China Southern Airlines
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"Way way better than expected"
First experience flying with them and I was really impressed. New aircraft, fantastic staff, and the food was excellent—way better than British Airways or any other airline I've flown with. I truly can’t complain. 5⭐ from me!
"Good Choice"
First time flying with China Southern from London to Manila via Guangdong. The flight from London to Guangdong was on a Dreamliner 787, and the service was excellent. Flight attendants were very attentive, and the food was better than average—much better than Etihad, my previous airline of choice. The entertainment system offered a great range of Hollywood films in English, and the amenity kit for the 11-hour night flight was well thought out. The transfer in Guangdong was smooth, and the airport was pleasant, with a few shops and reasonably priced places to eat, including a quiet Starbucks. The A320 for the onward journey to Manila was small, but the flight was just over 2 hours, and both flights departed and arrived on time with no issues with checked luggage. Given the price, this was great value for money and honestly, a better experience than traveling with Etihad. Highly recommended!
"Very good airline for money"
Very good airline. On my trip to Guangzhou (and then Manila), I got filled TF up! Seriously—they kept the meals coming. I had three full meals just on the Amsterdam to Guangzhou leg, then they served another one on the Guangzhou to Manila flight—even though I was already stuffed. Flight attendants were chill and polite, legroom was solid, everything looked clean, and the entertainment system was top tier. Only downside? The self check-in process needs major improvement. I wasted 30 minutes trying to use it before learning I could only check in at the counter. Aside from that, I'd totally recommend flying China Southern.
"Snow sports equipment is oversize. Read the fine print carefully"
I recently flew CZ3088 to Shenzhen and CZ3071 from Shenzhen to Sydney. The Taipei to Shenzhen leg was underwhelming—older aircraft, uncomfortable seats, and cabin crew that seemed disinterested. After a 3-hour wait in the Shenzhen transit lounge (not fun), the onward flight to Sydney was thankfully a big improvement with cheerful service and a better overall experience. Legroom is still tight if you're tall, though. Heads-up for snow sports travelers: Be very careful with their "free ski/snowboard equipment" policy. Although they advertise that ski/snow gear is carried for free, the total size must be under 203cm (length + width + height)—which is practically impossible for any snowboard or ski bag. I checked this with my travel agent and we missed that crucial detail. Unless you're flying First Class (which allows up to 300cm), expect to be hit with a $170 USD penalty if your gear exceeds that limit. No payment = no boarding pass. It’s disappointing, especially for a country promoting snow sports. So, while the long-haul service was decent, China Southern needs to be clearer on their baggage rules. Be aware and plan ahead to avoid surprises at the airport.
"Excellent airline – please improve the app 😊"
I had to travel to Hong Kong via Beijing to support my brother through a brain tumor operation—a stressful and emotional time. I want to sincerely thank China Southern Airlines for making this journey so much smoother. The seats were comfortable, the food surprisingly good, and the staff were genuinely courteous and helpful throughout. It made a real difference during a difficult time. I also really enjoyed the stopover at Beijing Daxing International Airport—what a beautiful and modern facility. My only suggestion for improvement would be their website and app, which are quite hard to navigate if you don’t speak Mandarin. A bit more accessibility for international users would go a long way. Overall, an excellent airline and a very positive experience. Thank you, China Southern.
"Terrible flight"
We flew from Shenzhen to Urumqi, with a connecting flight to Yerevan. Upon arrival in Urumqi with a 5-hour layover, we discovered — without prior notification — that our connecting flight to Yerevan had been cancelled. No flight information was displayed at the counter, and when we inquired at 16:15 (for a 20:40 flight), we were informed the next available flight was in May. Clearly, we couldn’t wait that long. From 16:15 to 17:40, the counter staff struggled to reach customer service. When they finally got through, it took until 19:10 just to arrange a new ticket — to Tbilisi, not even our intended destination. The process was so slow that the check-in for that flight closed before we could board. With no alternative offered, we were put in a hotel overnight. The next day, we were rebooked to Istanbul, but the airline refused to cover the cost of the onward journey to Yerevan, which we had to pay for ourselves. On top of that, Urumqi Airport was a nightmare. Long customs lines (1.5 hours), completely unhelpful and disorganized staff, and a customer service team that couldn’t communicate with each other. Do not fly China Southern Airlines. Avoid Urumqi Airport at all costs.
