China Airlines Business Class Sale from UK

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

My favourite travel agent, Gazelle Travel, have very good deals available with China Airlines right now.

 

The prices are from £1399 return including the KLM connection to Amsterdam.

 

I travel from Glasgow and have just booked two trips, only £1429 each.

 

The offer ends at the end of this month, July 2012.

 

There are some date restrictions.

 

Here is a link to their website.

 

http://www.gazelletr...ations/fareast/

 

Give them a call on 0191 384 7456

 

I have no link to the company apart from being a loyal customer for about 8 years.

Edited July 10, 2012 by The_Fat_Controller

[pattysteve 34]

Sounds like a good price,that however isnt the full story.

 

Most airlines have different seat pitches in business class,ranging from a slightly wider seat and more legroom,to full lie flat type.

 

China airlines vary from 50 to 62 inch pitch,while Etihad are mostly 88 inch pitch.As we all know prices generally depend on space taken.So when a price is quoted check what they are really offering you.

 

Check out all airlines at Seatguru.com.

[darkmancomes 75]

Any travel agents I have spoken to and mention China airlines ask me if I am wise ! and would I seriously travel with them. I have never I stick to Eithad, maybe these traavel agents dont get enough commission from CA.

[Samsonite 181]

Any travel agents I have spoken to and mention China airlines ask me if I am wise ! and would I seriously travel with them. I have never I stick to Eithad, maybe these traavel agents dont get enough commission from CA.

 

You are probably right about the commissions. That or they are getting China Airlines (Tawian) confused with Air China (Communist China).

OTOH, up until ten years ago, China Airlines had a horrible safety record (see, airsafe.com), but after their last fatal accident on 25 May 2002, they have made a major to effort to improve their maintenance and little by litttle their reputation has improved. There has only been one accident in the last 10 years and that was a few years ago, when they lost a brand new Boeing 737-800 in a fire. No one was hurt. I have not read the final accident report, but it sounded like a maintenance error. Boeing's or China Air's fault, I don't know.

The food in business class is not bad and in first class, very good, but in tourist class, well, let's say I've often told them I wasn't hungry.

Edited July 10, 2012 by Samsonite

[wobbly_1 18]

I used to use China Air to Bangkok and it was good value . However the Birmingham to Schipol leg was economy - no great loss you are only in the air 30 mins or so - and the Schipol to Bangkok, whilst called business was actually closer to enhanced economy.

 

At around £750 I wasn't worried - if thats now £1300+ thats differnt.

[Samsonite 181]

If you are a China Air gold card holder, they will often put you in a business class seat, as a courtesy, but serve you tourist class food.

If you buy a business class ticket you get business class service. It isn't Singapore Air, but it isn't bad either.

:)

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

The aircraft used on the AMS-BKK flights no longer have First Class.

 

The new Business Class seats are not the biggest in the world but suit me fine, as does connecting via Amsterdam.

 

The on-board service is excellent, a nice mix of Taiwanese and Thai crew

 

As mentioned, many people mix them up with Air China, who are a completely different kettle of fish.

 

They even have at least one ex-BA captain flying with them and I asked him about their culture and safety record and he said he was happy to be flying with them and that they had "learnt their lessons".

[Samsonite 181]

The aircraft used on the AMS-BKK flights no longer have First Class...

 

That is a long haul to not have a First Class cabin.

Are these the newly refurbished Boeing 747-400s or the (then) brand new ones they received in 2005. The last four or five passenger versions of the 747-400 ever built were delivered to China Air around that time. The last 747-400 Freighter was delivered in December of 2009, but the first of the brand new 747-8s, both passenger and freighter started deliveries earlier this year.

Edited July 11, 2012 by Samsonite

[Guest Fatboyfat]

I find them OK to an extent, but the product on offer at that lower price is more akin to a good "premium economy" than a modern day biz class. Baggage allowance is low too (20 kg).

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

Samsonite; the aircraft on the BKK-AMS route are newly refurbished cabins with 70 Business seats and 319 Economy seats, all with personal video on demand, not sure of the manufacturing dates, but B18203, B18205, B18251 and N168CL are the aircraft that have the new cabins according to the CAL website.

 

Fatboyfat: have you tried the new seats? Only been on the route for less than a year. Lounge access is also a bonus for me, as quite often I have a few hours to kill at AMS. You can also use the KLM lounge on the way home, just show your used C class boarding pass!

According to my eTicket, I get 30kg of baggage, but maybe that is because I have a CAL Gold card.

Edited July 11, 2012 by The_Fat_Controller

[jacko 8,815]

Samsonite; the aircraft on the BKK-AMS route are newly refurbished cabins with 70 Business seats and 319 Economy seats, all with personal video on demand, not sure of the manufacturing dates, but B18203, B18205, B18251 and N168CL are the aircraft that have the new cabins according to the CAL website.

 

Fatboyfat: have you tried the new seats? Only been on the route for less than a year. Lounge access is also a bonus for me, as quite often I have a few hours to kill at AMS. You can also use the KLM lounge in the way home, just show your used C class boarding pass!

Didn't know I could use the KLM lounge on the way back... wish I had as the flight and facilities of KLM economy to Manchester were shit. Sometimes with quite a wait.

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

jacko. I only found this out in February when I was chatting to someone on board coming back from BKK.

 

I have paid for quite a few smoked eel rolls and glasses of Heineken at the Cone Bar in the past.

[Samsonite 181]

Samsonite; the aircraft on the BKK-AMS route are newly refurbished cabins with 70 Business seats and 319 Economy seats, all with personal video on demand, not sure of the manufacturing dates, but B18203, B18205, B18251 and N168CL are the aircraft that have the new cabins according to the CAL website....

 

Thank you for the information. Very interesting as N168CL is a U.S. registration number and Wells Fargo Bank is listed as the owner.

Edited July 11, 2012 by Samsonite

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

One week left on the offer !