SkyTeam - China Southern Airline PEK/CAN to AMS

Hi guys, I just want to get a bit information on CZ and this route. I haven't been on many Skyteam airline much, but there is a special fare for this trip between Auckland and Amsterdam return with CZ for only 2000NZD in July, compared with others, which is around 2600 to 3000 in this high season. Since it really cheap therefore I'm not really expecting a service in any ways like air new Zealand. However I would like to know if anyone has been with CZ on their long hauls to Europe and would like to share their experience on CZ with me, I would be really appreciated!

Many thanks indeed! :)

Hi guys, I just want to get a bit information on CZ and this route. I haven't been on many Skyteam airline much, but there is a special fare for this trip between Auckland and Amsterdam return with CZ for only 2000NZD in July, compared with others, which is around 2600 to 3000 in this high season. Since it really cheap therefore I'm not really expecting a service in any ways like air new Zealand. However I would like to know if anyone has been with CZ on their long hauls to Europe and would like to share their experience on CZ with me, I would be really appreciated!

Many thanks indeed! :)

Dont expect too much..... The AKL CAN sector now has AVOD... Which is a big improvement... And also CZ is offering cash back to agents on European fares ex NZ atm.... If you book through an agent, ask for a share of that or discount... lol....

You may find more information in the Other Asian Australian South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-asian-australian-south-pacific-frequent-flyer-programs-470/) forum - in particular, this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-asian-australian-south-pacific-frequent-flyer-programs/1238346-info-experience-china-southern.html) looks useful.

I flew AMS-BJS on CZ a few years ago in Y. Seating was 3-4-3 in a 777, which would probably have felt pretty crowded if the plane was full - but fortunately the load factor was fairly low, and 2 of us travelling together had a row of 3 to ourselves (and possibly other empty rows to spread out into - I can't remember). There was PTV, but with a selection of only 12 or so films, mainly Chinese. The meal options were also mainly Chinese (unsurprisingly), of adequate quality.

We didn't have any connections, so I can't comment on transit issues, lounges, etc.

I would fly with them again, but haven't had the need/opportunity recently.

Btw, for AKL-CAN-AMS, it seems you'll have a long (~18hr) stopover in CAN each way.

I just completed my 131st flight with CZ this moring, DXB-CAN. My long haul experience with CZ is; LAX-CAN-LAX 15 times, CAN-CDG-CAN 3 times, CAN-SYD-CAN 3 times, DXB-CAN-DXB 2 times, and CAN-NRT-CAN 1 time. I have no issues with them and will continue to fly them in the future.

You should enjoy the product.

I flew AMS - PEK - CAN - BNE and SYD - CAN - PEK - AMS last december.

The plane they use for the flight from AMS - PEK, and if you take the same plane to CAN is very nice. Brand new A330 with widescreen IFE. The food is quite bad. Had the same starter 3 times and the main courses were a bit odd.

The planes they used to BNE were much older and did not have IFE, only one small screen for each section of the plane playing Chinese movies. Flight departing SYD had OK IFE. Not sure what plane they use to NZ.

The transfers are really terrible. My flight from AMS - PEK was delayed, so I had a very short connection. It appeared that I was the first person ever that had to transit. They sent me from counter to counter (international transit --> domestic transit --> customs (I had no visa) --> domestic arrivals --> international departures --> domestic departures). Suppose this confusion is caused by the flight from PEK to OZ stops in CAN and some people fly from PEK - CAN, so it is both a domestic and an international departure.

In CAN you have to go through customs again, although that is a bit more efficient.

On the way back after going through customs, they sort of hold you hostage between the customs area and the carry-on luggage scanners until they open a small door to a small transit area for passengers going CAN - PEK - AMS.

Now that I know the drill, I would fly them again. Just don't expect much in case of missed connections. I did not meet any CZ staff that spoke decent English.

Dont expect too much..... The AKL CAN sector now has AVOD... Which is a big improvement... And also CZ is offering cash back to agents on European fares ex NZ atm.... If you book through an agent, ask for a share of that or discount... lol....

I've seen the aircraft here in Auckland, I think it's 330 and looks very new. Tomorrow I will the travel agent for more information on the tickets. It is the price that got me, otherwise I would fly other airlines really :(

Many thanks :)

You may find more information in the Other Asian Australian South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-asian-australian-south-pacific-frequent-flyer-programs-470/) forum - in particular, this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-asian-australian-south-pacific-frequent-flyer-programs/1238346-info-experience-china-southern.html) looks useful.

I flew AMS-BJS on CZ a few years ago in Y. Seating was 3-4-3 in a 777, which would probably have felt pretty crowded if the plane was full - but fortunately the load factor was fairly low, and 2 of us travelling together had a row of 3 to ourselves (and possibly other empty rows to spread out into - I can't remember). There was PTV, but with a selection of only 12 or so films, mainly Chinese. The meal options were also mainly Chinese (unsurprisingly), of adequate quality.

