Information on China Southern Flights

One of China’s major airlines, China Southern is based in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). It is the largest airline in Asia in terms of passengers carried, as well as the size of their fleet.

I have traveled extensively throughout China and Asia and have always enjoyed flying with China Southern on their numerous routes. I particularly value how friendly their staff are in all the classes of service I’ve tried, from economy to first. Plus, I’ve found China Southern is often less expensive than many other airlines, especially when it comes business class.

As an English speaker, however, I find their website and customer service can be a little tricky to navigate, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when booking. Here’s everything you need to know about flying with China Southern Airlines.

Fare classes

China Southern offers four classes on their international flights: economy, premium economy, business, and first. On some of their smaller routes, as well as on some domestic flights, you’ll often find only economy and business class, or just economy.

Baggage

The airline has strict rules around weight when traveling with checked luggage – each bag must weigh no more than 50 kg (110 lb) for a domestic flight and 45 kg (99 lb) to a US destination, or 32 kg (70.5 lb) to a non-US destination.

It’s also worth noting that they don’t allow bamboo nets, baskets, grass bags or grass strings to be used as packing materials. Speaking of which, be mindful of what you pack and travel with around China – they’re very strict about fruits and vegetables from other countries and you want to make sure your medications and vitamins are all well labeled.

Check-in

The airline offers online check-in and you can also do it via their app – or even using WeChat, if you prefer. However, often in China you’re required to verify your passport and get a specific code, and this can prove more complicated if you’re on the go. Also, at many Chinese airports you might be required to appear in person at an airline desk with a printed out boarding pass.

For international flights out of China, you need to have your boarding pass at least 60 minutes before take-off. There are priority lines, but often in China all the passengers who would have access to these lines – such as those who need special assistance, are elite members or are traveling premium economy, business and first – will go together, rather than being split into different lines.

Boarding

China Southern boards as follows: anyone who needs extra time, then first class followed by business class and their loyal customers. After that, it’s opened up to everyone else on the plane. For international flights in China, they require you to have your passport and documentation out at all times.

Seating on board

In first class on China Southern, you’ll find cocoon-style seats that turn into a very comfortable fully flat bed (note there are only four of them, and only on limited flights). Along with that you’ll find extra attentive service, making for a luxurious experience all round. For me, China Southern’s first class offers an incredible amount of privacy right in the front of the plane for a long haul flight.

The business class cabins feature standard lay flat seats, and on some of the Dreamliner planes they have that open, airy feel with no storage overhead in the middle of the plane. Often these business class seats are much less expensive to fly from the US to China than on other airlines.

Premium economy seats come with between 35-37 inches of pitch and are comfortable for shorter flights. Economy seats, meanwhile, only offer 32 inches of pitch.

I particularly appreciate the fact that China Southern flight attendants always let me know they keep the cabin temperate at all times (between 23-25 degrees Celsius) for a better experience on board.

Entertainment on board

Most of China Southern’s flights come with SkyTV, which offers limited TV shows, a wide range of movies (including many Chinese ones), some games (with a special kids’ section), and some interesting music choices.

Last time I flew with China Southern, I played Mahjong on the screen a few times. I usually bring my own device preloaded with things I want to watch, along with my own headset, but they do offer standard over-the-ear headsets in business class, plus little earbud headphones in economy class.

They also offer free Wi-Fi on many of their routes now, and in my experience, the service just gets better and better. Just be aware that some of their flights charge for Wi-Fi, unless you’re in the premium cabins.

Dining on board

China Southern offers a Cantonese-inspired menu for all their classes, plus a Western menu if you prefer.

In business class, my favorite dish was the signature handmade noodles with broth, which is certainly worth trying. They also serve real Champagne. If you’re vegetarian (or want a special meal for a child), you’ll need to notify the airline in advance.

One of my favorite things about the food and drinks offering on board is how seriously they take their teas, with a range of high-end teas served throughout the flight.

Loyalty program

China Southern has a fantastic loyalty program called Sky Pearl Club. If you fly with American Airlines, KLM, or Korean Air and are a member of any of their loyalty programs, then your benefits are mostly shared.

Sky Pearl Club has four tiers – classic, silver, gold, and platinum – each with a minimum spend threshold plus miles accumulation. For kids aged between 2-11 years old, they also have the Little Pearl Club. Membership offers lounge access for all tiers, extra luggage and priority boarding. Platinum members will also get access to a little VIP bus that drives you around the airport and straight to the plane.

If you’re spending time in Asia the program is well worth checking out, as the benefits are substantial, even if you’re at the bottom of these tiers. Traveling around Asia in the summer, for example, there can be a lot of delays, so having lounge access can be a great perk while you’re waiting for your next flight.

Special offers

The special offers section on China Southern’s website is one of the unique features the airline provides. Here you can see what special prices they’re currently offering for flights – often, these originate in the US at either San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles and fly to Bangkok or Hong Kong via Guangzhou.

These prices are often much lower than on any other airline and they’re constantly changing, so it’s worth checking in often. I’ve snatched up a few great deals – and advised friends to do the same – when I wasn’t in a rush to get to a destination.

Cancelation policies

China Southern Airlines operates strict rules when it comes to canceling flights. Each case is separate and when you cancel online, it will tell you exactly what the fees will be.

If you’re sick and therefore need to make a change, and you have medical documents to prove it, then there’s a special phone number you can call and they’ll be more lenient on the fees. Refund policies are often more complex in China (and are very much dependent on the ticket class purchased), and you will have to find a customer service agent to assist with these.

Lounges

The airline operates various lounges across China. One of the best ones I’ve used is the International Sky Pearl VIP Lounge in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which is only for business and first class passengers. It’s located after security in terminal 2 and is certainly worth visiting.

Here I enjoyed a beautiful tea ceremony, where I tried Dragon Pearl from a small organic tea purveyor, and then hid myself away to do some work. They even have a library filled with books, including some in English.