China Southern - A330 & 777-300ER Questions

[Blaqjaq]

Hi All

Travelling PER - LAX in March '17, CZ320 PER - CAN, CZ621 CAN - LAX, CZ622 LAX - CAN and CZ319 CAN - PER

CZ320/319 seem to be operating with their A330 and the CZ621/622 on 777-300ER (Was hoping on getting a flight with the A380 but they had much longer layover times), we're flying with our three kids in Y, possibly PY for the LAX leg but unconfirmed at the moment.

Whilst I fly very regularly I'm a bit of a creature of habit and usually stick with Qantas with the odd flight on VA and CX. Certainly never have flown with a Chinese carrier, so have got some questions hopefully some of the more experienced folk on here can answer

1) Are their power points in Y on their 777 and/or A330's? If so, will it be a US Power Point or some other type? I understand their IFE have USB, thinking of laptop charging tho.

2) What is the quality of IFE on Y like these days with CZ?

3) I have read that CAN has very basic facilities and extremely expensive food, We'll have a 4 hour layover between CAN and LAX, is there a paid lounge I can access? Anything to keep the kids entertained? Any tips would be appreciated... I'm thinking 4 hours isn't quite long enough to exit customs and go for a journey outside of the airport?

4) Anything else you can give me to assist with planning our flights with CZ would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can only answer one of those things... which is that 4 hours is not long enough to exit the airport to go sight seeing. (Passport control ~30 mins (if you're lucky), metro to town ~1 hour, and same for both in reverse - that's already three hours gone).

Looks like there are two priority pass lounges at CAN. Membership is USD99 then you have to pay USD27 per visit to the lounge (same price for guests). Will add up in cost wise.

 

[Dave R32]

1. I don't remember on the A330 and haven't flown on a 777 with them

2. It's ok....nothing special but enough movies to keep me occupied from BNE to CAN and return a couple of times.

3. CAN isn't great at all, remember if you plan to leave the airport or the transit area you will need a visa and personally I wouldn't bother as there isn't a lot to see nearby anyway. I am not sure what time your PER - CAN flights arrives, but it has taken me over an hour to get from the aircraft door through transit and into a lounge in the past. The lines can be very long. In terms of lounge access, I am not sure on paid lounges as I have always had access to CZ lounges, mind you at times I have to push the point as the staff are not aware of alliances.

4. If you can, fly Y+, it's worth the extra dollars for the space and often the Y+ cabins are less than full where as Y is typically chockers (BNE - CAN and return anyway)


Cheers
Dave.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

3. CAN isn't great at all, remember if you plan to leave the airport or the transit area you will need a visa

No visa is required if you are in transit for up to 72 hours on your way to a third country. You are free to leave the airport if you wish during this time. This might be helpful for the OP as I was thinking there is a rather nice Accor Hotel attached to the airport - Pullma I think? Instead of lounge access it might work out more cheaply to get a room there. Shower, snooze for an hour, maybe even have a swim.

 

[Dave R32]

I wasnt aware of this. Sorry to the OP for misleading you.

No visa is required if you are in transit for up to 72 hours on your way to a third country. You are free to leave the airport if you wish during this time. This might be helpful for the OP as I was thinking there is a rather nice Accor Hotel attached to the airport - Pullma I think? Instead of lounge access it might work out more cheaply to get a room there. Shower, snooze for an hour, maybe even have a swim.

 

[Blaqjaq]

Thanks everybody for the info - greatly appreciated

Any further tips or info will also be great