Experience With Hainan Airlines (HU)
May 25, 2018, 6:10 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
May 26, 2018, 6:13 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
Had to use my broken Mandarin though. They kept wanting to transfer me to Hainans mileage club center and I had to make it clear that I used Alaska Mileage for the ticket.
Bonus: was told I’d get a free hotel overnight since it’s a forced overnight connection to domestic leg to Shanghai!
I didn’t bother calling their US line since it’s currently closed.
May 26, 2018, 8:34 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Ok answering my own question- called Hainan’s China Contact #. Jumped through a couple hoops, talked to a live agent and finally got my eticket number using Partner Confirmation PNR and was able to do seat selection. Yeah!
Had to use my broken Mandarin though. They kept wanting to transfer me to Hainans mileage club center and I had to make it clear that I used Alaska Mileage for the ticket.
Bonus: was told I’d get a free hotel overnight since it’s a forced overnight connection to domestic leg to Shanghai!
I didn’t bother calling their US line since it’s currently closed.
Most Chinese carriers include hotel on forced stopover Though please note if in economy sharing room is required unless you want to pay up.
Hainan returns emails for seat assignment requests within 24-48 hours so no need to call
May 26, 2018, 9:58 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
I wonder if something changed when they started allowing purchase of exit row and up front seats for sale. Hainan hadn't allowed tickets booked through third party to be accessed since longer than the AS partnership has existed.
Most Chinese carriers include hotel on forced stopover Though please note if in economy sharing room is required unless you want to pay up.
Hainan returns emails for seat assignment requests within 24-48 hours so no need to call
Most Chinese carriers include hotel on forced stopover Though please note if in economy sharing room is required unless you want to pay up.
Hainan returns emails for seat assignment requests within 24-48 hours so no need to call
I booked in J. So was told that hotel will be 1 person per room for J pax. Else I’d just book the Hilton by the airport as I’m Hilton Gold.
Was told I couldn’t select seat on Hainans domestic leg though. Anyone got experience with that? Should I email their US or Canada contact centre?
May 27, 2018, 6:03 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Not sure the overnight hotel would be free since it’s on award instead of cash.
I booked in J. So was told that hotel will be 1 person per room for J pax. Else I’d just book the Hilton by the airport as I’m Hilton Gold.
Was told I couldn’t select seat on Hainans domestic leg though. Anyone got experience with that? Should I email their US or Canada contact centre?
May 28, 2018, 1:23 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
At least I can rest in the Hilton @Beijing Airport. Wonder if I can use my gold benefits as it’s an obvious group stay (all J pax booked at the Hilton or Langham).
Can’t wait for my China trip! I also am contemplating book a domestic roundtrip for 30K plus $26 to somewhere remote (e.g. Ürümqi) in China for fun. Lol.
May 28, 2018, 9:46 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 714
Domestic flights within China are usually not very expensive, provided that you use a local travel agent and pay in RMB. Be sure you price out a domestic flight before you spend miles on one. I wrote an article about this in 2014 but the fundamentals are all still the same: <a href="https://www.seat31b.com/2014/04/going-local-booking-cheaper-flights-in-china/">https://www.seat31b.com/2014/04/going-local-booking-cheaper-flights-in-china/</a><br /><br />
<br /><br />
<div style="text-align:left;"><br /><br />I contacted both Toronto and China customer service and was informed I cannot select the domestic leg until check-in time in Beijing (!).<br /><br />At least I can rest in the Hilton @Beijing Airport. Wonder if I can use my gold benefits as it’s an obvious group stay (all J pax booked at the Hilton or Langham).<br /><br />Can’t wait for my China trip! I also am contemplating book a domestic roundtrip for 30K plus $26 to somewhere remote (e.g. Ürümqi) in China for fun. Lol.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>
May 29, 2018, 2:07 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Jul 5, 2018, 7:49 am
#55
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Can someone tell more about the HU free hotel overnight program? There are many cities that are isolated, and require a night over in SHA or PEK. What hotels do they offer you for free stay if you’re traveling in J? Does it apply to award tickets too? I’ve always been interested in this as I’ve traditionally stayed away from the cities that had long layovers. But with a nice free hotel, I may reconsider.
