Route: Jinan Yaoqiang Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

Departure date of flight: May 12, 2015, 10:00am

Flight number: MU5572

Flight duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Airbus A321 with Sharklets
 
Punctuality of the flight:
 
This short-haul flight departed on time from Jinan.
 
Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- I only had hand luggage.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

No check in issues. Everything went perfectly smoothly at check-in at Jinan Airport. The airport is relatively tiny compared to other airports in second and third tier Chinese cities.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Herbal Chinese tea, orange juice and some other drinks, including tea and coffee. 

Comments regarding the first meal:

For this short-haul flight, we were served with a couple of buns, including a muffin and a packet of dry roasted peanuts.
 
Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered before (orange juice and water), during, and after the meal. Plenty of milk, coffee, and tea.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

None

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew seemed proud to work for China Eastern Airlines, and provide a very warm and friendly service.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

Economy Class seats have a pitch of 32 inches, and a width of 18 inches
First Class seats have a pitch of 38 inches, and a width of 21 inches (some aircraft an only Economy Class seating policy).

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

SriLankan Airlines (marketed as SriLankan) is the national flag carrier of Sri Lanka. It is headquartered in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, with its hub at Bandaranaike International Airport. SriLankan operates directs flights to Asian, European and Middle East destinations along with its code share routes which include to destinations in USA, Oceania as well. It became a member of the Oneworld alliance in 2014.
 
SriLankan was established in 1978 as Air Lanka, following the termination of operations of the original Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Ceylon. Following its partial acquisition in 1998 by Emirates it was re-branded to "SriLankan" and introduced the current livery. After ending the Emirates partnership, it continues using its re-branded name and logo.
 
As of March 2015, SriLankan Airlines serves 96 destinations in 49 countries, including codeshares and remains the largest foreign carrier into the Maldives, with over 30 weekly flights between Male and Colombo. SriLankan Airlines currently operates 258 weekly flights to 33 destinations in 20 countries, covering the main cities of the Europe, Middle East, India, South East Asia and the Far East.
 
I tried and tested the new Business Class seat on this long-haul flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London Heathrow Airport:
 
Route: COLOMBO (CMB) – LONDON HEATHROW (LHR)

Departure date and time of flight: May 2015, 12:50pm

Flight number: UL503 (Srilankan 503)
 
ATC Callsign: Srilankan

Flight duration: 11 Hours 50 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: AIRBUS A330-343E (5 aircraft of this type in service)
 
Aircraft registration: 4R-ALN
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 1604
 
First flight: 28th January 2015
 
Aircraft delivery date: 26th March 2015
 
Aircraft name: City Of Kolomtota
 
Aircraft engine types: Two x Rolls Royce Trent 772B-60
 
Frequent flyer program: SriLankan FlySmiles Program
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Business Class: 28 flatbed seats with 180 recline in a 2-2-2 configuration
Economy Class: 269 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight/route taken:
 
I had come in from Singapore on SriLankan, and so this was a connecting flight onwards to London Heathrow. Every crew member says they dread this flight because it is so long (nearly 12 hours), and also placed at an awkward time – the whole of the 12 hours are spent in daylight because you take off at lunchtime Colombo time and land in the summer evening in London (daylight during the late Spring). The flight departed on time and arrived on time at Heathrow (thankfully there was no delay in holding over London). The flight flew over India, the Middle East, Turkey and then onwards Europe. I'm so glad I got the chance to fly over the Tabriz area, the legendary 'Secret Garden of Eden'...spectacular...mountains sticking out at 3,000 meters above sea level.
 
In his published work, Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation, David Rohl posts a location for the legendary Garden of Eden in Iranian Azerbaijan, in the vicinity of Tabriz upon which the Genesis tradition was based. According to Rohl, the Garden of Eden was then located in a long valley to the north of Sahand volcano, near Tabriz.

Any baggage issues:
 
I had my luggage checked in at Singapore Changi, so there was no need to worry about the baggage here. You can check here for more information in regards to the baggage requirements.
 
Lounge experience at Colombo International Airport:
 
SriLankan Airlines operate the Serendib Lounge for their Business and First Class passengers. The lounge can also be used by those travelling on flights with OneWorld Alliance partner airlines. The WiFi enabled lounge is well-managed, clean and there are plenty of options for food and beverages.  
 
In-flight magazine: Serendib is the in-flight magazine for Sri Lankan Airlines
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Passengers’ in Business Class are offered hot lemon scented towels prior to departure. This is followed by a drinks service, which consists of some of the world’s finest wines, and champagne. In Business Class, the cabin crew offer various kinds of drinks prior to departure:
 

• Fresh orange juice
• Mineral water
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (founded in 1818)

 
I opted for a glass of champagne and a plate of cold canape. The cold canape consisted of cheese and salmon cutlets.
 
Comments Regarding The First Meal (Lunch):

For the first meal, a choice of four entrées were provided– all selected from a superb range of Asian and Western dishes.

Meals are served on a low trolley that gives the passenger an inviting eye-level choice of what's on offer and the airline is also introducing new food service items with a more Asian feel in their Business Class. All food in the Business Class cabins in SriLankan is served on elegant bone china tableware specially designed and exclusively produced by Noritake.
 
