🇨🇳Domestic travel in comfort - China Eastern Airlines MU5409 Business Class Review Shanghai Hongqiao-Chengdu Shuangliu

I took this flight on 2nd Nov 2021.

Most of my CEAIR frequent flyer miles will expire at the end of the year. Besides, I haven't travelled for a year and a half. So I decide to redeem my points for the CEAIR flight between Shanghai Hongqiao and Sichuan. I spent 20,000 Eastern Miles on my one-way Business Class flight between Shanghai Hongqiao and Chengdu Shuangliu. The flight is on an Airbus A350-900, which means I'm enjoying the lie-flat business class seat.

My return flight is from Chongqing to Shanghai Hongqiao in business class on China Eastern Airlines' Airbus A330-300. However, due to the local Covid resurgence in Chengdu and Chongqing, I later decided to return home earlier than planned on Air China from Chengdu to Hangzhou (which you'll see in my post).
As well as 20,000 Eastern Miles, I had to pay 50 CNY (10.75 AUD) for the airport construction levy for this flight. I also took out Covid Isolation Reimbursement Insurance, which cost me 40 CNY (8.6 AUD). You might ask, Steve, why don't you fly directly between Ningbo and Chengdu on China Eastern Airlines? Well, if I have to spend the same amount of frequent flyer miles to get to the same destination, why would I spend them on a reward ticket operated by a narrow-body jet that only offers domestic business class seats?

I take the G7534 high-speed train from Ningbo to Shanghai Hongqiao in the morning.

The service is operated by two CR400AF high-speed trains, which are linked together.

The second class (economy) cabin has a standard 2-3 configuration.

Arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Then on to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2.

After almost four years, I get to experience the airport again.

Today I have access to a special check-in area as I am flying business class.

The check-in is extremely efficient and there is no waiting at all.

The whole terminal looks the same after four years except for the opening of the 21m VIP lounge.

Walk past this footpath.

There are two 21m lounges at Hongqiao Airport. The one on the left is V21N, which is operated by the airport. The V21S lounge on the right is operated by China Eastern.

Once you are inside the lounge, you need to walk to the end of the corridor to meet the receptionists.

On the left side of the corridor there are some nice china items on display.

After the staff checked my boarding pass, I went to the buffet area of the lounge. It's not mealtime yet, so there wasn't much food on offer. We have steamed yams, fried bacon and fried broccoli.

Steamed egg, edamame and steamed yam.

MU Noodles is the airline's signature food. The noodles are so famous that the company has even opened a shop in downtown Shanghai.

Here you'll find mineral water, soft drinks and herbal tea, as well as several types of tea that you can brew yourself.

Milk, beer and fruit juice are also available.

Some pre-packed sandwiches, they're just edible, the taste...

Some steamed dim sum.

This lounge is a bit unique, it's not airside. There is a separate security line inside the lounge.

The viewpoint is more of a common thing in major airports in western countries, I think this viewpoint inside the 21m lounge is one of the few airport viewpoints in mainland China.

A Boeing 777-300ER of China Eastern Airlines.

A Juneyao Airlines Boeing 787-9 with Chinese peony livery.

At the moment, I'm the only occupant of this fantastic viewpoint.

The lounge is very spacious, with plenty of seating and good lighting.

Well, a LEGO replica of CEAIR's plane?

The decoration and design is much better than the lounge CEAIR used before.

You can order freshly brewed coffee from this counte

Just something to eat before the flight.

When it's time to board, I go through the VIP security check, take the lift downstairs and I'm already in the domestic departure area. The security check is a piece of cake, it's extremely efficient.

My flight today is being operated by this three-year-old China Eastern Airlines Airbus A350-900 with registration number B-305X.

Biometric verification has replaced humans at the boarding gate.

The flight just has arrived from Chengdu.

I'm flying in business class today, so I turn left and board the plane.

Two airbridges are used simultaneously.

