Hainan Airlines has fairly competitive prices when compared to other top airlines. When looking at domestic flights, Hainan was almost always the best priced option. They were priced lower than other domestic airlines offering the same routes. When looking at international flights, Hainan was still one of the better options, though not usually the cheapest. Looking at United States destinations, often a larger airline such as Delta, American Airlines, or United were priced cheaper than Hainan though not by a large amount. Hainan would beat out these top airlines occasionally on certain flights at certain times. This makes them, at least based on price, an option for you to consider initially. The Hainan website also offers a number of different promotions and discounts that passengers can use to bring that ticket price down to be the cheapest option available. They also offer a rewards program, the Fortune Wings Club, that would help members receive even more discounts on flights from Hainan Airlines. Having two pieces of checked baggage is generous for many airlines. A number of airlines only offer one free piece and a few require fees for any checked baggage. Domestic flights on Hainan Airlines are also allowed two pieces of free baggage with a weight limit of 88lbs for first class, 66lbs for business class, and 44lbs for economy class. To have free checked baggage on domestic flights as well as international is a great option. The excessive baggage fees also varies on the country being flown to. For the U.S., the first extra piece of luggage costs $200 and the next and all others cost $300 each. The overweight-baggage charge in the U.S. is 1.5% per kg of the highest one-way published Hainan Airlines fare in Economy Class according to the traveling direction. Each airport used by Hainan Airlines has their own separate check-in and boarding time limit. If the passenger fails to check-in or board within the time set by that airport, their seat may be forfeited on the flight so as not to delay that flights departure. On flights to the United States, passengers need to check-in at least 60 minutes prior to the flight departure time. Hainan offers a few methods for check-in. They include: • Online check-in • Self-service check-in kiosks at the airport • Check-in desks at the airport • Mobile phone check-in During the check-in process, passengers choose their seat on the plane by looking at a map of the seats and seeing which ones are available. Their seat is then known before the boarding process begins to help lesson confusion on the plane. The time that check-in opens varies for each destinations and a list is available on the Hainan website. Many of their check-in options allow passengers to avoid waiting in any lines and allow them to head straight to check their bags, and board the plane. The mobile check-in is done through an app that is available for all IOS and Google Android Applications. The app allows passengers to check-in as well as receive any promotions or special fares. It also shows the flight status so passengers can see whether the flight is going to be delayed.

