Using China Air from the US to the Philippines?

[Klepley 4]

Anyone use China air from the US? Is two hours long enough to connect flights? Have flown through many places but never this airline or this connection.

Thanks,

Kevin

[newacct 688]

What's "China Air"? There's "Air China", an airline of mainland China, and "China Airlines", an airline of Taiwan.

[Klepley 4]

Sorry, that should say Air China.

Kevin

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Where are you connecting through and where are you going?

[Klepley 4]

Leaving Dulles, Washington, connecting Beijing, to Manila.

I have read online an hour is basically what is needed, and one of the Dr's I work with told me no problem. As he is Chinese, I know now for him..lol..

Kevin

[madtownguy 164]

My wife has flown with them twice, she has told me I am not allowed to book a flight using their airline anymore. She had really bad experiences, but she doesn't travel much so I can't really say how accurate her review is. I would look into China Southern airlines, I've flown that and it was great. She didn't like Shanghai airport, and one of her flights was delayed and they put her up at a hotel which was an hour away from the airport. Hope whatever you decide it goes smoothly. Good luck.

[Ziii 3]

It was a bad experience for me. Booked their flight from Los Angeles-Beijing-Manila with 2hrs layover, there was a delay with my departure from LAX so when I arrived in Beijing, the connecting flight left already. Their staff were unfriendly and barely speak English. They let me stay at this crappy hotel far from the airport and when I went back the next day, flights to Manila were fully booked and was told to wait for another day, thats when I got mad and just requested to book me to any airline thats bound to Manila. Took Beijing-Hongkong-Manila. It was very exhausting. Two passengers lost their baggage.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Klepley, on 16 Dec 2015 - 8:21 PM, said:

Leaving Dulles, Washington, connecting Beijing, to Manila.

I have read online an hour is basically what is needed, and one of the Dr's I work with told me no problem. As he is Chinese, I know now for him..lol..

Kevin

Use "flight aware" and do some research before buying your ticket. They will have all the flight history and you can see what delays and when. Track the flight for today and the day of the week you plan on taking your flight and see what it shows for on time arrivals and departures. Ask the airlines what they recommend as they don't want any problems so they are going to give you what they think is the best case scenarios.

[Klepley 4]

I have read the reviews and interesting that people either give them 1 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 but with the reviews here, glad I didn't book them.. Extremely cheap when compared to other airlines, but since I want to make sure I get there with no problems, went to do my ticket on Korean Air to find out I have a free ticket.

As an FYI, I tried that yesterday. Didn't have enough points. Went back today, and all of the sudden I needed less points today. Makes no sense. Did email them yesterday and let them I was extremely dissatisfied customer who has used their airline many times in the past seven years.

Can't beat that!

Thanks all for the advice. The Flight Aware thing is a great idea!

Kevin

[actob99 156]

Extremely cheap when compared to other airlines, but since I want to make sure I get there with no problems, went to do my ticket on Korean Air to find out I have a free ticket.

You get what you pay for!!! If you don't mind delays and staying in hotels book em.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Klepley, on 17 Dec 2015 - 11:27 AM, said:

I have read the reviews and interesting that people either give them 1 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 but with the reviews here, glad I didn't book them.. Extremely cheap when compared to other airlines, but since I want to make sure I get there with no problems, went to do my ticket on Korean Air to find out I have a free ticket.

As an FYI, I tried that yesterday. Didn't have enough points. Went back today, and all of the sudden I needed less points today. Makes no sense. Did email them yesterday and let them I was extremely dissatisfied customer who has used their airline many times in the past seven years.

Can't beat that!

Thanks all for the advice. The Flight Aware thing is a great idea!

Kevin

Get back to us and update us on what you ended up doing about your flight arrangements. I for one have not used a Chinese airlines but will consider it but till I heard other's stories. Help by giving back to your thread. Thanks

[Klepley 4]

Using Korean Air which has been my primarily airline over the past four years for overseas flights and are very good at what they do. I've also fond Eithad and JAL to be exceptionally good as well. The worst trip was with American Airlines. Their entertainment system was down so nothing from Tokyo to Chicago for too many hours.

The next time I fly, and if not worried about delays, will try Air China. I don't mind delays, or even people who don't speak my language. With the money I save, could even see the town for a night. Actually part of traveling, and sometimes the best part is meeting those people who you would never have met before if not for the sideline. This happened in Tokyo once and really enjoyed seeing the town for that night.

As an FYI, my first time to the Philippines was right after Hurricane Sandy. It was quite the adventure flying out of the East Coast, and by all rights my buddy and I should not have been able to make it. We wheeled and dealed our way and completely changed our itinerary. The flight over from Dulles? I think 20 of us, so we each had our own row. To this day, my fiance believes the hurricane was a test from God and he wanted to see if I had the perseverance to get there.

Best trip of my life!

[Brassballs 47]

In 2013 I flew China Eastern JFK-PDO-MNL RT. Most reasonable price when I booked. Like others have said reviews go from 1 or 10 /10. Flight was uneventful. Food was tolerable. No delays so I was a satisfied customer. I think layover at PDO was a little less than 2 hrs. 1 hr layover for connecting flights is really cutting it close taking into account even minor delays and time to transfer between terminals or concourses.

FWIW pax to pax conversation if even wanted would have been nearly impossible. I think I was only westerner on the flights, haha.

[Ted & Janine 31]

Using Korean Air which has been my primarily airline over the past four years for overseas flights and are very good at what they do. I've also fond Eithad and JAL to be exceptionally good as well. The worst trip was with American Airlines. Their entertainment system was down so nothing from Tokyo to Chicago for too many hours.

The next time I fly, and if not worried about delays, will try Air China. I don't mind delays, or even people who don't speak my language. With the money I save, could even see the town for a night. Actually part of traveling, and sometimes the best part is meeting those people who you would never have met before if not for the sideline. This happened in Tokyo once and really enjoyed seeing the town for that night.

As an FYI, my first time to the Philippines was right after Hurricane Sandy. It was quite the adventure flying out of the East Coast, and by all rights my buddy and I should not have been able to make it. We wheeled and dealed our way and completely changed our itinerary. The flight over from Dulles? I think 20 of us, so we each had our own row. To this day, my fiance believes the hurricane was a test from God and he wanted to see if I had the perseverance to get there.

Best trip of my life!

Thanks for sharing that. I never considered taking advantage of layovers to explore. I'm usually on a very tight schedule but will keep that in mind.

Korean Air is my preferred carrier to Philippines, though I don't like that occasional 12 hour layover to connect in Incheon. I have a friend that is a captain for American. He flies heavy aircraft DFW to Brazil. One thing that he told me about budget airlines (domestic or international) is to look at the average hours the crews have at flying and especially flying that particular air-frame.. I agree, they are good at what they do. Have heard good things about JAL too

[Pythos1 24]

ANA, JAL, and Philippine are all good airlines for travel to Manila. Philippine Air, from what I understand, is more expensive, but it has direct flights from LAX and from Chicago. With ANA and JAL, I had a brief layover in Tokyo, 2 to 4 hours.