China Trip 2008 (pt. 1)

China Eastern Airlines

JFK-PVG

July 15th, 2008

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Experience!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR A LATE POST BUT I AM A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES AND IT GETS HECTICK JUNIOR YEAR SO I FINALLY CAME AROUND WITH ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE THIS THING. HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY IT!

BackGround:

To start off, a little background about myself. I live in New York right across the barbor from LaGuardia Airport. I am also a diver in the 1meter, 3meter, and platform events. Ofcourse, diving takes me to many places , either domestically in the United States or internationally, in this case China. Every year, myself along with my fellow team members make a trip to China for some intense training. In the past, our training has taken us to Beijing and Shanghai. This year, our location of choice is once again Shanghai. This year, is what i would say a year that makes history. China, a country that is rarely seen from the outside blanketed by a coat of mystery as thick as the smog that covers this nation's skies. The Beijing Olympics is the first step in making an impression on the world that this industializing nation will be a leading country in the future of our world. Lucky for me, my mother and i snagged a few tickets for the 10m diving events at the games.

Highlights of this Trip:

-First Flight on an Airbus A340-600

-First Flight on a Boeing 777-300ER

-First Flight on a 737-300

-First time experiencing the Olympic games

-First Visit to Beijing's Terminal 3

-First time flying First Class on a widebody

-Longest flight taken HKG-JFK (Approx. 8049 miles.)

Flights:

1) JFK-PVG July 15 01:50 Flight MU588 Economy

2) SHA-CAN August 14 15:45 Flight CA1837 First

3) CAN-PEK August 20 11:45 Flight CA1352 Economy

4) PEK-CAN August 23 15:35 Flight CA1301 First

5) HKG-JFK August 27 16:30 Flight CX840 Economy

*Flight Schedule Subject to Change*

Pre-Departure:

On July 14th, 2008, the 2008 USA Diving Zone Championships were still going on. Therefore, i had to compete on the day i was to leave for the airport (I was not too fond of the idea). The meet ended at around 12 noon and i placed sixth on the Platform Event. I wasn't too happy about the result but was especially happy i was to leave for the airport soon and the last obstacle that would involve me putting any effort into it was over. I was planning to leave for the airport at around 9 at night so the rest of the afternoon was pretty much uneventful. I got a haircut, bought a couple of instant noodles, and finalized my packing (electronics for the ride).

To the Airport

At around 8:30 pm, My dad fired up the car engine and loaded all the luggage into the back our car and had an on-time departure from our house. As we pulled out of our driveway, a flight left from LaGuardia airport from across the bay and i thought, in a few hours, ill be on one of those, flying across the pacific on the longest aircraft in the world, way cooler than any narrow body that serves LaGuardia. The sun was setting over the city and by the time we got to the Airport entry, it was dark. There was not a

lot of activity tonight at Kennedy, let alone any night. As we made our way to Terminal 1, we passed under a departing Air France Boeing 747-400. At last, we pulled up to the curb and unloaded all the bags.

Check-In

The Check-in counters were already open and there were already a number of passengers checked in. On the other side of the check-in hall, there were a number of large cases containing instruments. I guess there was an orchestra on our flight. Maybe as an international relations gesture? Anywho, I gave the CSR my passport, FreqFly card, and Paper Tickets. Thats right, good old fashioned paper tickets. Probably the last few paper tickets...... EVER. When the CSR asked me window or aisle, i asked for seat 25 H and J for my mother. She apologized and said that the seats were already taken, there goes my engine and wing view photos for this TR. I ended off with 32 H and J for the flight. The entire process took about 7 minutes, by the time i had my boarding pass in hand, my teammate arrives, he requests a seat next to me. The CSR then tells me i have to take my checked bags over to the TSA Screening device. Since when did this take effect? and why dont they just used the conveyor belts behind the counters?

Security Screening

I gave my dad a hug and he waved us off, there were 16 lines set up at the security check point. Pretty impressive for the TSA. Shoes, belts, and laptops came out and through the screening machine. It was almost hassle free and i was airside within 5 minutes.

