For recent trip from Singapore to Beijing, we picked Air China as for 1 reason — price. As the most budget-friendly option, it was the practical choice. We tailored expectations though, as there are many horror reviews online. Our experience reflected both the highs and lows of flying economy with Air China, and here’s our honest air china review of the journey.
For additional context, the flights we took were:
SIN – PEK: CA970, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, usually scheduled for around 11.25pm departure
PEK – SIN: CA969, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, usually scheduled for around 3.25pm departure
Read also: 3-Day Beijing itinerary
For this flight, we used Trip.com to book our flights as we found it difficult to navigate the Air China website. (not sponsored, just sharing our experience)
In this Air China Review
About Air China
Air China is the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China and a member of the Star Alliance network. The airline’s main hub is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), operating a comprehensive domestic and international route network, connecting major cities worldwide.
Baggage Allowance
All Air China flights come with baggage allowance.
Economy: 20kg + 1x 5kg hand carry
Business: 30kg + 2x 8kg hand carry
First class: 40kg + 2x 8kg hand carry
Punctuality
Both flights, from SIN to PEK and the return leg, were on time. Though the take off for the flight from SIN to PEK was a few minutes later than scheduled, we made it to Beijing 10 minutes earlier than planned. For the return flight from PEK to SIN, everything from boarding to take off and landing was on time. No complaints about punctuality.
Comfort
Each seat came with the standard, blanket and cushion. There is a power outlet that is shared between 2 seats (see green light in image above).
Leg room wasn’t a problem for me (female, 150cm); though leg room usually isn’t something I would complain about because my legs are short. For YS (male, 170cm) on the other hand, his knees are almost touching the seat in front of him (see image above, the leg on the left).
Entertainment System
The inflight entertainment offered a limited selection of movies and shows, mostly older titles. There were no malfunctioning screens, but the variety was lacking. Our USB port stopped working mid-flight, and the air stewardess initially insisted it was our wire. After trying multiple ports, she lent us a plug so that we could charge our phones using the power outlet.
Cleanliness
The cleanliness level on both flights was disappointing. Though the lavatory on both flights were good, the plane seats were really dirty. There were stains and dirt in all corners of the seats, especially the high touch point areas such as the compartment for flight safety card and the power outlet.
In-flight Meal
Meal on SIN to PEK (CA970)
I picked the noodles on the flight from SIN to PEK. It came with the standard bread, salad and yogurt for dessert. The noodles were similar in texture to kway teow, a wide white type of noodle, and was lacking any real flavour. This was a red eye flight, and the meal was served around 1am.
Meal on PEK to SIN (CA969)
On the return flight, the rice served was mushy, while the meat was flavourful. The potato salad that accompanied the meal was great though. The meal served around 5pm.
The meals also did not come with a bottle or packet of water, which most other airlines provide.
Air China Review — Final Thoughts, Rating
If budget is your priority and punctuality is non-negotiable, Air China delivers. However, hygiene, food quality, and entertainment are definite areas for improvement.
Another thing I would like to bring up, though a small issue is that PEK airport is super boring. The international side of the airport has nothing. It is a different story for the domestic side though, they even have a POP Mart there. The international departure area however, was dead, and apparently has been since the Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) opened.
I’ve also read many horror reviews online, mainly from travellers that had transfer flights. There were lots of complaints about difficulties of transiting in China, but I don’t think that’s the airline’s fault.
Rating, based on our experience:
Punctuality: 4/5
Cleanliness: 2/5
Food: 2/5
Value: 4/5
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