We didn't have any connections, so I can't comment on transit issues, lounges, etc.

I would fly with them again, but haven't had the need/opportunity recently.

Btw, for AKL-CAN-AMS, it seems you'll have a long (~18hr) stopover in CAN each way.

Thanks for taking your time write your experience. Yes, I know all Chinese airline offers very standard food or Chinese food, I guess for the fare like this I just hope they can get me there on time safely. ;) I think this one stops in PEK as well. I don't have any lounge access with Skyteam, I guess I will be getting a DinerClub card before my departure. :)

They're certainly marketing themselves in Australia as an alternative on the Kangaroo route (note photos in the article are not from economy):

http://www.ausbt.com.au/the-kangaroo-route-try-the-canton-route-says-china-southern

I just completed my 131st flight with CZ this moring, DXB-CAN. My long haul experience with CZ is; LAX-CAN-LAX 15 times, CAN-CDG-CAN 3 times, CAN-SYD-CAN 3 times, DXB-CAN-DXB 2 times, and CAN-NRT-CAN 1 time. I have no issues with them and will continue to fly them in the future.

You should enjoy the product.

Fingers are crossed for me and hope they are dumping me in the middle of nowhere hehe Do you have gold status with CZ or other sky team member?

I flew AMS - PEK - CAN - BNE and SYD - CAN - PEK - AMS last december.

The plane they use for the flight from AMS - PEK, and if you take the same plane to CAN is very nice. Brand new A330 with widescreen IFE. The food is quite bad. Had the same starter 3 times and the main courses were a bit odd.

The planes they used to BNE were much older and did not have IFE, only one small screen for each section of the plane playing Chinese movies. Flight departing SYD had OK IFE. Not sure what plane they use to NZ.

The transfers are really terrible. My flight from AMS - PEK was delayed, so I had a very short connection. It appeared that I was the first person ever that had to transit. They sent me from counter to counter (international transit --> domestic transit --> customs (I had no visa) --> domestic arrivals --> international departures --> domestic departures). Suppose this confusion is caused by the flight from PEK to OZ stops in CAN and some people fly from PEK - CAN, so it is both a domestic and an international departure.

In CAN you have to go through customs again, although that is a bit more efficient.

On the way back after going through customs, they sort of hold you hostage between the customs area and the carry-on luggage scanners until they open a small door to a small transit area for passengers going CAN - PEK - AMS.

Now that I know the drill, I would fly them again. Just don't expect much in case of missed connections. I did not meet any CZ staff that spoke decent English.

To be honest I am a bit worried how smooth their international transfer is really. I do speak Chinese and maybe that will help me a bit to get around....... why can't they make life easier for their travelers!!!!! Transfer to either Europe or America has never been easy with any Chinese airline from what I read. Thank you so much for your information and I will certainly keep that in mind.

They're certainly marketing themselves in Australia as an alternative on the Kangaroo route (note photos in the article are not from economy):

http://www.ausbt.com.au/the-kangaroo-route-try-the-canton-route-says-china-southern I just had a read of this, i hope it works for both the airline and the travelers; they certainly increased their flights to 1 daily from Auckland to Guangzhou, connections to Amsterdam surely not good enough with a long stop over unless fly to pek first then AMS.

Fingers are crossed for me and hope they are dumping me in the middle of nowhere hehe Do you have gold status with CZ or other sky team member?

My home is based in ATL so that makes me very loyal to Delta and all other SkyTeam partners. All miles go into my DL account and I have no problem maintaining Diamond status.

To be honest I am a bit worried how smooth their international transfer is really. I do speak Chinese and maybe that will help me a bit to get around....... why can't they make life easier for their travelers!!!!! Transfer to either Europe or America has never been easy with any Chinese airline from what I read. Thank you so much for your information and I will certainly keep that in mind.

It definitely helps if you speak Chinese.

I flew GDN-CPH-AMS-PEK-(XMN)-MNL over a year ago and as far as I remember, the plane on Europe routes are much better now than before (where before, I flew on a 77E, now all flights are served with A330s with AVOD). Not sure about the food though: my last CZ meal was breakfast on CAN-MNL, and I got an egg tart and a rice cake (the specific type escapes me at the moment).

The long-haul food though is fine: they were actually quite edible for my taste. The service inside the plane though will definitely be much better if you can speak Chinese: CZ crews can be very inconsistent with language proficiency.

It definitely helps if you speak Chinese.

I flew GDN-CPH-AMS-PEK-(XMN)-MNL over a year ago and as far as I remember, the plane on Europe routes are much better now than before (where before, I flew on a 77E, now all flights are served with A330s with AVOD). Not sure about the food though: my last CZ meal was breakfast on CAN-MNL, and I got an egg tart and a rice cake (the specific type escapes me at the moment).

The long-haul food though is fine: they were actually quite edible for my taste. The service inside the plane though will definitely be much better if you can speak Chinese: CZ crews can be very inconsistent with language proficiency.

Now I'm confident hehe