My wife and myself both had an overnight layover in PEK, on an domestic to international itinerary. We flew separately, but we both recieved a hotel room as advertised.

Hainan’s domestic operations at PEK are in Terminal 1, after exiting baggage claims there is a desk with a sign that says something like “Free Hotel for Hainan Transit Passengers”. My wife landed around 17:00 and had a very easy time, they quickly found her a room and put her in a shuttle. My flight landed at PEK at 3AM and the process was not quite so smooth. It seems that rather than organizing hotels in advanced, this being China, the worker at the desk simply calls Hainan’s various partner hotels until he can work out an agreement. An elderly couple in line before me took quite some time to be sorted, it wasn’t really the best at 3 in the morning. Also, after my hotel room was sorted, it was another 20-30 minute wait for the shuttle, which I believe is operated by Hainan rather than the hotel (I don’t know for sure).

I flew economy class, and the hotel room was nothing special. But, I have no complaints, my one way ticket cost about 600 USD, from Kunming to Chicago, and getting a free hotel to crash at during an overnight layover is a service that most airlines do not offer.

Honestly, if you have the time, it isn’t a bad way to fly. It was nice being able to lay down for some sleep, grab a shower, and a change of clothes, before the long flight to Chicago. I am flying the opposite ittinary in a few days, and I am sure I will greatly enjoy being able to sleep and shower immediatly after a 12-13 hour flight, rather than immediatly connect to another 3 hour flight.

All in all, I high recommend Hainan Airlines, the in flight service is excellent, the seats are comfortable, their biggest failure if IFE, but in today’s world fo iPads it isn’t so important.