China Southern review by Cathy 2013-07-12

Sydney-Kathmandu return via Guangzou Baiyun SYD-CAN (A330) - (A319) KTM (A319) - CAN-SYD (A330) May-June 2013 Similar responses to Namrata's post in general. Chicken was most popular request, but they plainly didn't have enough chicken! Food was average, but I've had many worse. Drinks were limited in selection and availability. Crew communication wasn't great whether in Chinese or English, and English was not well spoken by most crew except for the single Australian (anglo) cabin crew member on both flights to/from Sydney. Chinese cabin crew were obviously more sympathetic to Chinese faces (and also, but to a lesser extent, to those others of us who could also speak Chinese). However, main observation is the fairly off-handed way of handling most customers by the majority of the Chinese cabin crew. Leg room slightly greater than several other airlines. Toilets were kept far cleaner during trip than most Qantas flights (and I do many of those O/S) - but liquid hand soap was missing on a few sectors. Cabin screens for videos in A330s and can't remember what was in A319s. Chinese and English language films shown - both pretty average. As travel agent advised, take your own if you're relying on video or other digital entertainment. Overall though, still considered good value considering the price of the airfare, the destination and the distance travelled. You get what you pay for. If you want more drinks, better food, personal VOD and entertainment options, etc, then consider alternative airlines. Final thought, post Asiana accident: not sure how well emergencies & emergency evacuations would be handled given the cabin crew attitudes and behaviours on board? Flight crew appeared/sounded competent though ... but how does one ever know until the time arises?