Review of China Southern flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou in Economy

CSN

CZ - China Southern

Flight taken on 23 June 2024
CZ3070
12:28 02h 17m 15:45
Model Boeing 787-9
Class Economy
Seat 54K
B777300ER
1,222 · 78 · 2 · 15

Flight routing

  • 1
    CZ3070 SGN-CAN
  • 2
    CZ3439 CAN-CKG
  • 3
    OQ2323 CKG-CAN
  • 4
    CZ373 CAN-SGN

check-in


On June 23, I've arrived at Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Intl) at 09:10, to check-in for CZ3070, departing 11:55. 


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Queued up at 09:10. Although China Southern has an local office, check-in here at Ho Chi Minh City is done with VIAGS (Vietnam Airport Ground Services), and therefore, it took me until 09:50, after 40 mins to receive boarding pass. 

China Southern operates an weekly-Sunday B787-9 Dreamliner service to HCMC, and I'm lucky to be onboard before it ended on June 30th. 

At 10:00, heres still a long queue of CZ3070. Hopefully they can be checked-in and pass immigration + security fast. 


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Airside


After half-hour's immigration and security is done, I'm at airside at 10:20. 

 As an AvGeek, its always excellent to be at airside and enjoying the scenes of traffic at VVTS. 




B-1167, MY CSN 787-9 EQUIPMENT!


At 10:55, my aircraft/B-1167 arrives from Guangzhou as CZ3069! 

CZ3069:
scheduled arrival 1050
scheduled docking 1100


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At 11:03, B-1167 taxis 


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The beautiful B-1167, LN 776, delivered November 19 2018. 


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boarding cz3070


After capturing B-1167 docking in, its time to proceed to Gate 26! 


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B-1167 from another angle!


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Boarding was scheduled at 11:15, 40 mins prior to pushback time, 11:55. 

Due to B-1167 arriving 10:55 and docking 11:05, boarding began 11:30 instead, 

Fun fact: The meals were brought from Guangzhou, as with this tight layover as CZ3069 inbound, and CZ3070 returning to Guangzhou, with VVTS abilities, it would be hard for them to finish catering under  tight 30-minutes transition. 


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An iconic view of B-1167. 


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3 CSN cabin crews were at L2 greeting passengers and directing directions, for this B787-9 Dreamliner. 


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As my 3rd time flying onboard CSN's B787-9. 

Everything felt familiar, but still fresh.  

CSN on the B787-9 has 2 configurations:
1) C28W28Y220
2) C28Y269


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B-1167 for the journey, is with C28W28Y220.

However, as CSN only deploys the B787-9 on weekly Sunday CZ3069/70 operations to Ho Chi Minh City, Premium Economy on the 787-9 was empty. 


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My seat, R54K, had 2 windows :) 


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54K definitely has a excellent view of B-1167's wings!

P.S: Asiana A321NX ACF + Cathay A333 + Vietjet A333 in background. 


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Boarding was quick, and by 12:50, all passenger has boarded and settled on their seats. 





PUSHBACK, TAXI, DEPARTURE


At 12:10 GMT+7, B-1167 began to pushback from Gate 27. 

P/s: The Dreamliner's GEnx-1B start up always sounds fantastic! 


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After pushback, its time to taxi to Runway 25L at 12:15! 





takeoff


At 12:24 LT, B-1167 was cleared to line-up Runway 25L.

At 12:27, B-1167 began rolling, and with VR speed 142, pulling up at 12:28! 





With METAR VVTS 230500Z 25015KT 9999 BKN031 BKN036 30/24 Q1007 NOSIG

There were these BKN clouds at 3100 and 3600 feet, which B-1167 encountered soon after departure at 05:29 Z, with slight turbulence. 


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CLIMB & CRUISE


After encounting slight turbulence with BKN clouds at BKN031 BKN036, the remaining climb & cruise was smooth. 

After 20 minutes of climb, cabin crew dimed B-1167's cabin down, for passengers to rest after lunch & beverage service.





After passing VVPC (Quy Nhon Phu Cat Airport), B-1167 reached FL350.

At 11:10, 30 minutes after departure, cabin service began.

For drink, I chose to have Sprite, while for lunch, I've pre-ordered SFML, known as Seafood Meal. 



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This SFML, catered by VVTS's local VIAGS (Vietnam Airport Ground Services), consisted of local Vietnamese fried tofu, vegetables and noodles. 

While also consisting of fresh fruits, an shrimp salad, and bread. 

Overall, an decent meal. Noodles onboard for catering are typically always dry, but tasty vegetables and fried tofu + shrimp makes up for it. 


