China Southern Airlines Review - Honest Flight Ratings
Routes Guangzhou Baiyun hub serving roughly 200 destinations across North America, Europe and Asia; one of the world's ten largest passenger carriers.
Selina Chen 陈丽明 EN ⇄ 中文 · Frequent flyer · Trade & sourcing - Among the cheapest fares on most routes for the standard offered
- Generous legroom, premium economy on the 777 rivals first class elsewhere
- Friendly, efficient, English- and Chinese-speaking cabin crew
- Strong in-flight entertainment with 1,200+ programmes and duty-free shopping
- The English website and online check-in are unreliable, third-party bookings often can't check in until the airport
China Southern Airlines review, an overview
China Southern Airlines is a Chinese carrier with its main hub at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. It is little known outside the West, but it is one of the best for service and standards: one of the ten biggest passenger carriers in the world, serving roughly 200 destinations across North America, Europe and Asia, and the first airline on the planet to operate both the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A380.
China Southern pairs affordability with comfort, which makes it a strong choice for leisure and business travellers alike. Seat layout, meals, baggage rules, layovers and cost all shape a trip, and a problem in any one can sour the whole journey, China Southern handles these well, with competitive prices and amenities built around passenger comfort.
Other important things to know
- Several cabins: Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class to suit every traveller.
- Baggage policy: Differs by cabin. Economy passengers get two checked bags and one carry-on; business and first class get more leeway.
- Lots of legroom, even in economy: A premium-economy seat on the Boeing 777 offers 38 inches of legroom and 18.5 inches of width, matching many first-class seats elsewhere.
- Friendly staff: Crew are pleasant and efficient from check-in to disembarkation, with both English- and Chinese-speaking staff on every flight so passengers can communicate easily.
- Cheap tickets: Most routes come in substantially cheaper than rival airlines.
- In-flight meals: Plenty of choice for meat-eaters and vegetarians, including authentic Chinese dishes; specify your preference online at booking to be sure of getting it.
- In-flight entertainment: Every aircraft has a digital system with a 9-inch LCD screen, 1,200+ programmes and over 600 hours of content.
- Duty-free: On international flights you can buy duty-free goods such as watches, jewellery and wine on board.
The cons of China Southern Airlines
China Southern has plenty going for it, but one thing deserves attention before you book: the website and check-in are difficult for English speakers. Some customers report the English version of the site doesn’t always work, and if you book through a site like Expedia it can be nearly impossible to check in online, you have to do it at the airport. The help of an interpreter can make this far less painful.
The bottom line
If you are travelling through Asia and Europe and want a cheap but high-quality flight, you can’t go far wrong with China Southern. They are among the top airlines in the business and clearly chasing the number-one spot, so the amenities will only keep improving. Hopefully this review gives you a clearer picture of what to expect, let their drive to be the best work in your favour. Safe travels.
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superinterpreter · selina@mychinainterpreter.com · Xiamen, China · UTC+8
