China Eastern Reviews 313

Airbus 320-300 nice aircraft, legroom OK, in flight entertainment a bit dated, food OK, bring a bottle of water with you, drinks are small, friendly and helpful staff, easy check in

Value for money, yes

Would use again

Hi everyone Just a word about the china eastern shop in George st W1 London well from the picture it looks like a shop .So off I go on a 180 mile round journey to buy my Australian flight I get there only to be told Oh no we don't sell tickets here we only do back room stuff. But I must say the 2 ladies that helped me with this were very apologetic & even offered me a cup of coffee so its NOT a shop

Thank you, China Eastern, you did a great job!

I'm very pleased with China Eastern, as they made my trip possible. They transported me halfway around the World, and back, for less money than it would cost to drive halfway across the EU, one way.

I wanted to get to Taiwan, from London. The only direct flight was prohibitively expensive on the days I wanted to travel, but China Eastern offered a great price via Shanghai.

I tried it and I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the negative reviews I read about the airline have a point, but overall, especially for the money, I can't complain.

Negative:
- website: couldn't book without all kinds of technical error messages. But I could through booking.com. So not really an issue
- food: I guess this depends on taste, but Chinese food is not my favourite

Positive:
- as a Chinese carrier, they're still allowed to fly over Russia: way less time, way less CO2 emission
- legroom: seat pitch ~33 inches
- entertainment: available on short-haul leg too, Chinese movie for a change, I enjoyed the Sunshine of My Life (2022) 一路瞳行

Not easy to deal with! Tried phoning the London number, rang 9 times, selecting option 4, and after 10 rings it disconnects. Tried a 'Z' and 'Messenger' but no immediate replies.

Their web site is totally unfriendly! They ask for Last name / Middle name / First name. However, on anything to do with the booking, where you enter your First name, it actually expects to see the First name and Middle name joined together without a gap!!! EG Frederick John Smith would be entered as First name: FrederickJohn Last name: Smith Crazy! 😒

In another place ther ask for ticket number and show an example as xxx-xxxxxxxxxx. However, it won't accept it if you put the '-' in! 🤷‍♂️

Try and join their Airmiles? Give up! It asks for your phone number but however you put it in, it won't accept it, to send you a verification code! I think it will only accept Chinese numbers! ???

China Eastern cancelled our flight from AMS to PVG. We got message from Whatsapp of all places and told us they could only offer us an alternative with an overnight layover, which they would not pay for lodging.
We called them to ask for other alternatives, they kept saying it's our fault and we just accept the overnight alternative. We said that's not possible because we're traveling with young children. The staff was super rude to us and saying it's not their problem. Take it or leave it. We were lucky that they were offering the alternative instead of taking the refund

They change flights without informing you, login on their website with your ticket is no use. Information is invalid. My first flight was 2 hours early ( no notification) but I made it. My connecting flight didnt exist. At Shangai Aiport they scream at you instead of helping: be -very- persistent and keep calm, in the end they re-rout me. One extra flight, 6 hour delay. Twice trough migration to get the bag myself Seats are too small for a long flight. Personal try their best, but seem stressed. This company is no good. Avoid

Business Class LHR - PVG - SYD | MEL - PVG - LHR

Can't manage booking on the website. After entering details many times, all you get is an endlessly circling animated aircraft.

Can't register for Eastern Miles membership - hoping to manage booking there. After many attempts, the most recent error is invalid.channel.

Heathrow phone number doesn't exist.

Eventually get an email reply that says I have to ring a Shanghai number. The email signature includes the Heathrow phone number that doesn't exist

Laughably incompetent, frustrating, and awful experience so far.

My wife took the Sydney Nanjing flight and became ill during the flight and after. The staff on the flight and especially the Nanjing airport staff were extremely helpful, courteous, kind and their standard was of the highest caliber. This standard shine well on China Eastern and their staff. What they did was higher than other western mainstream airline would have done and we will show our appreciation by China Eastern being our first airline choice. Well done and thank you

Because of ill health I had the occasion to fly with China Eastern recently. I was travelling overseas to a world renowned hospital to have some medical investigations carried out. But because of my current health, and age I was obviously going to experience some difficulty during the journey, as nobody was available to assist me during the flights.

China Eastern were asked if they could give me any assistance, if needed. Their response was exceptional! They went way over and beyond what might be expected in those circumstances ( and at short notice ), and ensured that from start to finish, a journey of over 10 hours, I was completely looked after and cared for. The aircrew on both flights were really lovely, and although I did not need any extra help during the flights, they repeatedly came back to me to ask me if I was alright, or needed anything. They provided me with wheelchair support from the check-in desk to the aircraft door...and from the aircraft door to the terminal on first arrival, and the same on the second leg of the flight which was with their sister carrier Air China.

There is no other way to describe their 'total' care for passengers, than to say it was superb! It was literally seamless from start to end. I've travelled with them so often and will continue to do so whenever I have the opportunity. With very sincere thanks to China Eastern ( and their sister carrier Air China ).

I have just come off a China Eastern service from LHR (via Shanghai) to Melbourne and have nothing but good things to say about it. Both flights ran on time, polite service from staff and, although no alcohol served with meals, I feel I was fed and watered adequately enough. I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again. Shanghai is an excellent airport to stretch out and is not at all overcrowded.

