Let me start out by saying I had no idea what to expect when I booked a ticket from Guangzhou, China to Amsterdam, Netherlands on China Southern Airlines. Any information I could find online was vague, outdated, or unhelpful. This review aims to change that.
I’ll start by saying my overall impression of China Southern was actually quite good from before ever setting foot on one of their aircraft. Their on-time performance is excellent, and their crews always look professional walking through the airport. This was an airline I was genuinely curious, intrigued, and excited to experience after securing my Chinese visa—and I was in for a treat.
Booking China Southern: An Offer Too Good to Pass Up
I always recommend booking tickets directly with the airline to avoid complications with flight changes or cancellations. However, when I saw that tickets on Priceline were more than $100 cheaper than booking directly, I couldn’t resist breaking my own rule.
I initially booked an economy seat from Guangzhou (CAN) to Amsterdam (AMS), with a connection to Zurich (ZRH), for just $388 (plus a $10 fee to select a seat via Priceline). What a steal for over 14 hours of flying! For comparison, the same route on Emirates was selling for over $900. I selected a window seat in an empty row, ready to embark on the long journey ahead.
I checked ExpertFlyer for business class award availability, but despite business class being wide open and tickets still on sale, I found no upgrade options or award flights online the entire week.
China Southern A350-900 Seats
China Southern’s A350-900 features 335 seats, consisting of 28 seats in business class and 307 in economy.
Business class on the CZ A359 offers alternating 1-2-1 Recaro CL6710 seats, and the best ones to pick are odd-number window seats as they are tucked in towards the window and offer better privacy.
In economy, you’ll find a generous 3-3-3 configuration, with the same seats and pitch offered on Delta Air Lines’ A359, minus the power ports (only a USB plug is offered in economy).
The China Southern App: An Adventure in Confusion
One aspect of this adventure I had difficulty with was the China Southern app. I found it cumbersome to use the app, which required creating an account (and often relying on translation apps).
I was, after some difficulty, able to update my seat tactically up to several hours before departure. When I saw that every row was full in economy the morning of the trip, I regretted not having paid for business class!
Unfortunately, there was no means to upgrade online (ie. you can’t bid for an upgrade on China Southern), so I was determined to head to the airport a little early and try my luck at the ticket counter.
Check-in at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: Smooth, Easy, and Graceful
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport prohibits digital boarding passes, so check in at the counter is mandatory. International Ticket Counters are located between zones J and M, and when I arrived at 10:50 AM, there were no lines.
Security in China operates a bit differently. Upon entering the airport, a security agent collectively swabs an entire group of maybe 20-30 people. They are sequestered together, the swab is checked for explosive material/dust, then the entire group is released into the airport. This seems rather efficient and smart, especially considering the low chance of a positive result.
At check-in, I casually asked if upgrades were available. To my delight, I was offered an upgrade to business class for 5,800 Yuan. Since I had no idea how much that was, I quickly google it and found out it was less than $800!
I was ecstatic – for a nearly 13 hour flight, $800 to upgrade to business class is quite the steal. Better yet, several of the better, ‘tucked-in’, more private odd-number row window seats were still available! Unlike upgrades on other airlines, I was still able to access the China Southern lounge. And contrary to what the agent mentioned, I received full business class catering onboard despite upgrading at the airport. A huge win!
Security & Terminal Experience (CAN)
China Southern Priority passengers have access to a dedicated security lane, making the process a breeze. Amusingly, three different agents repeatedly asked me if I had a lighter. I guess that’s an issue with all the smoking in China? Hopefully that’s something they catch if someone forgets to tell them!
Terminal 2 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is absolutely fantastic. There’s a great selection for noodles, peppered chicken, beef Roujiamo, hot pot, and even quite good coffee (and of course tea!). The terminal is brand new, large, airy, and clean. I loved walking through the ‘Baiyun Old Town’ section, which offers artisanal-style stores filled with Chinese handicrafts and souvenirs.
A charming touch that made the terminal experience even more enjoyable!
CAN Lounges (CZ Lounge vs Priority Lounge)
I made my way to the China Southern Lounge, which I found a little dated but quite spacious. It has nice lounge chairs, decently dark quiet areas to sleep, a phenomenal noodle station, massage chairs, and an outdoor area. However, I found it crowded. It seems like a lot of itineraries feature long layovers in Guangzhou….
As a PriorityPass member, I also had access to the ‘Premium Lounge’, so I decided to check it on my way from the CZ Lounge to the gate. Much to my surprise, it was actually more spacious, quieter, cleaner, and more modern than the CZ lounge. It even had a coffee station with a barista. The food was soooo good – definitely one of the best PriorityPass lounges I’ve been to.
