Xiamen Airline B 737 800 Business Class Review

01. Xiamen Airlines 787-9 business class Los Angeles to Xiamen
02. Xiamen Airlines 737-800 business organisation class Xiamen to Chengdu
03. Sichuan Airlines A330-200 economy class Chengdu to Shanghai
04. Hainan Airlines 787-ix economy class Shanghai to Seattle

Every now and then I go comments on my videos from people who have no idea how difficult information technology is to create these airline reviews. The only thing they see is me flying around in business concern grade, making comments about the things that happen along the fashion. "Get a existent job" they say – or fifty-fifty worse: "people like you disgust me". Well, to those fine folks, all I can say is that you're really gonna hate this Xiamen Airlines review.

MF8441
Xiamen, Communist china (XMN) – Chengdu, China (CTU)
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Aircraft: 737-800
Registration: B-1301
Duration: two hours 36 minutes
Seat: 12A (business organisation class)

Xiamen Airlines 737-800 side view illustration by Norebbo.com

Our route from Xiamen to Chengdu today

Getting footage for flights that happen immediately after a long haul international segment (such equally the 14-hour LAX-XMN flight I just stepped off off) is never piece of cake. The last thing I experience similar doing is filming more stuff and taking more pictures! The resulting trip reports and reviews aren't usually up to the caliber of quality I strive for, simply I do my all-time with the footage I have.

Unfortunately, this video definitely falls into the "I could've done amend if I was more awake" category. Oh well. Gee – practice I know how to motivate people to click on links, or what?

1 of the biggest challenges of this item Xiamen Airlines review video (compared to my previous one) was trying to pronounce "Xiamen" correctly. I didn't quite go information technology correct last time, but I got a lot of really expert assist in the comment section of that video. Hopefully I did better this time. As always, I get my music from Epidemic Audio (a place which I highly recommend for other YouTubers in need music for their own videos).

First impressions of the Xiamen airport

Once by customs and the security checkpoint later on deplaning from the flight from LAX, I was really happy to be walking around the primary terminal and getting the blood flowing through my veins once more. I wasn't necessarily craving lounge access this morning. Just walking effectually and getting the chance to stretch out a fleck was good enough.

Unfortunately, it was a bit likewise early on to check in for my connection to Chengdu and so all I could do was hang out in the ticketing hall for a bit and catch up on work stuff.

What'due south the protocol for walking around a Chinese airport with a camera taking pics of everything? Getting thrown in jail within minutes of my arrival would accept been incredibly inconvenient I reckon.

It took about an hr of waiting to be able to cheque in, and finally having a boarding pass in manus marked the official start of my 2nd ever Xiamen Airlines review. If this experience was going to exist anything similar my starting time, I was in for a real treat this morning.

Inside the master terminal, boarding laissez passer for my flight to Chengdu firmly in hand. And I'grand still not in jail all the same!

The Xiamen Airlines Lounge at XMN is weird…simply totally worth visiting

As I was having fun zipping through the last on the moving walkway, I spied signs pointing to the Xiamen Airlines business organisation grade lounge. As I said – I wasn't necessarily feeling an overwhelming urge to sit in a lounge for a few hours, but I figured it would be perfect trip written report fodder. I headed that way similar a man on a mission.

This is what I expect like when I spot signs pointing to a swanky airline lounge. Laser-focused concentration to the extreme (to the point where I wouldn't accept even noticed drome police running upward from backside on a mission to arrest me).

Of all the interesting aerodrome lounges I've visited over the years, this one was (by far) the weirdest – and most interesting. Information technology was also really comfy and an excellent place to get some work done. But…it just felt…odd.

The archway to the Xiamen Airlines showtime grade lounge, inconveniently located exactly halfway from the entrance and exit from the moving walkway. All I could practice was stand there and watch it go by…

It's hard to put into words exactly, but the place felt overly extravagant. As a thing of fact, it was giving me sensations non unlike what I experience when looking at pictures of Donald Trump'south apartment in New York. Information technology'due south squeamish, but…a piddling fleck (ok, a lot) overkill. My sincerest apologies to the airport and airline executives for mentioning Trump in this Xiamen Airlines review, but there'south simply no other manner to go my point across.