Cannot contact any of the London numbers.
DO NOT use this airline if flying from the UK.

The airline itself has been really good! Im a vegetarian and they catered for my prebooked meals with a huge variety on my tray. Staff were friendly to their best of the ability. Seats are comfortable on A330 & A320 (Seoul-Nanjing-Sydney). Though i must say, avoid Nanjing airport at all cost! Nothing works at this airport, staff are rude, slow transfer process. The China Eastern Airlines ground staff was very helpful and every step of the way.

Recently used August 2023.
Website:
Was unable to check in online. Website useless. All UK customer service numbers unobtainable/incorrect apart from a direct number to Shanghai.
Had two flights out and same back.
Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi on all flights useless. Need an app called AliPay to access it but not told this on website.
Does not work anyway after getting app for return flights and was unable to pay for Wi-Fi on all flights.
Firefox browser on last flight stated Wi-Fi VERY insecure and strongly warned not to use as was set up incorrectly and to possibly accsss data from my phone.
Meals & drink:
Lukewarm coffee.
On flight out told all alcohol just in business class only! However one of crew got me one beer but said that was it!
On way back tried again and Asked for a beer and was poured from a can into tiny cup giving me about 2 inches! Asked for wine told none available. On a scheduled flight I paid good money for?????
Food was disgusting even for airline fare. Breakfast inedible, sausages white, chewy and scrambled egg stunk and tasted plastic.
Meal service slow and unorganised, staff brought hot bread buns around AFTER you finished your meal on all flights fgs.
Cabin crew:
Staff hardly spoke English however when did seemed to pretend they didn't understand when you asked for something. Appear to understand more than they let on, priority appeared to be given to Chinese passengers.
Not helpful at all, all crew were abrupt and disinterested.
Plane generally clean. On board entertainment sufficient but no new movies at all. Very random.
Unable to choose emergency aisle seats online or at check in however three seats were empty at the main emergency exit so moved there to be told I have to pay extra for those seats. Not told this anywhere else and was supposed to buy them at check in, check in staff said I couldn't book the emergency exit seats at check in and then on the plane crew said I couldn't sit there even tho seats were empty as it would've upset the passengers who had paid extra! No one really cared one way or the other, ridiculous, never heard of that before in my life.
Flights never left on time on average 30 to 45 minutes late on all flights.
Legroom sufficient in economy class.
No above individual air ventilation in aircraft cabin, very stuffy and too hot.
Officially the worst airline I have flown on and I've flown a quite a few. Makes even Ryan Air look good.

Travelled with china Eastern from london Heathrow to Melbourne Australia 25 hour stay over at Shanghai and 8 hours stay over on the way back. Myself and my 15 year old daughter had booked two seats tgere was no halal food or vegetarian options we went on the airline there and back and came back hungry. This airline does not cater to dietary requirements so if you have any do not use them

From a customer service perspective, this airline is up there with the worst! I would not recommend at all if you are looking for a stress free journey. Our flight was delayed at Heathrow without any explanation from the airline as to what was happening. As a result, we missed our interconnecting flight (also with Chinese Eastern Airway). Being in Shanghai, you'd expect the service to be better (given as it is one of their main hubs) but we were treated like cattle being moved around and shouted at with no clear instruction. The airline is a complete mess when it comes to organisation and customer assistance.

Was great from checking in too seat layout and space , only had beer 1 per person , but apart from that was great price and experience, and I've flown with most airlines , staff were happy helpful , quick on off plane and check in really was one best and price well happy 😊

The worst Airline i ever flew. Even their staff don't know about Airline's policies. Because of staff i lost too much money and they still not guilty. Bloody Chinese Sh**t.

sh... service sh... app sh... rebook process everything is sh...sh...english knowledge of staff
my dogs poo smells better than their serivce

It was a few years ago that I booked my tickets to Portugal with this airline.

On the outward journey, 20 hrs' delay.
On return, 24 hrs.
Never once had such long delays and never once seen such irresponsible, unprofessional handling of the delays.

I'll never forget the long, cold night hours I had to spend at the pudong airport not knowing when I would ever get on the plan. Only a tiny, thin blanket was given out and it was too cold to sleep.

I'll never forget the exhausting early morning hours when the staff just sent us to random directions and we had to wander off here and there not knowing what was happening.

Eventually, the staff told us we would get a hotel room but the long cue for hotel taxis were appalling. Got to the hotel so late that I had only two hours' sleep and had to head back to the airport. And the plane got delayed again.

After so many delays, it felt like a miracle just to be back home.

We used China Eastern for our holiday to Australia, the tickets were much cheaper than its competitors, plus we got to spend the day in Shanghai between flights. The service on board was excellent, the crew are really helpful and more than happy to provide extra food and drinks if you’re still hungry after they’ve handed out the meals. I enjoyed most of the food provided, it was a bit strange having noodles for breakfast but it’s ok, also unlike western airlines the bread rolls are warm and fresh which was much nicer.

When flying with China Eastern not only are they often the cheapest but they don’t charge for seats which saves a small fortune as you’ll know if you’ve ever flown with BA. China Eastern also offer lots of incentives to its regular economy passengers who are booking a flight which has a stopover such as free airport lounges, free shuttles and free food vouchers at the airport.

I highly recommend China Eastern and I’d happily fly with them again in the future.