China Southern Review: Is It a Good Airline?

China Southern Airlines carries more than 165 million passengers a year, making it by far the largest airline in China, well ahead of Air China and China Eastern in passenger numbers.

Yet it remains fairly little-known among UK travellers, and its exit from the SkyTeam alliance in 2020 genuinely changes the game for earning miles and making connections.

Safety, classes, baggage and frequent-flyer programmes: Trip.com brings you everything you need to know about China Southern to help you decide before booking your next ticket.

China Southern: China’s largest airline

Founded in 1988, with commercial operations launched in February 1991, China Southern Airlines is based in Guangzhou (Canton), with secondary hubs at Beijing Daxing and Shenzhen. It is, in terms of passengers carried, the largest airline in China. Oh yes!

Its fleet exceeds 900 aircraft when including the passenger and cargo aircraft operated by the group:

• Airbus A320neo and A321neo for the short and medium-haul network,
• Airbus A330s and A350s for long-haul,
• Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s as well,
• A few Comac C919s, a new Chinese aircraft that's still ramping up within the group.

The Chinese airline now serves more than 237 destinations in 46 countries! The China Southern group actually goes beyond its single brand: it holds a majority stake in Xiamen Airlines (around 55%), which operates under its own name and its own fleet.

Another important thing to know: China Southern left SkyTeam in 2020, the alliance that still includes Virgin Atlantic, Delta and KLM. It's worth bearing in mind if you care about your mileage-earning habits (even though bilateral agreements still exist, as detailed further down in this guide).

China Southern routes from the UK

China Southern is currently the only airline to operate a direct link between London and Guangzhou! Relaunched on 20 June 2024 (Gatwick route), the route is typically operated daily or almost daily, using a Boeing 787-9 or, depending on the time of year, an Airbus A350-900. The flight takes about 11 hours 40 minutes outbound.

Here's everything you need to know:

Unlike Air China (Beijing) or China Eastern (Shanghai), China Southern drops you directly in southern China. A real advantage if your precise final destination is:

• Canton (Guangzhou) itself;
• Shenzhen;
• Hong Kong, an hour by train from Guangzhou;
• More broadly, the Pearl River Delta.

From Guangzhou, the domestic network takes over to most major Chinese cities, including secondary destinations that other airlines serve less well. It's one of China Southern's real strengths, regularly praised by travellers who string together multiple stops in China.

On this London-Guangzhou route, you can buy your ticket directly from China Southern or through a comparison site like Trip.com, which also shows possible connections to other Chinese and Asian cities once you've landed at Baiyun.

China Southern economy class review: what to expect

On the latest Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft, the seats offer standard pitch (78 to 83 cm depending on reviews) and good recline capability. As for in-flight entertainment, it remains very popular with travellers, with over a hundred films available on long-haul flights.

The real selling point remains the price: depending on the dates and fare classes, China Southern can sometimes offer fares lower than those of certain Western carriers on comparable routes.

The Chinese airline's weak points? Here they are:

• Personal screens: reportedly not working on nearly a quarter of the seats, according to some reports.
• Repetitive meals: the same two meal trays on every leg of a connecting flight, with few options for special dietary requirements.
• Check-in at the airport: queues sometimes exceeding two hours in European airports during peak hours.
• On-board Wi-Fi: available only on part of the newer fleet, and even then it's often paid and capped at limited speeds.

Business Class and First Class: premium options

On its Airbus A350-900s, China Southern offers a Business Class cabin in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, with seats that convert into 180 cm flat beds.

• On certain A350 configurations, some window seats offer direct aisle access for added privacy.
• The central seats: a dividing partition, but one that doesn't open fully.
• Catering: a gourmet meal in a few courses, much appreciated by travellers!
• The cabin crew is said to be among the most attentive you'll find.

China Southern also offers a top-tier First Class, but it's reserved for a select few international routes — so it's not easily accessible from London.

Finally, Premium Economy is available on certain long-haul flights: wider seats, more legroom and priority boarding, without Business class prices! A good compromise if your budget doesn't stretch to Business but economy class feels too tight on an 11h40 flight!

Baggage: what to expect with China Southern

On international flights, including London-Guangzhou, the baggage allowances remain very favourable:

Sky Pearl Club: China Southern’s loyalty programme

China Southern officially left SkyTeam on 1 January 2020, following an announcement made back in late 2018. So it's no longer part of any major global alliance.

In reality, the break is less radical than it appears. China Southern actually retains:

• Bilateral miles and codeshare agreements with 14 of the 19 SkyTeam members, including Virgin Atlantic and Delta,
• Partnerships outside alliances with American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways,
• Close cooperation with Sichuan Airlines on China's domestic network.

So, in practice, if you only fly to China now and then, you won't miss much from the SkyTeam days—as long as you stick to these specific partners. The real difference shows up when you're connecting with other former alliance members (Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, Kenya Airways…), because those agreements haven't been renewed.

Its in-house programme, Sky Pearl Club, operates on three levels:

• Basic member,
• Silver,
• And Gold.

Each tier gives you access to additional baggage allowances, priority boarding and, for Gold status, to certain partner lounges at major airports in China and internationally.

Passenger safety: what do the numbers really say?

On the safety front, as with all the major Chinese carriers, China Southern has every reason to reassure :

• A top rating of 7/7 by AirlineRatings.com;
• An IATA IOSA certification;
• No Chinese company is on the European Union's blacklist;
• China rated Category 1 by the US FAA, in compliance with ICAO oversight standards.

So, is China Southern a good airline?

It really depends on your route and your priorities.

• For a flight to southern China or Hong Kong at the best price: yes, without hesitation! It's now the most direct and most competitive option on this exact route from London.
• For a Business class trip: the cuisine and service rank among the best in the industry, even if the seat itself falls short of certain standards offered by other airlines.
• For the die-hard fans of a global alliance or of ground reliability: keep in mind the 2020 SkyTeam exit and the frequently reported annoyances with baggage and after-sales customer service.

***For comparison, British Airways is rated 3/5; scores are often pulled down, as negative reviews are common.

China Southern, Air China or China Eastern: how to choose?

On paper, the three Chinese airlines may seem similar, but each one has a real strength:

• China Southern: the best price-to-network balance for reaching southern China and Hong Kong via its Guangzhou hub. Also ideal if you're stringing together several secondary Chinese cities.
• Air China: the trio's best Business Class, with its new sliding-door suite, and the Star Alliance advantage to earn your miles across a wide network of partners.
• China Eastern: the most convenient hub for Shanghai and eastern China, and well integrated into SkyTeam for those who often fly with Virgin Atlantic and Delta and use their respective loyalty programmes.

In short: the choice comes down to your final destination in China, more than the airline itself. Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai are not in the same place, and a poorly chosen connection can quickly add several hours to your journey. Bear this in mind before comparing only the displayed prices.

More Travel Guides