Is a cheap flight to Europe with a Chinese airline OK? Our verdict

The airline: China Eastern

• Route Sydney to Paris via Shanghai, flights MU562 and MU553
• Frequency Daily
• Aircraft Airbus A350-900 Sydney to Shanghai, Boeing 777-300ER for Shanghai to Paris
• Class Economy, seat 63A (window); seat 32J (exit row, aisle) to Paris
• Flight time 9 hours, 39 minutes for the first leg, arriving 30 minutes early; 11 hours, 42 minutes for the second leg, arriving 15 minutes early.

Checking in

Seamless. At Sydney, the line is small and moves quickly. This completely differs from the inbound flight (from Frankfurt), where due to a website glitch no one could check in online.

Baggage

The allowance of two bags weighing 23kg each, plus an 8kg carry-on for a staggering 54kg total, is almost unheard of in economy, anywhere.

Loyalty scheme

Eastern Miles, part of the Sky Team alliance (other members include Delta Air Lines and Garuda Indonesia). Of most relevance to Australians is China Eastern’s codeshare arrangement with Qantas. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn points and book flights using points on China Eastern.

The seat

Is it just me? The seats feel a little tight. At 160cm, I’m fine, but in a country famed for slender sizes, this isn’t made for super-sized foreigners. The specs appear a fairly standard 31-32 inch (79-81cm) pitch (legroom) and 18-inch (45.7cm) width on the A350-900, similar on the Boeing 777. Perhaps they have less cushioning? The first leg has seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, while the Shanghai to Paris leg is 3-4-3. I appreciate the headrest florals (and Chinese Muzak pre-departure), but otherwise the palette is what I call Communist Beige – unlikely to excite opinion or rebellion.

Entertainment + tech

This is where you may want to stick a chopstick in your own eye. Of the few new releases, most (The Accountant 2. There was The Accountant 1?) aren’t exactly blockbusters. The “International Entertainment” category offers few palatable options, including movies Avatar, Frozen, The Greatest Showman and the time-eating two-hour, 21-minute The Martian starring more Matt Damon than anyone needs. There’s only a USB port for charging, and the Wi-Fi doesn’t work on either flight. Bring a book.

Service

The cabin crew are courteous and eager to please, the women in school-uniform-like navy dresses with popping red belts. When I veer from the usual “chicken or beef” conversation lane, the gaps in language become apparent, but the flight attendant hastens away and returns immediately with a fluent English speaker. Accidentally leaving my fork and a sauce spot on my tray during clean-up, the attendant dives in and rubs it clean with an enthusiasm level and focus that’s awesome to behold.

Food

Two meals are served on each leg. The main meals are unexpectedly delicious. I’m particularly happy with the flavourful pork with rice, followed later by chicken with rice, on the Sydney-Shanghai leg, both with a warm roll. I later go hunting for snacks and find there are none. “Bread?” offers a stewardess, hopefully. No sale. But I do try a mystery Chinese-marked breakfast cup of broth before landing in Paris for research purposes, which I probably won’t do again.

Sustainability

The bare bones website fails to mention a China Eastern strength: its pioneering activity in domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) programs. Since last year, all China Eastern flights departing from Europe have used jet fuel blended with 2 per cent SAF. Landmark flights include an SAF-fuelled domestic A320 flight 2013, the first SAF-powered delivery flight of an A320neo aircraft (in partnership with Airbus) in 2022, and its first commercial SAF-powered flight in 2023. Biodegradable meal boxes, online meal selection options (reducing food waste and weight) and ground operations such as single-engine taxiing are part of the airline’s commitment to environmental responsibility.*

One more thing

Actually, a few things. First, China Eastern’s Europe options are excellent; from its main hub of Shanghai, flights serve 13 European cities, including London’s Heathrow and Gatwick, and from Copenhagen in the north to Madrid in the south. Second, in winter Shanghai Pudong International Airport has Arctic temperatures – even the staff are in puffer jackets. Bring a warm jacket. Last, no visa is required to enter China for under 30 days, so with an odd connection inbound I stay at a stylish budget hotel nearby (Manli Hotel Shanghai Pudong Airport, less than $100) to shower and sleep.

The price

From about $1800 return to Paris in economy class.**

The verdict

Flying in a busy week, their fares beat other competitors hands down and continue to do so. Mark Trim, director of Complex Travel Group, agrees that the carrier has improved its game, saying: “If you’re open to loading up a device with plenty of entertainment, this is an option worth pursuing to keep costs down.” There’s a lot to like, little to hate – but I’m docking points for the poor website, lack of entertainment and hypothermic properties of Shanghai Pudong Airport. Otherwise, it would be a solid four. It remains one of the most price-competitive, full-service carriers to Europe, particularly during the current crisis.

Our rating out of five

★★★½

The writer flew at her own expense.

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.