KandiceHonbo flew China Southern Airlines (30/01/2013 07:09)

China Southern Airlines flight 327 was an unforgettable experience. My wife and I were coming back from our honeymoon and in good spirits. We were both looking forward to the ramen we purchased in Thailand. We had to take a taxi and went to various locations to find the brand we wanted. I wanted to be sure not to eat the airline food after seeing my wife breakout in rashes after we landed in the airport in Bangkok.

During the flight back home, I was harassed by another passenger who sat in front of me and had my dinner stolen from me. The flight attendant disrespected my wife in front of all the other passengers on the plane. We were mistreated on one of the most happiest times of our life.

The passenger in front of me got out of his seat and gave us the impression that he was going to physically take me down. The flight attendant rushed over and comforted the man and started screaming at my wife on the top of her lungs. My wife was trying to defend me from this crazy man who demanded I show him and the flight attendant respect.

I did not want things to escalade even bigger because I was worried about my wife’s welfare. I was also concerned with the other passengers on the plane. I am a lot larger than this man and, but I didn’t want to create unnecessary altercation.

When the flight attendants came rushing in everyone was shouting and yelling at each other. I noticed that the overweight flight attendant lady started screaming only at my wife and told her to SHUT UP repeatedly. She was screaming louder than all of us combined. It was mortifying to see a flight attendant show so much hate and discrimination towards my wife.

The flight attendants showed little remorse except the korean speaking flight attendant that was not involved in the altercation. She tried to help us by having the disrespectful flight attendant to apologize. Four hours after the altercation, The rude flight attendant came over and gave us a forced apology. A true apology is given with authenticity without excuses.

I was humiliated and didn’t want to leave my wife alone in her seat. It bothers me that my wife had to go through such a painful experience. I am reminded that a simple flight can ruin the happy memories we collected from our honeymoon.

SLee613 flew China Southern Airlines Economy, on a A330-300 (20/01/2013 04:29)

We just returned from a month's trip to NZ and flew lhr-can-auk return. we paid at least 25% less than any other airline and were worried about what to expect. We 'd heard service was bad, no individual entertainment consoles, no food (from two sources!!) etc. However we were really impressed with most parts of the journey.

Upgraded first leg to premium economy (slept most of the way....), had a quick 3 hour power nap at the Pullman airport hotel at Guangzhou then on to Auckland in regular economy. On return we got separated (their check-in IT for seating system is not good!) so we were given Emergency exit together instead.

Ok the staff are not particularly engaged (except the staff who answer the phone in London and Auckland who were the most polite airline staff I have ever dealt with (except in the good old Virgin Airlines day!). The food isn't brilliant, but i order veggie which was very fresh tasting with lots of tropical fruit.

All in all we'd definitely recommend them as a good, reliable, cheap alternative to the others. It's not fancy but good enough.

lillyburn flew China Southern Airlines (04/01/2013 15:24)

We travelled from Amsterdam to Beijing with KLM but our flight was on China Southern. It was our first time with this airline and I would thoroughly recommend it. Our premier economy seat - one of 2- was roomy and comfortable and I will never travel a distance unless I can have a seat as good as this! Service and food were excellent as were the online movies. Altogether an excellent experience.

KCai564 flew China Southern Airlines Premium Economy, on a A330-300 (13/10/2012 23:48)

Flown Premium Economy with China Southern twice, once from Melbourne to Seoul and another Melbourne to Chengdu. Must admit their low season fares are cheaper than most. However, their seats are a major complaint for me. First, you can't recline much. Second, there is no "wing" on the seat to allow you to sleep properly. Because of these two weaknesses, it is almost impossible to get any sleep - which is a major problem as both of these flights leave at 11.30pm.

Their entertainment system is really bad - the screen is like 3m away from your seat and the choices of movies are few and lousy. Food - you get the same choice as those flying Economy - extremely bad (dry and yukky).

Would I fly Premium Economy again?, probably yes if they are cheap.

M.Godfrey flew China Southern Airlines Premium Economy, on a A330-300 (08/05/2012 08:10)

I just flew for the first time with China Southern: Premium Economy return Perth-Guangzhou-Paris-London.

What a rip off! What bad service! I have a whole catalogue of complaints. Having had to book the flight urgently, I unfortunately had no time to look at website critiques of the airline.

My main beef is the standard of PE seating. There was a mere 10cm extra leg room. The seat was just as narrow as that of economy class, reclining only about 10 degrees ... US $2,000 extra just for that?! All other appointments and facilities were as for Economy.

I needed to contact the airline in the week prior to my departure. I rang head office 3 times and was met by 20-minute phone queues that I gave up on each time. I then emailed the ‘Contact Us’ link on its website – my email was returned to me as ‘address invalid’.

I’d made advanced requests for a special meal and an aisle seat. Neither occurred on the outward journey.
I spent hours of transit time in Guangzhou/Paris queuing at the airline’s counter to rectify the unmet requests,
but this could only be made possible for the return flight.

The standard of spoken English in the terminals and on board was poor, and I sensed a distinct lack of enthusiasm and caring attitude.

As there’s no PE Paris-London, for that leg my ticket stated a compensatory ‘Business Class’. Yet there were no business class seats on the plane – hence I was seated in economy.

The airline proclaims ‘boarding priority’ for PE. In the 6 boardings, not once was PE called out in advance.

I also discovered later that “Sky Pearl, Gold and Silver Card accommodation and food service is available when irregular flights happen” i.e. use of the Business-Class lounge during delays. One leg of my flight was delayed 5 hours (inclement weather). I wasn’t aware at the time of this upgrade to the lounge, yet no such offer was made to me by airline staff.

