Trip Reports - PVG-ORD-MCO-ORD-HKG-PVG on UA & KA (w/ pics)

Departed from Shanghai for meetings in Disney in Orlando for 3 days and then to Macau for a day of fun before returning to Shanghai. Decided to go with UA as I hadn't flown them in over a decade and needed to re-qualify for BD*G.

PVG-ORD
January 24, 2009
UA - 747 Old Config.
Business Class (complimentary upgrade to First Class)

This was the leg i looked forward to least. I knew ahead of time it would be the old config. for this route, so had asked around on FT and ended up reserving seat 25C. As i'm tall and like space, i knowingly chose this section of the aircraft for the extra legroom. Got to PVG on time, smooth check-in, quick visit to the FM lounge in T2, and then boarded. Took my seat in 25C as one of the first on board. Towards the end of boarding, a young guy came up to me with the same seat showing on his BP. Called the FA, waited 2 minutes, and before i knew it i was kindly shown to seat 5A!! First Class!! First trip on UA in over a decade, not a MP member (which he was) and they upgrade me. Great start to the trip. Seat was comfortable, entertainment was bad (small screen and no selection). Food was decent but i never eat that much on flights anyway. Landing was nice over snowy Chicago, while listening to channel 9. Flight was over before i knew it, thanks to the upgrade. Thanks UA!!!


First Class Seat 5A (Thanks UA for the upgrade!)
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3243350329/)


View of snowy Chicago 1
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3243351813/)


View of snowy Chicago 2
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3243351279/)

ORD-MCO
January 24, 2009
UA – 757

Economy Class (complimentary upgrade to Economy Plus Exit Row)
Uneventful empty flight on UA’s 757. Was lucky as I got the exit row with nobody next to me. Had an FA who was scared of take offs, can’t imagine how she’s still working as an FA. Seat was comfortable, being an exit row, no entertainment other than overhead tv showing NBC, and no food (unless purchased). Again listened to channel 9 for landing.

MCO-ORD
January 28, 2009
UA – 319 or 320 (can't remember)

Economy Class (complimentary upgrade to Economy Plus Exit Row)
Again, an uneventful flight. As I was quite tired, this flight was used to catch up on some much needed sleep.

ORD-HKG
January 28, 2009
UA – 747
Business Class New Configuration

Had expected this flight to be the new configuration, so was quite disaapointed when I looked online and saw it had changed to the old config. Was not looking forward to the 15 hour flight in the old configuration business class. Since I’d checked in for this flight already at MCO, I still expected the config. to be the old one. When I arrived at the RCC lounge at ORD and asked if it was still the old config. I was told it had changed back to the new config. Great news as I was looking forward to the new C seats on the UA 747!!!! Still had seat 7C, but the business cabin was only 30-50% full. I decided to stick with my seat as I wanted the middle section, facing forward, and there was no one in my row anyway. The seat next to me was actually broken and blocked off, something about the electronics not working.
Service on this flight was great, everything I requested was received. The flatbed was very comfortable, even though I’m 6’4 and slept on my side. Usually cannot sleep on flights, but was able to get 5 hours of shuteye. Woke up and just watched tv, played games, and did some work the rest of the flight. For the landing I moved back to one of the backwards facing exit row window seats so I could take some pictures and experience landing backwards (which was a different experience). Arrived on time, and considered myself lucky after seeing the same flight diverted to Anchorage on several occasions over the past few weeks.

Next day was spent in Macau. Considered taking the chopper from HK to Macau (16 minutes vs. the 60 minutes on the TurboJet Ferry) but 18 times the price. Stayed at the MGM there but wasn’t too impressed.
Returned to HK the next day, again of the TurboJet, which was very bumpy this time around. People throwing up all over the place.


My seat 7C
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3244182630/)


PTV
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3244183144/)


Seat Controls
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3243353795/)


PTV Remote
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3244184418/)


15 minutes out of HKG
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3243354983/)


Touchdown at HKG
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35027898@N08/3244188340/)

HKG-PVG
January 31, 2009
KA – 330-300
Business Class

Final leg of this trip on Dragon Air’s Airbus 330-300 two class config. Had chosen this flight as they had some good discount in combination with the UA itinerary. Business class was standard in regional configuration with recliner seats with PTVs. Usually travel China Eastern on this route a couple times a year and have to say that the food and service is much better than China Eastern’s. Having said that, I’m still a huge fan of MU. Video selection on the Dragon Air flight was good, with a good selection of US programs. Only being a 1 hour 45 minute flight, the flight was over before I knew it.

Hope you enjoyed my first report, sorry if it’s short and not too detailed, didn’t really anticipate I would write the report but had such good experiences on the long hauls that I thought I’d share.
Sniles

A great read!

Thanks

JAT

Congrats on the op-up! One quick note, UA does not fly A321s, so on the MCO-ORD leg you were either on an A319 or A320, likely.

thanks. can't remember which one it was. will edit.

Great report. Congrats on the op-up. Perhaps it happened because you paid for Business Class, rather than upgraded?

Great report. Congrats on the op-up. Perhaps it happened because you paid for Business Class, rather than upgraded?

yes, discount though, but thats what my guess was too.

I just feel bad for all those MP elites that didn't get the upgrade. I know the whole system for upgrades is screwed up and that i (company :)) paid for the tickets and all, and don't get me wrong, i was very happy with the upgrade, but i would hate to be a hard earning MPer and see others get upgraded. Then again, it happens with me all the time on KLM...

Why are you a big fan of MU on HKG-PVG?

price (compared to CX/KA), comfort on their a330 in C, service compared to FM much better IMO (personalized on MU, not on FM even though i'm *G).

Generally not much a fan of FM, even though their prices are more attractive.