Business Compare - China Eastern vs. China Southern vs Delta One
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,825
Outbound flights are generally treated equally by Shanghai ATC, but are subject to flow controls on their specific routes. In the case of SE Asia, the first ~1.5 hours of the flight use the same corridor as CAN/HKG/SZX/MFM/etc, which is among the busiest in China. Flights to Japan/Korea, by contrast, are generally okay from a flow control standpoint.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,362
Thanks moondog.
So I can assume PVG->US is fairly safe.
But I should add a risk factor into my schedule for CAN->US?
EDIT: On another issue, a DL member should check the DL partner award table. China Eastern will often pay you twice as many MQMs as Southern when redeeming to a DL number. Not a trivial issue on these very long routes.
So I can assume PVG->US is fairly safe.
But I should add a risk factor into my schedule for CAN->US?
EDIT: On another issue, a DL member should check the DL partner award table. China Eastern will often pay you twice as many MQMs as Southern when redeeming to a DL number. Not a trivial issue on these very long routes.
Last edited by exwannabe; Feb 22, 2017 at 9:24 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,844
That's what I wa afraid of. I have a few of those coming up. My last one, the other way, resulted in a weather diversion to Hongqiao. Horror show ensued. Having suffered once, now thinking a higher price for another carrier may be worth it to avoid weather and ATC issues at PVG. But DL treats MU as a Tier 1 partner, so tons of MQM's and RDM's on offer for flying with MU.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,825
CAN-US flights typically avoid the HK-SH corridor because they vector their way towards the ocean before heading towards Tokyo.
Furthermore, ground stops are less common in CAN than PVG, so I would say CAN is the safest bet if you're flying to SE Asia.
But a lot of people seem to contemplate backtracking via either to Japan or Korea. In such cases, Shanghai wins (if you must connect in China) because we're talking about ~4 hours less flying, which is significantly greater than Shanghai ground stops.
Furthermore, ground stops are less common in CAN than PVG, so I would say CAN is the safest bet if you're flying to SE Asia.
But a lot of people seem to contemplate backtracking via either to Japan or Korea. In such cases, Shanghai wins (if you must connect in China) because we're talking about ~4 hours less flying, which is significantly greater than Shanghai ground stops.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,362
I just recently have seen some very nice prices ex JFK pop up on the MU web site. Have not yet figured out the details as far as tacking on the ATL leg and fare basis. Do not see these on google flights (which I assume is now just a cosmetic wrapper on IATA Matrix).
#22
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,362
Yes, but if we are talking MU the F product does not look to be worth that much more than the C product anyway. The front C cabin is fairly nice with 2 rows of 1-2-1.
I would not pay more than about $100 O
W over C for F.
I would not pay more than about $100 O
W over C for F.
#23
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,844
Also the DL MQDs on MU when on an MU ticket are huge. This normally does not matter to me as I carry a DL AMEX, but can in some cases.
I just recently have seen some very nice prices ex JFK pop up on the MU web site. Have not yet figured out the details as far as tacking on the ATL leg and fare basis. Do not see these on google flights (which I assume is now just a cosmetic wrapper on IATA Matrix).
I just recently have seen some very nice prices ex JFK pop up on the MU web site. Have not yet figured out the details as far as tacking on the ATL leg and fare basis. Do not see these on google flights (which I assume is now just a cosmetic wrapper on IATA Matrix).
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: BTV
Programs: Delta Platinum
Posts: 19
Flew LAX-TPE one way on an award ticket in J last month using 80k Skymiles.
New 77W with a GORGEOUS CABIN--one of the nicest J cabins I have ever been in. Service was good, food was good.
I chose this flight to avoid transiting in china and will definitely try again if I need to route to Asia using Skymiles.
New 77W with a GORGEOUS CABIN--one of the nicest J cabins I have ever been in. Service was good, food was good.
I chose this flight to avoid transiting in china and will definitely try again if I need to route to Asia using Skymiles.
