Hi, I'm Suares7 (S7), also a loyal reader here, and I’m happy to share my flying experience with everyone. Let’s start with the Queen of the Skies, the 747!
About the Boeing 747
The Boeing 747, with its highly recognizable profile, is often the entry-level (forgive the phrase) favorite for many aviation fans, and S7 is no exception. In recent years, fuel-efficient models like the B777, B787, and A350 have gradually become the long-haul mainstays for many carriers. The B747 is likely to gradually disappear from passengers’ view much like the A340 did, due to fuel efficiency considerations. So, for now, we may as well fly it and enjoy it while we can.
I have flown United Airlines’ 747-400 several times on U.S.-China routes (yes, the legendary UA 744 fleet that was supposedly going to be fully retired) on both sides. For this trip, I finally had the chance to experience the more advanced 747-8 Intercontinental (748I) model.
There are not many passenger routes using the 748 anymore; I only found three operators: Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Air China. For my chosen transpacific itinerary, using 95,000 ANA points to book Air China looked like the most economical option.
All ANA points used came from American Express Membership Rewards. The flights were Air China CA985/986 between SFO and PEK, and the fuel surcharge compared with ANA-operated flights was negligible.
No more talk, here are the pictures first: a glimpse of Air China’s 748 at SFO International Terminal G. Because my trip schedule was rushed and I didn’t get a full-body shot at the time, I added a 748-8 Freighter (748F) photo to make up for that.
Cabin
I chose a business class seat on the upper deck with the classic 747 staircase.
After climbing up the stairs, you can see that the upper-deck business cabin has a 2-2 layout across 7.5 rows. The missing half-row on the right is a cabinet used for fruit and snacks.
180-degree lie-flat seats are, of course, standard for business class. Compared with the 1-2-1 layout that is more popular on 77W, the 2-2 seating here reduces privacy between neighboring passengers. Legroom looks quite tight, and tall travelers may feel a bit restricted once fully reclined. Like Korean Air, the white toiletries bag in the photos is from L'Occitane.
Built into the armrest is the tray table and remote for the IFE system. The display is fully touch-operated. Chinese channels are naturally well represented, and while I was watching La La Land, it looked like a shortened version. The noise-canceling headphones were average.
Dining
Compared with other flat-bed business cabins I’ve flown on with Western carriers (excluding low-cost carriers, of course), Air China’s 748 has fairly standard hardware. But in terms of food, Air China did not let me down. By way of comparison, I felt it was well above Korean Air’s business class on the US-Korea routes.
For the starter, I had crispy pork belly and salad—please ignore the 787 ad that randomly popped into the frame.
Braised meat and vegetables for the main course.
Dessert and a breakfast service before arrival.
Though the food won’t beat authentic Chinese restaurants, it was enough to make a Chinese-stomached traveler very happy.
Conclusion
Overall, Air China’s 748 left a good impression on S7: not exactly amazing, but definitely a quality option. With increasing business alternatives on the China-U.S. route, Air China’s biggest advantage is surely its strong Star Alliance network and coverage of China’s secondary cities as well as North American hubs. For relatives visiting the U.S. who don’t speak English, Air China would be my top choice.