Hi, dear flight-report members and readers!
In this FR I'd like to present a review of Shanghai Airlines Boeing 787-9 on Budapest (BUD) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) flight, taken on 20-21 March 2024. It was the first longhaul leg of my round-the-world trip EU - China (just layover in Shanghai) - New Zealand - Chile - Uruguay - Argentina - Paraguay - EU. The one-way ticket BUD-PVG-AKL costed me 460 EUR, which was a deal. The second leg has been already reviewed here.
Intro
Shanghai Airlines (FM) is a subsidiary of the Asia's second largest airline - China Eastern (MU). FM has rather small flight (in Chinese scale) with 78 narrowbodies (B737, B738, B7M8) and just 10 widebodies - B789s.
FM has quite an extensive network in East- and South-East Asia, but its EU network consists only of 2 destinations: Budapest and Marseille (with MRS being part of 1-stop route PVG-MRS-CMN), both operated by B789s. As one can expect, the parent airline MU has much more extensive network to EU.
I didn't expect much from a longhaul flight on FM B789 (honestly speaking I'm fed up of B789s, having flown them way too much), but it turned to be a very nice experience in the most luxurious Dreamliner I've ever flown (though, I've never flown JAL Dreamliners with their unique Sky Wider 2-4-2 economy).
MU B789s has rather unique 3.5-class layout C+4_C26_W28_Y227 with cutting-edge suites in business class (with the front row having increased suite length, thus being a kind of "business plus"), very modern premium economy and nice economy with good modern seats (despite standard 3-3-3 layout).
B787 Operators With The Most Advanced Premium Cabins
B787s of all modifications (the non-seller -8, the ultrapopular -9, and the longest -10, gaining popularity), are medium-size widebodies, thus having not too much space for large premium cabins. The most typical 787 layout is rather dull 2-class with herringbone (or reverse-herringbone) business seats and economy in standard 3-3-3 layout. Though, there are some airlines that managed to fit their Dreamliners with quite outstanding layouts with business suites and sometimes even with (rather small) first class cabins. It would be interesting to list these operators and their layouts.
B787 operators with first class:
1) British Airways: 12 B78Xs in 4-class layout (F8_C48_W35_Y165) plus 18 B789s in 4-class layout (F8_C48_W35_Y165).
2) Etihad Airways: 5 B789s in 3-class layout (F8_C28_Y190).
3) Oman Air: 2 B789s in 3-class layout (F8_C24_Y232).
4) XiamenAir: 6 B788s in 3-class layout (F4_C18_Y215).
B787 operators with enclosed business suites:
1) Air New Zealand: 4 B789s in 3-class layout (C26_W33_Y213).
2) American Airlines: 8 B789s in 3-class layout (C51_W32_Y161).
3) ANA: 16 B789s in 3-class layout (C48_W21_Y146).
4) British Airways: 12 B78Xs in 4-class layout (F8_C48_W35_Y165) plus 7 B788s in 3-class layout (C31_W37_Y136).
5) China Eastern: 5 B789s in 3.5-class layout (C+4_C26_W28_Y227).
7) Korean Air: 10 B78Xs in 2-class layout (C36_Y289).
8) Lufthansa: 2 B789s in 3-class layout (C28_W28_Y231, Allegris layout). Suites are only in the front C row.
9) Oman Air: 7 B789s in 2-class layout (C30_Y258) plus 2 B788s in 2-class layout (C18_Y249).
10) Qatar Airways: 2 B788s in 2-class layout (C18_Y249), leased from Oman Air.
11) Shanghai Airlines: 10 B789s in 3.5-class layout (C+4_C26_W28_Y227).
Budapest Ferentz List Airport (BUD)
BUD airport is rather small and compact. I had to obtain boarding pass at the checkin-desk, and all went quick and smooth, as well as immigration.
The Aircraft
The aircraft of today is 2019-built B-20AJ, produced in Charleston. Next to her was parked CA's sibling. Hungary definitely has certain demands in China.
The Business Cabin
A glance on the business class cabin. It's located between 1L/R and 2L/R doors and consists of 30 Thompson Aero Vantage XL with the first row's suites having increased length and additional features, thus being "business plus". The cabin looks very solid!
The Premium Economy Cabin
To the right from 2L door there is the premium economy cabin, consisting of 28 Collins Aerospace MiQ seats - the same as in the TK's Turkoflot A359 premium economy, but in less crowded 2-3-2 layout and with different upholstery. Premium economy is the only place where Dreamliners have an edge over A350s - being narrower, B787s can fit premium economy seats with their massive fixed armrests only in 2-3-2 layout (like in A330/A340 cabin). In 2-4-2 layout 787 can fit only "Sky Wider" economy seats, like the JAL ones.
The Economy Cabin
Then follows economy class, consisting of 227 seats in 3-3-3 layout, distributed between the front smaller cabin (between the premium economy and 3L/R doors) and the larger rear one (between 3L/R and 4L/R doors).
The front economy cabin (rows 31-41).
The rear economy cabin (rows 61-76), which has a leap in numeration relative to the front cabin. Due to fuselage tapering the 2 last rows have duo seats, aligned to the aisle (the 7th photo in this gallery).
The Economy Seat
My seat is 66A in the rear cabin. The seat model seems to be Collins Pinnacle, which is a very good longhaul seat.
The seatwidth is 17.2", which is standard for 3-3-3 Dreamliner.
The seat has adjustable headrest, IFE with large crispy screen and remote control, bifold tray table and seat pocket (with just safety card inside). The seatpitch is good. Waiting on the seat were blanket and pillow with MU logo.
The Flight
Immediately after takeoff the crew dimmed the windows to semi-transparent mode and locked them (I hate this authoritarian feature in 787s). This was the only negative moment of the flight. Overall, the crew were very friendly.
We flew around Poland without entering Polish airspace and then over the Baltic Sea and Estonia enteren Russian airspace - this is the reverse side of bargain ticket price from EU to New Zealand via China. It was first time since 19.02.2022 I entered the airspace of my former homeland. I was praying on the GEnX engines of our Dreamliner to not get malfunction midflight (an emergency landing would put me into the hands of Russian authorities), but thanks to FM/MU MRO - the flight went smooth.
I was hoping to see St. Petersburg from above, but fell asleep, and anyway it seems like it was overcast over SPb as usual. When the sky became clear, there were dull plains of the northern part of the European part of Russia below us. After the Urals mountains darkness fell.
The first meal consisted of beef with rice and vegs, vegs and meat salade, fruit salade and juice. I found it to be very good. Props to BUD catering! The cutlery was wooden.
The second meal was served about 1.5-2 hours before landing and it was beef with pasta, which also was good. The cutlery was also wooden.
A view of the rear economy cabin…
… and of the front one.
When we landed in PVG at 5 AM local time, it was still dark.
The Economy Cabin After The Flight
Some views of the economy cabins upon disembarkment.
The rear economy cabin.
The front economy cabin.
The Premium Economy Cabin After The Flight
The premium economy cabin upon disembarkment in some more details.
The Business Cabin After The Flight
The crew thankfully permitted me to visit the business cabin. Although, the views were obstructed by beddings, hanged on suites' walls and also I was a bit sleepy and forgot to take detailed photos of the front 4 "business suites".
Then I went to immigration and got 24-hours transit visa to visit Shanghai before my next flight to Auckland. For transfers between PVG and the city I used Maglevs both ways, which was an interesting experience.