"Decent Flight"
It’s always a good flight when you land safely without turbulence or unexpected issues, right? We really only start getting picky when certain expectations aren’t met. Thankfully, this airline delivered a smooth and hassle-free experience across the board. The flight from Beijing to Sanya was relatively long, but overall quite comfortable. The biggest downside was the lack of in-seat TVs. That could’ve been a real issue traveling with two small children, but since it was a red-eye flight, they managed to sleep most of the way. Recommendation: Please consider adding personal entertainment screens on longer routes—it would make a big difference, especially for families.
"Paying extra for seat assignment"
I recently flew from the Philippines to Japan and back with China Southern Airlines. For a low-budget carrier, they did quite well—check-in was smooth, flights were on time, and there was plenty of food and drinks, which exceeded my expectations. However, I had a major issue on the return flight. I paid extra to ensure I’d be seated with my two minor children. I received multiple email confirmations that we were assigned row 41. But on the day of departure, we were scattered in rows 57, 60, and 61, and our confirmed seats were given to other passengers. This was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. Advice to future travelers: Be cautious when paying extra for seat assignments—there is no guarantee it will be honored, even with confirmation.
"Wonderful experience"
I’ve flown hundreds of flights across all the major airlines, mostly in economy, and recently did two long-haul trips with China Southern. I’d rate them very highly. The food was among the best I’ve had in economy. Cabin crew were friendly and helpful. While the alcohol selection is limited (just wine or beer), it’s not a big deal for me. The Dreamliner aircraft was modern and clean, with plenty of English movies and TV shows available. I also found Guangzhou Airport to be fantastically efficient—a really well-run hub. I booked my tickets through a codeshare with BA, and for a little over £400 return from Glasgow to Manila (and previously to Nha Trang), it’s amazing value. Only real downside was transiting through Heathrow, which felt far inferior to any Asian airport. The T5 to T4 transfer is a hassle. But given the price and overall service, I’d absolutely book again—especially if I can grab return flights to Southeast Asia under £500. Also worth noting: China Southern is one of the few airlines that let you select your seat at booking without an extra fee. Big plus!
"Shocking airline"
Our journey started well with excellent staff in Melbourne, but unfortunately, that’s where the positive experience ended. Upon landing in Guangzhou, the situation quickly deteriorated. There was a complete language barrier — none of the airport or flight staff spoke or understood English, making communication frustrating and stressful. All passengers, without explanation, had their cigarette lighters confiscated — including those packed in checked luggage. Suitcases were lined up and opened if a lighter was detected. Ironically, the airport has designated smoking rooms equipped with lighter devices, making this policy feel both confusing and inconsistent. The staff were generally rude, unhelpful, and completely unwilling or unable to explain procedures. This experience cast a shadow over the start of our trip to Italy, and worse, we knew we’d have to endure the same poor service on our return flight. Never flying with China Southern again. Guangzhou Airport was a deeply negative part of our travel.
"Appalling flight delay management"
Our flight, originally scheduled for 4:35 PM, has faced repeated delays — first to 8:45 PM, then 9:05 PM, and now pushed back again to midnight. At the time of writing, we've been stuck in the airport for over 8 hours, and counting. What’s most frustrating is the complete lack of timely and transparent updates from the airline. Passengers are told to remain in the airport as the flight might depart earlier than the newly scheduled time, though the odds are clearly slim. We asked if we could leave the airport to rest and return later, but staff discouraged it without offering any real alternative. Despite the delay being weather-related in Guangzhou — something outside the airline’s control — the management of the situation has been absolutely terrible. No hotel or resting area was offered. Terminal 4 offers minimal entertainment or comfort, making this wait even more miserable.
"Poor service"
I tried calling the company's Toronto office at (416) 551-5888 multiple times, but no one ever answered. This is the number listed on their official website. I also attempted to reach their service line at Pearson Airport with the same result — no response at all. It's extremely frustrating and unprofessional to have official contact numbers that are essentially useless.
