China Eastern Reviews 313

Awful online service, the website is full of glitches. I have been trying unsuccessfully to change a ticket for the last 4 days and there is always an error message, don’t book with them

Worst airline ever. My flight got delayed by one day and only had 800 rmb compensation. This company is a disgrace to this country.

Avoid China Eastern airlines at all cost !!!

I recently flew with China Eastern Airlines from Seoul to Amsterdam while traveling with my disabled son, and unfortunately, our experience was far from satisfactory.

Due to our early flight time, I booked a transit hotel in the terminal to ensure a smooth and restful connection. However, because of China Eastern’s strict requirement to check in 3 hours before departure, we were unable to use the room as planned. The airline staff showed no flexibility or support in this situation, leaving us scrambling to find another hotel at the last minute—causing unnecessary stress and additional cost.

On top of this, despite multiple requests to be seated next to my son (who requires constant care), we were assigned separate seats on the second leg of our journey. We were only able to sit together after pleading with another passenger to swap seats—again, an upsetting situation that could have easily been avoided with proper attention.

Finally, the tray table at our seat was broken. We had to prop it up with a pillow and a magazine just to eat our meals, which is not acceptable on a long-haul flight.

I was nervous about doing such a long trip with an airline I was unfamiliar with but everything about this airline surpassed my expectations. On a 36-hour trip from Sydney to London, the first plane was a new one and it was lovely. There was so much legroom and the amenities were so clean and easy to use. The second plane was older but the staff were just as wonderful, friendly, and accommodating.

I traveled with them from London to South Korea with a transfer in Shanghai. The staff was very nice. I think the economy class seats are uncomfortable. Although it also depends on which plane you travel on. The economy ticket price included two 23kg checked bags, one 10kg hand luggage and a normal-sized backpack that could be taken on board. On the way back, there were some jerky British tourists on board.The return ticket was £380.

I cannot believe this Chinese international carrier cannot get a UK customer services number to work. If they can't get telephones to work, it makes me wonder how you can trust them to fly planes.

Despite having been issued an authorised and approved visa, they would not allow me to board. This forced me to miss my flight, hotels and then purchase new tickets. Despite contacting 3 departments, they refuse to even acknowledge this occurred. This shows a lack of accountability and a complete disregard for the customer.

!Awaken nightmare!
BEWARE of ETA Requested before April 02 2025.

On march 16, I tried to check in/drop off my baggages for KIX-PVG-GTW (Osaka to London via Shanghai).

CEAIR refused to check in my PVG-GTW flight to london arriving on 17/03 cause I "don't have ETA".

I spent literally ONE hour explaining to them that FRENCH people don't need ETA before april 02 (showed them official website of UK immigration and "Do I need a visa ?" on gov.co.uk. They refused and a woman started to be very rude with me (I was calm and very kind for all this time. Just very stressed). They told me that the computer did request an ETA even if they knew that I may not need it. The CEAIR agent tried to contact someone by phone that also knew nothing about ETA.

As it was a "system" problem, I asked them to change my flight from PVG to France directly. It was their responsibility. Not mine. They refused as well.

I was about to book another flight from Osaka to France with another company.

Only 50 minutes before the flight they accepted at least to check my baggage to PVG (Shanghai). They didn't give any "fast pass lane" to reach the gate asap. I could board just on time.

They made me sign a discharge paper written in chinese that declared they are not responsible (meaning I am responsible) if I don't have an ETA and that I can't fly from PVG to GTW. It was so mean to me. They knew about their responsibility but they forced me to take the entire responsibility.

Employees told me that my website, despite the fact it was an official website couldn't change the "higher information about immigration that CEAIR has" (NOWAY... Like I am so stupid and I understand nothing about border rules... I know how to read. Thank you)

At PVG, I had to get back my baggage (Hopefully I had a long layover). Then I went at the PVG drop off baggage counter. I explained the problem to the employee that confirmed right away, laughing, that I didn't need ETA for a flight arriving in London on march 17.

I applied for ETA just before the Osaka flight departure cause I was scared that something would happen as well in PVG. I got it within few minutes. Obviously it was written "Your ETA application has been approved. Your ETA is valid from 2 APRIL 2025 to 2 APRIL 2027".

Thank you CEAIR employees of OSAKA KIX airport for your "highest" bad services. A real nightmare. Even "a sorry" would be enough but any chance to get it for sure.

Lost my Baggage.

Over priced and couldn’t even get my Baggage to me. Messed up the trip. No compensation offered. Appalling service

Never again! We booked in the summer to fly and visit my family over Christmas. Online check-in didn't work and when we arrived at the airport we were blithely told by the staff that our flight was overbooked and we should leave our phone number for them to contact us. We did finally get on the flight but definitely not worth the stress. Food was also horrible and connecting flight delayed by 5 hours due to technical issues.

My flight from Gatwick to Japan Via china was delayed by 3hours 30 ( due to bad weather ) even tho china airlines flight left on time to the same destination. When i landed in China after 13hr30 min i was greeted to 200 plus people trying to get there connecting flights to japan.The ground staff had no idea what to do screaming at each other some evening laughing ( you would think after 13hr30 they would come up with a plan) when it was my turn they told me they could not fly me to my designate airport and would have to go to the other airport in Tokyo where i had already paid for a hotel. Now i am home they dont answer the phone and they have still not answer my email about compensation for the new hotel ( which the ground staff said they would sort ) on the way home there was finger nail clippings on my table and the flight attendant was asleep in her chair for take off. For a extra £100/200 use another company dont fly with these guys as i am sure they wont email me back.

I flew from London Gatwick to Hong Kong via Shanghai. Flight left on time, arrived on time. 2 good meals served during the flight. Staff friendly, efficient and helpful from checkin to landing in Hong Kong. Spacious, comfortable seat for economy. I would definitely fly with them again.

