Xiamen Airlines Review - Flight Ratings

Personal Xiamen Airlines review

Earlier this year I was travelling to South East Asia and, while searching for a budget airline, ended up with this one. Here’s my Xiamen Airlines review so you know what to expect, I was surprised to find the fare was almost 50% less than other airlines. XiamenAir is a Chinese passenger airline founded in 1984 and based in Xiamen, Fujian Province; it was the first privately owned airline in China. It operates from Xiamen Gaoqi International (XMN), Hangzhou Xiaoshan International and Fuzhou Changle International, flying to more than 70 destinations across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.

Booking the flight tickets

I booked online through their website. The homepage was not user-friendly and the booking took a while. I eventually booked economy on a route that would take 11 hours.

Check-in and boarding

I arrived three hours early to be safe. At the XiamenAir international check-in area there was a long queue, but I was checked in after about 30 minutes, got my boarding pass and headed to the lounge. At boarding there were two areas, one for economy, one for business/first.

Cabin crew

The cabin crew were very friendly, though only a few spoke English. They were helpful and directed me to my seat. Cabin announcements were in Chinese, so I understood little of them.

Seating

The seats were leather and noticeably more comfortable than other budget airlines I’ve flown, looking new and in good condition, with a small blanket, pillow and headphones. The one downside was how close together they were, with little privacy. They reclined easily, welcome for a long flight, and there was under-seat storage for personal belongings.

Food and drinks

About 40 minutes after takeoff we were served refreshments; I had soda and cold water. A few hours in came the first meal, with several options. The food and service were both good: a starter of salad, beef and tuna, a main of soup, vegetables and seasoned steak, and for dessert fruit served with crackers, nuts and grapes. I was impressed, everything was tasty.

In-flight entertainment

There was an amenity kit with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a personal screen for movies and music. Note that XiamenAir does not allow phone use even in airplane mode; they provide a unit where you can charge and store your phone until landing.

Upon landing

After landing, a bus took us to the terminal and on to immigration, which took only a few minutes. Everything about this airline beat my expectations, not just the cheap fares but the cabin crew, comfortable seats and tasty food. It was one of the most enjoyable flights I’ve taken, and I’d recommend it.

If you’re flying XiamenAir in to source from Fujian factories or work the trade shows, sort a Chinese interpreter before you arrive, and let our product sourcing team handle the supplier side once you’re on the ground.