Due to a schedule change with my return flight to HND, I was able to change to NRT w/o issue. Booked a positioning flight to TPE w/ Cathay and secured a 90k CI flight from TPE-LAX in Business... I couldn't be happier with the hard product. As mentioned above, the cabin is GORGEOUS. I flew Delta One earlier this year HND-MSP and this is just bigger/better/more. The space. I'm 6'2 and my feet were a bit cramped in DL_One, far from it here. Giant screen, decent wifi speeds, good meal, good drinks. Attentive FAs. The only thing, and I'm nitpicking here, is that I asked for another bottle of water and they offer to fill my glass as they don't have bottles to give out...
Love it.
Thank you all for the recs here. The TPE CI was the way to go. The only thing that I'm upset about was due to the big storm earlier, my flight into TPE was delayed and I didn't have enough time to check out the T1 CI Club as I've heard wonderful reviews on it. NEXT TIME!^^
#26
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CAN, LAX, TPE
Programs: AA, AS, CI, DL, UA
Posts: 2,882
Thank you all for the recs here. The TPE CI was the way to go. The only thing that I'm upset about was due to the big storm earlier, my flight into TPE was delayed and I didn't have enough time to check out the T1 CI Club as I've heard wonderful reviews on it. NEXT TIME!^^
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: BTV
Programs: Delta Platinum
Posts: 19
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: BTV
Programs: Delta Platinum
Posts: 19
The T2 Club reminded me of the SkyClubs at ATL that are at the tips of the terminals - Long and skinny...Showers were decent and the sweet potatoes and buns were also good.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 790
UPDATE:
Due to a schedule change with my return flight to HND, I was able to change to NRT w/o issue. Booked a positioning flight to TPE w/ Cathay and secured a 90k CI flight from TPE-LAX in Business... I couldn't be happier with the hard product. As mentioned above, the cabin is GORGEOUS. I flew Delta One earlier this year HND-MSP and this is just bigger/better/more. The space. I'm 6'2 and my feet were a bit cramped in DL_One, far from it here. Giant screen, decent wifi speeds, good meal, good drinks. Attentive FAs. The only thing, and I'm nitpicking here, is that I asked for another bottle of water and they offer to fill my glass as they don't have bottles to give out...
Love it.
Thank you all for the recs here. The TPE CI was the way to go. The only thing that I'm upset about was due to the big storm earlier, my flight into TPE was delayed and I didn't have enough time to check out the T1 CI Club as I've heard wonderful reviews on it. NEXT TIME!^^
Due to a schedule change with my return flight to HND, I was able to change to NRT w/o issue. Booked a positioning flight to TPE w/ Cathay and secured a 90k CI flight from TPE-LAX in Business... I couldn't be happier with the hard product. As mentioned above, the cabin is GORGEOUS. I flew Delta One earlier this year HND-MSP and this is just bigger/better/more. The space. I'm 6'2 and my feet were a bit cramped in DL_One, far from it here. Giant screen, decent wifi speeds, good meal, good drinks. Attentive FAs. The only thing, and I'm nitpicking here, is that I asked for another bottle of water and they offer to fill my glass as they don't have bottles to give out...
Love it.
Thank you all for the recs here. The TPE CI was the way to go. The only thing that I'm upset about was due to the big storm earlier, my flight into TPE was delayed and I didn't have enough time to check out the T1 CI Club as I've heard wonderful reviews on it. NEXT TIME!^^
I'd love to take the Korean Air ICN to ATL flight back using miles, but I cannot justify the now 95,000 SkyMiles cost for their 2-3-2 old business product, as nice as direct would be.
Also, if you're -very- flexible on dates you can fly direct on business saver for 80,000 on Delta One out of Shanghai, Tokyo, or Seoul but I have a hard time flying Delta when I am more interested in trying better, interesting foreign airlines for business class.
I'll probably settle on TPE-JFK, then buy a separate ticket to ATL. I am based in SE Asia mostly though, so tempting to try Air France business from SIN to LHR, or Vietnam for SGN to LHR for a totally different routing.
Last edited by jiaogulan; Jun 12, 2017 at 3:30 am