The in-flight entertainment selection was very limited and featured a vast majority of Chinese films/music this, on international flights. The food was forgettable. At each meal, I had to ask for the bread to fill my blank bread plate. Coffee is only served black with sugar in a flimsy plastic mug; I separately requested coffee with milk and no sugar, after 30 minutes it arrived in the same mug.

I was served breakfast towards the end of a leg in which most passengers slept. The cabin staff placed my meal down and didn’t try to wake me. An hour later, I woke to a cold meal with barely enough time in which to eat it as the plane had started descending.

I’ve flown some lousy airlines from Bolivia to Sudan, and with the old Aeroflot. They all rank badly for service. I’m not saying that China Southern is the worst outfit I’ve used. But, any more experiences such as this, it’ll be hard to decide which was.

Mike Godfrey,
Perth,
Australia.

TS-Andy flew China Southern Airlines (26/04/2012 03:54)

I was on economy flight from Wuxi, China to Guangzhou to connect a flight to Bangkok on 1 April 2012 via China Southern Airlines. Reaching Guangzhou, I was put to a hotel by the airline for a connecting flight next day.

Hotel accommodation provided was a shock. It was old and in deteriorated condition. I don’t expect a high-class hotel standard but at least it must be decent and clean. Breakfast provided was some bread and a packet drink (Dinning area was closed for renovation then) which was delivered to my room. Seeing that the breakfast provided was pathetic, I refused to take it.

At Guangzhou airport, I was denied priority boarding even though I told the staff at the boarding counter that I was an elite member of Sky Team Alliance. At other airports such as in Bangkok, I don’t have this issue.

After sending an email to Southern Airlines customer feedback on my unhappiness, one customer officer called about the accommodation and said that he will check but never got back to me.

Another called me on the priority boarding issue, one customer service officer called me and explained that they just join the Sky Team Alliance and their staff was not sure of their obligations to members and they would take actions put things right. Hopefully, they will put all things right but I will not be boarding any more China Southern Airlines flight to see to that.

Lesson learnt: Don’t count China Southern Airlines that would offer you a decent accommodation and don’t expect much from them in terms of customer service.

stevescoots flew China Southern Airlines First Class, on a A320 (01/02/2012 18:44)

KUL-CAN 26/1/2012.

Check in was smooth, separate line for business class and no waiting. China southern use the Plaza premium lounge at KUL, which is split into 2, the right side I guess for separate paying customers (as it looked ok)…and then the left side for, I guess China customers!

This is a very basic lounge akin to serviceair lounges in the UK, virtually no food, hardly any drink, old a tatty furniture. Toilets were a bit of an experience, obviously someone more akin to washing than wiping had been in, sprayed the floor and just left it…I decided to change my shirt in the hallway instead!

Oh, and an internet connection I just gave up on. In fact I gave up on the lounge completely and jumped ship round the corner to one of that Café’s for a decent drink, snack..and Wi-Fi!

So the boarding signal came up and off the gate 24 I went. Now, I am never one too bothered about the actual plane I fly but as I approached the gate there out the window was an ikle A320. Poor thing, it looked so small sat there next to its much larger stable mates especially the big air Malaysia bird sat next to it, going to the same destination. One couldn’t help but having a little sympathy for it...and my fellow passengers.

So boarding was simple, strait through and down to the business class jet way. I was greeted with a smile from the cabin director, directress or Loaban, whatever they are called and settled into seat 1A. As this was 2 days after CnY the plane wasn’t full so I had both seats to myself. Config was 2+2 in this part of the cabin; you couldn’t really fit any more in there anyway.

The seat was your usual short haul class seat with approx 50 degree recline and no foot rest. No power point and no IFE except some unknown American comedy playing on the overhead. Cabin décor was dated in style yet was clean and in very good order. Staff supplied blankets and slippers and I settled down for the 4.5 hour flight.

Food was served 1 hour in but the staff said if I wants ready I can have it anytime upto 1 hour before landing which I opted to do, I powered up the laptop, banged on some tunes and started some work. The seat was comfortable and after no time the hours flew past and it was time to eat.

There was a choice of chicken and rice or beef and….rice, I opted for the latter…with rice. The food was hot, moist and not dried out. Whilst it wasn’t bursting with flavor I would say it was better that a recent meal I had had on a certain UK airline! I didn’t go for any alcohol as I was suffering with man flu but the stewardess kept me topped up the entire flight with hot ginger tea!

As this was a baby bird it was a hard standing parking bay with a dedicated bus for all 4 of us in business class to immigration in CAN.

All in all nothing special and nothing bad, an upper average would be my rating. So, would I fly them again? On this route then yes. At half the price of the Malay alternative its worth it for the comfort, sure you probably get a flatter seat and better lounge with Malay but not sure the price difference is worth it on this short hop. I was recently asked if I would try them on their 380’s when they start the London to CAN route this year, if the price is good I can be praised away from QR to give them a try.

dhesford flew China Southern Airlines Premium Economy, on a A330-300 (10/11/2011 12:36)

Flight from Wuhan to Guangzhou to Sydney in Premium Economy.

The quality of service on the Chinese mainland flight was vastly superior to that of the long all international flight. On the domestic flight there is a benefit in premium econcomy. On the long hall flight this was non existent and not worth the premium requested.

You get a bottle of water in domestic, nothing in economy unless you ask and then the service was exceptionally poor. The same meal served on a domestic 1.5 hour flight was the same served for an international flight.

In comparison to Virgin or Qantas one would never recommend China Southern with no personal inflight video or non existent service.