Review of Xiamen Airlines flight Seattle → Shenzhen in Economy

Introduction

So this is a part 1 of my 2017 trip to China (If you were on airliners.net you may have seen nearly the same exact report)

So in 2014 I read that the more unknown XiamenAir (MF) had just received some Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and maybe hoping that they would start US operations, which eventually happened, as in September 2016 they began flying to their first US destination, Seattle (SEA) from Xiamen (XMN) via Shenzhen (SZX). In October of that year my parents spotted a $600 fare in July and I had just told them about the airline too, them dismissing the fact about transferring in XMN to our family's Nanning (NNG) which they worried of the few non-stops they offer from there. Instead this time they found that they just flew SZX which was pretty darn close to NNG. We then last minute booked on Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), which ultimately was so short I may not have been able to report on!

So basically, I guess Xiamen saves the day with my first Dreamliner flight and being a cheap deal!

Anyway I created a video report on my channel, which hopefully helps aid with my actual experience reported here.

Arrival at SEA

I arrived at Seattle just after 9am from BOI onboard DL's new E-175 service (my first time on that plane :) ) which I may post about?

Unfortunately DL wouldn't transfer our bags to MF despite being Skyteam partners (which even the attendant at BOI didn't even know the airline at all), but that was likely ultimately due to them being on separate itineraries

We did recheck in ultimately to go through security again, which wasn't really as bad in SEA.

Our family of course got some things to eat, and ultimately I chose to have a burger, which I wouldn't be getting in China or anytime soon. I was bored and found out our flight departed oddly at A12, away from the usual international terminal, but MF is a SkyTeam member, who can also use DL gates. Oddly enough, A12 was the exact gate the flight on DL's A330-200 two years prior, which I reported the least comfortable seat I've ever had on a flight.


Boarding pass


Interesting bird, NH R2D2 B789


Our bird, B-2763 after being towed from the S Satellite for Customs


UA 737 right by


Again

Boarding began on time, with first/business boarding first, followed by rear Economy class, then the forward section, I would be stuck at seat 43E, part of the foward section, and the middle middle, what I would call the worst seat on the flight (being farthest from the window ;/)

The flight

MF846
SEA-SZX
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Registration: B-2763
Depart: 13:25 (13:50)
Arrive: 18:55 + 1 (17:18 + 1)
Duration: 13:30 (12:28)

On board I was welcome by the wonderful attendants and one at my seat.

The config of the flight was of course the standard 3-3-3 with 17 inch width and 32-33 inches of pitch. Wasn't really as horrible as I'm very thin and average sized.


Seatpocket content


Literature


Menu (Drink list)


Safety card


Menu (note the misspellings!)


No amenity kit, just a pair of blue socks


Pillow

The safety demonstration was aired and the plane was off and running very shortly.

There was a long taxi until we ultimately took off at around 13:55, en route to Shenzhen in 12 hours and 28 minutes

About an hour in a drink and meal service began, with a choice between beef or kung pao chicken with rice, or seafood noodles. I chose the latter and my mother chose the first choice of beef.


Hot towel?

I could say it possibly shocked me as the best economy food I've probably ever had.


My meal


My mother's meal

During the meal the FAs then distributed nuts and dried fruits, warning smaller children of choking.



Afterwards I relaxed by napping and the IFE (which was OK in terms of content and sort of broke down in front of me, which needed to be restarted)


IFE


Nice feature


Mid flight they served ham and cheese sandwiches

About 2 hours away they served a dinner service with a choice of cajun chicken pasta or pork with rice. I chose the latter


My meal

I also tried my brother's meal of the pasta, which had eaten one too many sandwiches. It was cold but tasted alright.



Eventually we were descending to the pre-recorded announcements and touched down with a loud thud with a couple passengers screaming or moaning at 17:18 (+1 day). Funny enough I wanted that to happen given a man in row 41, the first row, kept trading off with his family "upgrading" to Business class and given how quiet the Dreamliner was, I could hear his loud snoring :D!

Clearing security was a breeze since we were sitting in the front and needed to check in with ZH in the beautiful Shenzhen airport terminal.