Flying China Eastern’s MU546 from Singapore to Shanghai Pudong in business class aboard their older Airbus A330 turned out to be a pleasant surprise—solid, comfortable, and delivered with a quiet efficiency that made the journey feel easy and relaxed. While it’s clear that this isn’t the airline’s most up-to-date product, and it lacks the polish and luxury touches of newer business class cabins, the core experience still holds up, especially for a regional flight under six hours.
Boarding at Changi was smooth and well-organized, with the usual priority lane for business class. Once onboard, we stepped into a cabin that clearly reflected an earlier era of premium travel. The 2-2-2 layout meant not everyone had direct aisle access, and the seats were wide but quite open—so privacy wasn’t a strong point. That said, the seat was spacious, with generous legroom and enough recline to become a fully flat bed, even if the design felt a bit chunky and dated. Upholstery and finishes were clean but worn in places, with signs of age visible on some panels and control buttons. Still, it was comfortable and functional, which is really what matters most on this kind of flight.
After being seated, we were offered a pre-departure drink—orange juice, water, or champagne—and the crew handed out menus. Service was polite and efficient throughout, although there were some mild language gaps. As we pushed back and taxied out, the overhead monitors displayed the safety video—no personal screens for that part—and soon we were airborne, climbing out over Singapore and heading north.
Shortly after takeoff, the cabin crew began meal service, which turned out to be the highlight of the flight. The starter was a plate of smoked salmon served over a bed of mixed greens. For the main course, pan-fried snapper fillet with cream sauce, or pork belly braised in soy with fragrant onion. We tried both between us, and both dishes exceeded expectations. The snapper was moist and nicely seared, served with a light, flavorful cream sauce that complemented rather than overwhelmed the fish. The pork belly was a richer option, slow-braised until tender, with a soy-based glaze that was deep and slightly sweet, rounded out by soft-cooked onions that added aroma and sweetness. Served with rice and greens, it was a bold, satisfying dish—clearly designed with Chinese flavors in mind.
Dessert was a slice of chocolate cake, dense and rich but not overly sweet. It wasn’t overly elaborate, but for an in-flight dessert, it hit the spot, especially with a cup of coffee or tea to finish. The crew remained attentive throughout the meal, refilling glasses, offering extra bread, and checking in without being intrusive. While the presentation wasn’t luxurious, the quality of the meal overall was high, especially considering the limitations of aircraft catering.
After lunch, we reclined our seats and relaxed. The lie-flat seat did its job, even if it wasn’t particularly cutting-edge. The cushioning was firm, but the seat was wide enough to stretch out in comfort. There was limited storage for personal items, which meant keeping a bag at your feet or in the overhead bin, but that was a minor inconvenience. The entertainment system, on the other hand, was undeniably dated. The screen was small and controlled by a wired remote, and the selection was modest—mostly Chinese content with a few Western films. The headphones offered were passable but not truly noise-canceling. For a short flight, though, it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
The rest of the flight was uneventful, with lights dimmed and the cabin settling into a quiet rhythm. There wasn’t much proactive service after the meal, but call bells were answered promptly, and the general atmosphere remained calm and professional.
We arrived in Shanghai on schedule, and deplaning was quick and orderly. There was no special arrival service or fast-track immigration for business class, but baggage delivery was efficient, and we were on our way in no time.
All in all, MU546 on China Eastern’s older A330 business class was a solid, reliable experience. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t compete with newer business class offerings in terms of privacy, entertainment, or design, but it delivered well where it counted: a lie-flat seat, good food, and professional service. For a regional flight like Singapore to Shanghai, that’s more than enough to make the journey smooth and comfortable.
