China Southern Airlines is probably not a household name outside of China, certainly not outside of Asia. However, this is an airline with ambition, it has grown substantially, becoming the largest airline in China and one of the ten largest in the world.
The airline offers the most comprehensive route network in China, one of the most comprehensive route networks in Asia and an increasing number of regional routes, including Europe, the Middle East and North America, mainly from its hubs in Guangzhou ( one hour from Hong Kong) and Beijing.
The airline offers cheap tickets on many routes, often substantially cheaper than its competitors.
Where does the airline fly?
Headquartered in Guangzhou, Southern China Airlines is a powerhouse in the Chinese aviation industry and has the most developed route network in the country. The airline’s hubs are Guangzhou Airport and Beijing Airport, with additional mini hubs in Dalian, Shenyang, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Changchun, and Shenzhen. From these locations, the airline connects to dozens of Chinese destinations, including smaller cities.
Regional destinations include almost all Asian capitals, including Singapore, Hanoi, Bangkok, and Tokyo, as well as dozens of smaller cities. China Southern Airlines has one of the most developed route networks in Asia, although most routes are through Guangzhou and Beijing.
In recent years, Southern China Airlines has aggressively expanded its international operations and has become the largest airline in China. The airline flies to Paris, Amsterdam and Los Angeles, as well as a host of destinations in the Middle East and North Asia, including Tehran, Tblisi and Khatmandhu.
Reservations and website
Frankly, the website is a mess and doesn’t inspire much confidence in the booking procedure. For those who manage to navigate the reservation maze, the reward is cheap tickets and we have not heard any reports of hiccups with the tickets once the purchase has been completed. The English website has not been online for a long time and the translations are clumsy at best, nonsensical at worst.
If the website postpones it, almost all travel agencies in China sell China Southern Airlines tickets as do a growing number of international travel agencies. You can also purchase China Southern tickets through the travel reservation portal Zuji.com, often at a substantial discount and with the assurance of booking through an established agent.
Planes, inflight entertainment and seating
There is a veritable mixed bag of aircraft flying the Southern China Airlines flag, with an aging fleet slowly being replaced by newer aircraft. In general, airplanes are older than Boeing and Airbus airplanes, and seats can be compressed in the economy. In-flight entertainment is also unpredictable with a number of long-haul flights that don’t have in-seat in-flight entertainment and others that have older systems with very limited options.
On top of that, while other airlines squeeze travelers out of extra costs, China Southern Airlines offers the budget traveler free checked luggage and decent-sized meals if they aren’t inspired by the flight. Chinese and sometimes quirky Western options are standard on long haul flights – anyone want spaghetti with chicken sauce?
You will have more space, a wool blanket and a bottle of water, in Premium Economy. Other classes include first-class business and luxury and offer more rewards. These include standards like laptop charging points and ergonomically designed reclining seats, as well as more unique touches like an onboard tea house, on select flights. Honestly, the facilities for all of these classes are a bit disappointing compared to the competitors, although you will likely pay a lot less.
English speaking staff
This, like many things in China, largely depends on where you fly from. Fly internationally or on major domestic routes, such as Guangzhou to Beijing, and you should find staff with a decent to good level of English. While the vast majority of flight attendants are Chinese and Mandarin is their first language, the airline’s international expansion has seen it hire more international staff; including French, Korean and Australian hostesses.
Outside of international routes and on smaller regional or national routes, English service will be very limited, although even here the airline strives to have at least one English-speaking hostess, they are not there yet.
Safety record
Many people who are unfamiliar with Chinese airlines are nervous about traveling with China Southern Airlines. While China has had some problems with airline safety in the past, standards have been raised substantially and safety meets international standards.
China Southern Airlines has been involved in a handful of accidents, the last major incident was an accident in 1997, but its safety record is comparable to other international airlines. There have been complaints about the English language skill and training of the pilots, including erroneous instructions from air traffic control and the ground crew. China Southern Airlines has partnered with US partners to improve the quality of personnel training and aircraft maintenance.
The bottom line
China Southern Airlines has one of the most developed route networks in the world and its coverage of China and Asia, as well as less traveled destinations in the Middle East and North Asia, is excellent. Its growing network of European and North American flights also offers the opportunity to reach China cheaply. Almost all Southern China Airline flights are routed through Guangzhou and Beijing and there are very few point-to-point flights, but if you can handle the transfer, this can be a good way to get a cheap flight to your destination in Asia.
The service and amenities are not up to the standards of other international flag carriers, particularly in seating and inflight entertainment, which can be a problem on long-haul flights. Things are looking up and if you are more concerned about getting to your destination cheaply, choose China Southern Airlines.
