Fly with Air China? Corrected: China Airlines

PixelPaul on 10/12/2022 - 08:52
Last edited 10/12/2022 - 20:22 by 1 other user

Hi all,just wondering if anyone has had recent experience flying with Air China. ( I axctually mean China Airlines )

Been looking at flights to Tokyo and they have the best-priced flights, but I have one friend who refuses to fly with them due to their crash record. And the reviews I read online are mixed but many of the good ones seem like fake reviews. So, I am not sure I should fly with them.

I would very much like to hear from the OzBargain crew with any recent experiences.

SORRY I MADE A MISTAKE

I did not realise there was two different airlines… i actually mean: China Airlines

Travel Air China

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China Airlines
China Airlines

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 10/12/2022 - 08:57
    +8

    China air is better. No kidding. They're different google it

    • KSMLJ on 10/12/2022 - 09:12
      +3

      Wow you weren't kidding!

      Air China is a PRC airline based in Beijing (PEK) . China Airlines is a Taiwan based carrier based in Taipei (TPE).

      • salin on 10/12/2022 - 13:08
        +2

        Just like Mainland China is the People's Republic of China, Taiwan is the Republic of China.
        Not many westerners know or care about the facts.

        • Archi on 10/12/2022 - 17:25
          +1

          They will when western countries get dragged into an unnecessary war when china flexes its muscles over taiwan.

        • KSMLJ on 10/12/2022 - 21:08

          I am actually more familiar with Taiwan's Eva Air.

          Just didn't realise they had two carriers.

    • PixelPaul on 10/12/2022 - 20:31
      +1

      I dont get it, Air China is the dodgy one, but China Airlines is the one with all the crashes?

      • Neoika on 11/12/2022 - 09:14

        President Xi was on an aircraft by Air China to Saudi Arabia.

  • AustriaBargain on 10/12/2022 - 09:55
    +3

    You couldn't pay me to fly Air China again. I had a computer plan the cheapest possible trip for me when I was younger and one of the legs was with Air China and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 10/12/2022 - 09:56

    As much as it pains me to say it, in my experience China Air has been consistently better than EVA air.

    • Mcuser on 10/12/2022 - 11:27
      +1

      user name checks out

  • Muzeeb on 10/12/2022 - 10:04
    +3

    It's pronounced Gina

    Donald Trump 2020

  • Ranonymous on 10/12/2022 - 10:27

    KSMLJ's comments are pertinent here, make sure you are talking about the correct airline as many people confuse the two (CA and CI).
    Nevertheless I would never fly any chinese airline unless it was an absolute last resort. While on face value chinese airlines may appear safe, that is because there is no transparency. Take a look at the Aviation Herald website. It is extremely rare to get any safety reports out of china, and that wouldn't be because there are no incidents. I actually remember seeing a B787 from a mainland chinese airline taking off at Melbourne Airport a couple of years ago with duct tape around the full perimeter of one of the windscreens…….. No joke!
    Add to that the poor service standards on board, as well as the general demographic and behaviour of the majority of passengers aboard those flights…. No thanks!
    There may be a benefit to us now that china has apparently "re-opened" however, which is that the chinese airlines will be putting out more flights, which will bring back some competition and hopefully drive airfares down with the more desirable airlines. Fingers crossed!

    • ahappysloth on 01/07/2023 - 08:12

      What's wrong with the general demographic? What are the behaviours? How do you know what will happen when it hasn't happened yet?

  • Ocker on 10/12/2022 - 11:19
    +3

    If you insist on fly Air China then play it safe and just buy a one way ticket - just in case!!

  • Ryanek on 10/12/2022 - 13:36

    due to their crash record

    You're more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the airport

  • AussieDeals on 10/12/2022 - 14:04

    From a casual look at their list of accidents/incidents nothing stands out terribly about their crash record https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_China#Accidents_and_incide…
    China Airlines as comparison https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Airlines#Incidents_and_a…

    Compare with other airlines records from the 1988 onwards (Air China was established then as one of 6 airlines split from CAAC)

  • KaTst3R on 10/12/2022 - 14:55
    +1

    Honestly, pay a little more for better flights. I would only use Air China if it was a last resort option which I did a about 5 years ago. In flight customer service was very poor. I asked for some apple juice and was told to pick it up myself from the pantry. I didnt feel offended at all, in fact it was a once a lifetime opportunity to ransack the pantry to see what's there. I went back to my seat with two full can of beer, diet coke, a couple of packs of peanuts, some other asian snacks and a kids toy all stuffed in my hoodie.

    The inflight food option sucks…not even worth mentioning. Overall, there is no experience at all, just a Point A to Point B carrier.

  • hengzhan on 10/12/2022 - 15:45

    imo Air China has subpar service but I don't think there's any compromise in safety. I'm guessing your friend was referring to China Airlines when they talk about the "crash record". But to be honest I think both airlines are safe to fly. I would personally avoid Air China unless it's significantly cheaper.

    • PixelPaul on 10/12/2022 - 20:30

      so Air China is the dodgy one, but China Airlines has all the crashes?

  • harshbdmmaster718 on 10/12/2022 - 16:21

    "Fly with Air"

    Yeah duh. How else do you think plane will fly?

  • plmko on 10/12/2022 - 18:43
    +1

    Nothing can be worse than Jetstar.

    • shortgum on 11/12/2022 - 05:43

      I can definitely confirm personal experience in China Airlines is countries miles better than Jetstar. probably not even close

  • Cyphar on 10/12/2022 - 18:49
    +1

    I've flown Air China before both in economy and business and while it's not a great product, it's not bad. Their layovers used to be horrible and Guangzhou was awful. Long and stuck in an airport that was either too cold in winter or too hot in summer with limited food options.

    China Air, however, is a much MUCH better option and flies through Taipei which is one of the best airports in the world. Even in economy it's a very comfortable flight on their A350's. They fly A330's to Japan which are a bit more cramped but it's only a 2 hour flight anyway.

  • jm7 on 10/12/2022 - 22:07

    China Airlines are great. Flew to Seoul via Taipei with them a few months ago. The plane was very new and clean, and customer service was great.

  • CrazyBargainCatcher on 11/12/2022 - 08:05

    China Southern was great 2-3 years ago. Better than all the other LCC’s and the seat itself was really good!

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