In November 2016 I was lucky enough to be able to experience Air China's service from Auckland to Beijing.
Many Chinese airlines are now connecting from that wonderful country to ours, and having flown Air New Zealand previously, I was looking forward to the opportunity.
Before getting on board the aircraft, I noted that the timing of the flights was really good. We were scheduled to depart Auckland after 8pm which meant that a natural sleep would occur, leaving us fresh for the early morning arrival.
I have to say that my first impression wasn't ideal. The aircraft we were traveling on was an older Airbus A330-200. Old technology, old entertainment systems, and slightly cramped cabin didn't encourage us. I suspect that this would have been one of the last flights that this aircraft would be doing. More later.
I would guess that 95% of the passengers were Chinese returning home. I loved this of course. It meant that by the time we arrived in Beijing we had been immersed in Chinese culture. Being surrounded by boisterous and continuous non-English conversation reduced the impact of arriving in China to Westerners on their first visit.
All the meals served were rice-based (and delicious) and it was amusing to us to be offered wine, where we could choose from the white one or the red one. (side note: it shows that there is huge opportunity for New Zealand vineyards in that particular market!).
Our return flight, which departed Beijing around 1am, arriving in Auckland at approximately 6pm local time, was much much better. This was a brand new shiny Dreamliner, and was crewed by a much more senior and experienced crew. The aircraft was beautiful although the Economy-class seats did still seem a little tight. The catering was great, although we were looking forward to a decent burger once we got home. After all, there is only so much Kung Pao Chicken one can consume in a week. And the best thing? No noticeable jetlag. We were both able to sleep a full night and be fresh for work the morning after arriving home.
So, would I fly Air China again? Absolutely. I really enjoyed the experience. Their crews were great and I was watching how they helped their passengers with small details such as filling out arrival cards. They cared a lot.