Starters:
 
Freshly prepared soup cream of mushroom with garlic French croutons
 
The soup was served with a selection of warm bread from the basket.
 
After the soup, we were served with an appetizer of:
 
Seafood terrine and poached lagoon prawns served on a bed of fennel, gourd and citrus salad accompanied by a coriander and chilli cocktail sauce
 
Very well-cooked. The prawns were skinless, and went very well with the lemon and sauce garnishing.
 
Main Course:
 
Lagoon prawn curry with steamed rice, brinjal moju, bitter gourd salad, cashew & pea curry, Malay pickle, papadams and fried chilli
 
This was served with endless amounts of warm bread from the basket.
 
Cheese & Dessert:
 
A selection of Blue d’Auvergne, red Leicester, Taleggio with cabernet paste
 
A selection of fresh seasonal fruit
 
A plate full of a trio of miniature sweet delights
 
Comments Regarding The Second Meal (Dinner):
 
Around about two hours before landing, we were served with dinner.
 
I opted for:
 
Sri Lankan marinated chicken skewer with devil sauce, mini tomato and seafood pizza topped with feta cheese accompanied with oats & herbs crumbed sausages & cheesy cantered risotto croquette with spicy tomato chutney & cucumber, onion & tomato salad
 
This was served with plenty of drinks, and warm bread from the basket, as well as, a plate of fresh seasonal fruit as dessert.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

This aircraft features AVOD (Audio and Video OnDemand) with every seat having access to a personal video screen, offering various audio programming options. There is a wide selection of movies, TV and music to choose from.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew appear to have been trained very well, and seem to know how to handle all kinds of situations. The trainers must have had everything thrown at them, ranging from rowdy passengers to those having a nervous breakdown. These people are amazing. They really do pamper you.
 
Now, I am not saying this because I was travelling in Business Class, but the crew were very friendly and hospitable to ALL the passengers, and showed a genuine smile whenever. Like I said before that I have not been on any of the South Asian carriers, and I have read horror stories of passengers experiencing delayed flights, bad customer service, blocked toilets etc. But, contrary to belief, I experienced none of that. The plane was very clean, the food was out of this world delicious, and the customer service was authentic, genuine and just awesome. From my experience, flying with SriLankan was no different to that of flying with Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. And the most important part of all? The cabin crew welcome the passengers by saying Namaste (palms clasped and head bowed), and also say a thank you in a similar fashion before landing. It is something that Western airlines can learn from. Trust me, believe me, I have come across some cabin crew on some of the best airlines in the world (Oman Air, Etihad, British Airways, KLM, Cathay Pacific to name a few), that have had an attitude problem of some sort or another with passengers (we all have our good and bad days), but the hospitality shown by the SriLankan crew was second to none. Just wonderful.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
The new Business Class regional cabin is fitted with the spanking new flatbed seat, which has a pitch of 77-79 inches and a width of 21 inches. It is a fully flatbed and provides a decent amount of sleep for the back. Very comfortable for a long flight. Unlike some other Business Class seats where the seat dips at the feet, this seat doesn’t – it is full flat and feels like a copy bed with your own privacy space to hide away under the warm quilt!
 
There is certainly plenty of space available. I had my camera bag (which is annoyingly big), plus my laptop (I seldom have to sleep on a daytime flight so I end up working!), AND my carrier bag. All of these were neatly stored before departure. Oh, there is also space for you to put your shoes during the long flight so you can sit like as if you are sitting on your sofa at home. There were plenty of in-flight magazines and newspapers (both Sri Lankan and Western) for passengers.
 
SriLankan also provide a luxury amenity kit bag on long-haul flights. Toothpaste by Colgate and a real proper toothbrush is provided. Luxury hand creams and moistening creams are provided by Crabtree & Evelyn.   
 
SriLankan logo and livery: 
 
The initial livery consisted of red stripes on a white fuselage, the tail being a solid red and sporting the corporate logo, a stylised peacock. This was the sole livery of the airline for nearly two decades, from 1979 to 1998. After SriLankan Airlines began a decade-long partnership with Emirates, the livery was changed into a much simpler one, with an all-white fuselage, covered by blue 'SriLankan' titles, and the tail adorned with the corporate logo.
 
Some aircraft have tourism advertisements on the rear part. In May 2014 an Airbus A330 in special Oneworld livery was delivered to commemorate the airline's establishment as an Oneworld member. Newly delivered aircraft are adorned with a blue under-belly bearing the tourism advertisement- "Visit Sri Lanka" in white.

Route: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport to Jinan Yaoqiang Airport

Departure date of flight: May 11, 2015, 20.35

Flight number: SC1152

Flight duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Cabin: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Boeing 737-800
 
Punctuality of the flight:
 
This short-haul flight departed on time from Hangzhou.
 
Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- I only had hand luggage.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

No check in issues. Everything went perfectly smoothly at check-in at Hangzhou Airport.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Herbal Chinese tea, orange juice and some other drinks, including tea and coffee. 

Comments regarding the first meal:

For this short-haul flight, we were served with a hot-meal (vegetarian option only- with tofu, rice and vegetables).
 
Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered before (orange juice and water), during, and after the meal. Plenty of milk, coffee, and tea.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

None

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew seemed proud to work for Shandong Airlines, and provide a very warm and friendly service.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

Shandong Airlines fleet consists only of Boeing 737 aircraft, with a variety of new Boeing 737-700/800/900NGs. All of these aircraft come in the following configuration:
 
Economy Class seats have a pitch of 32 inches, and a width of 18 inches
First Class seats have a pitch of 38 inches, and a width of 21 inches (some aircraft an only Economy Class seating policy).

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Route: Beijing Capital Airport to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 22:00 on the 9 May, 2015
 
Flight Number: CA1708

Flight duration: 1 hour 55 minutes (delayed by two hours due to heavy traffic in Beijing)

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Airbus A320

Punctuality of the flight:
 
As is normally expected in Beijing, the flight was delayed by over two hours due to the traffic and the weather conditions en-route to Hangzhou. On top of that, out gate was also changed at the last minute without much information. It has become such as common occurrence that hardly anyone complains (and that, too, at an airport as Beijing, which is notorious for having delays and being part of bad weather conditions).

Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

This was one of the last flights into Hangzhou Airport- we arrived at 2am…since the airport is way out of the city, so there are no night-time curfews (as is the case with most airports in China).
 
The journey from the airport to downtown Hangzhou (well, Binjiang) gets the taxi to be dragged along the empty, and sometimes dusty/rocky, roads. Instead of waiting for an official taxi, I decided to take the plunge and chose to accept an offer of 90RMB from a private taxi (normally, it should cost around 120RMB (£12, US$18). The private taxi may not match up UBER, but it had no seatbelts, and he drove at around 90mph in the dark lanes from the airport to my home in Binjiang in under 15 minutes (THAT would be deemed impossible with a normal metered taxi…it usually takes around 45 minutes on a normal day and around 30 minutes on an empty road).

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Drinks, excluding alcohol, included tea and coffee were served. The beautiful thing about flying with Air China domestically is that they are one of the few airline companies in China that offer sugar and milk powder separately.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Just a strawberry muffin and a simple bun was offered.
 
Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered after the meal. No alcohol was served, but plenty of milk, coffee and tea. Loved it.
 
Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

The IFE system was only activated once during this flight- prior to take off (for the safety demonstration). The PVT screens are not placed behind every seat but overhead.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were professional and polite. Just a normal flight, without any incidents. The level of English spoken was good, too. This was the last flight of the day for the crew (they, too, had been working since 5am (I started at around 4am)). If anyone thought the life of a pilot or cabin crew is one of luxury then you are wrong - well, it can be fun but they make it look fun and enjoyable- the reality is much more worse (just ask the cabin crew who work for Qatar Airways, for example).

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

This Airbus A321 aircraft for Air China has a seat configuration of 3-3 with an all economy seat set up. The plane was very clean and had the latest IFE system installed. The staff were professional and could speak some adequate amounts of English.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best):10 

SriLankan Airlines (marketed as SriLankan) is the national flag carrier of Sri Lanka. It is headquartered in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, with its hub at Bandaranaike International Airport. SriLankan operates directs flights to Asian, European and Middle East destinations along with its code share routes which include to destinations in USA, Oceania as well. It became a member of the Oneworld alliance in 2014.
 
SriLankan was established in 1978 as Air Lanka, following the termination of operations of the original Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Ceylon. Following its partial acquisition in 1998 by Emirates it was re-branded to "SriLankan" and introduced the current livery. After ending the Emirates partnership, it continues using its re-branded name and logo.
 
As of March 2015, SriLankan Airlines serves 96 destinations in 49 countries, including codeshares and remains the largest foreign carrier into the Maldives, with over 30 weekly flights between Male and Colombo. SriLankan Airlines currently operates 258 weekly flights to 33 destinations in 20 countries, covering the main cities of the Europe, Middle East, India, South East Asia and the Far East.
 
I tried and tested the regional Business Class seat on this short-haul flight from Singapore Changi International Airport to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport on the Airbus A321-200 aircraft:
 
Route: SINGAPORE (SIN) to COLOMBO (CMB)

Departure date and time of flight: May 2015, 09:45

Flight number: UL307 (Srilankan 307)
 
ATC Callsign: Srilankan

Flight duration: 3 Hours 50 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: AIRBUS A321-231 (two aircraft of this type in service)
 
Aircraft registration: 4R-ABR
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 3636
 
First flight: 5th September 2008
 
Aircraft delivery date: 29th September 2014 (from Qatar Airways)
 
Aircraft engine types: Two x IAE V2533-A5
 
Frequent flyer programme: SriLankan FlySmiles Program
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Business Class: 16 angle flat seats in a 2-2 configuration
Economy Class: 153 seats in a 3-3 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight/route taken:
 
This early morning flight departed from Singapore on time and landed on time on a hot morning in Colombo. After departing Singapore, the flight made its way over the south of Malaysia, and onto Thailand’s south-west coast before making a clear run towards Sri Lanka over the Andaman Sea. Spectacular lush green forests and tea plantations of this tiny, yet remarkably beautiful, culturally rich and vibrant country, can be seen very clearly from the air. It is a truly mesmerizing scene, and one that no one should miss if they ever fly over Sri Lanka.

