Going to be with my baobao in February 2012

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hello all,

We are relative newbies to the K-1 process, we received our NOA1 on 31 Oct 2011. So, we are in that seemingly endless period of waiting between NOA1 and NOA2. Barring some radical change in the glacial pace of activity at the CSC, we speculate that that nothing will happen to our petition until mid to late March, at the earliest. We both know that we have to be strong and patient, and yes, these long winter nights are very lonely. Don't get me wrong, Skype is a wonderful program, one that we utilize daily, to keep in touch. Tonight, I purchased a ticket for a non-stop flight from Seattle to Beijing scheduled for this upcoming February. We are planning on meeting in Beijing, then traveling to Lijiang, by way of Chengdu. We are very much looking forward to a 10-day getaway together, nothing special planned, just some good quality time together.

Of course, we will document this visit for the purposes of our ongoing visa process, more time together is always a good thing on so many levels. Now, Alisha and I are busy planning the itinerary for our upcoming get together. It will be our holiday gift to each other.

Happy holidays,

The B of A&B

Edited December 21, 2011 by A&B

[Loueikun 5]

ooooh Hainan Airlines unless your taking DL?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Tonight, I purchased a ticket for a non-stop flight from Seattle to Beijing scheduled for this upcoming February.

I've flown that route a few times (Hainan, not DL). To me, it always seemed that it couldn't arrive fast when going to China and when returning, it seemed to get back too fast.

We are planning on meeting in Beijing, then traveling to Lijiang, by way of Chengdu. We are very much looking forward to a 10-day getaway together, nothing special planned, just some good quality time together.

My wife and I went to Lijiang during my second trip to China in 2010. Enjoy your time there!

Happy Holidays to you as well!

[Pitaya 2,577]

You folks are quite astute. This will be my second trip on Hainan Airlines. You are so correct, the flight there seems to take too long, the return is ever so swift.

What are your thoughts about Hainan vs. DL?

[Operator 1,927]

You folks are quite astute. This will be my second trip on Hainan Airlines. You are so correct, the flight there seems to take too long, the return is ever so swift.

What are your thoughts about Hainan vs. DL?

I've not flown that route but have flown Hainan domestically. They were ranked a 5 star airline by Skytrax just this year. Class act! There is not a US carrier that can even come close. And they codeshare with AA (FWIW)

Have fun on your trip. I look forward to going to go to Yunnan in the future, my wife says it's beautiful.

[MuDelphi 159]

Definitely some difference between Delta and Hainan. While the PRC carriers, on the whole, are not so great, at least compared to their neighbors in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, etc. Hainan is definitely a cut above. You're flying, generally, on comparable A330s from Seattle. While some of the attendants on Delta are generally ok, some are flat out rude to foreigners and non-English speakers, who are generally going to fly a route like that, and as an American, that's a little awkward and embarrassing to see. At least on Hainan, the service is going to be slightly more polite. If you were flying from Detroit when Delta has their updated 777s in place, its a much more enjoyable experience.

Enjoy your holiday in China, and you might want to get her prepared for the process of getting her notarized police/birth/marriageability white books, especially if she is from a rural area!

[Pitaya 2,577]

Definitely some difference between Delta and Hainan. While the PRC carriers, on the whole, are not so great, at least compared to their neighbors in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, etc. Hainan is definitely a cut above. You're flying, generally, on comparable A330s from Seattle. While some of the attendants on Delta are generally ok, some are flat out rude to foreigners and non-English speakers, who are generally going to fly a route like that, and as an American, that's a little awkward and embarrassing to see. At least on Hainan, the service is going to be slightly more polite. If you were flying from Detroit when Delta has their updated 777s in place, its a much more enjoyable experience.

Enjoy your holiday in China, and you might want to get her prepared for the process of getting her notarized police/birth/marriageability white books, especially if she is from a rural area!

Yes, I agree. My first trip to visit her last October was on Hainan, it was a pleasant experience. The DL flights from Seattle to Beijing were showing Boeing 757s as the vehicle, while Hainan is using Airbus A330s. I wish that Delta was a little more competitive with their fare schedules, and would use 777s. The 777 is a wonderful airplane, whereas the 757, is a good airplane, but getting a little long in the tooth.....

She has already given me her notarized birth and divorce white books. I will ask about the police book. She has been updating her vaccinations. She is from a city in Liaoning province. Thanks for the tip.

Happy holidays,

The B of A&B

[bigdog 376]

I found very clean planes, and good food on domestic flights. Have fun. Flew Business class to China and back.

[Loueikun 5]

DL is a 763 (767-300ER) to Beijing not a 752 (757-200). The 777 is overkill on that route for DL, so they do just fine with a 767, they also use 767 to NRT from the west coast such as SFO. 757s are not certified for trans-pacific nor do they have the range. Unless your thinking of the PMNW 757s at NRT, those fly regionally and may serve PEK from NRT, but they stay in NRT.

I flew DL internationally several times but always was in Business Elite, but economy international on DL is not as good as many foreign carriers, food quality, seat pitch, etc. Even I do not mind flying on the Air China 747 combi with no IFE (I sleep the entire time) and the food was even better than DL even it was like an 80s/90s interior.

I did fly AA to PEK just recently in Business class, it was a good flight and I slept the entire time too.

[Palladin 18]

You folks are quite astute. This will be my second trip on Hainan Airlines. You are so correct, the flight there seems to take too long, the return is ever so swift.

What are your thoughts about Hainan vs. DL?

Has nothing to do with the airlines. When flying from the USA to China, the headwind makes the flying difficult so it takes much longer. When you come back to the USA the tail wind pushes behind so it goes much faster!

No comment on Hainan Airline. I did not even know it had any US-China flight.

[Loueikun 5]

China Southern, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and China Eastern are the Mainland carriers that serve the US currently

but I always prefer

EVA AIR, Mandarin Airlines, and best of all China Airlines oh miss the good old times via Taiwan, ROC to SE Asia.

[Pitaya 2,577]

DL is a 763 (767-300ER) to Beijing not a 752 (757-200). The 777 is overkill on that route for DL, so they do just fine with a 767, they also use 767 to NRT from the west coast such as SFO. 757s are not certified for trans-pacific nor do they have the range. Unless your thinking of the PMNW 757s at NRT, those fly regionally and may serve PEK from NRT, but they stay in NRT.

I flew DL internationally several times but always was in Business Elite, but economy international on DL is not as good as many foreign carriers, food quality, seat pitch, etc. Even I do not mind flying on the Air China 747 combi with no IFE (I sleep the entire time) and the food was even better than DL even it was like an 80s/90s interior.

I did fly AA to PEK just recently in Business class, it was a good flight and I slept the entire time too.

Thanks for the correction. I will defer to you about the specifics of the aircraft. The bottom line, for me, is to get there safely, in relative comfort, without breaking my bank.

Happy holidays,

YMMV

[Loueikun 5]

I guess I am going ahead of you on January 31st

[Pitaya 2,577]

I guess I am going ahead of you on January 31st

Good for you! Have a safe and pleasant trip!

[Loueikun 5]

Will be flying into Guangzhou on Dragon Air and my wife will take Hainan Airlines domestically from Shenyang to Guangzhou