It'southward not a bad looking lounge. Information technology'south merely…"different". And I remember the lounge staff over there by the far wall is contemplating throwing me out for mentioning the "Trump" thing.

Unfortunately, no – it didn't aroma like aged leather and fine whiskey in here (as you would exist correct to imply past looking at the decor). But if y'all're curious, information technology really smelled like toast.

A cursory suspension to contemplate as to why there's been likewise much talk of whiskey, Trump, and getting arrested in this Xiamen Airlines review so far.

Another weird (merely actually good) thing about this lounge is the food. It's been a long time since I've had a traditional Chinese breakfast, and as much every bit I beloved a adept Chinese meal, a plate of eggs and potatoes would accept actually hit the spot. Instead, I was forcefully reacquainted with the food of this region.

The nutrient! Hot items are along the back wall, with cereals and other dry foods (like cup noodles) on the island in the foreground. If you've ever craved bran cereal and pork dumplings for breakfast (accompanied by a glass of a fine 2002 Merlot), this is the lounge where yous tin can make that happen.

Before you attempt to castrate me for using plastic utensils to eat a Chinese breakfast, you lot should know that I *did* ask one of the kind lounge staff members for chopsticks. She didn't understand a lick of English though, so she smiled nervously and handed me a plastic fork instead. I tired!

The meal was delicious (I fifty-fifty went back for seconds), but I was hoping to be able to overindulge in eggs just as I had in the SYD Air New Zealand Lounge back in February.

The fun role of this Xiamen Airlines review (boarding the airplane!)

Sitting in the lounge for two hours was fun, but it got to the betoken where it was getting then busy and noisy that I figured I'd accept more fun wandering the concluding instead. There was only an hour or so to go earlier they started boarding the flight, so it wasn't a big deal to cut my lounge time short.

Likewise – what skillful is an Xiamen Airlines review if I can't say anything about the terminal at XMN itself? Not like at that place's anything really astonishing to mention about it or anything. Information technology's certainly squeamish, but there aren't very many quiet places to sit down in serenity confinement during peak hours. I ended up sitting in a high-traffic spot in forepart of a souvenir shop while I waited for my flight to board.

If just there was a place to buy souvenirs here at the Xiamen airdrome. If anyone knows of such a place, please let me know because I couldn't discover any!

Boarding a flight in a land where I understand none of the language is ever hilariously good fun. A single high-volume (and very intense) announcement was made in Chinese precisely at the scheduled boarding fourth dimension, which was followed by a mad rush of passengers towards the gate door. I understood none of information technology, just wasted no time fighting for my own infinite in line.

Allow'due south see if I can make it though this security checkpoint while taking pics and not getting arrested…

Our gate today was a passenger vehicle gate – which seemed odd because that the stairs leading to the jet bridge which led to the airplane was connected directly to the terminal. Thankfully I've reached a point in life where I don't dwell on the things I can't understand, and any questions and/or concerns about the design of this terminal evaporated speedily every bit I worked on getting more content for this Xiamen Airlines review.

Fresh off the bus, and about to exist hearded up into that jet bridge and onto the plane. #moo

Welcome aboard Xiamen Airlines flight number 8441 to Chengdu (it's better if you read that with a thick Chinese accent)

Before continuing, I call back information technology's important to let you lot know that this flight was supposed to exist a 787-8. That'southward what it said it was going to be when I fabricated the reservation 4 weeks prior, so you can imagine the disappointment I was feeling every bit I stepped onboard this 737-800. Nevertheless, it'southward really difficult to hold a grudge when at that place are really friendly flight attendants in that location to greet you with a smile.

If I knew how to warn her (in Chinese) that I'one thousand a large nerd who takes pictures of my nutrient and posts information technology on the Internet, I would have. Instead, all that came out of my mouth was a poorly-executed "Ni Hao!"

