AF or MU to PVG?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
AF or MU to PVG?
Hi guys,
I will be flying to PVG in August, and I am hesitating between MU (that I have never flown) and AF. I fly in Y.
MU would be on a 77W, AF on a 77E (the A388 flight arrives too late in PVG).
Does MU allow seat selection? How is their IFE? When do they release their ticket fares for this summer (for the time being, it seems that they are only selling flexible Y tickets). Why don't they allow multi-city booking?
Thanks!
I will be flying to PVG in August, and I am hesitating between MU (that I have never flown) and AF. I fly in Y.
MU would be on a 77W, AF on a 77E (the A388 flight arrives too late in PVG).
Does MU allow seat selection? How is their IFE? When do they release their ticket fares for this summer (for the time being, it seems that they are only selling flexible Y tickets). Why don't they allow multi-city booking?
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: FR
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 291
Seat selection might be possible but painful considering the UX on their website, which can look totally different depending on which version you browse (fr, us, hk...). Though you may be more successful if you try to contact them by phone.
From what I have experienced on a recent trip though, seatmap remains still fairly open during OLCI and it's not that hard to catch a decent seat.
Regarding their IFE, they are pretty new with a correct selection of films (but maybe more "east-oriented" than on AF as you could imagine). AF IFE can't be beaten on the music selection.
Overall I would not hesitate to take MU again if the prices are in the same range as AF. I've read a lot of reviews before taking my flights regarding weird things (e.g. crew smoking in the plane...) but nothing of that happened.
Finally, you might also considere miles accrual for your choice. I've just returned from a trip on MU earning 50% on FB although the tickets were very cheap.
From what I have experienced on a recent trip though, seatmap remains still fairly open during OLCI and it's not that hard to catch a decent seat.
Regarding their IFE, they are pretty new with a correct selection of films (but maybe more "east-oriented" than on AF as you could imagine). AF IFE can't be beaten on the music selection.
Overall I would not hesitate to take MU again if the prices are in the same range as AF. I've read a lot of reviews before taking my flights regarding weird things (e.g. crew smoking in the plane...) but nothing of that happened.
Finally, you might also considere miles accrual for your choice. I've just returned from a trip on MU earning 50% on FB although the tickets were very cheap.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Platinum, All Accor Platinum
Posts: 525
i am surprised by this statement as for very cheap flights with MU to PVG ( i see many at 460 ) you are booked on some fare classes that earn nothing on FB (Z fare class). once you get above such 700 they tend to book one leg on a low fare class (like Z) and the the other leg on a 50% earning fare class (for e.g. S R, N...). Once you get above 800 then both legs are earning miles.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,495
Chinese airlines have really upped their games in longhaul business class in the past couple of years. They invested heavily (and rapidly) in good flat beds as well as food and service. They want to attract the wealthy Chinese population and those guys are quite demanding. The ground, website and irrops experience can be poor. Changes are so fast in China that I am confident that they will keep upping their game.
In Y you still get mass treatment. I would avoid them unless very cheap or no reliable alternatives. If all goes well it can be as good as AF (assuming that Y can ever be called "good"), but there is inconsistency.
In Y you still get mass treatment. I would avoid them unless very cheap or no reliable alternatives. If all goes well it can be as good as AF (assuming that Y can ever be called "good"), but there is inconsistency.
#8
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J : even if BEST on AF ?
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
#9
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Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
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J : even if BEST on AF ?
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
Their J seats are full Cirrus seats, rather than the light AF version. I think a small notch better than BEST.
You can find a review:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...ess-class-777/
Theur Y seats are ten abreast. As bad as AF.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
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Their new 777 have excellent seats.
Their J seats are full Cirrus seats, rather than the light AF version. I think a small notch better than BEST.
You can find a review:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...ess-class-777/
Theur Y seats are ten abreast. As bad as AF.
Their J seats are full Cirrus seats, rather than the light AF version. I think a small notch better than BEST.
You can find a review:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...ess-class-777/
Theur Y seats are ten abreast. As bad as AF.
But the P seat ?? looks horribly cramped or "closed". Unless you fly with someone else and can have the middle section you are in a coffin. I would certainly not choose this over AF P, even if the A380.
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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I guess that it is a matter of tastes.
I did not use the F seat but saw them when disembarking.
They take the same space as on AF but they are an enclosed suite a la EK. Personally, I like privacy in my little cocoon. I dislike profoundly the open concept of the A380 where everyone can look at everyone and the conversations carry.
And they have two rows (total 6 seats), so does not get the claustrophobic feeling of the one-row AF cabin. And they have a big space with bar and canapees in front of the double bed.
The pictures of their F double bed are quite impressive.
https://www.milevalue.com/china-east...-korean-delta/
PS: Food in business class on Chinese airline has really improved a lot, especially Chinese food. wines are still poor on average.. But many of the old cliches on Chinese airlines longhaul are becoming outdated, even if repeated a nausea.
I did not use the F seat but saw them when disembarking.
They take the same space as on AF but they are an enclosed suite a la EK. Personally, I like privacy in my little cocoon. I dislike profoundly the open concept of the A380 where everyone can look at everyone and the conversations carry.
And they have two rows (total 6 seats), so does not get the claustrophobic feeling of the one-row AF cabin. And they have a big space with bar and canapees in front of the double bed.
The pictures of their F double bed are quite impressive.
https://www.milevalue.com/china-east...-korean-delta/
PS: Food in business class on Chinese airline has really improved a lot, especially Chinese food. wines are still poor on average.. But many of the old cliches on Chinese airlines longhaul are becoming outdated, even if repeated a nausea.
Last edited by brunos; Nov 18, 2017 at 4:18 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 769
J : even if BEST on AF ?
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
P : you seems to say that MU P is better than AF P ? That would be the 1st time I hear this. I'm not saying you're wrong because I have never flown MU in P (nor in J) but knowing how good AF P has become in the air and on the ground, I have never seen/read MU being in the same league. Just curious. Price-wise, MU might be much cheaper of course, but my question is related to quality of the soft and hard product.
J looks similar to BEST (not sure where the real difference is between "full" and "lightweight"), the seats look shinier on MU.
One thing to pay attention to is that with Chinese airlines, when you get upgraded you may only get the seat and not the service (seen this on some Chinese Southern Y -> J).
Last edited by Sjondorn; Nov 18, 2017 at 4:45 am
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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As I sleep on the side with my knees up (back pain). I like CX or AF because there is a "hole" on one side (where the side table is) where I can put my knees. MU does not have it.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Having now flown in BEST cabin on a 77W on AF as well (finally, after all those NEV4 flights ...), I'm going to say that BEST J seat on AF is better than the seat on MU 77W (albeit it looks shinier).