What it’s Like to Fly China Eastern Business Class

When you do a lot of traveling by air, knowing which airline carrier provides the best service can make your life a lot easier and more comfortable. We’ve chosen China Eastern’s business class to review. This will give you an idea of what to expect if you choose to fly with this carrier.

English speaking passengers may have a difficult time using the website provided by the airline for check-in. There is a tendency for the website to provide information in English, but it will abruptly switch to Chinese, which can be confusing and cost you a lot of time trying to figure it out. The site also has some other major issues such as failure to recognize some of the more common web browsers. This makes it tough to select a seat, so you’re probably going to end up with a random assignment vs being able to secure the seat you really want. This probably isn’t an issue for passengers who are fluent in Chinese, so it’s not a strike against the airline. The system is hosted in the country of the airline’s origin which is understandable, but still, tough on Western travelers.

Check-in at the airport

There is a check-in area that is dedicated to business class passengers. Areas for passengers to relax prior to the flight are roomy and comfortable. The lines tend to be long and you can expect an average wait of 15 minutes or so, but the major perk that they offer is that an attendant will come to you where you’re sitting so you don’t need to stand in the line. This is an unexpected but welcomed benefit.

Boarding on the 777-300ER

When the boarding all is made you are invited to bring your boarding pass forward to a special lane reserved for Business Class to have it scanned. This is an expedited process. An escort will bring your carry-on bag all the way to the door of the airplane. These are wonderful perks for flying Business Class with China Eastern.

Seating in Business Class

The Business Class seats are very comfortable. The area has a more private feeling in the mini cabin that only has two rows towards the front of the plane. It’s quieter than flying economy class and the seats are a little larger. It isn’t difficult to fall asleep during a long flight. The area is more spacious and cozy than the economy class. The seats can be completely flattened if you want to catch a nap.

In-flight entertainment

Because the airline accommodates people who speak multiple languages, you’ll find that there is a limited selection of movies in English and those that are in English have Chinese subtitles, but there are a few choices to break the monotony of a long flight. While en-route, the flight attendants are friendly and accommodating. They’re good about asking if there is anything that you need. The Wi-Fi connectivity is excellent and consistent. If you bring electronic devices with you, there are also chargers in the seats. If you need help figuring out how to use these amenities, the flight attendants are quite helpful. There is no charge for WiFi. Pajamas are also provided in business class for passengers who want to dress down to sleep on a long flight.

Food and beverages

After the flight is in the air, you’re offered a glass of chilled champagne. This is something that you would expect in first class and not in Business Class. You’re offered this in addition to a variety of virgin cocktails and juices or water. They serve Perrier and offer it freely.

Lunches are served with your choice from the daily menu offering. They provide delicious meals such as Parma Ham, Scallop skewers, Chopped Egg Tart with Salmon Roe and a few other choices. They also serve a variety of appetizers including Duck Liver and vegetables with vinaigrette as examples with quite a few good choices. Several courses are served for lunches and dinners. Snack trays with fruits, vegetables, mozzarella sticks, tomatoes, and chicken pastry is an example of the pre-arrival snack that you’re offered.

Business Class Lounge

After landing, the Business Class Lounge provides areas for relaxation with several available massage chairs that are free to use. You can also grab a bite to eat there and a drink if you like. Flying with China Eastern in Business Class is better than some of the airline carrier’s First Class service.