"Excellent value business class"
I’m writing this review because the China Southern Airlines website is terrible, and I struggled to find any recent, detailed reviews—particularly about business class. So, I wanted to share an up-to-date and honest account for anyone considering it. Before flying, I was pretty apprehensive about using China Southern, but I ended up being very impressed. We chose CS because flying to New Zealand is a long haul—23 hours flight time, 30 with the stopover—and we were originally looking at premium economy. However, we noticed that China Southern business class was priced similarly to the premium economy seats offered by airlines like Cathay and Singapore. Most older reviews I found complained about poor service, entertainment, and food, but I was willing to accept that if the lie-flat bed was as advertised. Turns out, there was nothing poor about the experience at all. First, the service was perfectly adequate, and at times, genuinely very good. Sure, the crew spoke limited English, but if you’ve traveled through Asia, South America, or rural Europe, that won’t be a dealbreaker—communication was ultimately easy enough. Dinner was served on real crockery, in courses, much like a restaurant. While that level of formality might not suit everyone on a red-eye, I appreciated it. Second, the food was surprisingly good—especially the Chinese options. There were about five courses per meal, with two full meals per leg, plus a snack bar set up at the front of the cabin. The Western options were more like a standard economy meal, but still perfectly serviceable. They offered two red and two white wines (the reds were French—one was a Côtes du Rhône), and you could sample both. The beer, though, was awful—ironically a German brand, but one I’d never heard of and hopefully never will again. Third, the in-flight entertainment was better than expected. While only 3–4 new releases (e.g., Furiosa, Twisters, Despicable Me 4) were available, there was a huge back-catalogue, including full franchise sets like Ocean’s Eleven, Jurassic World, Toy Story, and Avengers. All films are in their original language with Chinese subtitles, which unfortunately meant we couldn’t enjoy any of the Chinese movies. And yes, they dub in family-friendly swears like “fudge” and “spit,” which honestly added some humor. Fourth, the bed was excellent—very comfy, and my 6’3” frame fit just fine. If you’re taller than 6’4”, it may feel a bit snug. My only gripe here was the tiny bathroom—smaller than economy class, since it’s toward the front of the plane. Brushing teeth or changing clothes was a bit of a squeeze. Now, a word on Guangzhou Airport: you go through security again, and business class mixes with economy, although you do disembark first. The staff spoke reasonably good English and were understanding if you forgot things like removing laptops or belts, though the pat-downs were pretty thorough. Be aware: any liquids over 100ml will be confiscated, even those bought duty-free on your first leg. If you’ve got a long layover (8+ hours), you can leave the airport, but that requires a temporary visa—probably not worth the hassle. The business lounge at Guangzhou is excellent: huge, peaceful, with great food, showers, and private sleeping rooms. Despite older reviews, VISA and Mastercard were accepted at the shops. Lastly, there are a few unique quirks that come with a China/CCP-affiliated airline. There’s an actual security officer onboard, which was a first for me—he didn’t intervene on our flight but definitely looked like someone you wouldn’t want to cross. China Southern is also one of the few airlines still flying over Russia, which shortens the route and helps explain the lower ticket prices, but it might give some travelers pause. You also can’t use your own tablet during takeoff/landing, and the seatbelt sign is used liberally—it gets announced every time, even for the slightest turbulence, which can be sleep-disrupting. In summary, if you’re looking at premium economy for a flight from Europe to East Asia, Australia, or the Pacific, I would strongly recommend China Southern business class instead. It might not be as polished as Singapore or Cathay, but at half the price, it’s probably the better value overall.
"Will not be using ever again"
I will never use their services again. Since booking our flight, our itinerary was changed twice! I had to constantly follow up and remind them to ensure we were on the same flight, especially since it was our honeymoon. As our trip approached, we were informed that my husband's flight had been changed once again! By that point, we had already paid for our hotels in Vietnam, making it all feel like a complete waste of money. The final straw came when, on our return flight, we were seated separately, even though there were plenty of empty seats. When we moved to an open aisle seat, the flight attendant informed us that it was reserved for the crew’s rest, and we couldn’t sit there. To make matters worse, my phone bill ended up being about £80 because I wasn’t getting responses to my emails and had to call Southern China Airlines directly. I will never fly with them again.
"Just OK"
The service was just okay—the flight attendants didn’t seem very attentive to the passengers. The food quality was below average as well. However, on the positive side, the flight was smooth, and we landed on time, so overall, it was a decent experience despite the service and food.
China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines, commonly branded as China Southern, is one of China's three major airlines, alongside Air China and China Eastern Airlines. Headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Southern has grown into a global aviation giant since its establishment on 1 July 1988, following the restructuring of CAAC Airlines. As of 2024, China Southern ranks as the world’s sixth-largest airline by passengers carried and holds the title of Asia’s largest airline in terms of fleet size, revenue, and passenger volume. It operates over 2,000 flights daily, serving more than 200 destinations across the globe. The airline's main hubs are Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. Although it was a member of the SkyTeam alliance until January 2019, China Southern has since forged new strategic partnerships, including a frequent flyer program collaboration with American Airlines initiated in March 2019. The airline’s visual identity features a kapok flower—the city flower of Guangzhou—on a blue tail fin, and its corporate slogan is: "Fly towards your dreams." With its expansive network and continual growth, China Southern remains a key player in both domestic and international aviation markets.
Address
No.68 Qixin Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou
Website
https://www.csair.com/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+8620-22395539