China Air

[paddy]

I'm flying from Amsterdam - Bangkok (Business Class) next week and was wondering has anybody any reviews on this route and airline.

I've heard a lot of positive things about China Air (except safety record) and have to say their businees class package seems to be very good value for money.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Paddy.

Apologies for the Cina Air spelling.......

Edited December 17, 2004 by paddy

[ZOVOX]

I've heard a lot of positive things about China Air (except safety record)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would have thought that safety was your number one consideration !

[paddy]

It is but the safety record issue seems to be historical and they appear to be getting their house in order.

Also there is sometimes confusion between China Airlines and Air China when it comes to accidents etc..

[ZOVOX]

It is but the safety record issue seems to be historical and they appear to be getting their house in order.

Also there is sometimes confusion between China Airlines and Air China when it comes to accidents etc..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is Air china that has the really bad safety record. I've flown China airlines two times, but that was only for short-haul flights. The food is good, if you like asian food, and the service was good. On one occasion, the flight was delayed and they put me up in a hotel and paid for my food. They probably offer the cheapest flights to/from europe.

[thaiflyer1]

Ive flown with China a few times Teeside (KLM City Hopper) to Amsterdam then China to Bangkok only flown economy, isnt their buisness now an upgraded economy class? Ive got no complaints about the flight, friendly cabin crew , decent grub...........return flight to Amsterdam is a night flight (2am?) which i prefer. Only reason i changed from China to Eva Air is that at the time Eva offered Evergreen Deluxe (an economy upgrade) and China didnt. Eva leave an hour behind China on the return leg......if China had the upgrade at the time i/d probably still be with them, I stick with Eva now as ive collected a few airmiles with them.

[Explorer]

Air China and China Airlines different? I thought it was the same? Anyway, flown them once ...... didn't pay much attention on the flight though coz they got nice air crew member at that time. . Korean airlines not that bad too! (crew member that is)

Explorer

[thaiflyer1]

Air China and China Airlines different? I thought it was the same? Anyway, flown them once ...... didn't pay much attention on the flight though coz they got nice air crew member at that time.  . Korean airlines not that bad too! (crew member that is)

Explorer 

No they are different Air China as far as i know concentrate their operations mainly within China whereas China Air do all the international flights.

[Axel]

Between 1989 and 2002 China Airlines (Taiwan) had 5 major fatal experiences.

Not too good but there are worse. Put it that way, they had their fill and

mathematically can only get better.

http://www.airsafe.com/events/airlines/taiwan.htm

[paddy]

Ive  flown  with  China  a  few  times  Teeside (KLM  City  Hopper)  to  Amsterdam  then  China  to  Bangkok  only  flown  economy, isnt  their  buisness  now  an  upgraded  economy  class? Ive  got  no  complaints  about  the  flight, friendly  cabin  crew , decent  grub...........return  flight  to  Amsterdam  is  a  night  flight  (2am?)  which  i  prefer. Only  reason  i  changed  from  China  to  Eva  Air  is  that  at  the  time  Eva  offered  Evergreen  Deluxe  (an  economy  upgrade)  and  China  didnt. Eva  leave  an  hour  behind  China  on  the  return  leg......if  China  had  the  upgrade  at  the  time  i/d  probably  still  be  with  them, I  stick  with  Eva  now  as  ive  collected  a  few  airmiles  with  them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the new 'dynasty class' is actually more between business and first (I hope!!). Follow this link http://www.china-airlines.com/en/check/service-3-1-2.htm for more details.

Paddy.

[Rinrada]

Air China and China Airlines different? I thought it was the same? Anyway, flown them once ...... didn't pay much attention on the flight though coz they got nice air crew member at that time.  . Korean airlines not that bad too! (crew member that is)

Explorer 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No they are different Air China as far as i know concentrate their operations mainly within China whereas China Air do all the international flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Carefull....Air China hails from the mainland..Chairman Mao,Red flag et al. where as China Air is from the breakaway (gone astray) Taiwan-Generalismo Chiang Kai Chek-Ku ming Tang boys (1948 done a runner) and they have only recently started talking to each other.

