January 21, 2011

Hainan airline was rated 5 star by skytrax, personally, I won’t read the rating too much, but they are the truly the #1 airline in China. Hainan airline is a very young and it’s the only Providence/city government own airline become successful.Look what happened to Shanghai airlines? it had be merged with China eastern due to consecutive loss and huge debt. Air China, China eastern and China southern are owned by central government.

Hainan airline was very innovative compare to all other Chinese airlines, they were the first airline introduced Y up fare, first and only airline in China offers miles don’t expire as long as 1 activity in every 3 years. First airline introduced “Status match” . The best part was, they matched any airline on earth, even if you don’t have any status with any airlines, if you can show them proof that you have flew a sum of 40K km or 30 segments with all airlines in 2010, they will give you Gold status, which will be valid for 2 years. I got my Gold status using AA program.

Shanghai has 2 airports, PVG and SHA, but for some reason, one one flight on Shanghai airline arrives in SHA, all others on MU or HU arrives in PVG, which are located 75km away from my home. Hainan airline has 1 flight using A330 every other day, because the Aircraft will used for PVG-BRU late in the night.

Interesting part of Hainan Y up fare is you can not use first class check in counter and lounge, but with Gold card, you can use all of these, so best combination with HU is Gold card+ A clas(Y up) fare. After checking in, someone will escrow all Gold member to the lounge, but HAK lounge is under renovation, they just use separate an area in departure hall as temporary lounge.

After boarding the AC, I was shocked, business cabin only has 4 people, I, my wife, nanny and baby. I guess I was traveling on a non busy day. A330 Business class has lie flat seat, but it’s actually flatter than most lie flat, close to 180 degree. seat equipped with AVOD.

Flight landed on time, we finally arrived home after 3 weeks. Shanghai was COLD

Some thought about this trip, Hong Kong is a great city，I like it a lot, great food, lots to do. Macau? If not for gamble, I don’t see a reason to go again. In about 1 month, I will go to Tahiti, New Zealand and Japan and I am sure the trip will be more intertesting.

Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, Other Airline Reward Programs | 4 Comments to Read

lulu said,

Enjoying the latest information you give here always.
Coming to Japan? What part?
If you need some help, let me know.BTW, I live in Osaka.
Troy said,

@lulu, Thanks, I and my wife will be in japan on our way back from New zealand, but only a short 2 days stopover at KIX. If I have any questions, I will definitely ask you!
StevenGG said,

A little correction to HU Gold status match: 40 segments in consecutive 12 months or 50k km.
quarterlmm said,

I want to be your daughter’s nanny:)