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DESCENT


With an estimated flying time of 2 hr 30 minutes, arrival was estimated 0800 Z (16:00 GMT +8). 

While flight crews began descending from FL350 at 0700 Z leaving Sanya FIR (ZJSA) entering Hong Kong FIR (VHHK), cabin service ended 0710 Z, where cabin crew announces the descent and terminating of cabin-service, ensuring passengers are in-seat & cabin is ready for descent + arrival. 


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IFE on CSN's Wide body does offer an excellent function, with wide-selection of film, entertainment and options. 

Especially this HUD mode, it suits perfectly with the Dreamliner :) 


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B-1167 passed VHHH/HKG at 07:20 Z, and alongside new 25R, in construction 25C plus Terminal 2 is visible. 

While, B-1167 also passes the bustling Shenzhen City (深圳) at 07:22 Z.





ARRIVAL


At the day, ZGGG was operating arrivals with Rwy 19, and 20R, while B-1167 landed on Rwy 20R 

P/s: B-1167 parallel arrival with CA4317 A320neo B-328P arriving Rwy 19. 

ZGGG 230730Z 19003MPS 130V230 9999 -SHRA FEW030CB BKN040 33/26 Q1004 BECMG AT0740 SHRA





At 15:45 LT (0745 Z), B-1167 landed at CAN/ZGGG. 

Vacating through Twy Y14, P8, P7, A,  T4, C4, L16 and parking at Stand 169. 


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As China Southern's headquarter, Guangzhou ZGGG is still an fantastic airport for us AvGeeks. 

With CSN B-2007, A330, FedEx and UPS Cargo ramp, and the legend CSN MD-82 (B-2142), now as an training aircraft for GAMECO, China Southern Group's maintenance branch. 





At 16:00 LT (0800 Z), B-1167 arrived at Stand 169, next to a fellow B787-9 buddy -> B-20C6, pushing back as CZ8057/8058 CAN-DXB-CAN for the day. 


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As soon B-1167 docked up, the Jet bridge aligned.

Final view of 54K, and B-1167's cabin! :) 





Farewell B-1167.

Thank you buddy (谢谢你), for bringing me from Ho Chi Minh City back to Guangzhou! 


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B-1167 and fellow CSN buddies at CAN/ZGGG.


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Display all

Product ratings

Airline

China Southern 8.6

  • Cabin10.0 / 10
  • Cabin crew10.0 / 10
  • Entertainment/wifi6.5 / 10
  • Meal/catering8.0 / 10
Departure airport

Ho Chi Minh City - SGN4.4

  • Efficiency2.0 / 10
  • Access7.0 / 10
  • Services4.5 / 10
  • Cleanliness4.0 / 10
Arrival Airport

Guangzhou - CAN9.0

  • Efficiency9.0 / 10
  • Access9.0 / 10
  • Services9.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness9.0 / 10

Conclusion

Overall, now with Summer 2024, another excellent CSN trip from Ho Chi Minh City -> Guangzhou .

At Ho Chi Minh City, the immigration, security, and check-in abilities is always slow, so for sufficient time to planespot/lounge, I'd suggest everyone for international flights, to arrive Tan Son Nhat 3-hours prior to departure and process those steps.

As usual, my favorite carrier, CSN - China Southern's onboard experience and crew service was excellent, other than turbulent from BKN clouds during climb at VVTS, and final approach at ZGGG, the remaining journey was smooth, and 2 hr 20 minutes went past quick.

While after CZ3070, I transited at Guangzhou (CAN/ZGGG), toward CZ3439 for Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG/ZUCK). Interesting story coming up, as CZ3439 delayed for near 3-4 hours due to storm & inbound aircraft delay.

I look forward to everyone's suggestion and comments on this report!

Thank you for taking time reviewing :)
ZZ

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Comments (2)

  • Thanks for sharing this FR and welcome to the site! Surprised to see CZ operating a wide-body on a route to SGN, wonder if it is related to cargo since they don’t even bother selling off the W cabin as Y seats. The W cabin looks quite good and the MiQ seats on the B789 are certainly a competitive hard product to other Asian carriers. It’s a shame the B77W and A350 get older W products since these are often used to the US. Do these planes have active Wi-Fi or is it primarily sued for device streaming (like CA)? The catering looks competitive for a 2h regional flight and it's good to see a tray versus snack boxes.

  • Nice report ! Looks like a very good Economy experience with CSA. It says this is your first review but I’m pretty sure you’ve had others before. Did you have trouble with your original account? If so, and if you want to continue using the old account, you can try resetting the password of your old account from the login page. And if you still have issues you can always send a message through the “Contact Us” form at the bottom of the page with your original User name and email and we can reset the password manually.

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