This pic would have been so much better if this was a 787 similar information technology was supposed to be.

As expected, the business class cabin of this shipping was hardly anything to get excited near. It wasn't any nicer than what I experienced in Alaska Airlines 737-800 starting time class six months ago, though I will requite them extra credit for the generous awarding of neon blueish seat textile. Still, I can't assist but to think that a Xiamen Airlines 787-eight review would be much more than fun. And a heck of a lot more interesting.

Xiamen Airlines 737-800 business concern grade seats. Would it accept been too much to ask if they could swap this seat out for one of those leather ones back in the lounge?

Interestingly enough, I do believe there is more than leg room in these seats compared to what I experienced in the lounge. When does that ever happen?

This is actually more comfortable than the lounge! Oh – and those slippers were placed there by the flight attendant moments earlier. I can assure you that attentive service like that did Not happen dorsum in the lounge.

Just as the pre-departure service was on my flight from LAX to XMN last night, the flight attendants were extremely proactive and offered me the following (in this exact order):

• Cold towel
• The latest copy of The Beijing Review (opened to folio 1)
• Slippers (unpackaged for me and placed directly at my anxiety)
• Drinks (a choice of orange juice or h2o)

The expression on her face leads me to believe that she heard that I was writing an Xiamen Airlines review and was doing her best to make it incommunicable for me non to say nice things. Or, peradventure she'south ever this nice and this is the level of service you'll get on this airline all the time?

Water is boring, I know. But later on experiencing what it's similar to be flying earlier the plane actually takes off on a contempo Austrian Airlines flight from VIE to LAX, I'k not then keen on doing that again.

How much you wanna bet that sign on the bulkhead wall reads "no pictures immune"?

Thankfully I can't read Chinese and my GoPro has a fully charged bombardment.

Equally a former visual designer for a very large company, I can only imagine the hell it is for the designers responsible for creating safe cards. Yeah, I should exist taking observe of where the nearest emergency exits are, only I can't help but to recollect how painful airline safety card design reviews are. "whaddya mean the arrows aren't reddish enough??"

I've heard mixed reviews of Xiamen Airlines lately, only from where I was sitting, I was starting to retrieve that this may be ane of the best airlines I've ever experienced. The business class seats on this rinky-dink 737 weren't anything special, simply the service was simply as good as what I experienced in JAL international business class (which is saying a lot because how skillful JAL is). I wouldn't go equally far as to say it was equally adept as what I experienced in Qatar business class, but information technology was something special withal.

For every bit much fourth dimension and effort I put into these airline reviews, I can simply hope he'south reading sanspotter.com.

Our departure out of XMN was adequately routine, right downwardly to the thick layer of haze which prevented any really amazing departure pics. There's more than detail in the video than what I'yard showing hither, but trust me – you lot're not missing much.

Pretty much what every departure picture out of a Chinese drome looks like I guess. Check out the video to see more of the departure sequence!

If y'all're hungry, Xiamen Airlines business grade isn't such a bad identify to be

I'1000 ever paranoid nigh putting on slippers until the aeroplane is hurtling towards cruising altitude (yous never know when something is going to go wrong), but it felt smashing once I traded my trusty red travel sneakers for those navy blueish slippers.

The simply affair missing from this pic is two thumbs up and a closeup of my satisfied face. Considering that getting a pic of all that is difficult when trying to agree the camera, this is all I could muster.

As far every bit I could tell, there were two meal choices on this flying over to Chengdu this morning: Chinese and (kinda) western. Would information technology be a proper Xiamen Airlines review if I chose the (kinda) western option? I recollect non. Therefore, my listen was made up even before I looked at the bill of fare!

A carte du jour with pictures? Cheers! This should be mandatory carte etiquette IMHO.

On a side annotation, it'due south always funny when I inform an Asian flight attendant that I prefer the "traditional" option because most seem surprised (and delighted) that I would be and so bold. At least that'south my experience…

Stewed beefiness noodle soup. Exactly what it looked similar in the menu, which was immensely satisfying. It'due south a lot more fun to know what your food is going to expect like before it arrives!

