China Southern Airlines (CZ)

I took my first flight to Guangzhou on China Southern Airlines (CZ) earlier this month, as it was booked through my corporate agent.

The airline operates a single-aisle A320-100 on this route which is similar to the equipment used on low-cost airlines for regional flights. Understandably, the interior of the cabin was quite old, with the carpet coming out in places, some seat backs were peeling off etc. Generally still quite clean.

Inflight Entertainment: consists of a series of small screens which unfold from the overhead compartment (no individual screens). Thus the picture was quite small. The sound system comes from a headset with twin rubber tubes which are plugged into the armrest like other airlines. The difference is the tubes have no electrical wiring at all, and depend on the transfer of sound through the hollow tubes, from armrest to ear. Very primitive, and most of the tubes had kinks in them so sound system was quite useless. Sigh.

Inflight reading: Consisted of newspapers (limited stock, so frequent fliers who quickly requested them got all copies), inflight magazine (95% in Chinese) and a pristine, never-read-before safety information card.

For an economy section of about 150 passengers they had only a handful of blankets to give out (about 30). Once they were running out, they clandestinely handed out the last few pieces, and urged passengers not to show them around! The blankets were not individually wrapped in plastic like other airlines, and looked really grubby, so I didn't bother to ask for one.

Inflight Meal: Didn't expect much, but was very surprised by the inflight meal prepared by SATS. Both versions were steamed rice with very bland and starchy toppings. Very unimaginative and unappetising!

Inflight Service: Brusque, unfriendly cabin crew made the flight even more arduous. The way they served the hot meal was spectacular, handling the hot casserole with bare hands and practically flinging the trays at hapless passengers. One unattentive woman did not notice the tray heading towards her and was rewarded with half her meal landing on her lap. Unperturbed by passengers who were surprised at bring served lunch at 9.30am (on a 8am flight), they haughtily told off the pax "if you don't want to eat it, there's nothing else to eat".

On my return flight, passengers were still moving around as the aircraft taxied across the apron, and two of them actually changed seats as the plane was barrelling down the runway. Cabin crew did not even try to stop them, and instead closed her eyes to block out the scene. Her eyes remained closed throughout the aircraft climb, which is also surprising.

A special needs passenger (elderly, hearing impaired with mobility issues) was seated at the emergency exit, window seat which usually isn't allowed, is it?