Hainan Airlines 787-8 Dreamliner

Hainan has a solid reputation for service quality in the context of Chinese international carriers, with attentive cabin crew and reasonable catering. The 787-8 is a sensible aircraft choice for trans-Pacific routes — the Dreamliner cabin environment (lower altitude, better humidity, less noise) takes some of the punishment out of a long-haul economy seat. The seat product itself is a standard competitive offering rather than a standout product.

Hainan business class on the 787-8 uses an angled-flat layout across a two-two-two arrangement. The seats recline to a flat or near-flat position, but not all window-seat passengers have truly direct aisle access. For solo business travellers, aisle-position seats give the most practical independence; for companions, the centre pairs in the same row work well.

Nine-abreast three-three-three is a reasonable configuration for a widebody overnight flight. The Dreamliner cabin helps — pressure, humidity and noise levels are all better than older aircraft. The centre triple is the challenge on a full flight; an outer aisle seat in either of the outer triples is a noticeably different proposition. Window seats let you control the blind and lean against the fuselage, which many passengers find helpful for sleeping.