Conflipper

I am flying Air China from LA to Beijing and I saw on their website that carry on baggage can be no more than 5Kg. Has anyone flown on them recently and can confirm this? This seems like almost nothing. I have seen 10 Kg on budget airlines in past (EasyJet) but never 5Kg. They do allow 2 free checked bags but I found carry on odd.

Also what does anyone know about using phone or having battery pack on the plane? I have read somewhere that one of the Chinese airlines would not allow you to use phone on plane (China Eastern maybe). And they did not let you take any batteries on the plane with you and I am just not sure how accurate that is.

Deltus

I haven't flown with them from LAX, but flying out of PEK, I've successfully got on the plane with a wheeled carry-on that was about 12kg. Nobody seemed at all interested in the size or weight at any point.

This is a much hotter topic for the Chinese than carry-on weight. Using a phone is fine (although I once got told off for using bluetooth headphones while taxiing), but they do say in all their announcements that you're not allowed to use power banks at any point during the flight. I've done it, and nobody noticed, but depending on the aircraft, you might have a USB charging socket at your seat anyway.

Power banks are also a big thing at airport security in China. You have to separate it from the rest of your baggage, you're only allowed one power bank per person, they can only be 20,000mAh max, and they have to have a model/serial number visible (apparently). Flying LAX-PEK that won't be an issue, but something to be aware of when you're leaving PEK.

razorblade

Carry on weight limit was not enforced when I flew this route. In fact, I've never seen it enforced on domestic flights either and I fly them monthly.

The regulation for mobile phone usage was changed earlier this year. It was previously no phone usage at all, but the authorities have now given a green light to phone usage as long as it's switched to airplane mode.

For Bluetooth headphones it a hit and miss, depends on your crew.

As for power banks, it's a strict no for using them onboard. Also do note the 20000mah capacity limit. You can probably bring them ex LAX, but you won't get past transit security with it if you have a connecting flight at PEK.

seanpodge

Weight limits for carry on luggage are in reality never enforced. Possibly an exception if flying on a mainland LCC like Spring Airlines, but for carriers like Air China, China Eastern, China Southern et al, as long as it can fit in the overhead bins, no one cares.

Batteries are a rather different matter however. Security staff will check that each battery meets the rules. So if your battery doesn't clearly state how many mAh it has, then it will likely end up in the bin. Happened to a friend of mine a couple of years ago at PVG. Battery packs aren't allowed to be used on board, so charge up before boarding.

Phones are now permitted to be used in flight mode on all carriers.

I've never had an issue when using my bluetooth headphones, although FAs will ask passengers to take off all headphones during taxiing, take off and landing.

Or leaving China through any Chinese airport.