Any baggage issues:
 
Checking in luggage at Singapore Changi is an easy and smooth affair. You can check here for more information in regards to the baggage requirements.
 
Lounge experience at Singapore Airport:
 
Business and First Class passengers flying with SriLankan Airlines use the Dnata Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport. The lounge is located at Level 3 after the departures security. There is plenty of food and beverages available. The area is reasonably clean and quite compact - though it does not feel as fresh and spacious as the one provided by some of the other airlines (Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific etc.). My advice is that if you don’t like sitting around doing nothing, then hand your belongings in to the staff at the lounge and go and explore the shopping areas at the terminal. Singapore Airport is a heaven when it comes to Duty Free shopping, as there are shops selling just about everything under the sun. Plus, you’ll never feel as if you are actually at an airport, because there are palm trees and other lish green placed around the airport. Therefore, it gives that feeling of being in a large shopping mall rather than at the airport- the only exception being you don’t people carrying luggage at a shopping mall.
 
In-flight magazine: Serendib is the in-flight magazine for Sri Lankan Airlines
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Passengers’ in Business Class are offered hot lemon scented towels prior to departure. This is followed by a drinks service, which consists of some of the world’s finest wines, and champagne. In Business Class, the cabin crew offer various kinds of drinks prior to departure:

• Fresh orange juice
• Mineral water
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (founded in 1818)

 
I opted for the orange juice on this occasion. SriLankan have recently revamped their inflight product offering. The cabins give a very fresh and airy feeling once you are on-board, and everything, including the seats and the toilets are very clean as well.
 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Around about 35 minutes after departure, drinks were served from the trolley.
 
There was also the celebrated SriLankan complimentary bar service for Business Class passengers, including various alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks. Ground coffee, and decaffeinated coffee or tea (English earl grey, Ceylon, and Chinese green tea) were also available. Tea was provided by well-known SriLankan company, Dilmah (naturally). The tea? This was the BEST tea I’ve had on a plane for a long time. I have never been on any of the other South Asian carriers (Air India, PIA, JetAirways or Biman), and maybe the Indian airlines provide a better tasting tea…but the cuppa I got on SriLankan was the best most authentic tea experience (really, it was!). If I was to fly somewhere and wanted my cup of tea then I would choose SriLankan any day.  
 
Comments regarding the breakfast meal:
 
Instead of eating a Western breakfast, I opted for a traditional and authentic dining experience for breakfast – a vegetarian dish
 
Vegetarian choice of aloo mutter masala and steward eggplant with tomato served with plain paratha. Very scrumptious, well-cooked, and prepared with love and affection to provide a truly authentic experience in the air. I can say that I tasted the BEST South Asian in-flight meal ever. The chefs really know how to create a top quality dining experience in the air.
 
Accompanying the main dish was a bowl of thick and delicious natural yogurt, a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit, and a selection of warm bread from the basket.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

This aircraft features AVOD (Audio and Video OnDemand) with every seat having access to a personal video screen, offering various audio programming options. There is a wide selection of movies, TV and music to choose from.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew appear to have been trained very well, and seem to know how to handle all kinds of situations. The trainers must have had everything thrown at them, ranging from rowdy passengers to those having a nervous breakdown. These people are amazing. They really do pamper you.
 
Now, I am not saying this because I was travelling in Business Class, but the crew were very friendly and hospitable to ALL the passengers, and showed a genuine smile whenever. Like I said before that I have not been on any of the South Asian carriers, and I have read horror stories of passengers experiencing delayed flights, bad customer service, blocked toilets etc. But, contrary to belief, I experienced none of that. The plane was very clean, the food was out of this world delicious, and the customer service was authentic, genuine and just awesome. From my experience, flying with SriLankan was no different to that of flying with Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. And the most important part of all? The cabin crew welcome the passengers by saying Ayubowan (palms clasped and head bowed....Ayubowan means 'May You Live Long'), and also say a thank you in a similar fashion before landing. It is something that Western airlines can learn from. Trust me, believe me, I have come across some cabin crew on some of the best airlines in the world (Oman Air, Etihad, British Airways, KLM, Cathay Pacific to name a few), that have had an attitude problem of some sort or another with passengers (we all have our good and bad days), but the hospitality shown by the SriLankan crew was second to none. Just wonderful.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
The new Business Class regional cabin is fitted with the spanking new fully angle flat seat, which has a pitch of 45 inches and a width of 20.
 
There is certainly plenty of space available. I had my camera bag (which is annoyingly big), plus my laptop (I seldom have to sleep on a daytime flight so I end up working!), AND my carrier bag. All of these were neatly stored before departure. Oh, there is also space for you to put your shoes during the long flight so you can sit like as if you are sitting on your sofa at home. There were plenty of in-flight magazines and newspapers (both Sri Lankan and Western) for passengers.

There was no amenity kit provided for this short-haul regional flight.
 
SriLankan logo and livery: 
 
The initial livery consisted of red stripes on a white fuselage, the tail being a solid red and sporting the corporate logo, a stylised peacock. This was the sole livery of the airline for nearly two decades, from 1979 to 1998. After SriLankan Airlines began a decade-long partnership with Emirates, the livery was changed into a much simpler one, with an all-white fuselage, covered by blue 'SriLankan' titles, and the tail adorned with the corporate logo.
 
