Find cheap Air China flights

Air China (CA) is the national carrier of the People’s Republic of China, as well as one of its largest airlines. It operates its main global hubs at airports in Beijing (PEK and PKX) and Chengdu (CTU and TFU), but also operates significant domestic operations from nearly a dozen airports across China.

While I’d be lying if I said Air China had a sterling reputation, I’ve found them extremely useful for domestic travel within the PRC.

Cabin class, seats & legroom

Passengers on all Air China flights can fly in business class or economy class, while certain aircraft offer first class and extra-legroom economy seats.

Business Class

With some exceptions, Air China’s business class is uncompetitive. From older Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, to newer 787 Dreamliner and 747-8i planes, the majority of Air China business class cabins are in an uncompetitive 2-2-2 (or, on the upper deck of the 747, 2-2) configuration.

The exception to this rule, for long-haul planes anyway, is the Airbus A350-900, which features ‘reverse herringbone’ seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. In the event that I need to fly Air China between China and the US or Europe, I always try to select a route flown by one of these planes.

Service-wise, I’ve never quite found Air China’s business class up to par. While the Chinese option is always a bit tastier than the Western options offered, neither the presentation nor flavour has ever wowed me. Moreover, while cabin crew are always kind, I find that they don’t often execute as well as their counterparts on other Asian airlines.

First Class

First class is available on all of Air China’s 747 aircraft (both the older 747-400, as well as the newer 747-8i), as well as the 777-300ER. These seats are large, lie-flat and all have direct aisle access, but notably do not feature doors, which have long since become standard on most other airlines.

While the food in Air China first class is similarly uncompetitive to what you find in business class, five-star accoutrements such as caviar and fine Champagne do compensate for what’s lacking to some degree.

Domestic/regional business class

Onboard Air China’s narrowbody fleet, which includes more than half a dozen aircraft ranging from the Airbus A319 to the Boeing 737, to the Chinese-built Comac C919, business class passengers sit in recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration.

In-flight service on these sectors ranges from partially to significantly abbreviated. If you’re flying for longer than about three hours, you’ll enjoy a full meal service (multiple courses served on the same tray) and an impressive selection of beer, wine and spirits. Shorter domestic sectors sometimes include only a basic snack or a very simple hot meal.

Do note that in some cases, aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner will operate domestic or short- and medium-haul international flights for Air China. In these cases, while you’ll enjoy a much larger seat, the service is certainly not on the level you’d experience while flying far overseas.

Extra legroom economy

Air China does not offer a dedicated premium economy cabin. Rather, economy passengers who want an elevated experience can purchase extra legroom seats, located in the bulkhead and exit rows of the plane.

Do note that if you sit in these seats, you’ll receive the same level of service as ordinary economy passengers. You might simply be able to get off the plane sooner (which, to be fair, is a worthwhile perk in my book).

Economy

Economy class on Air China is surprisingly competitive, given the carrier’s shortcomings toward the front of the plane. Passengers enjoy above-average legroom, as well as a choice between a Chinese and Western option and free alcohol, even on domestic flights. Given the affordable fares Air China often offers connecting to Southeast Asia via Beijing, I’d say the airline is a good choice for the value.

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with Air China.

Baggage policy and fees

Air China’s baggage policies are generous, even when flying domestically. All passengers can officially check up to one bag weighing up to 23 kg or 50 lbs, in addition to one carry-on and one personal item. In my experience, however, Air China will often check a second bag without a second look.

Although I don’t usually check bags if I can avoid it, I do when flying with Air China. This is because airport security checks in China are extremely stringent. Putting all my liquids in a checked bag, even though I never exceed the limit, saves me a lot of stress and hassle.

Check-in

Air China is one of the few airlines in the world where I regularly still need to check in at the airport. This is first and foremost because Air China’s website is buggy; its mobile app requires you to be a member of the airline’s Phoenix Miles frequent flyer programme to use the online check-in feature.

There’s also the fact that most Chinese airports don’t accept home-printed or mobile boarding passes, and that a lot of travel involving Air China requires document verification. Inbound to China, a check-in counter staff member will need to verify your Chinese visa; within China, certain regions (such as Tibet) require special permits and the verification they necessitate.

Lounges

Air China offers several international lounges at its hubs in Beijing and Chengdu, as well as domestic lounges throughout China. While I find the domestic lounges to be hit-or-miss, the international ones (which you can access with a first or business class ticket, or using your Star Alliance Gold status) are surprisingly competitive.

I feel this way primarily because of the food buffet, which features local Chinese classics, ranging from xiaolongbao pork dumplings, to spicy Sichuan dan-dan noodles, to delicious stir fried eggplant, morning glories and other vegetables.

The lounges at Beijing-Capital (PEK), in particular, also offer great views of the tarmac, as well as planes taking off and landing. Not a bad way to kill some time before a flight if you live that #AVGeek life!

Onboard experience

Here’s what you can expect onboard an Air China flight.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

Air China’s Wi-Fi service is confounding, to say the least. While it officially offers free Wi-Fi on aircraft equipped with connectivity, this only works on laptops and tablets, and not on mobile phones. In practice, I’ve found that the service often doesn’t work, even on my laptop.

Wi-Fi works a bit better to facilitate access to inflight entertainment on older aircraft without seatback entertainment screens. However, regardless of how you access the entertainment system, I’d suggest lowering your expectations.

In my experience, you should never expect more than a few English-language movies, in addition to scattered single episodes of TV shows.

Amenities

Air China offers amenities kits in first and business class, which feature basic toiletries and other items, such as compression socks and a hair brush. Unlike those offered by competitor airlines in Asia, these kits aren’t especially stylish, or created in collaboration with lifestyle brands.

One area where I find Air China to be very competitive is in terms of amenities for economy class passengers, at least on long haul flights. You’ll always have a blanket and pillow waiting at your seat; lavatories feature lotion and face mist, in addition to hand soap.

Loyalty programmes, miles & credit cards

Air China’s Phoenix Miles programme is popular within China, and is useful for travellers based in the PRC, especially those fluent in Chinese. However, I don’t think it’s worth the time even to sign up as a traveller based in the UK.

Air China Phoenix Miles

Like many Asian frequent flyer programmes, and in contrast to those in Europe and the US, Phoenix Miles allows its members to accrue miles based on the distance of the flights they take.

However, as is also the case with many loyalty schemes in the Far East, uncompetitive redemption rates and website IT issues plague the Phoenix Miles programme. The latter is slightly less obvious if you use the Chinese version of the website, but even that is not foolproof.

Credit cards

Only travellers who are citizens or permanent residents of the PRC can hold co-branded Air China credit cards. That’s the bad news. The good news? Like the Phoenix Miles programme more broadly, these cards aren’t as useful as their counterparts in Europe and especially in the US.

Rather, as is often the case for Asian airlines, the best method of employing a miles-and-points strategy for travel is via one of its partners. Specifically, I find using United MileagePlus to book domestic Air China flights to have the best return on investment.

Rates for these flights have thus far been immune to increases United has implemented elsewhere in its award chart. Conversely, cash prices for domestic Chinese flights can be shockingly high, which means that using miles (if you have them) is by far a better-value option.