AirSide

One of the only things i do not like about terminal 1 at JFK is that when airside, there is almost no food options, there is only a small cafe style kiosk that sells sandwiches and pastries. Also, there is no regular shopping, like travel needs and accessories, store after store its just Duty Free and more Duty Free. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CHANGE THIS!

It was only 10:45pm and i had another three hours to kill before boarding would start. So my friend mike and i decided to go and get something to eat from that cafe like place.

11:10pm and i was back at gate 5 with a snapple and a Chicken Parmesan sandwich. YUMMY. I have to admit that it was very satisfying. I unpacked my laptop and sat on the ground by the window. It gets pretty boring waiting at night in an international terminal. Even the duty free shops were closed by now.

Just a few photos while wandering the terminal

Above is my friend Mike who is playing kirby on his
laptop =D

Flight China Eastern MU588
Airbus A340-600
JFK-PVG
July 15 2008
Dep Gate: T1 Gate 5
Dep Time: 1:45am
Actual Dep Time: 1:49am
Arr Time: 5:45am
Actual Arr Time: 5:43am
Arr Gate: T1 Gate15
6696nm Flight Time: 14:27
Takeoff Runway: 22R
Landing Runway: 16
Seat: Economy Class: 32J (window)

At 1:10am, the Gate agent made the boarding call for First, Business Class and passengers with infants and who need special care. Then at 1:14am, the boarding call for the rest of us in Economy was made. There was almost nobody on this Flight! There was no pushing or shoving while queing up and it was hassle free.

Moving down the Jetway to the Plane! Last sights of NYC before Departure I was suprised to see power outlets in Economy!
Who needs PTVs anyways?

Pushback was uneventful and the usual safety video was played, i love how the asian male flight attendent in the video has a strong english accent.
We made our way to Runway 22R following taxiway A and made a slight right on EA, left onto ZA and onto 22R. The takeoff on this A340-600 was not as powerful as i thought it would be, of course its only an airbus but i would expect more from those big intimidating Rolls-Royce engines. However, i must comment that it was probably the most quiet takeoffs i have ever experienced.

We made a slight left and made a direct heading for Shanghai!

As soon as we leveled off, the lights on the power outlet on the seatback in front of me

turned from Red to Green meaning power was flowing and it was ready for use!

Did i mention that these were Recaro seats and they were very comfy and had two buttons

one for seatback recline and one for lumbar support. I would have never expected this from a mainland Chinese Carrier

Well done China Eastern! Something to learn from Air China!

Mike playing Kirby again and utilizing the inseat The light on the power outler turned green!
Power Supply Having power on a flight is a first for me sooo... yea

Soon the F/As came around with the Trolly Carts and Refreshments.

I opted for a Coke.

"would you like some drink"

"sure ill have a coke please"

There were no menus distributed which kinda bothered me,

even some american carriers such as northwest or delta still distributes them

and this is a 14 hr flight,

I wanna know what im eating!

well heres a makeshift one for ya

Dinner

to start

bread roll and butter

cucumber and carrot salad

Entrees

stir fried chicken and noodles served

with seasonal vegetables

tofu with egg fried rice and

broccolli

Dessert

Lemon Cream Cake

Tofu with Egg Fried Rice and Broccolli Stir fired Chicken and noodles with seasonal
vegetables

The rest of the flight was pretty much uneventful, just the almost silent humming of the engines and
a plane of mostly sleeping people, half of the passengers in Economy grabbed an entire row to themselves! thats
how empty this flight was.
I took a stroll through the cabins toward the rear of the plane and found large instruments seated in the middle sections,
there were cellos and double basses. There was an american orchestra flying to Chiina to perform, pretty cool i must say.

I just fooled around with my camera and watched some dvds on my laptop for the rest of the flight. and not to mention that i slept too
but we will get to that. First, more pictures!

