I'm back for my second FR and again just two days after my flight to Fuzhou, I am back in Guangzhou Baiyun Airport for another domestic flight to Haikou aka the Chinese Hawaii island.
Getting to the airport and check-in
I would usually take the metro to the airport but these past 2 times I chose to go by car instead. I'll write another FR next time I fly from CAN describing the metro experience.
I left Tian He by Didi at 9:30, the traffic was pretty good for this time of the day. Took about 45 mins to travel the 30 kms. Got the airport at 10:25 (1:05 before departure). Both international and domestic departures gates for China Southern are within Terminal 2 at CAN. But one is on the north side and the other one the south side. When you fly international, you need to go through Chinese exit immigration after security. You don't need to go through that for domestic flights.
Entered through door 45 and went through the usual basic explosive check. I am wondering if they had ever caught anyone carrying explosive…
The airport was busy but less busy that i had expected especially during this pre CNY week.
For domestic flight, they ask to complete check in at least 40 mins prior to departure so I'm good time wise.
Again, I used automated check in terminal to get my BP! After getting my BP, I headed to security, walking by a self playing piano and a few CNY decorations along the way inclusing a giant China flag.
Security and boarding
The line for security was busy but it went pretty fast. I had forgotten to remove my power bank from my bag so they asked me to remove it and re scanned my bag one more time. Some people took off their shoes but it seems to me that only people wearing boots were made to take them off.
After security, I went straight to my gate at B51, which meant that I needed to ride a PaxBus to get to the plane rather than going straight from a jet bridge. They have these flight status electronic board that can do a facial scan and tell you how to get to your gate … Pretty cool if you ask me!
On my way to my gate I passed a few stores inside the domestic termy… A few chinese clothing brand, a few restaurants and other pretty standard airport shops.
After a few hundred meters walk, had to go down one level to the boarding gates where I had to take the bus. I gave my BP to the GA for check in and she gave me a small paper with B51 written on it.
Went into the bus and after what it seemed like a long ride (close to 15 mins) we arrived at the plane.
Flight and amenities
Upon entering the aircraft a COMAC C919 (CZ has only 2 of those planes in their fleet) i am welcomed by a FA, given a cookie bag and I quickly found my seat, an aisle seat at 35H. To answer one of the comments I had for my first FR, this time the economy class seats started with row 25. So not sure about thr row numbering . For business class it was row 5-6. Luckily the overhead bin was empty so I could put my backpack in it and make myself comfortable for the flight.
Same as my last flight with Xiamen air, it was a bare seat. No IFE and the seat did not recline! Big surprise to me. However I was later told that because we were right in front of the exit row, the seats would not recline. There is actually a small Usb port under the traybut i didn't know whether it worked as i didn't try it. They provided a blanket and the bottle of water in the front seat pocket. That was it!
The flight was packed with tourists going to the beach (or just Haikou residents returning to visit family)
I was hoping that the seat 35J would have been left empty however my neighbor came and sat in it.
After the usual security check from the FA, we taxied to the runway at 11:25 (5 minutes before departure time) and waited for a while before taking off at 11:50.
The flight itself was quite uneventful. There were 2 bathrooms at the end of the cabin. They seemed quite new and clean. But there was no soap to wash your hands after your business. So that was a bit disappointing and unsanitary.
40 minutes before landing, an announcement was made that they were suspending flight service and that we couldn't use the bathroom anymore.
This time around the FA didn't come over to check whether the tray was upright or the seat belts were attached …
Arrival in Haikou
Flight touched down at 13:04 exactly and arrived at the bridge at 13:12.
And of course as it is a chinese tradition, 94% of the passengers got up before the seats belt sign went off …
Haikou Meilan is a pretty new airport the new terminal opened in 2021 it sits about 30 kms from downtown Haikou.
There is actually a separate exit for those people without checked luggage… But it s much more walking in the end.
The airport is well connected to the city with a train station right downstairs from the arrival terminal.
Thank you for reading my second FR. I tried putting more pictures this time around. Hope you enjoyed it and don't hesitate to comment!
I'll probably will do the FR for my return flight to Guangzhou on CZ.
