Air China LAX to PEK, questions about flying this airline?

Question

This will be my first international flight (flying AeroMexico to Cancun doesn't count) and I am wondering if anyone can help me out on this. I'm flying Air China from LAX to PEK and the Air China website doesn't give any info regarding drinks on the flight. Will they provide bottled water free or do I have to buy it? Also, will they accept US$ for it or do I need RMB? That may be a dumb question but anyway.

Also, the Air China website says that the carryon bag should be limited to "around 5kg" which I figured out is about 11 pounds. That's hardly anything! Do they actually weigh your carryon? My bag is 6 pounds empty. AND, someone told me they heard Air China only allows that one bag, not that bag plus a purse.

Anyone know?

I do worry about my carry on because I absolutely do not want to check a bag. I have found numerous totally conflicting requirements as to size, all on Air China's own website. Either I can have 1 carry on up to 40 pounds, or I can have that plus a purse, or I can only have 1 carryon but it must be under 15 pounds, or only 11 pounds. Then I find something saying that only applies to domestic China flights, that only the number of carryon bags is counted for International flights. Huh? I've emailed them and gotten no response.

Answer 1

China loves dollars.

Exchange at the banks in china, you will get a fair rate. Do not exchange on the street. 100 RMB notes (Yuan) are widely counterfeited. Do not accept 100 RMB notes from anyone but a bank or a good hotel. You will notice, when you pay in 100 or 50 yuan notes the money will be closely looked at. Make sure your dollars are pristine condition. I have about $160 in $20 dollar bills the bank would not accept because they were damaged.

Carry on, yes you can within most legal guidelines that most airlines have posted. Go by that and you should not have a problem. You can put bottled water in your carry on, or purse.

When I boarded Air China from SF to Beijing (PEK) I had one carry on, a large laptop carrying case as a shoulder bag (17 inch laptop screen) two camera's slung around my neck and a bag full of things to enjoy on the flight.

Also, if you take a domestic flight out of Beijing to another location in China, the baggage rules change. Less weight is allowed.

My advice, if your trip allows you to have time to do some serious shopping, don't bring much in the way of clothes and buy, buy, buy. My second trip to China I took two shirts and one pair of pants and put together a new wardrobe for $350. Then bought a large suitcase to carry it home and chucked the smaller Wal-Mart one I got for next to nothing in the states. Buy smart in China, big department stores are good quality, but expensive and state run. Small little clothing stores are everywhere and if they ask 100 RMB for an item, tell them 35 and stick to it. They will sell it to your for that. If not, walk out the door and go to the next store. Works almost everytime. Check zippers, cloth and stitching carefully.

I now live in China.

Peace

Jim

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Answer 2

Jadalina, dont worry about the carryon,but do worry about the currency as the credit card has yet to take off in a big way in China. Hotels do take the usual Visa/AMEX, shops are still behind. You need a mix of USD,TC(Travellers Cheques) and China Yuan. Enjoy!

Answer 3

This airline is a direct flight, thus is very convenient. It is my understanding that they accept U.S. dollars. They are very stringent about carryons, however. So put most of your material in your suitcase. I think you can bring a small bottle of water on but you must buy it after you pass security. I got conflicting reports on this question.