Air China Introduces Prepaid Excess Baggage Fee Service On Flights to North America

BEIJING, July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 17, Air China became the first domestic carrier to introduce prepaid excess baggage fee service on routes to North America. For passengers on Air China-operated North American flights arriving in or departing from Beijing, if the number of pieces of their checked baggage exceeds the allowance, they can pay in advance for their excess baggage through Air China's ticketing offices worldwide or Air China Members Services Center hotline (4006-100-666), and are entitled to a 50% discount on the excess baggage fee that passengers usually have to pay when checking in at the airport, which means the prepaid excess baggage fee is RMB 650/piece (or equivalent of local currency). The service benefits passengers whose checked baggage exceeds the free baggage allowance like tourists and students, sparing passengers the trouble of having to make a payment at check-in counters on the spot and thus cutting the time they have to spend at the airport and guaranteeing an enhanced experience.

The prepaid excess baggage fee service is applicable to Air China's direct flights between Beijing and 7 North American cities including Los Angeles, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Houston, Hawaii and Vancouver. Passengers who plan to carry excess baggage can pay in advance for their excess baggage, provided each piece of excess baggage does not exceed 158cm in the sum of its length, width and height and does not exceed 23kg in weight. Each passenger can pay in advance for up to two pieces of excess baggage on each flight. Passengers can pay for the service 24 hours before flight departure through Air China's ticketing offices worldwide or Air China Members Services Center hotline (4006-100-666). After having paid for their excess baggage in advance, passengers can just show the proof of their payment to Air China's staff at check-in at the airport and have their excess baggage checked easily.

The Chinese carrier with the most extensive international route network, Air China is very committed to continuously improving its route network and developing new services and products, offering passengers more travel options. The prepaid excess baggage fee service is another attempt of Air China to offer passengers a smoother and easier check-in experience based on the needs of passengers. Other services that Air China have introduced recently include self-service check-in, baggage through check-in and boarding gate standby, all of which help streamline the complicated airport formalities, ensuring more flexible and personalized wonderful travel experiences for passengers.

About Air China

Air China is China's only national flag carrier and a member carrier of the world's largest airline network - Star Alliance.

By MAY 2014, Air China had a fleet of 506 passenger aircraft and freighters of mainly Boeing and Airbus families (including those of the carriers which Air China has a majority stake in). It operates 317 routes, including 76 international routes, 15 regional routes and 226 domestic routes. It serves 161 cities in 32 countries and regions, including 52 international cities, 3 regional cities and 106 domestic cities. Every week, Air China offers over 1.3 million seats on over 7000 flights per week.

Utilizing its extensive route network and its hub in Beijing, especially after its admission to the Star Alliance, Air China can fly passengers to 1,328 airports in 195 countries.

PhoenixMiles, Air China's customer loyalty program created in 1994, is Asia's only frequent flyer program shared by a number of carriers.

Air China's customer service philosophy revolves around four elements: credibility, convenience, comfort, and choice. Hard work over the years has resulted in a tremendous increase in Air China's brand value. In 2013, Air China ranked again as one of the world's top 500 brands with a brand value of RMB 76.568 billion, and was the only Chinese carrier on the World Brands 500 list.

For more, visit Air China's official website www.airchina.com or call Air China's hotline 95583.

SOURCE Air China