China Southern is one of the largest airlines in China, and it used to be a member of the SkyTeam alliance before leaving to take an independent path. American Airlines took an investment in the carrier and gave it more codeshare opportunities with Oneworld members.
Today, the airline’s Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai hubs are a major part of its long and short-haul network. It is worth doing some extra homework to determine how your experience can be most pleasant when flying China Southern now that it does not belong to any formal airline alliance.
A major route network for China and beyond
This is one of several major airlines based in China, and the carrier has a vast domestic route network that connects all corners of the country (contrary to the word Southern in its name suggesting otherwise).
The airline is based in the southern city of Guangzhou, but has hubs in Beijing and Shanghai to the north, Urumqi in the northwest, Shenzhen in the southeast and Chongqing in the central part of the country.
These hubs are all in addition to focus cities around the country, all of which funnel passengers on domestic flights and to international connections in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
In fact, it is the largest Chinese airline serving Oceania, a function of its southern geographic hub within China. This also makes it less efficient to serve more North American destinations from its Guangzhou hub, since it would involve significant backtracking from many cities in Asia.
Still, most of the airline’s long-haul flights are from its mega hub in Guangzhou, but there are flights from other cities, too. China Southern is one of the biggest airlines in the world based on passengers carried. It is the largest carrier in Asia based on passengers and fleet size.
Airline fleet
Asia’s largest airline has a mega fleet of aircraft from the world’s top aircraft manufacturers. While the airline has retired its double-decker Airbus A380s, it still has Airbus A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A350XWBs. It also has numerous Boeing planes including almost 200 B737s. The airline also has B777s and B787 Dreamliners.
As a Chinese carrier, it also supports domestic aircraft manufacturers by flying the COMAC ARJ21 and C919. These mostly fly Chinese domestic routes.
Aircraft classes of service
The airline has four classes of service: first, business, premium economy and economy. Onboard service is well-intended and friendly, but the staff often does not speak fluent English (especially on domestic flights) so be patient.
First class
One row of first class is available on some A330s and Dreamliner planes. On many Boeing 777s, there are 24 seats (I find that to be quite a lot for first class in terms of being able to offer bespoke service though).
I flew first class once with China Southern, and it was a nice experience. The crew helps with stowing luggage and even removes the plastic from blankets before offering them, all nice touches.
I appreciate how the airline does not use trays in first class. Instead, they lay a large linen on the table and serve all food and beverage as it were in a formal restaurant. On longer flights, they do this in business class for the first meal, too.
The seats are surrounded by half-height walls with sliding doors for extra privacy. Large entertainment screens, noise-canceling headphones and ample storage space are available. The bedding, amenity kits and food quality are impressive.
Business class
All of the airline’s planes have business class, but the style of seat varies by aircraft. Most widebody planes have lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 layout, but beware the subset of B777s that have a 2-3-2 seating pattern. No one wants a middle seat in business class, and these aircraft have older, angled-lie flat seats.
On some Boeing 787 planes, the seats are in a staggered setup, which means that some seats are closer to the aisle and others closer to the window. I recommend choosing the latter so that you are not disturbed by people passing in the aisle. My only criticism of these seats is that they can feel quite narrow in the shoulder area.
Also, some aircraft offer free Wi-Fi (with the option to pay for more time or speed). Just take note that the signal does not always work well.
Narrowbody planes have a 2-2 seat layout in business class with recliner style seats that are decent enough for flights under around five hours where they are mostly used. I like that the airline offers slippers in business class to get more comfortable inflight.
Like first class, passengers are treated to multi-course meals with both Asian and Western options. On long flights, I like how the choices are presented on a tiered cart in the aisle so you can see which option you prefer. A personal favorite are the Asian-style noodle soups available as a snack between meals.
Service is good, but not great (mostly due to cultural barriers), and the seats have decent storage and large entertainment screens with noise-canceling headphones.
Unfortunately, I find that the number of Western movies and TV shows are hardly sufficient for longer flights. At least, there are power outlets and USB ports on widebody planes so I usually load up on things to watch on my own devices.
Premium economy class
This is a great option for those that don’t want to pay extra for business class. These seats are similar to economy class, but with more recline and leg room. The meal service is also more substantial, and a small amenity kit is a nice touch.
Upgrades to premium economy are sometimes available at a discount at the check-in counter or gate, and I recommend asking if there is space available when you get to the airport. This is a great way to score a better flight experience without having to pay the full cost of premium economy.
Economy class
There is nothing exciting about economy on China Southern though. Most planes are in a dense layout with 3-4-3 on widebody aircraft or 3-3 on narrowbody planes. Almost all flights offer a hot meal with longer sectors delivering more choice and quantity, including the option for free beer and wine.
Widebody planes have touchscreen entertainment screens in the seatback, but on narrowbody flights, travelers have to watch drop-down video screens for entertainment. I recommend booking a bulkhead or emergency exit row seat for extra space for your legs.
Loyalty program and partnerships
China Southern left the SkyTeam alliance, but it still retains partnerships with many of those member airlines like Delta, Air France, KLM and Middle East Airlines. This means you can earn and redeem miles with those carriers, and depending on the airline, flights on China Southern would also count towards elite status qualification.
While the airline has its own loyalty program, Sky Pearl Club, I almost always credit my flights to another partner where I can get better value when redeeming miles later. China Southern also codeshares and partners with many airlines, including American and on domestic flights flown on Sichuan Airlines.
Many of these partners still enjoy elite status perks for eligible members. Premium cabin passengers can use the airline’s lounges in China, but so can economy passengers with status.
Its lounges are some of the best among Chinese airlines with hot and cold buffets, an open bar, showers and work stations. I find the lounges in its hubs to be the most substantial.
Some interesting tidbits
When flying Chinese carriers, there is a lot of attention given to how to behave on an airplane. This involves video demonstrations and reminders of how to avoid confrontation with the crew or other passengers, speaking at a low voice, wearing headphones when watching entertainment and avoiding alcohol overconsumption.
You may even notice that some flight attendants wear body cameras to record any air rage disruptions. In addition, the seat belt sign is sometimes not turned off at all, which I find frustrating. Even when there is no turbulence, it makes it difficult to know when it is really safe to use the lavatory.
In premium cabins, the airline does not always provide printed menus. Since the crew sometimes struggles with English, it can be hard to know what ingredients are in certain dishes, a concern for people with dietary requirements. I recommend pre-ordering a special meal if you have concerns.
The reason why the entertainment offering is limited to mostly Chinese content is due to government regulations that make foreign entertainment more problematic if not edited in advance. This is also the reason why Wi-Fi may not work (despite being advertised) on some routes.
Still, I must say that China Southern has come a long way in upping its onboard amenities and seating. And I often find myself booking with the carrier because of its low rates, especially in business class, when compared with other major airlines. It may not be perfect, but it is worth a look when planning a trip.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
