Flight report: China Eastern Airlines in Economy class
Flight number: MU771
Equipment: 777-300
Origin: PVG (12:30)
Destination: AMS (18:30)
Flown: June 2026
Cabin occupancy: 100%
After our lovely trip in Japan, we began the journey back home with China Eastern via Shanghai. The transit there was fortunately quite smooth, as both our arriving and departing flights operated from the satellite terminal, allowing for a quick and efficient connection. Because of this setup, we were able to move through the transfer process without any delays and board the onward flight right on time, making the layover in Shanghai a seamless part of the overall journey rather than a stressful connection.
Given our positive experience with China Eastern on the way to Japan, we were looking forward to the return journey. This time, however, the flight was fully booked and operated during the day, which naturally made the cabin feel a bit more constrained compared to our previous night sectors. Fortunately, we had pre-selected a two-seater row at the back of the aircraft, which turned out to be a great decision. It gave us a small dedicated space of our own, making the journey significantly more comfortable despite the fuller cabin.
The aircraft was clean and well maintained, which helped create a comfortable impression even on a fully booked day flight. Blankets and pillows were already placed on the seats at boarding, adding a touch of long-haul comfort and allowing passengers to settle in quickly for the journey back to Europe.
The legroom was quite comfortable, and the seat configuration made a noticeable difference. Since the cabin transitions from a standard 3-3 layout to a 2-seat section towards the back, we benefited from having extra space around us. This change in layout effectively gave us more room to stretch out, which made the flight feel less cramped despite the full load and improved overall comfort for the long daytime sector.
Shortly after take-off, headsets were distributed to passengers, allowing everyone to access the in-flight entertainment system. Each seat was also equipped with a USB charging port, which made it easy to keep devices powered throughout the long journey and added a practical layer of convenience onboard.
After take-off, lunch was served and I opted for the beef with rice, which turned out to be quite tasty and satisfying for the daytime sector. The meal was accompanied by cut fruit, and I especially enjoyed the honeydew melon, which was exceptionally sweet and refreshing.
The biggest gripe on this sector was the in-flight entertainment selection, which felt quite limited for a long daytime flight. For non-Chinese passengers, the number of English-language options was noticeably small, which made it harder to find engaging content for the duration of the journey. Given the length of the flight, a broader international selection would have significantly improved the onboard experience.
Once again, the flight attendants worked very hard throughout the entire flight, maintaining a consistent level of attentiveness from departure to arrival. They regularly checked in with passengers and proactively offered water and other drinks, which helped keep the service feeling active even on a long daytime sector.
Before landing, a second full meal service was provided, which was a notable highlight. It was impressive to see China Eastern offering two full meals on this route, adding real value to the overall long-haul experience and ensuring passengers were well taken care of right up until arrival.
Overall, the Shanghai to Amsterdam return flight with China Eastern was a comfortable and reliable long-haul experience, even with a full cabin and daytime schedule. Our pre-selected two-seat row at the back gave us extra space and made the journey noticeably more comfortable. The flight offered clean cabins, decent legroom, USB charging, and a solid onboard service with two full meals—both lunch after take-off and another before landing. The crew were attentive throughout, regularly offering drinks and maintaining a strong work ethic across the long flight. The main downside remained the limited English-language entertainment, which felt restrictive on such a long sector. Still, overall it was a smooth and good-value flight between Europe and Asia.