I flew China Eastern for 13 hours from Osaka, Japan, to Rome via Shanghai in June last year. The flight cost about $500, a few hundred dollars cheaper than most of the comparable options.
The morning flight, which was on an Airbus A350, landed right on time, and I found the cabin crew very kind. My middle seat was fine; it came with linens and a headrest.
However, I was disappointed with the overall flight experience.
The China Eastern website and mobile app appeared to be designed primarily for Mandarin-speaking users, and checking in online took over an hour — the site kept switching between languages and had many broken links.
I also found the WiFi confusing. Basic speeds cost $20, which was too pricey for me. There’s a way to get free internet, but it wasn’t clear at the time of booking and requires passengers to pre-register for a limited pool of first-come, first-served passes before the flight.
I also didn’t like the food or the entertainment.
The broccoli-and-rice dish was overly sweet for my taste, and the veggies in my noodle dish tasted overcooked. It was all very one-note and among my least favorite airplane meals.
Meanwhile, I thought the movie options were lacking, consisting almost exclusively of Chinese films and offering limited subtitle options. I recognize the airline probably serves Chinese customers better, but as an American, it wasn’t enjoyable.
It was also a reminder to always bring my own snacks and movies rather than relying on the airline’s offerings.
China Eastern did not respond to Business Insider for a request for comment.
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