China Southern experiences in Y?

[YSSY]

Has anyone on the forum any experiences with China Southern? Travelling with them in Y next week SYD-SZX-PEK-AMS, have a 5 hour layover in SZX and planning to go out (if my bags are checked through and don't need to sit around waiting for a check in...) for a wander to a nearby mall etc.

Any advice and tips? Take my own food?

I have Elite Plus with Alitalia, are the lounges any good?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone on the forum any experiences with China Southern? Travelling with them in Y next week SYD-SZX-PEK-AMS, have a 5 hour layover in SZX and planning to go out (if my bags are checked through and don't need to sit around waiting for a check in...) for a wander to a nearby mall etc.

Any advice and tips? Take my own food?

No need to take your own food - you'll get standard economy meals (for example some sort of stir-fry with rice), and a choice of basic soft drinks along with red wine and beer. The domestic flight will possibly be some sort of cold snack box (although maybe with SZX-PEK being longer than CAN-PVG maybe you might get something hot? I dunno).

My friend did a flight with them to Melbourne and they were 'fine', nothing remarkable.

If they offer you an upgrade to Premium Economy it might be well worth it depending on the aircraft. Other friends were offered a USD150 upgrade from economy to Premium Economy for LAX-CAN. Much better seating on the 777 with 8 across instead of 10. On some aircraft PEY is the same across as economy but with a lot more legroom.

 

[nonscenic]

Flew MEL-CAN-DEL and return with CZ a week later as part of a Trip a Deal in Y. Three sectors were in different configurations of A330 while CAN-DEL was in a 737-700.
Plenty of legroom in Y for a tall person like me. Food was reasonable, although sitting in row 41 (towards rear of front Y cabin) on CAN-MEL sector was last to be served with subsequent lack of choice. CZ, like all Chinese airlines still insist because of Chinese regulations that smartphones are powered off for entire flight (not allowed on in flight mode). Tablets are ok in flight however and seats on A330 have USB sockets in the seat back entertainment system. The 737 sector relied on drop down screens for the IFE which was War for the Planet of the Apes in Chinese on my CAN-DEL sector. Fortunately I had a window seat and could see the distant Himalayas!

CAN airport experiences have improved over the years. At least the Australian flights in A330s now seem to have priority for air bridges rather than the dreaded bus transfer from the crowded downstairs gates A01-A09

 

[nonscenic]

The domestic flight will possibly be some sort of cold snack box (although maybe with SZX-PEK being longer than CAN-PVG maybe you might get something hot? I dunno).

I flew a few domestic sectors with CZ last year and back in 2013 and the general pattern was a cold snack box with a plastic bun plus non alcoholic beverages on shorter sectors while longer sectors usually had a hot rice dish plus non alcoholic beverages. On flights to and from Australia they had a hot dish, salad and desert (or fruit) plus drinks including Australian wines and Tsing Dao beer.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Flew them a few years ago: AMS-PEK-XMN-MNL-CAN-LHR

Randomly got upgraded to PE on the first leg and it was fine - empty. 737's were the usual 737 experience, I read a book. Loved the dreamliner from CAN-LHR.

I would fly CZ again particularly at the low price I paid.

 

[nonscenic]

I flew a few domestic sectors with CZ last year and back in 2013 and the general pattern was a cold snack box with a plastic bun plus non alcoholic beverages on shorter sectors while longer sectors usually had a hot rice dish plus non alcoholic beverages. On flights to and from Australia they had a hot dish, salad and desert (or fruit) plus drinks including Australian wines and Tsing Dao beer.

Just recently flown MEL-CAN-PVG and return NKG-CAN-MEL. Food still the same but the main difference now is that since January you can now leave your phone in flight mode on Chinese operated aircraft. The A330 on the CAN-MEL flight supposedly had wifi but I tried a few times during the journey and I only once got an internet connection while the plane was SE of Alice Springs (but hopelessly slow).

On domestic sectors food is served in two packets, one a conventional tray of rice stir fry or noodles (often a choice if one is able to ask) plus a cardboard box with a bun, piece of fruit or yoghurt drink. Trick - the sachet in the bottom of the cardboard box is a sauce to add to the hot dish if required, not a desert!