Beijing was not my final destination of the day, I was continuing a few hours later to Singapore.
The ticket used for this part was an SAS discounted business class ticket Stockholm-Singapore, which included the option to fly Air China via Beijing since SAS no longer has any flights to Singapore (SAS used to do CPH-BKK-SIN).
Obviously when you buy a business class ticket you expect all flights to be in business class, so imagine my utter surprise when I realised I was booked in first class on the flight between Beijing and Singapore.
I did not know about it when I booked the ticket, the SAS booking confirmation just said “business class fare”. Checkmytrip.com gave me the first hint, I was sorting out seat assignments and realised the seat map for the flight did not make sense.
I don’t know if this was an error, but I was not complaining...
An unexpected transfer experience in Beijing
I was the first person off the plane in Beijing and to my very surprise when entering the terminal building there is a young girl standing there holding a sign with my name on it.
I introduced myself to her and it turned out the reason she was there was to escort me through all the airport formalities as I was now a first class passenger.
Very nice! That was totally unexpected!
The young girl was very friendly and we did some small talk about my trip and the new airport in Beijing, although honestly I was a bit too tired for any kind of talk after the flight.
We passed the transfer desk to get a boarding pass to Singapore followed by immigration, security, boarding pass check and then she showed me to the first class lounge.
The escort didn’t really speed up the process, but it made the formalities far easier as she took care of everything for me, explaining my travel arrangements in Chinese to all the people we met along the way.
All-in-all a completely hassle-free transfer!
The main difference between transiting in Beijing and most other airports in Asia is that all transfer passengers have to enter China according to Chinese law.
The Beijing airport authorities have managed that part pretty well by having a combined entry and exit passport check, so you enter and leave China at the same time, practically you get a stamp in the passport but no visa is required.
It’s all rather straight forward, at the end just one more desk to line up for.
Air China First class Lounge, Beijing
The Air China First Class lounge is a vast, modern and spotlessly clean lounge located on a balcony above the main shopping area (similar to most Hong Kong lounges).
However what mostly impressed me was the number of staff available, when I arrived they easily outnumbered the passengers in the lounge.
Two people were sitting behind the reception desk, then two women were standing beside the desk assisting passengers with any kind of requests (showers, luggage lockers etc), then a concierge desk with two people taking care of rebookings, seat changes etc.
Then on top of that a dozen people clearing tables and keeping the buffet areas well-stocked and tidy. Most impressive!
I was rather tired and sweaty when arriving at the lounge so I asked at the reception about showers in the lounge and was escorted to a shower room by one of the reception girls. The shower rooms were very high-tech but rather small.
As always that shower did wonders when you’re right in the middle of a long trip.
I had a seat by the window in one of the very comfortable armchairs (that also turned out to be excellent for sleeping) and got some snacks from the self-service buffet.
There are two self-service snack buffets in the lounge with sandwiches, cookies, pastries, fresh fruits, beer and soft drinks.
After dozing off for an hour I decided to stretch my legs and have a look around the airport as I had not been to Beijing airport before. The new terminal 3 is absolutely massive.
Very nicely they have luggage lockers in the lounge which I made use of, you get a small piece of paper that you later insert in a reader to open the locker and retrieve the luggage.
Back in the lounge it was past noon and lunch time, so I ventured into the lounge restaurant.
This was actually the most disappointing part of the lounge, although they did have chicken and beef with rice in the buffet the dishes were completely tasteless, the Chinese can make so much tastier food than that.
They had four types of noodle dishes for order, maybe that would have been a better option?! They also had a decent selection of sushi.
Soft drinks and beer were available in a fridge in the restaurant, all other alcoholic drinks were available at a bar counter around the corner.
On the whole the lounge was pretty nice. Very spacious with really comfortable armchairs, very attentive staff, decent apron view, free WIFI, shower rooms and even a TV-room.
I had a long layover at the airport but it passed in no time.