Some aircraft have tourism advertisements on the rear part. In May 2014 an Airbus A330 in special Oneworld livery was delivered to commemorate the airline's establishment as a Oneworld member. Newly delivered aircraft are adorned with a blue under-belly bearing the tourism advertisement- "Visit Sri Lanka" in white.

Route: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport to Beijing Capital Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 07:30 on the May 9, 2015, 2015
 
Flight Number: MU5131

Flight duration: 1 hour 55 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Airbus A320

Punctuality of the flight:
 
The flight departed on time and landed on time.

Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

This was one of the first flights out of Hangzhou Airport. As opposed to the big airports in China, Hangzhou airport is relatively quieter in the mornings. Because this was an early morning flight, I had to take a taxi from Binjiang District (around a 30-minute drive away in the southern part of Hangzhou), and if you are not connected through an app with the Kwai Didi (mobile app used to call for a taxi), then it is almost impossible to get a taxi in the morning. All the roads around the outskirts of the town are empty…not a whisker in sight (kind of reminded me of my time when I used to live in Suzhou- you could end up waiting for an hour or more for a taxi!). The taxi fare from downtown Hangzhou to the airport is around 120RMB (£12, US$18), any more than that, then you know you’ve been conned!
 
The journey from downtown Hangzhou to the airport gets the taxi to be dragged along the empty, and sometimes dusty/rocky, roads. Keep the window open and try to breathe the ‘fresh’ air if you can!

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Drinks, excluding alcohol, included tea and coffee were served. The beautiful thing about flying with China Eastern is that they are one of the few airline companies in China that offer sugar and milk powder separately.

Comments regarding the first meal:

A delicious helping of pork and congee (hot meal) was served straight after take-off. This was accompanied with a tray containing an orange slice, a simple empty bun and a slice of ham, along with two seeded-olives.
 
Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered after the meal. No alcohol was served, but plenty of milk, coffee and tea. Loved it.
 
Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

The IFE system was only activated once during this flight- prior to take off (for the safety demonstration). The PVT screens are not placed behind every seat but overhead.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were professional and polite. Just a normal flight, without any incidents. The level of English spoken was good, too.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

This Airbus A321 aircraft for China Eastern has a seat configuration of 3-3 with an all economy seat set up. The plane was very clean and had the latest IFE system installed. The staff were professional and could speak some adequate amounts of English.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best):10 

Route: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport to Hong Kong Airport (Chep Lap Kok)

Departure date and time of flight: 08:10am in May 2015
 
Flight number: HX129

Flight duration: Two hours 15 minutes

Cabin: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: Airbus A320-214
 
Aircraft registration: B-LPL
 
Aircraft serial number: 6003
 
Engines: Two x CFMI CFM56-5B4/P
 
First flight: 28/02/2014
 
Airline callsign: Bauhinia
 
Loyalty program: Fortune Wings Club

Punctuality of the flight:
 
The flight departed on time from Hangzhou. For me, it was a bit of a sad feeling because this was my last flight out of Hangzhou, and I was not sure when I will return. The Business Class lounge at Hangzhou is shared by many international airlines, including KLM, Qatar Airways, Eva Air, Thai Airways and many others that fly direct to this beautiful city. Hangzhou has been a city that is close to my heart and I will no doubt miss it a lot. But, for me the time had come to personally move on and go back to the UK for personal reasons.
 
The nice thing about the flight was that as we departed, I was presented with some of the best views of the city that has effectively ben my hoe for the past year. I could clearly see West Lake and Binjiang District, as we made our way towards south of China and towards Hong Kong.

Any baggage issues:
 
No issues. In Business Class each passenger can carry up to three pieces weighing a total of 30KG.

Comments on check-in and any issues:

The check-in staff at Hong Kong Airport were polite, and very professional. There was no problem what so ever.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Business Class passengers were offered a choice of champagne, orange juice, tomato juice, and apple juice out of a hand tray service provided by the crew members. A choice of either sparkling or still mineral water is also offered. 
 
All Business Class passengers are handed out hot hand towels just prior to the meal service. The towels have a lemon scent.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Passengers in Business Class are offered a detailed dinner menu (the same menu is provided for flights leaving around lunch time as well).
 
Main course:
 
There were two choices for the main dish. These included:

• Stir fried beef and bean curd sheet with satay sauce with vegetable rice and Chinese vegetables,
• Grilled chicken with red wine sauce with roasted parsley potato, with western vegetables

 
I opted for the grilled chicken – poultry always tastes better as airplane food because it does not lose its taste even at high altitude in a pressurised cabin. The chicken breast had a generous covering layer of the tomato concasse, which made the meat melt in the mouth with each bite. This dish was not just about the chicken but also about those lovely boiled baby carrots and vegetables (which were fresh, unlike in some other airlines were you get some food that has been in the freezer for the past three days or something!). A neat sprinkling of salt and pepper goes fine with the meal (both are provided in small 3D square ceramic cubes that have the Hong Kong Airlines logo on them (the lotus flower). The main meal was provided with a selection of bread rolls and pastries from the bread basket.
 
Dessert:
 
Pistachios and coconut cream cake.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks was offered after the meal. This included coffee and tea (green tea and black tea).  

