Review of China Southern flight Los Angeles → Guangzhou in Business

This is the translation of an FR I did in French.

Beware, this is a very long and very comprehensive report with a ton of photos.

After we arrived in Los Angeles with our Air France flight inbound from PPT, we walked to Tom Bradley International Terminal where our China Southern flight CZ 328 to Guangzhou will depart from.



While walking to TBIT I take this picture of the Philippine Airlines Boeing 747-400 which arrived at the same time as us, we landed parallel, us on the South runway and they landed on the North runway.


No one in the Business Class lane, a first security agent verified that we are booked on the flight and direct us to the first available counter, just in front of us.



Beautiful orchids on the check-in counters.


My suitcase is 20 kilos, the weight of my clothing for 3 weeks !


The agent confirms that our final destination is Bangkok, verify that the return flights are not past our limited time allowed in Thailand, she will enter all the information in her computer and will tag our bags to BKK.


She will then fill out our invitation for the SkyTEAM/Korean Air lounge.


She confirms the seats we have selected via email with the help of the Allison from the CZ Los Angeles office and directs us towards security.

Security checks are fast as there are no one at the Premium line.

On the other side we arrive opposite the lounge entrance.



At the lounge's entrance, more orchids, the agents scan our boarding cards and invite us to take a seat in the lounge.


At the entrance, the screen with the evening's flight.


We went to the Prestige Class part of the lounge, the Korean Air Business Class. The lounge is not very big and is blind because to the works for the new international terminal.


We settle ourselves and our stuff in a corner of the lounge, near plugs to charge up our computers and tablets ! An american FRist ?


Then I went to look at the buffet to see what's available.





This is the code for the WIFI.


Back to my seat with a Ginger Ale and a snack.


Boarding is going to start, we leave the lounge as our plane is at gate 101 the southern most gate of TBIT.
Boarding has already started when we reach the gate and agents are walking around with signs looking for Business Class customers and direct them towards the gate on the right.



We are now walking towards B-6138, 3rd Airbus 380-800 delivered to China Southern on the 29th of February 2012 !

When we arrive on board we are greeted by 2 female cabin crew who direct us to the front part of the Business Class cabin on the upper deck. As soon as we arrive in the cabin another cabin attendant will walk us to our seat.

Mine is 13A.


This is the cabin, similar to the Emirates one without all the gold and faux-wood !



As soon as we settle down, our cabin attendant brings us an oshibori, the menu is already resting on the console.


Let's check this seat now !

In front is the footrest, on top of it, 2 big bags one containing a thin mattress and in the other a duvet for the night.



The remote for the audio and video with the plug for the headphones and a USB key.


On the left handside 2 very practical storage bins, I will dump all of my stuff in one and in the other I will stuff the bags containing the mattress and the duvet.


On the right side, another storage area containing the comfort kit, a sickness bag and a newspaper.


2 pillows are on the seat.


The controls for the seats are located under the cocktail table, you will notice that the oshibori have the CZ logo.


Then the offers start beginning with the slippers.


Then comes the welcome drink, choice of orange or apple juice or water.


Then the next thing is the headphones.


Then the pyjama that we won't use.


And finally the cabin attendant will get the dinner and breakfast order.


The contents of the Bulgari kit.


Above the console is the magazine rack where you can find all the inflight litterature.






In the inflight magazine you can find the China Southern fleet.



China Southern Airlines network maps





Under the magazine rack there is a plug that will be very useful and will save my battery's life during the flight as I managed to charge up my batteries for my camera… OK, I have 2 batteries so that I never run out but we still have another flight after this one !


I switch on my screen to start navigating the entertainment system.





The cabin attendant will then bring a bottle of water, I open it and end up taking a picture as I have never seen a bottle so full !


The bar at the front of the cabin on top of the stairs.


The toilets at the front end of the upper deck.



Evelon and La Source by Crabtree & Evelyn are available in the restrooms.


