Experience With Hainan Airlines (HU)
Dec 19, 2018, 10:13 am
#121
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
Dec 19, 2018, 6:44 pm
#122
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Posts: 70
Yeah exactly. If I go to Hainan's USA website and try to manage my booking by inputting either the AS ticket number or the Amadeus PNR that AS provided, I get the message " We are unable to find this confirmation number. Please validate your entry and try again or contact us for further information. (8104)". I was just wondering if that's a common thing and I need to call or chat with them to select a seat.
Dec 19, 2018, 6:53 pm
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Yeah exactly. If I go to Hainan's USA website and try to manage my booking by inputting either the AS ticket number or the Amadeus PNR that AS provided, I get the message " We are unable to find this confirmation number. Please validate your entry and try again or contact us for further information. (8104)". I was just wondering if that's a common thing and I need to call or chat with them to select a seat.
Please be advise that your reservation is confirmed . You're unable to assign the seats or manage your booking at our official website as this ticket is issued under Alaska Airlines .
We have already assigned the seats at the window for all flights . Kindly see number 8-12 for seat number.
We have already assigned the seats at the window for all flights . Kindly see number 8-12 for seat number.
Dec 22, 2018, 3:32 am
#125
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
2. They occasionally change your selected seat and give to other people who pay extra, without letting you know
I picked seats on their website after booking with them. On the returning flight after checkin, I notice my seat has been changed from aisle D to window seat A without letting me know. I talked to their airport staff, they told me they changed the plane, and the new plane has no D seat anymore. They put me in another aisle seat 59G after I requested, which is at the last row right besides the toilet.
After I board, I found the flight is exactly same as the one I booked, and there are D seats. I asked their flight attendant, and she told me that their airport staff will occasionally put people in the front row to the back if someone else would pay extra for that front seat you already select..
I picked seats on their website after booking with them. On the returning flight after checkin, I notice my seat has been changed from aisle D to window seat A without letting me know. I talked to their airport staff, they told me they changed the plane, and the new plane has no D seat anymore. They put me in another aisle seat 59G after I requested, which is at the last row right besides the toilet.
After I board, I found the flight is exactly same as the one I booked, and there are D seats. I asked their flight attendant, and she told me that their airport staff will occasionally put people in the front row to the back if someone else would pay extra for that front seat you already select..
Dec 28, 2018, 7:10 am
#126
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Interestingly enough I just bought a J ticket DIRECTLY through HU and I can take any of the rows except the bulkhead. First time for me, but I guess my past purchases were with travel agents.
There is one thing I’ve noticed that I don’t have the answer to and I can’t find it. It’s the hours of the made to order food kitchen for the Beijing lounge. I was there for my flight back to Calgary last year, and they were just closing the kitchen around 2 PM. Does anybody have the hours of when they open for lunch and dinner? Don’t understand why they don’t just keep it continually open. Because I know they open for lunch around 12, close around 2, and I think reopen at 5 for dinner. This is incredibly stupid considering they have a ton of international departures between about two and five to the west coast of North America.
There is one thing I’ve noticed that I don’t have the answer to and I can’t find it. It’s the hours of the made to order food kitchen for the Beijing lounge. I was there for my flight back to Calgary last year, and they were just closing the kitchen around 2 PM. Does anybody have the hours of when they open for lunch and dinner? Don’t understand why they don’t just keep it continually open. Because I know they open for lunch around 12, close around 2, and I think reopen at 5 for dinner. This is incredibly stupid considering they have a ton of international departures between about two and five to the west coast of North America.
Dec 28, 2018, 7:39 pm
#127
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
I know that AS usually sees CX-1 for premium cabin awards, but I read elsewhere today that there might be a similar issue with Hainan J awards.
Is this real, and if so is there a rule of thumb for what AS can really see versus what the AS website shows?
Is this real, and if so is there a rule of thumb for what AS can really see versus what the AS website shows?
Dec 28, 2018, 7:47 pm
#128
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Dec 28, 2018, 8:05 pm
#129
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
Still your reply gives me hope that CX might still work for me, since there are dates I see with 4x that work for me
Jan 1, 2019, 5:51 am
#130
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Interesting, I have read a ton of posts that say Premium CX awards are -1 (sometimes -2) on AS. I need 4x awards so this makes it a big deal as I cannot be waiting/hoping for last minute availabity. I too hate to pay out big YQ, but will if I have to to keep us together.
Still your reply gives me hope that CX might still work for me, since there are dates I see with 4x that work for me
Still your reply gives me hope that CX might still work for me, since there are dates I see with 4x that work for me
Jan 8, 2019, 4:17 am
#131
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
I’m trying to help prepare people that this is not the case. The name “Sheraton” “Hilton” “Holiday Inn” are not mandarin words, and drivers who don’t speak English won’t understand these words or what you’re trying to get across. That’s why on my last trip to Beijing I had my hotel send me a print out of directions in Mandarin to show the taxi driver.
Im just trying to warn people who think it’ll be easy to go to a taxi and say “downtown Hilton hotel please” as this won’t work.
Jan 8, 2019, 4:24 am
#132
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 733
I think you’re sort of missing the point. Some people go to China and expect there won’t be a language barrier if they just say “oh Sheraton downtown” to the taxi driver and he’ll understand in Shanghai/Beijing etc....
I’m trying to help prepare people that this is not the case. The name “Sheraton” “Hilton” “Holiday Inn” are not mandarin words, and drivers who don’t speak English won’t understand these words or what you’re trying to get across. That’s why on my last trip to Beijing I had my hotel send me a print out of directions in Mandarin to show the taxi driver.
Im just trying to warn people who think it’ll be easy to go to a taxi and say “downtown Hilton hotel please” as this won’t work.
Even last week in Taipei, when switching hotels, the driver misunderstood "Mayfull" for "Marriott" when the hotel staff told him my destination in Chinese. The hotel staff were also from a Marriott property and weren't the ones confused.
Jan 8, 2019, 1:03 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,904
The best part is that "Hilton" in chinese sounds exactly like what you'd expect "Sheraton" to be in Chinese
Jan 9, 2019, 2:08 am
#134
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
I have no background in mandarin (though I wish I could learn it) but I don’t understand how names of made up brands can be different in other languages? Anyway, I learned this the hard way when I first took a MR to mainland China. I ignorantly assumed all I needed to do was tell the driver the name of the hotel and he’d understand but this was not the case.
All i’m trying to do is warn people about this, and I’m sorry if it offends anyone. Not my intention.
All i’m trying to do is warn people about this, and I’m sorry if it offends anyone. Not my intention.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:20 am
#135
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
I have no background in mandarin (though I wish I could learn it) but I don’t understand how names of made up brands can be different in other languages? Anyway, I learned this the hard way when I first took a MR to mainland China. I ignorantly assumed all I needed to do was tell the driver the name of the hotel and he’d understand but this was not the case.
All i’m trying to do is warn people about this, and I’m sorry if it offends anyone. Not my intention.
All i’m trying to do is warn people about this, and I’m sorry if it offends anyone. Not my intention.
Even if the names did sound different, there are often local places where someone creates a similar sounding name for their property that has nothing to do with the real brand eg, Hildon, Sheratann etc