The plane has 4 classes: Luxury Business, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

Business class is in a 1-2-1 configuration, a staggered, fully enclosed business class suite. If you want a window seat, you must choose an even-row seat; odd-row seats are closer to the aisle.

This is what the business class suite looks like, with a small stowage compartment to your left, a reading light and a lamp, a power socket, a USB port, a headphone socket and an NFC credit card reader.

The flight attendant comes to hand out the menu. It still exists, but it is simplified and disposable.

A hot towel is provided.

Come on, these inferior headphones shouldn't be used in business class... There is also a strand of hair inside the headphones' packaging. WTF

The blanket.

A pillow.

A welcome drink is offered. I opt for the orange juice. It tastes slightly sour and has orange flesh in it, I think it is 100% orange juice rather than an orange drink.

Let's see what‘s for lunch today.

A wide range of drinks and beverages are served in Business Class.

A pair of cloth slippers.

The safety demonstration video is on screen.

The cabin doors are closed, and the plane is about to leave Gate 246.

There are many obvious liquid stains. I later learn that they were left during the quick cleaning at Hongqiao airport. Well, details matter.

This wooden panel houses the remote control for the in-flight entertainment system. The small screen on the remote control is used to synchronise the content on the larger in-flight entertainment system. It shows signs of wear and tear.

The tray table is stored inside and you have to hold down this button to get it out. It is a bit difficult to return it to its original position. I try a couple of times before it finally returns.

The safety information card, local newspaper, magazines and lifejacket are stored in this compartment at the front left of the suite. The space is a little tight.

There is more room for your feet.

Safety information card.

Inside the compartment are two magazines, an air sickness bag, a local newspaper Global Times and the Safety Information Card.

Finally, the plane pushes back and heads for the runway.

This Airbus A350-900 is Wi-Fi enabled. Once the plane has reached cruising altitude, I connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi. Inflight Wi-Fi is still free for business and first class passengers, but economy class passengers must book an economy class fare that includes inflight Wi-Fi. The airline says its wide-body fleet is now using a new satellite that provides higher speeds for in-flight Wi-Fi. I'd say that's not the case for me though, it's still slow. Of course, Wi-Fi is the standard Chinese 'Internet'.

Let's take a look at the in-flight entertainment system. The screen is large.

As soon as the meal service starts, the flight attendant comes to put out the tablecloth and I order a cup of pineapple juice.

Lunch starts with a packet of mixed nuts.

For the main course I choose tomato and bok choy meatball soup with rice. It comes with a potato and smoked salmon salad, a slice of garlic bread, some pickles and a mocha cake with a China International Import Expo (CIIE) theme. The main course isn't as common, but it's hearty.

I find the suite door difficult to close. Also, the instructions only tell you how to open it in an emergency, they don't tell you how to open it normally.

I turn my seat into a completely flat bed and try to take a nap.

Excuse me? Another obvious sign of wear and tear on a 4 year old plane?! The cabin crew noticed me taking photos and videos and asked me if I'm an aviation fan. I said yes, and then he sincerely asked me for feedback and wanted me to do him a favour by writing the review card for him online. Flight attendants are helpful and eager to solve problems and provide good service to customers.

The three-hour flight with China Eastern Airlines comes to an end. The plane parks in a remote location at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, next to a panda-painted Sichuan Airlines Airbus A350-900.

It must have rained in the city a few hours ago, because the ground is still wet.

Two vans take the premium passengers to the domestic arrivals area.

Take my luggage.

With the priority luggage tags, I get my bags quickly. Then I take the metro to my hotel in Wenjiang Chengdu.

Steve Says

Overall, there are some aspects I would like to praise, such as the new, spacious and comfortable lounge at Hongqiao Airport; the fully flat business class suite; the tasty lunch; and the helpful cabin crew.

However, the airlines still need to focus on the details. For example, the hair in the headphone packaging; the obvious wear and tear on the seat.
As I am paying for this flight with 20,000 Eastern Miles instead of almost AUD 400, I think the experience is worth the price.

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