thumb_down

The Bad

Destinations
Flight statistics
In-flight services
Time in business

Hainan serves 90 different destinations. Many of their destinations are domestic around the country of China. However, they also offer a number of international destinations including the only available non-stop flight from China to Boston, Massachusetts. They have two Hub's where their flights originate from, they are Beijing, and Haikou. Having 90 destinations makes Hainan a small airline when compared with other airlines. The top airlines in America generally have over 300 different destinations domestically and internationally. This is more than triple the size of Hainan. While they don't have a large number of destinations, they do travel to a number of the larger cities in quite a few countries across Europe and in the United States. They also offer non-stop flights where other airlines do not and they are continually getting new routes and destinations as they grow. Looking at daily flights for Hainan Airlines, they did not have as many on time flights or highly rated active routes that other top airlines have according to Flightstats.com. Many other airlines have on-time percentages in the 80's such as Delta, which is on time 86% of the time. A number of other smaller airlines also have high on time percentages. Hainan came in a lower than many of the other airlines. They were only on time 71% of the time. 13% of their flights were late, 5% were very late and 9% were excessively late. A number of their most active routes received a low rating out of five stars. Their top flights include: • Haikou to Shenzhen (4.4 stars, 92% on time) • Haikou to Wuhan (3.4 stars, 85% on time) • Shenzhen to Haikou (3.3 stars, 89% on time) Their lowest flights include: • Wuhan to Haikou (0.7 stars, 62% on time) • Beijing to Shanghai (1.2 stars, 67% on time) • Shenzhen to Beijing (1.3 stars, 68% on time) These most active routes are mainly domestic flights. They are all rather low scoring when compared to other airline's most active routes. Hainan only has one flight with four stars and many with only one star. They also have a canceled/diverted flight percentage of 4%. Hainan Airlines offers many in-flight services to their passengers. Most of their services are standard on many flights. They may not offer as many options as other top recommended airlines. Some of their services include: • Entertainment: Passengers are able to watch top movies and TV shows in their own language and dialect on their own personal screens on Hainan Airlines. They are also able to listen to a variety of music, play games or read from one of the available magazines that Hainan carries. The entertainment selection includes a number of traditional Chinese options as well as a variety from the rest of the world. The entertainment on Hainan Airlines is very similar to those of other airlines, it includes everything that would be expected on a flight. • Dining: For long-haul flights, passengers are served a meal on Hainan Airlines. Unlike many airlines that give a variety of options to choose from, Hainan has a featured meal for the day that is offered. They serve traditional Chinese and Western cuisine. Many of their meals come with rice, although a bowl of noodles is always available instead. They also have a selection of different wines for passengers to have with their meal. While their food selection may be smaller than other airlines, Hainan also offers a specialized child's meal that many other airlines do not. The order must be placed at least 48 hours before the flight and Hainan can offer a customized meal for a child. They also give the option for passengers to request special meals for any dietary restrictions they may have. • Special Services: First and Business class passengers can enjoy a few extra amenities on their Hainan flight. They can experience the cabin bed making service to sleep through the flight, or request their tea offering service and enjoy traditional Chinese tea service. All classes are also offered a "Travel Housekeeper" product series which includes items such as: comb, nail clippers, memo pad, and sewing kit. Another service offered to all classes on Hainan Airlines is Children's Toys and Reading Material. A special selection is on board to provide children with the best possible service on the flight making it easier for the children and parents to enjoy. Hainan does not offer any Wi-Fi services or any outlets to use any personal devices while on the plane. Hainan Airlines opened in 1994 and has provided safe travel for the past 21 years. This is a relatively short amount of time compared to a number of other airlines. Some of the top airlines have been around for over 80 years, so Hainan's 21 is small when compared to them. They are not a brand new company, but are much younger than other airlines. Hainan has earned a number of different awards for their flight services. Some of them include: • 2014 annual World Travel Awards, "Asia's Best Business Class 2014 award • Named one of the 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands in 2015 • Four consecutive Global Skytrax five-star airline ratings • Skytrax's, "Best Airline in China" • Skytrax's, "Best Staff Service in China" Hainan offers oriental hospitality and strives to know the importance of respecting the customer. Their goal is to become "a world-class aviation enterprise and brand for the Chinese nation".

gavel

The Bottom Line

We do not recommend Hainan Airlines at this time due to their inconsistency being on-time as well as their having a limited amount of destinations they fly to.

Was this content helpful?

thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

border_color Write a Review

User Reviews

Star Rating

star star star_half star_border star_border

6 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

33%

4 grade

3 grade

2 grade

1 grade

67%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star star_border star_border

Quality

star star star_half star_border star_border

Service

star star star_border star_border star_border

Trustworthiness

star star star_border star_border star_border

cancel

star star star star star

Cassondra Marvelous Alma, MI

I had the best in-flight service I've ever received on an airline. I had purchased my flight 6 months prior to the actual trip. My flight was 14 hours and as it ended up, I was 4 months pregnant at the time. I voiced my concerns about comfort to the flight attendant from the beginning, just to make them aware. To my surprise, two very amazing flight attendants Mica and Zoe went above and beyond. I was able to sleep comfortably because they found me a row of seats all to myself. They ensured I was able to eat every meal. I have never received such great service and care. I'm especially thankful for these two and their efforts. Thank you Mica and Zoe!

