I'm considering taking the Trans-Siberian railroad from Moscow to Beijing and need a OW flight from China back to the US.

Has anyone had experience with China Southern and is it true they don't provide any personal entertainment systems on their flights ?

TMK, the only transpac route that CZ flies is CAN-LAX, not very optimal for a train ride that ends in BJ or SH. Furthermore, while their seat pitch isn't horrible, CZ is one of the few airlines I know of that manages to cram 10-abreast into a 777. Bad food and dreadful customer service are two other themes that come to mind.

Basically, of all the airlines connecting the US and China (CA, AC, MU, AA, UA, CO, NW, DL, JL, NH, OZ, KE, CI, CX, HU...), CZ is at the bottom of my list. Pricewise, things are pretty competitive right now so you should have lots of options from which to chose. The past several one ways I've purchased have been on MU, CA, UA, NW, and OZ. In each case, I paid around $700 (not much more than half the cost of a round trip).

Thanks a lot - great help !
Did you have any preference while getting back to PDX ?

In the current environment (in which there is little incentive to fly a particular airline in order to achieve greater objectives), I think I'd go with AC (Air Canada) as long as they don't try to stick you with the long layover (or just spend a night in Vancouver). NW via SEA (assuming they actually launch it) would be my number 2 pick. I'm not so fond of NW 6 because arriving at 7 or 8 in the morning presents me with terrible jet lag (and leaving PEK at 9 isn't too cool either).

UA (via SFO) and CA (via LAX) are the only remaining single connection options; I can't recommend either of these.

The field widens considerably when you introduce the double connection option into the picture. If you contemplate going down this route, I suggest you post again for specific feedback.

As you probably already know, that one of the great railway journeys is from Boulogne (on the French coast) - Berlin - Moscow - Beijing and ends in Kowloon (Hong Kong). May be this is another option; Moscow - Beijing - Hong Kong, and CX to SFO and home.

I hope you will write a report on your great journey with lots of photos! I am looking forward to read it!

Best wishes