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

Plenty of offerings of tea and coffee throughout the short flight.

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

On the Airbus A320-214, Hong Kong Airlines provides a mobile 10.6 inch PTV screen in Business Class and a 10.6 screen in Economy Class as well. Economy Class seats have the screens embedded at the back of the seats while passengers in the Business Class cabins have their screens neatly tucked away in the armrest and can be pulled out wherever you want. A330-300 and A330-200V feature 15.5” TV monitors, and the A330-200 features 10.5” TV monitors for your viewing pleasure.  
 
Noise cancellation headphones are provided to every passenger in Business Class, and normal headphone are provided in Economy Class. In Business Class there is also the provision of purple slippers and a cotton blanket.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The staff were very proud of their brand image and represented their airline at the highest level possible. When under a situation of high pressure, the staff seemed to act with professionalism and integrity.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

Hong Kong Airlines has an emerging brand that is beginning to be globally recognised. For A320-214, Business Class cabin accommodates eight passengers in a 2-2 seat design, while Economy Class cabin caters for 259 passengers in a 3-3 setting.
 
The seats in Economy Class on the Airbus A320-214 have a pitch of 32 inches recline, and are 17.5 inches wide.
 
Business Class seats on the Airbus A320-214 have a pitch of 60 inches recline, and are 20 inches wide.
 
All the Business Class seats come standard with a plug for laptop or mobile phone (though you can only recharge the mobile phone but you cannot use it!), and an inbuilt massage system (the seat vibrates), Hong Kong Airlines are very proud of their brand image and have encrusted the lotus lower logo onto every product that they have on the aircraft. Lovely purple and red colours adorn the seats and the interior of the cabins.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

United Airlines (UA) is an international award-winning scheduled airline registered and based in Chicago, U.S. United Airlines serves 375 with a well-developed Asian network. The airline serves a number of gateway cities in North America and Europe, with easy connections with its Star Alliance and codeshare partners, Singapore Airlines between Singapore and the U.S. via either Hong Kong or Tokyo. The airline employees over 84,000 people. United operates out of nine airline hubs located in Houston, Chicago, Newark/New York, Denver, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Guam, and Tokyo.
 
Route: HONG KONG (HKG) to SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT (SIN)

Departure date and time of flight: May 2015, 21:55

Flight number: UA895 (United 895 heavy)
 
ATC Callsign: United

Flight duration: 3 Hours

Class: BusinessFirst Class

Aircraft type: BOEING 777-224ER (55 aircraft of this type in service)
 
Aircraft registration: N78001
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 1222
 
First flight: 8th November 1998
 
Aircraft name: Gordon M. Bethune
 
Aircraft delivery date (from Continental to United): 27th November 2010
 
Aircraft engine types: Two x GE GE90-92B
 
Frequent flyer program:
 
MilagePlus is the frequent flyer program from United Airlines. You can click here to find more details.
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Global First Class: 8 open suites with 180 degrees recline (1-1-1-1 configuration)
BusinessFirst Class: 40 flatbed seats with 180 degrees recline (2-4-2 configuration)
Economy Plus Class: 110 standard seats with 5.0 recline in a 3-3-3 configuration,
Economy Class: 108 standard seats with 4.0 recline in a 3-3-3 configuration
 
Economy Plus is offered on this aircraft type. Economy Plus is not a separate class of service but is standard economy with up to 5 inches of extra legroom. These seats are located nearer to the front of the aircraft and passengers in this section are served first. Charges for these seats will depend on routing and may be purchased at the time of booking or check-in.
 
Punctuality of the flight/route taken:
 
The flight departed on time, and landed on time in Singapore, providing nice views across over Vietnam and Malaysia as we made our way to the tiny city-state.

Any baggage issues:
 
Since this was a connecting flight (I had flown in from Hangzhou to Hong Kong, and was on my way to Singapore, so I did not need to check-in at Hong Kong). You can read more about the baggage rules regarding United here.
 
Lounge experience at Hong Kong:
 
United has a dedicated Club Lounge at Hong Kong airport, located on the 2nd floor after security check. The lounge provides panoramic views across to the departures hall and to the tarmac. The lounge is not as flamboyant as other lounges provided by airlines outside of their home bases0, say for example, the ones provided by the likes of Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways; however, it does provide all the creature comforts including showers, and food & drinks.
 
In-flight magazine:

Hemisphere is the in-flight magazine of United Airlines.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Passengers’ in BusinessFirst Class are offered hot lemon scented towels prior to departure. This is followed by a drinks service, which consists of some of the world’s finest wines, and champagne. In BusinessFirst Class, the cabin crew offer five kinds of drinks prior to departure:

• Fresh orange juice
• Mineral water
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (founded in 1818)

 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Around about 35 minutes after departure, drinks were served from the trolley along with the helping of the huge Macadamia nuts, and salted almonds on bone china plates. I opted for another glass of that fine Champagne (Billecart-Salmon Brut), and also the piper-heidsieck Brut.
 
Comments regarding the first meal:

For the first meal, a choice of four entrées were provided– all selected from a superb range of Asian, Middle Eastern and Western dishes.