Jul 5, 2018, 8:58 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Transfer services are available on award tickets. I believe as J you get your own room while economy may be paired with a stranger if traveling solo. I don't know about what hotel. Details on cities are here.
https://www.hainanairlines.com/HUPor...E=GB&PAGE=TSER
Transfer to domestic flight
Transfer to international
https://www.hainanairlines.com/HUPor...E=GB&PAGE=TSER
Transfer to domestic flight
- For transfers at Beijing, Xi'an, and Urumqiairports, we provide free transfer accommodation services for passengers flying on Hainan Airlines' domestic connecting flights and transferring on the next day. Free transfer accommodation services are not available for transfers at other airports at the moment.
Transfer to international
- In Beijing transit airport, we offer free transit accommodation and free shuttle service for passengers who take HNA international connecting flights and transfer on the next day. Meals and other expenses shall be paid by the passengers. Passengers who transfer on the same day can go to the transit lounge at the second floor of T1 Terminal. Those whose transit time is more than 6 hours can use the flat-bed seats to have a good rest.
- In the transit airport of Xi’an, Haikou, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Dalian, Hangzhou, Pudong district of Shanghai, Chongqing ,Changsha and Shenzhen, we offer free accommodation and free shuttle service for passengers taking HNA international connecting flight with the transit time being more than 6 hours (inclusive) at the day and on the next day. Meals and other expenses shall be paid by the passengers. Passengers and group passengers with an international transfer concerning two nights above are not entitled to complimentary hotel accommodation. Please arrange the accommodation on your own.
Jul 5, 2018, 12:42 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
We flew on Hainan last year on award tickets (in business class). Our return trip was HKT (Phuket)-PEK-SEA-DEN. We arrived in PEK about 6:30 a.m. and departed for SEA about 3:30 p.m. We were met at the aircraft and escorted to the hotel shuttle. It was the Crowne Plaza PEK. Very nice to be able rest for a few hours and even do a bit of shopping at Carrefor, which is right next to the hotel.
Jul 5, 2018, 4:17 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
We flew on Hainan last year on award tickets (in business class). Our return trip was HKT (Phuket)-PEK-SEA-DEN. We arrived in PEK about 6:30 a.m. and departed for SEA about 3:30 p.m. We were met at the aircraft and escorted to the hotel shuttle. It was the Crowne Plaza PEK. Very nice to be able rest for a few hours and even do a bit of shopping at Carrefor, which is right next to the hotel.
Sep 30, 2018, 12:44 am
#59
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 65
We flew on Hainan last year on award tickets (in business class). Our return trip was HKT (Phuket)-PEK-SEA-DEN. We arrived in PEK about 6:30 a.m. and departed for SEA about 3:30 p.m. We were met at the aircraft and escorted to the hotel shuttle. It was the Crowne Plaza PEK. Very nice to be able rest for a few hours and even do a bit of shopping at Carrefor, which is right next to the hotel.
My plane pulled into a remote stand at around 18:00, and I cleared immigration and customs by around 19:00. Walked up to the Hainan Transit counter in T2, and the agents there had my name on a handwritten sheet of people presumably eligibile for the free hotel. There were a total of 8 people. The hotel group did not depart (walking to the shuttle in the parking lot) until around 19:30, and we arrived at 20:09. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, with hardly anything nearby, and I imagine it would be difficult/expensive to get into the city from there. Initially we were only given one key between my roommate and I, but I was able to ask for another. The room itself was ok, but smelled funny (a little sewagey), had no A/C, and the carpets were stained. The bed linens were clean, though. The shuttle back to T3/T2/T1 was a small overcrowded minibus and people were climbing over each other inside; the ride took about 20 minutes to T3 and 30 minutes to T2.
In the future I'll get a hotel in the city on my own dime.
The transit hotel I got:
Beijing Jinhangxian International Business Hotel Parking Lot
8 4th Latitude E Rd, Shunyi Qu, Beijing Shi, China
https://maps.google.com/?cid=45731302449450265
I was able to also "use" the transit lounge which is landside near the check-in counters in T1. They had satchels of coffee and tea some peanuts, but that was it for drinks/eats. There were two massage chairs, but you have to pay for them with an app. I was hoping to leave my carry-on bag there while I went into the city, but despite there being a baggage room, when I asked about it the attendant flatly said, "no, all must keep your bag". I ended up paying 40 yuan to the left luggage desk in T1.
Last edited by dustbuster; Sep 30, 2018 at 1:02 am
Sep 30, 2018, 4:23 am
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,988
It's too bad didn't score the Hilton or the Langham, but HU is hardly the only airline in the world to put transit passengers in hotels that are near the airport.