Pics
The entrance to the first class lounge
The reception desk, notice the two young women standing next to the desk there waiting for any kind of passenger request
Inside the first class lounge
The lounge is vast, lots of space and privacy
One of the self-service snack buffets
Sandwiches, fresh fruits and a cup of coffee
The TV room
The first class lounge restaurant
Inside the restaurant
The bar in the first class lounge
Very elegant and modern restrooms
View from the lounge
Beijing airport
The new terminal 3 is absolutely massive with a very impressive ceiling. I wonder how much it cost to build?!
As an international transfer passenger I obviously only got to see the international satellite, there is an identical satellite for domestic flights.
Plenty of shopping as well, although nothing very exciting and not particularly cheap.
Pics
The international transit hall at Beijing terminal 3
Boarding
I left the lounge around 45 minutes before departure. Gate E58 for the Singapore flight turned out to be a bus gate as our aircraft was parked at a remote stand.
Priority boarding was announced for F/C/*G but was mostly ignored by both passengers and ground staff, on the other hand very nicely there was a “VIP bus” for first class and business class passengers, a smaller bus similar to a hotel shuttle bus where all passengers got at least two seats each instead of being crammed into the regular transfer bus.
The first “VIP bus” left with only 6 passengers onboard and we arrived at the plane way ahead of the crowds which was very nice.
Once in my seat 02L I was quickly approached by a friendly FA who addressed me by name and welcomed me onboard.
She asked if I wanted something to drink and I asked for a glass of water
I was offered slippers and China Daily. Just like on the previous flight the slippers were placed on the floor in front of me which I found very nice.
More airport buses arrived dropping off passengers but finally boarding was completed.
Lots of passengers on the flight, both economy class and business class seemed pretty much fully booked.
However as for myself, I soon realised I was to be the only first class passenger on this flight!
Beijing-Singapore, flight CA 969 operated by Air China
Departure: 15:35
Arrival: 21:25
Aircraft: Boeing 767-300
Class: First Class
Seat: 02L
Very busy afternoon at Beijing airport with air traffic restrictions as a consequence. We were finally airborne at 4.10 pm from runway 36R, quite a bit behind timetable.
The menu
The menu, wine list and tea list were handed out already on the ground.
Just like the previous flight they were not meant to be kept, but as I was the only first class passenger the FA asked me to take my time to look through all of it before she would return to take meal and drink orders.
In the meantime I took photos of the menus to be able to type them here.
Pics
The western dinner menu
Quote:
Menu Beijing-Singapore
Chinese Lunch/Dinner
Appetiser
Bangbang Chicken
Steamed pumpkin with Osmanthus sauce
Salad
Fresh seasonal salad leaf
French dressing
or
Oriental vinaigrette
Main Courses
Prawns and winter melon in clay pot served with steamed pearl rice
Sauteed dory in Yuxiang sauce with dragon fruit, Guizhou chicken served with steamed pearl rice and seasonal vegetables
Vegetarian choice
Selection of stir-fried seasonal vegetables served with steamed pearl rice
Dessert
Strawberry mousse
Selection of cheese with crackers
Seasonal fresh fruits
Assorted bread roll served with butter is served in Chinese lunch/Dinner
Western Lunch/Dinner
Western style appetizer
Smoked salmon and crab meat rolls
Salad
Fresh seasonal salad leaf
French dressing
or
Oriental vinaigrette
Main Courses
Chicken curry
Vegetarian choice
Selection of stir-fried seasonal vegetables served with steamed pearl rice
Dessert
Strawberry mousse
Selection of cheese with crackers
Seasonal fresh fruits
Champagne
Champagne Cattier Brut
White wine
2008 AOC Bordeaux Blanc, Château Jacquet, France
Vins de Pays de l’Hérault “Spirit of Nature”, Domaine de Petit Roubié, France
Greatwall Sungod Chateau Reserved, Riesling Dry White Wine, China
Red wine
2006 AOC Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux, Château Maubert, France
2006 AOC Premieres Côtes de Blaye, Château Puynard, France
Greatwall Dry Red Wine, China
Beer
Budweiser Beer
Yanjing Draft Beer
Import Beer
Spirits
Camus V.S.O.P
Glenfiddich Special Reserve
Grants Gin
Grants Vodka
Soft drinks
Tibet Spring Mineral, Orange juice, Apple juice, Tomato juice, Cola, Sprite, Diet Cola, Soda, Tonic, Ginger
Coffee
Golden Coffee
Decaffeinated Coffee
Cappuccino Coffee
Tea
Pu’er Tea
Green Tea
Black Tea
Blue Brown Tea
Jasmine Tea
Wu Qiying Pu’er Tea
Longjing Tea
Yellow Label tea
Oolong Tea
Chrysanthemum Tea
|
Meal service
The selection of food was pretty good in my opinion, however the drink list could have been far better, for example the champagne and spirits brands.