Meals are served on a low trolley that gives the passenger an inviting eye-level choice of what's on offer and the airline is also introducing new food service items with a more Asian feel in their BusinessFirst Class. All food in the BusinessFirst Class cabins in United Airlines is served on elegant bone china tableware specially designed and exclusively produced by Narumi of Japan.
 
Starters:
 
Mixed salad with French vinaigrette
 
Main Course:
 
The only option available for this short-haul 3-hour flight was chicken with rice and vegetables. It was a delicious meal, served complete with bread rolls from the basket, and a small pot of mango sorbet.
 
Cheese & Dessert:
 
A selection of Blue d’Auvergne, red Leicester, Taleggio with cabernet paste
 
A selection of fresh seasonal fruit
 
New York Cheesecake
 
Comments regarding the after meal drinks and in-flight snacks:

A second round of drinks was offered after the meal. This included coffee and tea (green tea and earl grey tea). I ordered a cup of coffee. Should any passenger want wine or champagne (even if it is the morning!), then these drinks are served in exclusively designed glassware.

Comments regarding the second meal:

None
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

An AC power port is located at each seat in Global First and BusinessFirst, there are two outlets for each set of triple seats and one outlet for each set of double seats in Economy.
 
You can click here to read more.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Majority of the crew on this flight were locally based in Hong Kong or Singapore. However, there were a few exceptions. One of the male flight attendants in the BusinessFirst Class cabin seemed to be very tired. He looked to be around in this 50s, and was clearly tired and perhaps overworked? What was not pleasing was seeing him go to sleep on a passenger seat next to the galley (no, it was not a crew rest seat). It came clear to me that the rest of the crew were trying their best to make sure that he did not present a bad image to the airline. Other than that the crew were very professional. It clearly came across to me that the cabin crew of Asian origin were beautiful very friendly and customer oriented and young.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
BusinessFirst is offered on all wide-body aircraft (with the exception of domestically configured 777-200s), as well as all internationally configured Boeing 757-200s. BusinessFirst passengers check in at separate counters and can use priority security screening where available. In-flight service includes pre-departure beverages, table linens and multi course meals designed by United's Congress of Chefs on international flights.
 
Passengers are also given priority with boarding and baggage handling and access to the United Club and other airline lounges. The longest domestic routes (such as the 9-10 hour long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii) utilize BusinessFirst equipped aircraft, however these flights are sold as United First but do not allow for complimentary premier upgrades. All BusinessFirst seats recline 180 degrees into a full, flat bed. On all 747 aircraft and legacy United aircraft (registration ending in -UA), the seats alternate facing forward and backwards.
 
On legacy Continental aircraft, and on all 787 aircraft, all seats face forward. Other domestic routes, especially hub-to-hub service and certain non "United p.s." transcontinental flights regularly see internationally configured aircraft with BusinessFirst (and sometimes GlobalFirst) for operational reasons (such as transferring international aircraft from one hub to another). While the physical seats and entertainment are the same as on international flights, the service, catering and other amenities are the same as in domestic first class. Unlike routes marketed as "BusinessFirst" and United p.s., these flights are eligible for complimentary premier upgrades.
 
United Airlines logo and livery: 
 
The pre-merger United logo, commonly nicknamed the "tulip", was first developed in the early 1970s after the airline commissioned designer Saul Bass to develop a new brand image. The logo skilfully represented the airline's monogram as well as a modernized version of the airline's shield logo, which had been adopted in the 1930s, but fell out of use by the late 1960s. The ribbon-like rendering has also been said to symbolize the motion of flight.
 
The Saul Bass livery was updated in 1988 to feature larger lettering on the fuselage, with the rainbow stripes on the side moved down to accommodate the new space.
 
The next livery update came in the early 1990s: the CKS Group-designed "Battleship", a grey fuselage with dark blue underbelly and engines, with blue stripes on the vertical stabilizer, a smaller "tulip" on the vertical stabilizer A smaller, more refined version of the rainbow stripes from the previous livery were incorporated as well. This livery debuted on January 11, 1993. In 2004, the Pentagram-developed "Rising Blue" livery featured a white and lighter blue fuselage, along with a cropped version of the tulip on the tail. In 2011, the newly merged United adopted Continental Airlines' 1991 logo, including the Continental globe, which had replaced the Tulip in the 1970s. The current United livery consists of a white upper fuselage, with a gold globe on a blue tailfin, and a gray underbelly. All mainline aircraft are now painted in this livery, save for the airframes listed in special liveries below, which include two retro liveries. Boeing 787 Dreamliners use a modified version of the livery, with a wavy gold stripe painted along both sides of the fuselage.

This airline has a long way to go when it comes to providing excellent customer service. They really need to learn from the likes of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways if they want to be the best (unless, of course, you have the likes of Donald J. Trump managing the airline, then they're not going to get anywhere). 

