SHANGHAI AIRLINES (Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, FM9309) BOEING 757-200- FIRST CLASS

8/31/2012

Cleared for take-off! Ready for departure at Shanghai Hongqiao: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Shanghai Airlines

Shanghai Airlines, service with a smile!: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Route: Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 08:30am in July 2012

Flight Number: FM9309

Flight duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Class: First Class

Aircraft type: Boeing 757-200

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight departed around 20 minutes late due to the morning rush hour in Shanghai. We were behind a whole host of big jets such as an Air China 747, China Southern 777s, and even Hainan Airlines A330s. Rush hour at Hongqiao can be hectic.

The flight route provided some fabulous views across to the horizon, and even had splendid views when coming into land at Guangzhou.

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 Hongqiao airport.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Just drinks (non-alcoholic), and including tea and coffee.

Comments regarding the first meal:

For this two-hour flight, a choice of Chinese or Western breakfast was offered in the First Class cabin. I opted for the Western breakfast.

A tray containing hot dishes including:

1.     Oats porridge blended with corn cereal
2.     A warm omelette, boiled carrots, a soggy piece of broccoli, sautéed potatoes and a small slice of bacon.
3.     A warm croissant from the bread basket.
4.     A pot of yogurt
5.     A pot of freshly cut exotic fruit (dragon fruit, melon and water melon)
6.     Anchor butter and strawberry jam

The above dishes were accompanied with tea or coffee.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered before (orange juice and water), during, and after the meal. No alcohol, but plenty of milk, coffee and tea. There was also apple juice as well.

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 Shanghai Airlines and were very welcoming. The passengers in First Class were kept well informed of any delays, and even the weather situation in Shanghai.

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

The ageing Boeing 757 aircraft belonging to Shanghai Airlines had a seat configuration of 2-2 in First Class, and a configuration of 3-3 in Economy Class. The plane was not clean and the toilets showed signs of an aged plane- quite easily in fact as it had the old 1980s style toilet as opposed to the new toilet that most modern aircraft have.

Economy Class seats have a pitch of 32 inches, and a width of 18 inches (139 seats)
First Class seats have a pitch of 38 inches, and a width of 21 inches (20 seats).

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

About Airline PR

This is a special section on Airline Branding, and Airline Public Relations written by me on all the flights I have been fortunate enough to have been on. These are not records taken from somewhere else, but are actual flights I have been on. Most of the flight trips are officially sponsored by the airline companies in order to promote their certain routes, and aircraft. Airline promotion and PR related work in the aviation industry is one of my expertise.

This section of the website will grow in time, and will include detailed reviews of the in-flight meals, the airline seats, the comfort of the overall trip, the customer service both at the check-in-desk as well as by the Cabin Crew; and how good the assistance has been by the airline staff. All the reviews are honest, fair, firm, and non-biased.

I am proud to have worked with some of the largest PR agencies, and some of the most powerful airline brands in the world, including but not limited to: Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, Air China, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Air Malta, Air France, KLM, CityJet, and many others.

All the flights I have taken in my life are documented on this weblog except for any flights that were taken before 2003. These included Syrian Airlines (747SP in 1985), British Airways (2003 to Dubai), Aeroflot (IL-62, and IL-86 in 1989) and a few others. I regret not documenting them because I never thought of doing that back in those days.

I am hoping to bring to life the joy of reviewing airlines.

Note Regarding Photos

For all media reviews, special permission has been granted from the airline authorities, and even from airport authorities for the photos/videos taken on-board the aircraft and on the ramp because it is strictly forbidden to take photos and videos on and around the aircraft without permission.

The purpose of this blog is to provoke thought, inform, intrigue and amaze you.

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Navjot Singh at a Chinese Military Airfield

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Turkish Airlines