Let's read the very full menu that we won't see entirely…







We are still at the parking and we are told that the flight will be delayed as a baggage belt is stuck and we are waiting for the last few bags.


While we are waiting we are shown the safety demonstrations.



Yup ! I am as surprised as you are !


The safety demonstrations…













I found this picture very funny, but nope, she is not flipping you off…


This one made me smile too !


Voila ! It's over !



The doors are closed, the jetways are pulled out and we are ready to depart, one hour late !


The airshow's stats about the flight.










We are ready to go, the cabin is now basked in a peach colored mood lighting.



Shortly after take off, the crew starts to serve the pre meal drinks , a glass of white wine and an assortment of nuts.


The tablecloth will then be set on the table and we are getting the amuse-bouche.




What is very useful with this seat is that the console is near the aisle and as I soon as I am done with a dish, I set the plate there and the crew just pick it up !

The tray is then set on the table. Small problem, the tray is too small for all the dishes on it.


The starter is OK, nothing special, the duck is not great…


For all of you who love rose shaped butter in a small ramequin ! Well you know what… It was terrible !


The salad, we will never see the vinaigrette…


Another picture of the tray with the cutlery out.


Then the soup, I would have loved the other one but every one will get this one in our cabin…
Beef, scallops and winter melon.


The pork ribs are excellent !!!



My partners dish, the shrimps.


I forgot to take a picture of the garlic bread served during the meal, unfortunately, they won't do another bread run…

No cheese will be offered even it's on the menu, they will serve a fruit plate, I forgot to take a picture.

Then a dessert will be served, it was not on the menu, looked like a Black forest cake…


After this good dinner I will start to watch a first movie, Brave.


During the movie, I will need to go to the restroom. The bar is set at the front of the cabin with snacks, chocolates, cookies etc…




A picture before I go to sleep… another 13h24 left for this 15 hour flight.


I recline my seat and fall asleep rapidly !




I wake up later and we've been in the air for 7h06 minutes, we are half way there !





I push the call button and ask the cabin attendant to get a snack, the mushroom and turkey hot pie. While I am waiting I'll look further into the entertainment system.












My snack is here, not what I asked for but it was as delicious… it will be a cheese and spinach hot pie.


Flight goes on



I go for a walk, everyone is asleep, a few are watching a movie…

Picture of the galley.


Another 1831 miles to go…



I watch Slumdog Millionaire to pass time… and there the lights are back on with warm peach, orange and pink hues…



We shall soon be arriving, breakfast will be served.



The cabin attendant will come with the trolley to set the trays and offer cornflakes and will then serve breads and croissants from a basket.


She will then come and serve the vegetable frittata which is excellent, moist !



The cabin is waking up after breakfast.


One last movie before we arrive, I choose Inkheart.


But it will be stopped for the morning exercise !




Not a lot of people following the video in Business Class.


In Economy there is a lot more people following the inflight exercise, I had arrived in the cabin when everyone had their arms up, by the time I went to the back of the cabin it was time to exercise the legs and feet and pressure points.


You will notice that Business Class has moodlighting on while economy class is in full bright light.


On the left the galley, on the right the crew rest area.


Door U3R


Then we are shown the animal, food and flora safety video.


oops… a few errors on our route.


We are nearly there, we have started our descent, smoothly.


The airshow system is having a hard time now. Not only did we never do this detour on the right but we did land at the airport !



We have arrived in Guangzhou on time even with the one hour delay out of LAX.

Small video about the city of Guangzhou.



We are parked next to the A330


Same as during the boarding they put some classical music, very loud !

The jetways are positioned in a few minutes.


You can see the mural decoration, I am sorry but to me it reminds me of 1970's bathroom decor !


My pork ribs were cooked here !


We are out of the aircraft ! Thank you for this excellent flight B-6138 !


An agent is waiting for us outside the aircraft with a sign with our flight number for Bangkok. He will invite us to follow him and will take us to the immigration transit desks