was to be a horrible SQ flight...

Thanks for your picture report.