Review of China Eastern flight from Tianjin to Tianjin in Economy

Background

This series covers a recent TPAC trip, which continues with a flight from Tianjin to Shanghai. Getting from Tianjin to Shanghai is easiest accomplished by train, but since I couldn't leave before 17:00, flights came into play. In the early evening, both CA and MU operate flights from TSN to SHA, but MU's flight leaves a little bit later at 17:15 arriving at 19:15, which is safer from a timing perspective so I go outside of alliance to book that for 600 CNY (~$82):

The routing for this series thus continues as:

This report will cover the flight from Tianjin-Binhai to Shanghai-Hongqiao Tianjin-Binhai and the wonderful experience of IRROPs in China.

Check-in/Security

I was deposited at TSN T2 at 15:30. After clearing the explosives screening, it is off to Aisle H for check-in.

Like most secondary airports in China, check-in is not done by individual airlines, but rather at pooled check-in counters covering all airlines. Not having time to wait in the long line, I opted to use their automated check-in machines that had no wait. A quick scan of my passport pulled up my information. I was able to confirm my seat and print my boarding pass. You then put your bag on the belt, which weighs it before printing a luggage tag. With the luggage tag on, it is taken into the x-ray screening machine and the barcode scanned printing off a luggage receipt. The whole process takes just a couple of minutes and is quite well executed.

With check-in complete, off to the safety check point.

Security was definitely a different experience. After the compulsory full pat down as a foreigner, my backpack got pulled. He set it aside and then walked over to grab a hand sanitizer bottle from a discard bin behind him and showed it to me and pointed at my bag. I got the drift and dug out my small 15mL hand sanitizer bottle that has been in there for years… He grabbed it from me, went back to grab a lighter from the discard bin. He squirted my hand sanitizer on the table and lit it on fire. Pointed at the flame, threw my hand sanitizer in the bin behind him, and waved for me to leave. If it's not allowed, fair enough, but the same bottle has been through security at countless other Chinese airports without issue (PEK, XIY, NGB, SHA, and PVG) and I don't think it is by any means necessary to light it on fire in an airport to prove a point.

With that ordeal over, I head towards our gate, which will be 227.

First Class Lounge 18

There are no airline operated lounges at TSN other than GS' lounge at their hub, but it has a lot of airport operated lounges. With Priority Pass, you can access 7 of them. They are all tiny and almost identical in terms of seating options and food offering. I walked around peeking inside looking for one that actually had free seating.

I forgot to take a picture of the entrance, but I stopped by the First Class Lounge 18. I was scanned in and was able to find a free set of seats. The lounge is a small room with ~30 large leather recliners.

The buffet is pretty standard for China domestic lounges, namely cup noodles and packaged snacks. There are no alcoholic drinks, but they did have tea, coffee, juices, and bottled/canned items in a fridge. I just grabbed an espresso from the coffee machine and rested until 16:30, to allow myself 5 minutes to walk down to the gate.

Boarding

Our gate today will be 227.

After standing there for 15 minutes, I noticed the FIDS behind me switched our flight to "Delayed", but no announcements were made and everyone just stayed seated in the area. The CA and MU flights to SHA at 15:00 were finally boarding and the CA flight to SHA at 16:30 was also delayed.  I checked the weather and there were thunderstorms in the Shanghai area so figured it was due to SHA ATC delaying arrivals.

After 30 minutes, there was finally an announcement per CAAC requirements announcing a delay due to ATC, but no updated departure time was announced. I started to roam around the area around the gate to ensure I could hear for any gate announcements.

Nap capsules.

The glass is really dirty, but below is our plane today, B-8571, a 2016-built A321ceo with J12 Y170 configuration. Refueling is now complete so hopefully we will board soon.

After another 30 minutes, another announcement was made saying the same generic statement that there is a delay due to ATC. Some people started to approach the desk to get information. I overheard that the boarding was delayed until ~18:30 (2h delay). They didn't put the time on the FIDS, rather just left it "Delayed" similar to the CA flight at 16:30.

With that in mind, I went to quickly grab some food from one of the restaurants since food on the plane would not likely be served until 20:00. I then wandered around the bus gate area downstairs to admire the CA planes.