Route: Shenzhen Boa’an Airport to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 11.50am, May 2015

Flight number: ZH9963 (ICAO callsign: “Shenzhen Air 9963”)

Flight duration: 2 Hours 10 minutes

Class: FIRST CLASS

Aircraft type: AIRBUS A320-232 (70 in service)
 
Aircraft registration: B-1841 (First flight 26th May 2014)
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 5986
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
First Class: 8 seats in a 2-2 configuration on the main deck
Economy Class: 150 seats in a 3-3 configuration
 
Comments on check-in:

Located 32 kilometres in the northwest of Shenzhen, Boa’an International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world, however not busy because the majority of flights are domestic (you can fly to Mauritius with China Southern and a few other exotic destinations, mostly on charter flights). In 2014, the airport handled over 36.2 million passengers; the airport is able to accommodate the largest aircraft in the world, the Airbus A380.
 
The first thing you notice as you enter the terminal is how huge it is. It makes Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport look like a miniature model toy kit.
 
There were no issues regarding the baggage. Passengers travelling First Class with Shenzhen Airlines are allowed a generous 40kg free of charge, and 30 kg (66 lbs) for Business Class. For domestic flights, each piece of checked baggage must not exceed 50 kg (110 lbs). Shenzhen Airlines has a separate dedicated check-in, and a separate security customs from all the other airlines at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport.
 
LOUNGE EXPERIENCE at Shenzhen Airport:
 
Shenzhen Airlines have their own premium lounges dotted around the airport, after security. The lounge can be used by Business and First Class passengers, as well as silver and gold members of the Shenzhen Airlines loyalty program. The lounge has sufficient space for buffet food (Chinese only), comfortable relaxing chairs, electric massage chairs, and a small cinema (25 seats maximum). There are also shower facilities available in all the lounges. There are many options for hot and cold Chinese food and Western food.
 
Punctuality of the flight:
 
Departed on time, and landed on time at Hangzhou. Shenzhen Bao’an Airport was not as busy as I would have imagined. Understandably, Shenzhen is not really a touristy city (it is for work), and the added fact that Hong Kong Airport is just a stone’s throw away – on a clear day you can easily see planes taking off and landing at Hong Kong Airport from Shenzhen.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Hot and cold towels were offered prior to departure in the First Class cabin. First Class passengers are offered a selection of drinks including champagne, apple juice, orange juice and a variety of teas (Chinese and Western). The cabin crew took the orders for the lunch service from all the passengers in the First Class cabin prior to departure.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
The meal service commended with air hostesses handing out hot towels. A selection of fine nuts was offered along with a choice of drink (orange juice, apple juice, and a selection of teas).
 
Comments regarding the main meal:

There were two options for the main hot dish meal:

• Dimsum
• Beef with rice

 
I opted for the traditional Cantonese Dimsum, and vegetables. The Dimsum came with a dumplings (both pork dumplings and noodles). There was also a small plate of creaser salad with seasoning sauce, and a bowl of fresh fruit salad.
 
It was also a nice thing to see a warm cheesecake being served with the main meal.
 
Delicious soft and hard bread rolls were offered from the basket (including garlic bread!). All meals were served on fine bone china, and came with Shenzhen Airlines chopsticks, and Shenzhen Airlines branded stainless steel cutlery.
 
Comments regarding the after meal drinks and in-flight snacks:

Hot and cold drinks were served after the main meal. These included Chinese and Western tea options, as well as soft drinks.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

This Shenzhen Airlines Airbus A320-200 aircraft has no individual TV screens (not even in First Class), only the small screens that pop out for the pre take-off safety video.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were very professional and friendly. Most of the cabin crew for Shenzhen Airlines are natives of the Guangdong Region in China (this is especially true for the cabin crew in First Class or Business Class cabins). The airline management is very particular on how their cabin crew staff should be like. They have to be of a certain weight, and height, and must be acquainted to beauty with a smile (this is what I was informed!). Most of the cabin crew do speak good English (especially those in Business/First Class).  

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
The First Class seats have 58-inch pitch and 20-inch width. The Economy Class seats have a 32-inch pitch, and an 18 inch width. First Class seats feature a reclining angle of 170 degrees. For such a short domestic flight, passengers were offered a pair of luxury cotton slippers, and a thick cotton blanket. The cabin had a pleasant smell, and was very clean. All of the eight seats in the First Class section are covered with a luxury red clothing that comes embedded with the company logo. It creates a sense of comfort, elegance, and belonging to the Chinese culture. It also gives a very warm, fresh, spacious, modern, and touching feeling when you enter the cabin.
 
Shenzhen Airlines have improved quite a lot on most aspects of their aircraft interior. This includes the aircraft seating, the smell of the interior cabin, the cleanliness of the aircraft toilets, and the general positive attitude of the cabin crewmembers. The aircraft which we flew was the latest new aircraft for Shenzhen Airlines.
 
Shenzhen Airlines logo and livery: 
 
The back part of the livery is red, with the front half white. Shenzhen Airlines have recently made a change to make the red area longer, which works well in theory, but in practice it has caused problems with being able to read their titles. The paint scheme puts the airline’s name partially on the white, but also partially on the red and gold striping.
 
The tail sports the “National Roc.” According to the airline’s website this is “the totem aggregating the traditional and modern Chinese cultures. The design is harmonious and the colors of red and gold are gloriously lined with one on the other, agglomerating the soul of the oriental culture. Tallness and straightness, fullness of vitality, are the reflection of progress and prompt response.”
 
I remember when I first arrived in China in 2002, Shenzhen Airlines had a livery consisting of a green tail-fin with an arrow inside a white circle.
 
Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10