Once in the air the flight attendant came and ask for me if I had decided what to eat, I decided to go for the Chinese menu with prawns, after all we were on a Chinese airline.
Since I was travelling in first class and had no fellow passengers she said I could eat whenever I wanted.
I asked to eat two hours into the flight which was followed to the minute. In the meantime I asked for a glass of champagne which was frequently topped up.
At 5.30 pm the flight attendant came and asked if I was ready to eat, I said I was.
After a hot towel my table was prepared for the meal service.
Rather than eating one course at a time (as with western meals) lots of small bowls with different dishes were given to me that could be mixed and matched with rice and soup.
The meal was very extensive and tasty, but also very filling, I could actually not finish all of it.
I had a glass of white wine with the meal that, according to the wine list, should work well with seafood.
After the main meal I was given some fresh fruit and a choice between cheese or strawberry mousse. As it was a long flight I asked if I could have both and the FA just smiled and said “of course”.
I finished off the meal with coffee and a whisky.
The whole meal was very good, I was very satisfied.
Pics
Champagne and peanuts
Table setting
The main meal
Fresh fruits, cheese and dessert
The seat and inflight entertainment system
First class on the Boeing 767-300 had two rows with a 2-1-2 configuration.
This was one of the oldest planes I had been on for a long time given that there was no inflight entertainment system except for the overhead screen and some music channels.
I had brought my laptop which kept me occupied for some time, but the lack of proper IFE was of course very disappointing.
The first class seat was also an older style, but in fact lie-flat and very comfortable.
The seat was extremely wide and there was ample legroom. I can’t comment how well you sleep in the seat, a fully horizontal seat it was not, but for a daytime flight I was more than happy with the seat.
Pics
The first class cabin onboard the Boeing 767
The first class seat
Inflight entertainment on the main screen
The first class cabin in preparation for landing
Arrival in Singapore
Our flight path took us right over Hong Kong (I even managed to spot Macau from 36000 feet), then along the coast of Vietnam down to Singapore.
Due to the ATC restrictions in the beginning of the flight we arrived late in Singapore and did not touch down until 10 pm, 35 minute behind timetable.
Air China uses terminal 1 at Singapore Changi. Immigration was a breeze and baggage delivery started quickly with the priority baggage first on the belt.
Quite a bit of traffic in Singapore, but I was still checked in at the hotel an hour after landing, which is not bad at all
Pics
Passing Macau, the very distinctive airport is easy to recognise
Sunset over South China Sea
Verdict
My second flight with Air China and my first flight in Air China first class.
This flight was considerably better than the Stockholm-Beijing flight, not just because I was in first class rather than business, but very much because of the crew.
The crew on this flight, including the FA who mostly served me, spoke considerably better English and seemed much more accustomed to the airline standards of 2010.
I was addressed by name throughout the entire flight and the whole meal service was done with the same finesse as most other first class flights I have taken. Nothing whatsoever to comment about.
The hard product was a letdown though, especially the lack of personal IFE was appalling. The seat was perhaps not a first class suite, but very comfortable and perfectly adequate for a 5½ hour daytime flight.
Food and drinks were both satisfactory although I would have liked to see a better and more extensive drink list.