The other lot from the KMT are of course up in the mountains at Doi mae Salong and have now been given Thai Cit.

Should also say that C.I are the official Taiwan Govs.National Airline and Eva is a sort of privatised follow up-upstart

I have flown them for about 15 years from/via Amsterdam,got a goldie card but tend now to go more with Thai now because its easier and direct.(London>Bangers)

If travelling con-dea I would use them more often-Beer at Heathrow (6-30am)another in Amsterdam-Business lounges/roundabout bar-and then all the way to LOS...but getting too old for all that

The London manager told me that they were considering a direct flight to London but only one Taiwan carrier allowed/Politics etc....

They used to have Chrismas "doos"here in london at local reasturants but not for the last couple of years or maybe my invite was on one their planes that....

Anyway always enjoyed their flights,food and booze OK and usually upgraded.

Got stuck once in Amsterdam (weather) missed the connection and was put up in the Golden Tulip Hotel.

Had to suffer "the dam"for the night

All in all sanuk

[BIG SPUDS]

i have flown the same flight "dynasty class", and i thought the service was excellent big seats, excellent food/drinks, service, free drinks at airports (vip lounge).

Im travelling again the same way in FEB

cheap too £800 all in!!

[et33.com]

don't bother to check the so call safetly records

if you do

you may get air fear

fly with whom-ever give you comfort and good service

for the price that you pay

forget the rest...

[paddy]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Can't wait to go......

[charles]

As said, what we are talking of here is China Airlines, the national carrier of Taiwan. Totally different from Air China, the national carrier of the PRC.

It seems that previously, their safety record was very poor in terms of deaths v. no. of flights. More Div. 3 than Premier League. Apparently, in the past, they had problems in their "culture" both management and pilots. Pilots were taken mainly from the military; such pilots are not always the best flyers of civilian aircraft, being used to more "risky" behavior. Korean Air, another airline with a high accident rate, had a similar situation.

Nevertheless, it seems the airline has been very much turned around in the last couple of years with many changes made. Of course, it takes longer to erase a bad reputation than it does to put good safety measures into practice, so now China Airlines is probably a great deal - cheap fares and as safe as anyone. In fact, due to the difficulty of erasing a bad safety reputation, they may well have had to pay more attention to the safety issue than some carriers with good reps. Cathay seem to have had a few minor mishaps recently...

[udon]

Charles beat me to it

A few years ago their CRM was so bad they were threatened with withdrawl of insurance for both CAL & KAL.

Since then a lot of their ex-mil have been phased out and farangs are now in the driver's seat.

My choice would always be EVA from the EU. esp econ-delux.

[Rinrada]

Re-EVA./TG....Just got a text from West east

Bangkok - Economy : £395

London Heathrow to Bangkok

- Valid for travel from 13 Feb - 30 Jun 2005

- Valid for sale until 30 January 2005

- Departures from London Heathrow

- Maximum stay: Three months

Bangkok : £430

London Heathrow to Bangkok

-Valid for travel from 01Apr-30Jun05

- Valid for sale until 28 February 2005

- Departures from London Heathrow

- Minimum stay: Two days

- Maximum stay: Two months

- Fare excludes airport taxes and security charges

and little bit of info..

Thai To Operate More Flights in Winter Schedule 2004/2005

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited will mount additional flights frequencies on its international routenet during the winter schedule to 26 March 2005 to meet higher passenger traffic demand during this period.

Thai Airways unveils plans for the purchase of 14 new aircraft

14 new aircraft will be added to Thai Airways fleet by 2010, six A340-500/600 aircraft will be delivered by early next year to meet the increase in demand.

The A380, which can accommodate 555 passengers will enter service for the first time in 2006.The new aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art inflight products and entertainment systems, are planned to add capacity on main European routes.

and finally:

Discounted Upgrades for Royal Orchid Plus Members...where our Goldies

http://www.westeasttravel.com/user/

[tuky]

I was at Busan airport waiting for my flight when I saw a China Air plane slam into a mountain, this was early 2002. Scary as F##K. My flight left two days later (obviously all flights were canceled) and seeing the scar on the side of the mountain during take off was most unsettling...