Much to everyone's excitement, boarding was finally called at 18:35 (1h20m post-ETD).

Flight

It was chaos heading into the plane since this shuttle service down to Hongqiao is 100% full, but I did get a greeting in English from a male FA in the galley.

When I booked the flight, I picked 34A to have some engine views.

My seat, 34A. I guess it will be no recline for me with the crew jump seat right behind me.

Pitch is about 31", which is okay for a 2h flight, but the Recaro seats lacked a lot of padding or were just worn out since I could feel the front metal support pushing into my legs.

The basic seat back with advertisements on the antimacassar and tray table.

The seat back contents: safety card, air sickness bag, and Connections.

The audio/video controls are in the armrest along with a headphone jack. There are no charging options in this cabin.

New PSU with individual air vents and fold down screens.

The flight was 100% full and the jet bridge retracted at 18:55 (1h45m post-ETD).

A CZ B738 next door that would push back ahead of us.

Once they left, a G5 A320 was revealed.

The monitors came down and played the safety video in Mandarin and then English.

After the safety video completed, we waited some more. Finally at 19:15 (2h post-ETD), the purser came on and announced a further ATC delay to the groans of the entire cabin.

A 3U A320 pulls in next to us in the Chinese Dragon special livery.

We finally pushback at 19:30. A QW A320 is visible in the distance.

My seat mate's clever use of the antimacassar as a device holder^^

We stopped on a taxiway and idled for another 30 minutes until the captain came on at 20:00 (2h15m post-ETD) and announced a further delay for ATC. Per CAAC regulations, they are required to give an update everything 30 minutes (despite these containing no substantial content).  This led to a number of individuals having arguments with the crew. Eventually, they dropped the monitors and started playing YOLO to entertain us since there is no IFE or charging.

At 20:30 (3h15m post-ETD), another delay was announced for ATC, which prompted another large group of people to confront the crew again. This was immediately followed by a cart coming down the aisles handing out water bottles.

At 21:00 (3h45m post-ETD), we were informed that we were taxing back to the gate to allow any passengers off the plane that did not want to continue.

Taking our spot back next to the 3U A320.

At 21:15 (4h post-ETD), the jet bridge engages and the first set of mutineers gets off (~20 people).

After another 30 minutes of no information, the purser came on at 21:45 (4h30m post-ETD) and announced that all passengers should gather their belongings and deplane. A last look at my seat.

Up the jet bridge we go.

There were no announcements made and everyone started circling the desk, which only had one poor agent working. I just stood on the side waiting to follow what everyone else did since all communications are only in Mandarin.

At 22:15 (5h post-ETD), an agent took out a megaphone and instructed everyone to follow her. To be clear, no instructions were provided as to what the fate of our flight would be or what re-booking options there were. We also received no food nor vouchers to purchase food. Thankfully, I ate dinner after the initial delay was announced.

She took us down to the baggage claim, where passengers who had checked luggage were instructed to collect their bags and for anyone with hand luggage to follow her outside.

It was a little bit of a wait for bags and I finally got mine and joined the others outside.

We had to load our own bags onto the bus and get on. I finally got on a bus at 22:30 (5h15m post-ETD).

The bus drove us to a hotel in a nearby business park and dropped us off outside at 22:45 (5h30m post-ETD).

It was chaotic inside with everyone trying to get their room. I waited off to the side to be one of the last since they'd need to process my passport anyways for police registration. Typically, the airline provided accommodations require dual occupancy so if you are traveling alone you will be forced to share a room with a stranger. I talked to the check-in desk agent and agreed a cash price for a single room. I also asked about the flight, the owner of the hotel seemed quite knowledgeable, he told me that typically supplemental flights leave around 11:00 so told me that I should expect to be ready by 08:00 and that breakfast would be available from 06:30. The fact that the hotel owner provides more information than the airline says it all.

I finally reached my room at 23:15 (6h post-ETD), which was surprisingly large and typical of a Chinese business hotel. The hotel was not the cleanest, but was sufficient for a short night's sleep.

With that debacle over, I head to bed and prepare for attempt #2 the next day. Thanks for stopping by!