Bkk-pek-sfo On Air China--any Reviews?

[safeaccessdude]

Going next month to SFO from BKK through Beijing on Air China. Anyone ever take that flight before? There is a 9 hour layover in the Beijing Airport and the visa is almost $150 for a quick 5 hour vist....not worth it I think IMO.

Is Beijing's Terminal 3 filled with things to burn time? I hope there is some good food!!

Thanks in advance.

[prospero]

Air China is the worst major airline I have ever flown. 48 hour trip from JFK - BKK. Delays. Poor food. Poor service. Beijing terminal looks good but not functioning very well. Good luck.

Air China never again!

[gotlost]

I've taken Air China CNX to LAX threw Taipei. They are OK. Nothing great or nothing bad p;rice was excellent. I would use them again.

[welbymd]

Having worked in China the past 6 years, and flown on Air China a few times, I can agree with prospero's post. I will only travel to/from China on Thai Airways or other "western"carrier now. If you do fly Air China economy class, expect poor service and no alcoholic drinks being available. I recently flew Air China economy class, Beijing to Singapore on a business trip and found that flight to be one of worst flights I ever been on. That 5 1/2 hour flight I was give 1 very small plastic cup of Coke and water. Could not eat the meal, but you know airline food. I have been traveling internationally now, every month for the past 25 years. A better bet might be EVA to SFO, or Thai Airways to LAX. Getting to SFO from LAX would be fairly cheap. Either route would have fewer hours as far as a layover is concerned. Getting a visa and leaving the airport would probably not be a good idea. You would more than likely spend most of the time in traffic. An overnight stay would be a safer choice if you wanted to see a few sites around Beijing. Terminal 3 at Beijing looks impressive enough, but for killing 9 hours, best bring a large book to read. There is some shopping to be had, but don't expect any bargins. The business class lounge is quite honestly the poorest excuse for a vip lounge I have ever seen. Hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Climate control is not regulated very well, but it is the largest roofed building in the world. Eating places are located in the check-in side of the terminal, don't expect to find much after taking the tram and going through imigration. Good luck.

[safeaccessdude]

GOTLOST- I think you mean CNX- China Airlines. This is a different airline than Air China.

[Ayutthaya69]

Air China is the worst major airline I have ever flown. 48 hour trip from JFK - BKK. Delays. Poor food. Poor service. Beijing terminal looks good but not functioning very well. Good luck.

Air China never again!

Yes I agree worst air line and the seat not confortable at all

[gotlost]

GOTLOST- I think you mean CNX- China Airlines. This is a different airline than Air China.

AHHH sorry you are correct. Thanks for the info I was thinking about this air line, they just lost me.

[asanee]

depending on your undisclosed nationlaity there MIGHT be a visa-free option for a short day-time visit into the city of Beijing. There is an efficient lightraillink to the city, connecting into the metro, or various buslines. There is suppsoed to be a separate channel at immigration just for that.

The confusion between Air China (national airline of the PDR0 en China Airls (of taiwan) is common among non-frequent flyers. In fact I recall that any Q re Air China led to it on this forum-yet another sign of ignorance? But I still think sites like flyertalk are far better suited to all these reviews etc.