The Airport Lounge Bro | Lounge, Flight & Travel Reviews

Flight Review: China Southern Long Haul Economy Class Boeing 787 London to Guangzhou (LHR – CAN)

This China Southern Economy London to Guangzhou Review: LHR to CAN was part of our journey to Thailand (Phuket), the details of which can be found here.

China Southern London Guangzhou Flight Overview

  • Flight Duration: 11 hours 40 minutes
  • Departure Time: 10:00 PM (Daily flight from Terminal 4, LHR), lands at CAN at 4:50PM local time (+8 hours)
  • Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
  • Flight Number: CZ304

Booking & Value For Money

For a return ticket priced at just £420 compared to £800+ on non-Chinese airlines, China Southern Airlines provided a budget-friendly long-haul option from London Heathrow (LHR) to Guangzhou (CAN). The question remains – was the experience worth the savings? Let’s break it down.

Boarding Process & Cabin Atmosphere

Boarding was impressively efficient. Passengers were called by group number, ensuring a smooth, orderly process. The serene atmosphere was enhanced by soft Chinese music playing in the background, creating a calm and organized experience.

Seat Comfort & Cabin Experience

The 11-hour 40-minute journey from London to Guangzhou was operated on a modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a significant plus. The cabin was absolutely spotless, with earphones, a pillow and a blanket waiting at every seat. The economy seats were comfortable, with a 32-inch seat pitch and an adjustable footstool, making the long-haul journey manageable. There was also adjustable headrests, which made sleeping a lot easier on this long flight.

View over Russia during China Southern London Guangzhou flight
Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft parked at Heathrow Airport terminal 4
Gate 22 at Heathrow Terminal 4 before boarding a long-haul flight to Guangzhou

In-Flight Entertainment on China Southern London Guangzhou Journey

The entertainment system exceeded expectations, with a solid selection of western films, including recent blockbusters like Oppenheimer, alongside family-friendly choices such as Up, Finding Nemo, and Kung Fu Panda—a definite plus for those traveling with kids. If you were flying further than Guangzhou, such as to Sydney, I reckon you’d have more than enough western films on the entertainment system to keep you occupied.

In-flight entertainment screen showing western movies on China Southern London Guangzhou flight
Large in-flight entertainment screen in economy class cabin
Flight map showing our lengthy overnight journey on China Southern London Guangzhou route

Food and Beverage on China Southern London Guangzhou Flight

The catering out of London was acceptable—far from gourmet but edible. To be honest, it was no different to British Airways economy catering. In fact, if anything it was better, as China Southern provided a full second meal, whereas airlines such as BA often will only provide a snack for the second meal in order to cost cut. Dishes included a beef and potato stew, chicken and rice, as well as an omelette for the second meal. These were all perfectly acceptable food options, and none of the meals were too bad at all. Beverage options included French white and red wine, along with Pearl River Chinese lager. However, no spirits were available.

Breakfast pork noodles served on China Southern London Guangzhou economy flight
Omelette served with bacon and sausages as a breakfast option in economy

Cleanliness & Facilities

Bathrooms were kept clean throughout the flight, which was impressive for a long-haul economy journey. In fact, the stewards would constantly go in and clean so hats off to them for being so attentive. The loo was always well stocked with soap and toilet paper. I did love the blue mood lighting in the Boeing 787, it gave the lavatory a more premium feel to it.

Judging Parameters:

  • Value for Money: 9/10
  • Staff: 8/10
  • Punctuality: 10/10
  • Food and Drink: 6/10 (Decent out of London, but nothing special)
  • Entertainment: 8/10
  • Seat Comfort: 8/10

The Airport Lounge Bro Flight Rating: 8.2/10

For more information on China Southern Airlines, you can visit their site here. To explore our ever growing list of flight reviews, you can find them here.