9 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Olga Las Vegas, NV

Hello. My name is Olga. I want to give the most horrible reviews of the Hainan airline's service. And to warn the peoples who view this company as a potential for their trip, so that you refuse of this decision. or were ready for a horrible and rude service, and also that your things CAN BE STOLEN and you will never even wait for someone to call you back from this company in this situation, and for sure not to help solve the problem!!! Exactly this happen with my husband. For beginning want to start from we travel A LOT. And not me not him never have more terrible service that start from beginning. They do not want to let my husband go to the board of plain .. the trip is Phuket (Thailand)-Haikou-Beijing-Las Vegas, because he no have Chinese visa, even if he not stay in China, it’s just transit ticket and every stop not more than 3-4 hour! And nobody notice him about that when he bought his ticket!They give him really hard time and lots of stress about this and let him to go on plain only 10 min before finish call boarding! He come 3 hours before the flight! And he pay almost 1500 dollars for this ticket!!! After happen more terrible situation!!! My husband (Bryan) had with him like a carry laggage 3 paintings, which was VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR FAMILY!, cause I’m pregnant now and it was special order for my baby's birthday! The question even not about money (even price was 250$ each, so total 750$), the question was about it was SPECIAL for us and we waiting 2 week in Thailand this paintings ready). So, they let him to carry it 2 flights!, but in the last flight Beijing- Las Vegas, exactly before Bryan step on the board, to him come the guy from Hainan Airlines team and tell that my husband can not to bring this paintings with him inside the plain and need to give it him. When my husband began to try to explain that these are valuable things and he would not want to give them away for no reason, this employee of the company rudely told him that he could leave the plane then and stay at the airport. P.s. Repeat again it’s for 1500$ ticket cost, and 28 hours hard flight this service!! Then this guy convinced my husband that nothing would happen with his belongings and he would get them together with the luggage in Las Vegas. Like you already understand we never see our paintings again!, and for this 1 mounth I try to solve this problems (I call many times Hainan Airlines in China and some special service from them here in usa , and write and send many letters on ALL their contacts service mails, NOBODY CALL ME BACK from this company and in the letters they answer the same- that they still no have nothing about this situation!! When I lost the last hope of returning our pictures and generally helping us, I decided to write this review for all people so that they knew with what horrible things they would have to face if they take advantage of the terrible service of this company.

8 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

J.O. Renton, WA

They say that Hainan Airlines is a five star airline, but we feel that their excellent service only applies to Business Class passengers. If you're not in Business Class, you're basically considered a third class passenger. Economy seats are tight and are old or worn out. Food is just okay. Their website has a horrible user interface where your bookings don't even show up and if you need any changes you have to call in to their hotline. What's the point of having a portal then?! When speaking with a representative, their English isn't good enough to understand simple questions like "Is the flight full?" The rep ended up just telling us the seat format of the plane, which is not what we asked. Apparently when redeeming points, you have to call into their customer hotline as there is no way to do this conveniently online and that process takes at least 7-8 calls on their time schedule (China time vs. Pacific Standard Time). Not only that, but you can only get seats in the back of the plane when redeeming points and will need to pay $100 extra just to unlock anything other than a middle seat. Needless to say, working with Hainan Airlines is time consuming, cumbersome, and very very frustrating. AVOID IF POSSIBLE! But if you do need to fly Hainan, it may be worth choosing to accrue those points to your Alaska Airlines account or other partnering airlines instead. You'll probably get less points, but we'd much rather deal with any airline other than Hainan.

8 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Alex Ruso

I would like to tell how my lovely trip to China turned out to be a nightmare because of the company irresponsibility. I had a round trip flight Moscow - Kunming with connection in Beijing. Four flights all together. This is the first time that I'm ever seen that delay was for all 4 flights!!!! And it was not for 30 minutes - it was for 3-4 hours!!!! Also for that week and 4 flights I had 2 flight cancellations and 4 delays!!! Furthermore, the company doesn't care if you have another connection flight after. Because of company problem I had to 3 times!!! buy me a connection ticket for the same route. After I contact them to ask to pay me at least for last ticket, i was told that its not possible. Writing this review, I seat at airport, 3rd day in my way home. I'm mad that the company turned out to be so unsupportive. I have to pay for the company's countless delays with my own money. WORST COMPANY !!!!! STRONGLY NOT RECOMMENDED !!!!!!!!!

9 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

william

It was late about five hours to departure from Shanghai to Beijing on June 3,2017 because of aircraft control then I missed the flight HU7977 from Beijing to Calgary that day. Three days later, I catched the flight from Beijing to Calgary and could not attend an important meeting on June 6, 2017. It is so bad. On return, it was ok from Calgary to Beijing on June 24,2017. However, Hainan airline suddenly cancel the flight Hu7603 that night and changed to early morning next day. It was another bad dream. It was a horrible travel I never had.

9 years ago

star star star star star

Kathryn American Fork, UT

Great airline to book with! I felt safe during the flight and the flight attendants were very professional!

6 years ago