Just wanted to share some recent experiences flying Xiamen Airlines, using my Flying Blue Gold / SkyTeam Elite Plus (ST E+) status.

I flew the following segments earlier this year:

- MF812 AMS-XMN and MF833 XMN-BKK, including the complimentary transit hotel

This was a one-way fare which cost me EUR 297 booked through an OTA, unfortunately the ticket was issued in the notorious booking class S (i.e. no miles or XP with Flying Blue). In all cases (including the other trip mentioned below), seat selection was possible via their website.

• MF812 AMS-XMN 21:30-14:35 (Boeing 787-8)

Online check-in for the first leg is possible using the KLM website, however, it was only available a few hours after the official opening time of the OLCI so I had to try several times. For check-in, you go to the KLM counters at AMS – I went to the ST E+ counters where I was welcomed by a rookie check-in agent who gave the impression of working at an airport check-in counter for the very first time. With a 24h layover, the luggage was checked to XMN only. It is only at the boarding gate where Xiamen Airlines ground staff will check entry requirements/visa for your destination.


On board, there was no recognition whatsoever of my ST E+ status. I had an aisle seat in the very back of the plane, the seat pitch and recline is good (1.84m here) and the catering was above average as well. The meal selection turned out to be the same a few weeks later when I flew AMS-XMN once again. The cabin crew was excellent, service-oriented and attentive.

Dinner meal service


Lunch meal service

• Transit between AMS-XMN and XMN-BKK flights

Xiamen Gaoqi Airport is not too big so from arrival gate to passport control it should not take longer than a 5 minutes’ walk. Staff and border guards are also helpful if you do not speak Chinese, most passengers on this flight simply connected airside. There were no queues for the free transfer hotel service. Note that even as a ST E+ passenger, you do not get a free double room for single occupation anymore unless you travel in business class – it costs around EUR 20 extra to not be put into the same room with another traveller. As I was travelling with a friend, we were able to share a room.

You will be given a hotel voucher which you have to present at the hotel reception for check-in, the shuttle to the hotel is free. Traveling back to the airport has to be organised by yourself. In any case, if you are all set up with the Chinese domestic apps incl. Didi for ride hailing, I would recommend to save time and simply order a ride to the indicated hotel instead of waiting for the shuttle departure. This will also speed up your check in, by the time I dropped off my luggage in the room and freshened up the shuttle bus arrived which created a queue of 10-15 people waiting to be checked in. This time, I stayed at the Xiamen Airlines hotel which seems to be located within the staff dormitory/condo complex. In terms of interior, the place felt a bit more basic but the room was comfortable and clean, also for Chinese standards the breakfast selection was generous. I could not find this hotel online so it really seems to be exclusively used for Xiamen Airlines transit passengers (which was not the case with the other hotel, see below).







I found this website quite useful to organise my layover: Xiamen Guide: Attractions, Visa Tips & Local Foods. All in all, Xiamen is not too crowded and easy to navigate compared to other cities in China. For first timers in China, a transit experience here is definitely a good starting point.

I went to the Sky Priority counter to check in and drop off my luggage, there are quite a few of these counters (big red carpet!) and they do not get too busy. Funny that I had to add my FF number to the booking once again as the first time the boarding pass was printed, it did not have my KL number on it. In any case, fun fact which I later learned: even as a ST E+ they would use the blue boarding pass paper to print yours. Only if you are an Egret Miles ST E+ they would use the golden ones.

There are dedicated priority lanes for security checks, also there are separate boarding lanes for status/biz passengers which are clearly marked and enforced.

The Xiamen Airlines lounge in the international terminal has a very good selection of food, including fresh beef/seafood noodles. Also there are showers available should you need them.

MF833 XMN-BKK 14:15-16:40 (Airbus A321neo)

The flight itself was rather uneventful, I was a bit disappointed about the in-flight catering but my impression is that Xiamen Airlines serves hot meals for breakfast/lunch/dinner only during hours where one would be expected to eat such meals. The afternoon in-flight catering therefore consisted of a snack box instead. This impression was confirmed on subsequent MF flights. In terms of recognition of status, when boarding I discovered a local newspaper and a bottle of water in the seat pocket in front of me. The seat pitch was good, the plane was clean and the seat was comfortable – nothing to complain about.




A month later, I flew the following segments with another layover in transit staying at a different Xiamen Airlines hotel:

- MF812 AMS-XMN

- MF803 XMN-MEL

- MF804 MEL-XMN

- MF8433 XMN-CKG

- MF8424 CKG-XMN

- MF811 XMN-AMS

If there is interest, happy to report back on those as well.