Airline Profile: China Southern Airlines
Featured Image: A China Southern Airbus A330-300 in Melbourne
The Facts:
| Logo |  |
| Alliance | Skyteam (Will Exit January 1, 2019) |
| Competitors |
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| Fleet Count | Around 586 |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Frequent Flyer Program | Sky Pearl Club |
| Headquarters | Guangzhou, China |
| Hubs |
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| Parent Company | China Southern Air Holding |
| Skytrax Rating | 4 (out of 5) |
| Subsidiaries |
Chongqing Airlines Xiamen Air |
| Travel Classes |
Economy Class Premium Economy Business Class First Class |
| Type of Airline | Full Service |
| Website | https://global.csair.com/US/GB/Home |
Analysis:
Notes:
- Since China has a “One Airline Per International Route” policy, airlines in China only have one (maybe two) international airports where most of their international flights are held out of. Most of China Southern’s long-haul routes are held out of Guangzhou, due to this policy.
- On January 1, 2019, China Southern will leave the SkyTeam Alliance after being in it for around ten years. They are doing so because they feel that not much is being gained being in it, as rival airline China Eastern is also in it, and is getting preferential treatment from Delta, which leaves China Southern without getting much from the largest SkyTeam airline, Delta. After they go, there are rumours that they may join the OneWorld Alliance, as American Airlines has invested in China Southern. I wouldn’t be surprised if China Southern doesn’t enter an alliance at all and continues with joint-ventures that they have now, with Air France and American.
Travel Classes:
Economy Class:
Economy class features personal on-demand screens on all widebody jets (A380s/A330s/777s/787s) except for a few older A330-300s. No entertainment is available on narrowbody jets. Economy class is in a 3-3 configuration on all A320s and 737s, is in a 2-4-2 configuration on A330s, is in a 3-3-3 configuration on 787s and 777-300s, and is in a 3-4-3 configuration on all A380s. While WiFi isn’t widely available on China Southern yet, they have started installing it and is now available for purchase on a few routes. On most routes, passengers travelling in economy receive free meals. Finally, passengers are allowed to check one 20kg (45lbs) bag on domestic flights and two 23kg (50lbs) bags on international flights.
Premium Economy Class:
I am a little bit confused as of the nature of Premium Economy on China Southern Airlines. Premium economy is featured on most widebody and narrowbody aircraft. On the 777-300ER, China Southern features standard recliner seats in premium economy in a 2-4-2 configuration which features legrests, footrests, and more recline than in economy class. However, on the rest of their fleet (A330, A380, 787, 737, A320 series), China Southern features an Economy Plus like configuration, with the same seats as in economy, just with a little more legroom (36 inches of the pitch instead of 30-31 inches). Passengers in Premium Economy receive the same food, service, and baggage allowance as in the regular economy class.
Business Class:
Business class is featured on all aircraft and is in multiple configurations, which I will explain below. Passenger receives better food than in economy, blankets and pillows on board (although no mattress pads), have access to Priority Check-in, and have access to China Southern lounges. China Southern Airlines lounges are featured at most Chinese airports that China Southern serves and feature standard lounge seating, food, drinks, and business centers. Passengers are also allowed to check two 32 kg (68lbs) bags for each flight. Regarding entertainment, all long-haul flights feature personal on-demand screens, and most short haul flights either feature personal entertainment screens or tablets which flight attendants hand out to passengers. China Southern features many different types of business class seats, which I will list below.
- Recliner Seat: On all Airbus A320 series aircraft, 737s, and Embraer E190s, China Southern features recliner seats in business class in a 2-2 or 1-2 configuration. These seats are incredibly similar to what one would find on business class within the United States, as the seats have similar seat width and recline, and don’t have any legrests. Most of these seats don’t feature personal entertainment screens.
- Fully Flat: On most Airbus A330-200s, A330-300s, and Boeing 787-8s, China Southern features seats that can transform into fully flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration. This means that the seats feature little privacy, and one has to climb over a seatmate to access the aisle if seated at a window seat. These seats are identical to that which you could find on Turkish Airlines, Hainan Airlines, or LOT Polish Airlines. While the seats aren’t awful in any way, they are flown on long-haul routes from China to Europe and the US, in which in this modern world, one would expect at least seats with all aisle access. The seats all feature personal entertainment screens.
- Staggered: On all Boeing 777-300ERs, A380s, 787-9s, and on some Airbus A330s, China Southern Airlines features staggered seats in a 1-2-1 configuration in business class. China Southern uses the Stelia Solstys model on their aircraft, which is a prevalent seat model, used by Asiana Airlines, Iberia, and Etihad. The seats, while not revolutionary, are entirely acceptable for long-haul flights in business class, as they provide direct access to the aisle and provide a fair amount of privacy to passengers. All seats feature personal entertainment screens.
First Class:
On China Southern, first class is featured on all A380s, 777s, 787-8s, and is featured on some Airbus A330s. First class has access to the same on the ground amenities as in business class, except that First Class features better food and more bedding than in business class. Passengers are allowed to check three 32 kg (68lbs) bag for each flight. All seats feature personal entertainment screens in first class. Overall, don’t try and upgrade to first class on China Southern from business class if you have the option to, as first class on China Southern isn’t world-renowned, the seats aren’t that great, and from multiple reviews I read, the soft product isn’t great either. China Southern features two configurations in first class, which are listed below.
- Open Suite: On all Airbus A330s and 787s that feature first class, China Southern features open suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. On these aircraft, there is only one row of first class with a total of 4 seats. One would expect to have closed suites on aircraft with first class, although the seats (see picture below) look pretty dated, for being just recently installed, and barely have any privacy. Overall, first class isn’t that great on these aircraft; I can think of many business class products that are much better than first class on China Southern’s A330s and 787s.
- Closed Suite: On all Boeing 777s and A380s, China Southern Airlines offers an up to standard first class suite, which features two rows of closed suites with doors in a 1-2-1 configuration. While they indeed aren’t the world’s best and don’t seem extremely high-tech, the seats do offer a large amount of privacy which definitely can be considered a solid first class product.
Future or Recently Commenced Routes:
- Los Angeles – Shenyang – Airbus A330 – Begins December 18, 2018
Have you ever flown on China Southern Airlines? Share about your experience below!
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