Ay Hel-pvg
 

Planning my next RTW and am tempted to try AY HEL-PVG with a stopover followed by the new QF flight PVG-SYD.

Two questions:

1. Do AY codeshare with any other OW carrier on this route? [a BA/AA/QF designator would bag me bonus mileage]

2. I've read that AY is re-fitting its J cabin - when is this likely to be completed for this route?

No codeshare on the HEL-PVG route.
I am unsure about the completion date of the J class cabin refit.

AY codeshares the HEL-PVG-HEL only with Air China (same also for HEL-PEK-HEL).

The re-fitting is due to start next year. There's 6 MD-11 which seems to rotate on all routes so it will be very difficult to estimate if you'll get a refitted aircraft.

Any news when CX will start HKG-PVG-HKG flights? It would offer more combinations for RTW including PVG.

Most unfortunately, not until 2006.
China Eastern is allegedly working eagerly on oneworld ties. Nobody seems to object, but computer systems are out of sync. No date given.

As for AY, I was curious and tried their MD-11 HKG-BKK. Verdict: you get what you pay for. Old, soft seats, a bit wobbly, decent cabin design, but NO comparison to CX. I would never chose them long-haul over CX in the current configuration.