Y cabin after dinner

Ok maybe just one picture, so i turn on my laptop and watch a Hong Kong made Drama from a few years back
called "Triumph in the Skies", it was created a few years after the new HKIA was built and talks about the
problems, joys, downfalls, and loves of pilots, CSRs, F/As and families of a fictional airline based on Cathay Pacific,
called Solar Airways. I've seen this multi episode drama on TV before but have been dying to watch it again
so what better time to watch it than on a long flight!

Unfortunately, i didnt watch much of the DVD, I had my Laptop on the tray table, my seat reclined, headphones, and my camera in my hand.
according to Mike, i fell asleep after taking a photo of the early morning outside, slept for 20minutes, woke up and took another shot, and fell asleep again, and this happened continuously for about six times at intervals of 20 minutes!
I wish they caught this on film!
I laughed at it myself after i woke up for sure.
Here are a few shots i took in intervals of 20minutes while sleeping.

Before Falling Asleep.......................................... Twenty Minutes Later

Another Twenty minutes.........................................And then Another Twenty Minutes

The F/As came and offered a questionable Luckily i brought my own mid-flight snack =D
sandwich

Then some more pictures about 30 minutes later with the sun setting already!
I couldnt believe it!

After the Sun finally set, i fall asleep for a few more hours. this time, without the camera in my hand and
without waking up every twenty minutes.

But i was woken up by my friend Mike who wanted me to take a pic of the second moon we have seen in one flight
How often does that happen?

I decided that it was time to go to the forward Economy Class Galley and ask the
F/A to deliver my Flight log to the cockpit so the Captain could will it out.
She agreed to it and came back to my seat thirty minutes later and returned it to me.

In time, we were coasting over the East China Sea and a few hours out of Shanghai.
The Flight attendents came around with a pre arrival meal service, Breakfast i believe

There was only one selection
which consisted of

a Muffin, Strawberry yogurt, "fresh" fruits, and

a vegetarian entree consisting of green noodles and assorted vegetables

THE NOODLES WERE GREASY!!!
thats all i have to say

o and i got a tray with all of the above in it while they ran out of these trays when it came to my mom
so they gave her a tray with the side items from the meal the night before with the hot greasy noodle entree
VERY DISSAPOINTING I MUST SAY.

Care to Compare???

After the meal service, an inflight pilates video was played on the screen and almost everyone in the plane joined in on it
it was pretty funny, everybody in the rear most economy cabin was laughing their asses off at the video!

Blurry picture of people taking part in the inflight pilates session, notice the F/As in front also doing it
STANDING IN FORNT OF EVERYBODY! I would never have the guts to do that on a regular basis.

We landed smoothly on Runway 16 and it was still dark outside, i noticed that there were two terminal buildings at PVG now which was not here the last time i visited this airport. Immigration was quick and the flight crew which exited the plane after all the passengers ended off getting out the front door before all of us! Immigration was quick but it took forever for the bags to come out!

Finally they came out and my mom and i along with other member of my team who were travelling with us
caught cabs to the brand new RAMADA PLAZA on Tian Yao Qiao Rd. and NANDAN Rd.
I dont have any pictures but i will be going to shanghai again in April 2009 so ill get pictures then
but i do recommend it to all business travellers in shanghai, its brand new, includes a wonderful breakfast buffet with traditional chinese
and western selections. and even smoked salmon in the morning! The rooms are very modern with wood panelling everywhere and a really cool
door lock where you just pass your key over and it reads it, opening the door. Plasma TV screens and a large work table with floor to ceiling windows. I was very impressed with this hotel. not to mention a full fitness center with swimming pool, yoga room, ping pong room, workout room, and snooker and billiards tables too!

anyways i also didnt take any pictures of PVG when i arrived but i took these a few weeks later.

And here is a picture taken on the taxi ride to the hotel

The new Financial Center in Shanghai!

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED MY TRIP REPORT! THERE IS SOOOOOOO MUCH MORE TO COME INCLUDING PICTURES FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES!

Other Info:
Cruise Speed: Mach .83 472KT
Cruise Alt: FL381
No of Pax: 157
Pilots Based at: KJFK