This close up picture is for the execs over at American Airlines. Maybe if they see what quality domestic business organisation class food looks like, they'll be inspired to try it themselves.

The nutrient (all of it – right down to the terminal grain of rice) was incredibly good. Much better than what I experienced in Prc Airlines business form betwixt Taipei and Seoul a few years ago. And probably equal to the nutrient in China Airlines regional business class.

What practise y'all suppose that I'm going to be forever banned from American Airlines for that concluding annotate? I'd have to alive vicariously through Moments in the Sky's videos if that ever happens I guess…

Part of the reason for the repast being so good was the fact that it was somewhat light. I'm not the biggest fan of actually heavy airline meals (like I recently experienced in Vietnam Airlines regional business organization class), and I plant this to be the perfect balance of quantity vs weight. Well done Xiamen Airlines!

Babies in business class are completely irrelevant when yous're seriously jet lagged

As luck would have it (if y'all can consider information technology luck), in that location were two babies in this business form motel this morning. Both were in the offset row, along with their stressed-out looking parents. This did give me crusade for business organisation when boarding the plane back in Xiamen, merely I'm at the bespeak in my trip reporting career now where I welcome such "challenges".

Trip reports are far more entertaining when things go wrong (such as the birdstrike I experienced on a United 747-400 out of SFO), and I was secretly hoping that this Xiamen Airlines review would involve projectile-airsickness babies and ear-pearcing screams all the way to Chengdu. Non that I like that kind of stuff, but it certainly helps to keep things interesting.

Unfortunately, I've got nil interesting to written report about rogue babies and parents who failed keeping them under control. They slept like babies (ha!) for most of the flight – just as I did thank you to a heavy example of jet lag that was slowly creeping up on me.

Sleep is the enemy of the airline reviewer unfortunately. I've got to stay awake and keep taking notes (and pictures) of everything that happens. I kept chanting "It's gonna exist the best Xiamen Airlines reviews ever!" over and over as I slapped myself across the face up to prevent myself from falling asleep.

One final note about this "babies in business class" thing As it pertains to this particular flight. The two flight attendants working the business class cabin this morn were absolutely astounding in helping those stressed-out parents getting situated with everything they needed for a comfy flight. In my opinion, they went far above and beyond the telephone call of duty to accept some of the load off of the parents.

Not much is ever said about that kind of thing in the reviews that I read (especially not Xiamen Airlines reviews), so I just thought it was of import to telephone call that out. These flight attendants were amazing.

What is Xiamen Airlines domestic business class entertainment similar?

You've probably noticed by now that there weren't any video screens carved into the back of those 1990'south era seats. It'southward hard not to find stuff like that these days, especially when airlines similar Delta are putting really large video screens in thier domestic Usa first class product (as you lot tin come across here in my Delta A321 starting time form review).

Anyway, just as I experienced in Alaska Airlines first class betwixt Orlando and San Diego recently, the flight attendants handed out portable video players which were stuffed full of good movies and Television shows.

Portable Android-based tablets blimp with movies and Tv set shows – that'south all the entertainment you're gonna go on these Xiamen Airlines 737's. Unless you were smart enough to call back alee and bring some pre-downloaded Bay Area Traveler videos forth on your phone…

I personally didn't find the quality of the catalog to be on par with a western airline, but that is to be expected since this is China later on all and they heavily promote Chinese movies and television dramas. If you're curious, I acted like an ignorant American and watched "Johnny English Strikes Over again."

BTW, these bowls of basics came towards the end of the flight. Just when I was thinking that some crunchy protein would be nice to get with the movie…

The quality and performance of these portable video tablets was actually adept. The simply existent complaint I accept is the fact there was no mode to hang information technology on the back of the seat in front of me. Every other viewing location I tried (on the tray table and center arm rest) was zippo short of awkward.

