Flight report: China Eastern Airlines in Economy class
Flight number: MU772
Equipment: 777-300
Origin: AMS (20:15)
Destination: PVG (13:15)
Flown: June 2026
Cabin occupancy: 70%
For our journey from Amsterdam to Japan, China Eastern Airlines offered the most competitive fare, making it an easy choice for this trip. The airline clearly positions itself as a convenient East–West connector between Europe and Japan via China, leveraging its Shanghai hub as a transfer point. At this stage, I was also simply glad to have booked with them rather than one of the Middle Eastern carriers this time, as it offered a different routing experience and a chance to try a new long-haul product through Asia rather than the more conventional transit hubs.
It was a pleasant flight overall, and the aircraft operating the first sector to Shanghai featured a particularly distinctive China Eastern livery, which stood out clearly at the gate in Amsterdam. The design gave the aircraft a strong visual identity and made the journey feel more recognisably part of the China Eastern network right from the start, adding a nice sense of anticipation for the long-haul trip ahead.
Thankfully, my partner and I were able to secure a full row of four seats, as the flight was not completely full. This made a noticeable difference on a night flight, giving us plenty of extra space to stretch out and settle in comfortably. Having that additional room turned what could have been a standard long-haul experience into a much more relaxed journey, especially during the overnight sector.
Blankets and pillows were already placed on the seats at boarding, and the cabin itself was very clean and well maintained, which immediately created a comfortable impression for the long journey ahead. Shortly after take-off, headphones were distributed by the crew, completing the basic long-haul setup and allowing passengers to settle in for the overnight flight.
The seat offered decent legroom for economy, making the longer overnight sector more comfortable, especially with the extra space from our empty row. In addition, USB charging ports were available at the seat, which made it easy to keep devices powered throughout the flight and added a practical convenience on a long-haul route.
The main drawback of the experience was the limited entertainment selection for non-Chinese speakers. While the system itself worked well and the screens were decent, the range of international content was quite restricted, which made it harder to find engaging options for the duration of the long-haul flight.
The restrooms were kept clean throughout the flight, with regular upkeep that helped maintain a comfortable onboard environment. This consistency was noticeable on a long overnight sector and added to the overall impression of a well-maintained cabin.
The food onboard was quite decent overall. Shortly after take-off, dinner was served and I chose the chicken option, which was enjoyable and well-suited for a night flight. It felt satisfying enough for the first long sector of the journey. Before landing, breakfast was also offered, though I chose to skip it as I was planning to head to the lounge upon arrival. Still, the option was there and rounded off the onboard service cycle in a typical long-haul format.
The cabin crew were working very hard throughout the flight, maintaining a steady presence in the cabin even during the overnight hours. Drinks were proactively offered to passengers who were awake or requested them, which helped keep the service consistent across the long journey. Overall, I was genuinely impressed with the level of effort and attentiveness from the crew, especially given the demands of a long-haul night sector. It left a positive impression of the airline’s onboard service standards.
After our transit in Shanghai, we continued onward to Tokyo Narita on an Airbus A321, which was a noticeably smaller aircraft for the final leg of the journey. Despite the size, the cabin was again clean, tidy, and well presented, maintaining a consistent standard across the itinerary. The legroom was surprisingly comfortable even for a short-haul sector, and China Eastern still served a full meal onboard, which was quite tasty and appreciated given the relatively short duration of the flight. It added a nice finishing touch to the overall journey into Japan.
Overall, the journey from Amsterdam to Tokyo with China Eastern via Shanghai was a solid and practical long-haul option, especially given its competitive pricing and convenient one-stop routing through a major Asian hub. While not positioned as a premium luxury product, it delivered a consistent experience across all three sectors. The long-haul flight offered good basics: clean cabins, decent seating comfort, satisfactory meals, and a crew that remained attentive throughout the night. The main limitation was the restricted entertainment selection for non-Chinese speakers, which stood out on the long sectors, but was partially offset by the ability to stretch out and rest comfortably.