If I only had time for one, I’d definitely pick the Priority Lounge at CAN.
Boarding: A (Surprising) Masterclass in Hospitality
After enjoying the lounge a little too much (whoops), I arrived quite late to the gate. There is a separate line for CZ Priority & Business Class, as well as a separate jetbridge (one of my favorite features!), but the line had already evaporated by then anyways.
As I stepped onboard, I was greeted by 3 highly professional, friendly, smiling flight attendants. They showed me to my seat, opened the overhead for me, offered me fresh lemon tea, slippers, and a warm towel. I felt more like a royal guest than a passenger. Needless to say, this was an outstanding start.
China Southern A350-900 Business Class Seat: Spacious, Secluded, and Serene
I settled into my Recaro CL6710 seat at 5A (which is the first row, for whatever reason) and found it massively spacious, comfortable, and offering ample storage. The footwell is impressively wide, and the seat is quite comfortable even in its full upright position. There’s decent privacy despite not having a ‘suite door’, The amenity kit was by Ferragamo Salvatore, offering the normal basics with some high-end moisturizer.
Key Seat Features:
- Two pillows
- Slippers provided
- Generous footwell
- Ample privacy (especially in odd-numbered rows)
- Ferragamo Salvatore amenity kit
One interesting aspect was the seating policy of China Southern. Nobody, not even the flight attendants, is allowed up during climb or descent, regardless of the ride conditions. Despite this, I was surprised when the meal service began 10 minutes after reaching cruise altitude. And I was yet to be surprised even more pleasantly.
China Southern Business Class Catering: Best of the Best (I know, I’m Shocked Too)
The meal service on China Southern was probably the highlight of the trip. It consists of two full-service meals – lunch shortly after reaching cruise, and dinner at 8:00PM Guangzhou time. Both meals consist of 7 courses.
Lunch Highlights:
- Mini quiche and salmon sandwich appetizer
- Fresh bread and garlic bread on demand
- Candied almonds and walnuts (best airplane nuts I’ve had!)
- Shrimp and fresh salad appetizer
- Chicken with rice or beef with potatoes
- Fruit Dish
- Delicious Dessert
Dinner Highlights:
- Scrumptious pumpkin soup
- Delicious, fresh toasted bread
- Salmon & chicken appetizer
- Exquisite fish with potato gratin
- Fruit dish
- Dessert #2
The presentation was impeccable, and the variety and quality of food were astounding, served on fancy China on a high-quality tablecloth.
When the plates started coming out, they came out in precise, measured, perfectly spaced out order. It was incredible; as soon as I was munching the last bite of whatever delicious thing I had on my plate, the next one would arrive. My taste buds never had time to come down from their high, enjoying a continuous consortium of delectable flavors.
Everything was cooked to the perfect temperature, always with the right mix of sweet and salty, crunchy or moist, with just the right texture. It truly was an experience on its own – to me it alone was worth the upgrade (and I never say that about airplane food!)
I'd put the China Southern dining experience up there with my experience on Singapore Airlines eating Lobster Thermidor!
With my stomach stuffed like Thanksgiving turkey after 7 courses of delicious yumminess, I finished the remaining hour of Joker: Folie à Deux before my eyes pulled me into the dreamworld. But the meal made me feel like I was already there.
Sleeping on China Southern’s A350-900: Hard Product & IFE
While the seat was comfortable particularly in the reclined position, the footwell was a bit short, making it difficult to sleep in certain positions. The cushion was firm, and adjustability was slightly lacking around the lie-flat position. However, it was still comfortable enough to catch 3-4 hours of sleep.
The IFE screen was large, though not the highest resolution. The movie selection was impressive, with a strong focus on Asian films but plenty of options overall.
In terms of the hard product, I’d choose China Southern’s A350 Business Class seat over Singapore’s new A380 Business Class product, but rank it generally below most other 1-2-1 lie flat seats. However, China Southern’s soft product more than makes up for the deficits of the seat.
The flight attendants were incredibly attentive throughout the flight, checking on passengers frequently without being intrusive.
Conclusion: China Southern – A New Serious Business Class Contender?
Walking away from this experience, I have to say it was one of my all-time favorite business class flights. The flight attendants delivered the best service I’ve ever experienced in business class—professional, friendly, and attentive—even better than I’ve experienced in business class on Emirates.
While the seat comfort could be improved, the overall experience—especially the phenomenal catering and service—makes China Southern’s A350-900 Business Class an absolute winner.
Final Verdict: Would I Book China Southern Again?
Absolutely. Especially considering China Southern’s significantly lower fares (thanks in part to their access to Russian airspace), I would eagerly book this flight again. If you find a similar upgrade deal, run – do not walk.
This is a business class experience that I will always remember.
