China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy review
Flight Duration: 11 hours 20 minutes
Departure Time: 9:20PM from LHR, lands in Shanghai Pudong at 3:40PM the next day local time
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Flight Number: MU552
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Booking and Value: China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Economy Review
For this China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy review, our onward flights to Sydney came in at around £800 return, which represented very good value. This was the cheapest option available at the time and was priced very closely to China Southern, while coming in way below carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and the Gulf airlines (e.g. Emirates and Qatar Airways).
That pricing made China Eastern a very competitive option if value is your top priority. While the onboard experience did not quite match the best full-service airlines in economy, it still offered a solid long haul product for the price.
Boarding Process and Timing
Boarding at Heathrow was smooth, efficient, and well organised. Passengers were called by group number and the whole process felt calm from the start. The flight also departed on time, which is always a positive when beginning a long journey to the other side of the world!
The cabin crew were polite, smiley, and professional throughout boarding, and that strong first impression continued for the rest of the flight. Service was warm and friendly, and the crew were always happy to help. At one point during the flight, I went up to ask for an apple juice and the crew were more than happy to help in the galley.
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To access VIP airport lounges even with an economy class ticket, compare Priority Pass membership (up to 20% off through our link) versus a one-off lounge booking at LoungePair.com using the buttons below.
After you click Priority Pass, simply scroll down to the ‘Your Journey Starts Here’ section to purchase a lounge membership that suits you. A ‘Standard’ membership is best for more infrequent travellers which allows access to all lounges for a discounted fee (£24 or currency equivalent). ‘Standard Plus’ membership will provide 9 free visits per year, and then at the discounted rate after that. The ‘Prestige’ membership is for the frequent flier, which grants unlimited lounge access for the year!
*Please note, all guests would enter at the discounted entry fee.
Shanghai Hotel Options
If you are flying early, arriving late, or connecting through Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), staying nearby keeps things simple. If you are heading into the city, central Shanghai is best for sightseeing. See below for excellent hotel deals on Booking.com, filtered based on our top picks.
*This section contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Baggage Allowance
Now the baggage allowance on China Eastern was very generous, particularly when considering how cheap their airfares are. In economy class on long-haul international flights, China Eastern allow 2x23kg checked bags, plus a carry on bag weighing 10kg and a small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.
To put this in perspective, most airlines will only allow 1 bag a 23kg, with the carry on item having just a 7kg limit. So this was very impressive from China Eastern.
Seat Comfort on China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Economy
The China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER used on this route is noticeably older, and you could tell that during takeoff. The aircraft was quite loud, especially compared to newer long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, both of which I personally prefer.
That said, once seated, the cabin itself made a much better impression. The aircraft was spotless and clearly very well-maintained. China Eastern has 316 seats across three classes, made up of 6 first class seats, 52 business class seats, and 258 economy seats.
Economy is laid out in a 3-4-3 configuration, with a generous 32 inches of seat pitch, a standard 17 inches of seat width, 6 inches of recline and adjustable headrests. A blanket and pillow were already waiting at each seat, which was nice to see and helped us sleep on this red eye flight.
Apologies for the lack of photos in the post, we were told to stop taking photos and the cabin was very busy, so we were unable to get a cabin shot!
In-Flight Entertainment: China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Economy Review
The entertainment system was decent, but it did feel a little dated. There was a personal screen at every seat and a reasonable selection of films, including a fair number of Western options, but the system was slightly laggy and clearly older than the newest setups now offered by airlines such as Cathay Pacific or China Southern.
Cheap headphones were provided, and they did the job, even if they were nothing special. Wi-Fi was also available onboard, although it is worth noting that it runs through a Chinese server, so some Western apps such as Facebook and Instagram are blocked.
Food and Drink on China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Economy
This was certainly the weakest part of the flight.
Before dinner, there was a full round of drinks, which was a good start. The selection included standard spirits, red wine, white wine, beer, and soft drinks, all served in paper cups. That part felt fairly standard for long haul economy and there was nothing wrong with the drinks offering itself.
The meal service, however, was very disappointing. Dinner was served on one tray with wooden cutlery, as you would expect in economy, but the quality was poor. It started with a rather sad looking ham salad wrapped in cling film, which was both tasteless and unappealing. The main was dry beef with plain rice and green beans, and unfortunately it was just as underwhelming as it sounds! Dessert was simply a yoghurt, although I did enjoy the Walkers shortbread, which was probably the highlight of the meal.
Breakfast was served around two hours before landing and was again presented on one tray. This included chopped melon, a bread roll, another yoghurt, and a hot main of beef mince with noodles and vegetables. Sadly, this was also quite dry, stodgy, and lacking in flavour. Overall, the catering was comfortably below the standard of Cathay Pacific and also weaker than what we had on our China Southern 787 economy flight.
We would recommend eating before your flight and packing some snacks for the journey!
Cleanliness and Onboard Facilities
One area where China Eastern performed well was cleanliness. The cabin remained tidy throughout the flight, whilst the toilets were clean and well maintained. This helped the flight make a better impression despite the older aircraft.
Judging Parameters: China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Economy Review
Overall, this China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy review shows a solid long haul economy product with very good value for money, but also some clear compromises. The baggage allowance is generous, the cabin was spotless, boarding was efficient, and the crew were warm and professional throughout. Those are all strong positives.
The main drawbacks were the age and noise of the aircraft, the slightly outdated entertainment system, and most of all the food, which was definitely the weakest part of the journey. If China Eastern is the cheapest option by a meaningful margin, I would absolutely consider flying them again. However, if the price difference were small, I would personally pay a little extra for Cathay Pacific or one of the Gulf carriers.
Judging Parameters:
Value for Money: 8/10
Staff: 8.5/10
Food and Drink: 3/10
Entertainment: 5/10
Seat Comfort: 8/10
The Airport Lounge Bro Flight Rating: 6.5/10
For more information on China Eastern’s offering, see their website here.
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FAQs
On long haul international routes, China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy includes 2 x 23kg checked bags, plus a 10kg cabin bag and one small personal item.
Yes, China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy includes complimentary food and drinks. On this flight, there were full meal services and a choice of alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and juices. The catering was included, although the food quality was one of the weaker parts of the journey.
China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy is arranged in a 3-4-3 layout. Seat pitch is 32 inches, seat width is 17 inches, and seats offer 6 inches of recline with adjustable headrests.
China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER economy is worth it if price is your main priority. The generous baggage allowance, clean cabin, and friendly crew offer strong value, even if the aircraft feels older and the food is below average. If China Eastern is significantly cheaper than rivals, it is a solid budget friendly long haul option.
Book Lounge Access
After you click Priority Pass, simply scroll down to the ‘Your Journey Starts Here’ section to purchase a lounge membership that suits you. A ‘Standard’ membership is best for more infrequent travellers which allows access to all lounges for a discounted fee (£24 or currency equivalent). ‘Standard Plus’ membership will provide 9 free visits per year, and then at the discounted rate after that. The ‘Prestige’ membership is for the frequent flier, which grants unlimited lounge access for the year!
*Please note, all guests would enter at the discounted entry fee.
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