The descent and landing into Chengdu

By the fourth dimension we started the descent into Chengdu, I couldn't help but to remember that Xiamen Airlines is the best airline that nobody has always heard of. You may recall that I was thinking something along those same lines at the cease of my Xiamen LAX-XMN review, but now that my second flight on this airline was complete, information technology was pretty much set in stone.

On the final descent into Chengdu at present, and…check out all those people on the hill watching planes! That means that information technology's highly likely that in that location'due south a pic of my arrival somewhere out there on the Internet, and I'1000 determined to find information technology…

Was I just really lucky on these two flights? Mayhap. Continue in mind that non everyone is having every bit good experiences on Xiamen Air. For instance, fellow YouTuber Josh Cahill had a horrible feel a short while dorsum. His problem was mostly with ground employees – which y'all tin learn most in this video:

I personally feel that the things he experienced were appalling and highly unfortunate. Simply based on the dandy feel I've had with Xiamen Airlines, I tend to believe that he unluckily crossed paths with a bad employee who needs to be retrained (or flat out fired). All of the Xiamen Airlines employees I encountered both in Los Angeles and Xiamen on this trip were some of the friendliest and almost helpful airline employees I've always met. I actually hope Josh gives this airline another chance!

Anyway, landing in Chengdu was really interesting. I've never been this deep into People's republic of china before, and everything that I've heard virtually this amazing city has been, well…astonishing.

The aerodrome seemed to be quite interesting as well. I didn't await it to be as large every bit it was, information technology was really slap-up to see all the different kinds of traffic here (both international and domestic).

Is information technology likewise embarrassing to admit out loud that I idea that the Chengdu airport was going to be really small? Well, considering how I've publicly admitted to far more embarrassing things…probably not.

How much you wanna bet this airplane arrived from a place I can't pronounce properly? Double or nuthin' says information technology's headed out to someplace equally difficult for my brain to grade syllables for.

Excuse me while I end this Xiamen Airlines review on an extremely positive note

There are and then many things that Xiamen Airlines is doing right. From the professionalism of the cabin crews to the food they serve at mealtime, I was impressed with all of it and I'yard very much looking forward to flying with them once more.

Maybe instead of saying "no pictures allowed" it really says "take tons of pics and blog about it!" Alrighty and then. I tin practise that.

My only real criticisms don't really take anything to do with the airline at all. Yous meet, the simply point during this journey from Los Angeles to Chengdu where I felt slightly out of place and dislocated was at the Xiamen airport. Yeah, it's a nice enough facility, but information technology's definitely showing it's age and I didn't really care for how pocket-sized and cramped information technology was. It's felt like a nighttime and gloomy place – at least compared to other large and cute airports in China such as Beijing and Shanghai.

I know. I probably sound really nitpicky complaining virtually such picayune things, but this is an Xiamen Airlines review afterall and I am struggling to find ways to be disquisitional. If the only matter that I've got to piss and moan about is the aerodrome, I'd say that they're doing pretty darn expert.

Once once again, my lack of knowledge about the Chinese language prevented me from maxim annihilation more than "xie xie" in a thick American accent on my way off this plane. I hope they realized how much I enjoyed this flight!

Anyway, information technology felt actually bully to walk off the plane in Chengdu. Every bit much every bit I enjoyed my Xiamen Airlines experience, it had been an extremely long journeying from Los Angeles (San Diego really) and I was very much looking forrad to getting out of aeroplane fashion for a few days. Yeah, flying all this way in business class was fun, but as I said in my video: flight is flight no matter which class information technology is and you'll always cease up dead tired at the end of your journeying no thing what.

Cheers again to Xiamen Airlines for an amazing experience. One of these days I'1000 going to go around to creating an official "best of" airline list with with super-nerdy SANspotter rankings. If I were to exercise it right now, Xiamen Airlines would exist sitting upwardly there towards the pinnacle in i of the three highest positions. I'm sure of it.

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Source: https://www.sanspotter.com/xiamen-airlines-review/

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