Latest trip to China…… October 25-29, 2010

Just returning from my latest trip to China.  This one came up on pretty short notice, and to make matters worse the travel authorization did not arrive until the very last day for booking!  Irrespective of that, it seemed that all flights to china were almost completely booked out.  The only options left were with airlines that I normally try to avoid.  Now, while I'm on my way back on the plane, my reluctance to fly these airlines has been confirmed. 

On the way to China I flew Lufthansa Business class.  First observation in the LH lounge in Frankfurt is that it reminded of a cafeteria, and not a very well stocked one at that.  Nothing against cafeterias, but when you are paying premium class business class airline tickets you could really expect more.  Next, later when boarding it became clear that half the plane was this business class!  I guess that explained the lack of service experienced later when we were on route.  But first, the equipment: Seats!  Walking onto the plane you could be convinced that you were walking into a business class cabin of 1995.  Closely spaced seats.  Dark environment.  Shady plastic.  Seats that only recline maybe 60 degrees.  Did I mention the seats that only recline 60 degrees?  How can LH still sell this as a modern company?  Needless to say, sleeping during the night was held to a minimum.  Not good for business class.

During the flight the attendance was friendly but minimal and you had to ask for every little extra thing you wanted.  Dinner was supplied, but that was about all.

So, conclusion is that I will continue to try and avoid LH if at all possible.

Arriving Guangzhou and having to transfer there is not a great option.  The airport is very large, no clear signs of where to go, no obviously located, working, ATM machines.  No Airport Wireless.  The flight to Xiangfen was on a very small plane, filled to the limit.  Arriving in Xiangfen there were again no ATM machines, and no taxi drivers that knew where my hotel was located.  But, arriving at the hotel was a surprise because it was very nice.  Celebrity City Hotel in Xiangfen.  But careful, there are two of them!  I'm told the other one should be avoided.

Normal Room

Hallway

Bathroom

View from hotel window

My impression was that Xiangfen is pretty hardcore China, but some colleagues said that they've experienced worse! 

Returning via Beijing was not great either.  Xiangfen to Beijing, arrive midnight, taxi (again the driver did not know my hotel), and then back to the airport in the morning.  Overnight was in the Great Wall Sheraton, which is not a recommend!  Very business, very plane, fairly clean, not overly friendly. Only good thing in the hotel was the club level lounge breakfast.  Other than that I'll find a different one next time.

Now I'm on the China Air flight back to Frankfurt.  As LH, not world class.  Seats don't go flat, food options ran out even before the steward asked us, drinks did not flow and no snacks during the flight.  Then they ran completely out of white wine in Business class!  The steward, who was working very hard but the business class was understaffed, promised to check first class to get me a glass of wine, but this never materialized. 

 So, conclusion from this trip: avoid Lufthansa, China Air and the Great Wall Sheraton in Beijing.  Hotel in Xiangfen is great.  Test track in Xiangfen is pretty good.