Everything about my most recent trip with them was just fine. The customer service was good, and most of the attendants spoke decent English.

The complimentary food, provided even with economy seating, was great, although probably MSG heavy. Drinks, those of a non-alcoholic nature anyway, throughout were free.

My gripes:
There was WiFi, but the WiFi did not have internet access. Which seemed to be a very hallow box ticking exercise as being able to claim as one of the things it provides onboard.

It also has entertainment films available to watch, which again seems to be a very hallow box ticking exercise as it had, at most, 10-20 films to watch, with the what claims to be the newest releases available to watch being about 3-5 years old.

Finally, there is also USB ports available on the plane also, but these don’t work either. Once more, probably box ticking…

All of this doesn’t bode well for the long haul flight orientation that the plane I boarded had, which is fine if you are a traveller who just likes to board and sleep, and eat where necessary when provided in between. I like to get accustomed to the country on the other side’s timezone myself, so I get over the jet lag quicker. Had I not brought my own entertainment in the form of a portable games console and a book, I would have been very bored for the nearly 10 hour flight.

Other than that, everything about the experience was pleasant given the price paid.

Just had a return from London to Taipei via Shanghai, both ways. Organising special assistance to help with my fractured ankle was simply thru the booking company, Trip.com
The assistantce was smooth even in China and on the on board service was courteous and friendly and nothing was too much trouble

I had ordered kosher meals and the one time it wasn't ordered, yes the local food was awful. But hey. Being a snack instead

Only once was the USB onscreen output didn't work. On board entertainment was outdated but I'm assume like me you load up ur gadgets for these issues

The seating, most importantly, was comfy and the reclining pitch was super with extending legs so the person in front when they reclined didn't bother me. Im 5'9" BTW.

Pillow with cotton cover and packaged blankets too along with earbuds

I've used them a few times over the years without any major gripes. We were even an hr early into Heathrow, so my coach connection was made too

They cancelled my flight one week before departure for no reason and without any other alternative, I had to buy another ticket for twice as much. This is not a serious airline, avoid it!

Review

Flew from Brisbane to Shanghai, then Shanghai to Rome.

On re.checking in at Shanghai our large blue, Yamaha motorcycle gear bag was flagged and we were asked to open the bag to look at its contents. This was done and they were satisfied, and the bag was re-checked in. We watched it go back on the conveyor belt with all the correct tags on it. During this process the China Eastern staff in the security room saw the expensive and very valuable motorcycle racing gear in the bag. My son races in the world championship and some of this gear has huge sentimental value due to winning a world championship race in it.

On arrival in Rome, our bag did not arrive. There are no notes on the system of the bag having been stopped from going in the plane, no trace at all of the bag, and we are now 3 days later. It seems someone at China Eastern in Shanghai decided that over $10k worth of motorcycle racing gear was theirs to steal.

Very disappointing China Eastern. Not possible to lose such a huge, very distinctive looking bag. Can only have been stolen. 😡😡

Lazy staff
Rude customer service
Unhelpful service from salesuk/ceair.com and customer service..
No answer at phone,il.london heatrow...
Staff also rude at gate..
I'm still waiting for an.answer about my miles as they forgot to add on the trip..
And no one.is helping to have my miles back ,we send almost 55 email🤣🤣🤣 also complain to China embassybas the airline is 62% managed by government.. and Area manager Richard Lee unavailable also to answer...
Worst airline ever
Worst staff ever.
After Asiana MU China eastern is the rubbish of airline services ,and no one apologise of course for the issues...

**NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE FROM HELL**

I booked return flights from London Heathrow to Brisbane 4 months in advance, 24th October 2024 to fly 27th February 2025 for £760.99.

19th February, 2025 just 8 days before travel I had been notified that the flights had been cancelled. I was not given any information as to why they had been cancelled or alternative flight options to which I would have been flexible with but no option was given.

Instead I had to go through the ordeal of booking other flights costing me over £1100 meaning an additional cost of £350. It has also cost me an additional £242 in purchased annual leave as I am now flying on different dates.

The airline takes zero accountability or responsibility for the extra cost and has not given a single ounce of support during this time, I am yet too receive a refund and I will be demanding further compensation.

DO NOT GO WITH THIS AIRLINE. IF THINGS GO WRONG WITH YOUR FLIGHTS THEY WILL GO WRONG HORRIFICALLY.

Overall great experience when flying from the UK to NZ.
The price was much cheaper than other airlines. No complaints at all flights departed on time staff were friendly and had plenty of food. Yes all Chinese food but it's a Chinese Airline so that's what you should expect.

Me, my partner and our friend booked with China Eastern for our holiday to Tokyo, and we used them for our return flight.

Having read some of the reviews, I must admit I was quite anxious, but I can honestly say that I’m not sure what I was worried about- the flights were brilliant!

For economy there was a good amount of leg room, as well as a great baggage allowance. I’m pretty sure it was something like a carry on bag plus 10kg, and then 2x 20kg in hold luggage.

The in flight staff were friendly, professional and helpful and despite what some people have said in their reviews, their level of English was absolutely fine. Communication was not an issue.

The food was probably some of the best airline food I’ve had. We had 2 meals on the 10 hour part of the journey and one more on the 2 hour connection from Shanghai to Tokyo. It was the same on the way home to London too. The food served wasn’t Michelin-star, but it tasted good and wasn’t a pile of grey mush like other budget airlines provide.

There were some movies and shows available in English, but not many. That being said, it’s a 14 hour journey, so of course I’m also taking my own form of entertainment just in case (feels like common sense to me).

When we inevitably return to Japan, we will 100% use China eastern and I will recommend to other people too.