Review: China Southern Business Class Lounge Guangzhou Airport

Ben Schlappig
March 11, 2018
10

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I had a roughly three hour transit in Guangzhou, with my flight from Los Angeles arriving around 5:30AM, and my flight to Singapore leaving around 8:30AM. Upon landing in Guangzhou it was a long walk to the transit and immigration checkpoint. My first thought was that the airport was freezing. It was just above freezing outside, and the airport doesn’t have heat, so I imagine it must have been a similar temperature inside. It was so unpleasantly cold, especially since I didn’t have the proper clothes for this kind of weather (I was only going to Sydney, where it was warm).

Eventually I arrived at the immigration and international transit checkpoint. Fortunately the international transit process at Guangzhou Airport is pretty straightforward. There was a simple document check, and then I had to go through security. Within about 20 minutes of landing I was through all of that.

I then took the escalator up a level, and then the entrance to the China Southern lounge was immediately to the right.

Guangzhou Airport transit

Guangzhou Airport terminal

I reviewed this lounge back in 2014, so since it has been four years, I figured it was time for an updated review. The China Southern lounge has two levels. The bottom level features mostly cafe-style seating, with a large buffet.

China Southern Lounge seating Guangzhou Airport

Then there’s a staircase leading up to the second floor of the lounge, which is where the more comfortable seating is located.

China Southern Lounge staircase Guangzhou Airport

China Southern Lounge Guangzhou Airport

This area features a few different zones. Along the main hallway are rows of seats facing one another.

China Southern Lounge Guangzhou Airport

Then along the side of the lounge are some computers and printers.

China Southern Lounge business center Guangzhou Airport

Past that is a larger area with plenty of couches and seats.

China Southern Lounge Guangzhou Airport

China Southern Lounge seating Guangzhou Airport

China Southern Lounge Guangzhou Airport

Along the side of the lounge are daybeds of sorts.

China Southern Lounge seating Guangzhou Airport

Then there are a couple of massage chairs in the back corner of the lounge.

China Southern Lounge massage chairs Guangzhou Airport

Along the other wall is a buffet. This one isn’t nearly as substantial as the one downstairs, though it has a decent selection of drinks, as well as cereal, packaged snacks, and fruit.

China Southern Lounge buffet Guangzhou Airport

I headed back downstairs to grab some pictures of the main buffet, though as I did so I was approached by a member of the staff and told no photos were allowed in the lounge. I pressed him on this (and asked if that was the case even if no people were in the pictures), and he stayed firm. Interestingly I’ve heard this from other people as well, so I guess this might just be one of the only lounges out there with a strict no photography policy.

I connected to the Wi-Fi to get some work done. It was reasonably fast, though they blocked the use of VPNs, which was annoying, but not surprising. I had a hard time typing because I felt like my fingers were freezing due to how cold it was. So I got a hot cup of water just so I could touch it and try to warm my fingers.

Trying to stay warm in the China Southern Lounge

My flight was scheduled to board at 7:50AM at gate A2, which was just a short walk from the lounge.

Heading to China Southern departure gate

Gates A1-6 are remote gates, so the area was congested, as you’d expect, with virtually no open seating. I arrived there at around 7:45AM, and a few minutes later boarding began.

Remote gates Guangzhou Airport

As I tried to board I was told that I should wait because there was a separate business class bus that would leave once all business class passengers arrived. However, I insisted on taking the economy bus, since it was so cold and I just wanted to get on the plane.

Here’s the temperature during my layover, per my iPhone:

Temperature in Guangzhou

China Southern Lounge bottom line

The transit experience in Guangzhou was fairly easy, and the lounge is decent enough. I’m not a fan of the no photography policy, but otherwise the lounge is alright.

My major issue with the experience was the temperature in the airport. I get it rarely gets this cold in Guangzhou, so that’s why they don’t have heat. However, I’d point out that the two times I’ve transited through Guangzhou I had exactly the same experience when it comes to the temperature. So personally I’d avoid transiting Guangzhou Airport with anything more than a quick connection in the future, assuming I’m traveling in winter. Nothing here ranks anywhere near the top of the best airport lounges, for me.

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Maria Guest
June 6, 2018, 8:25 am

Hi all - does anyone know whether the new lounge at T2 will be open 24 hours? I am debating a layover around 1am, and can’t find the information anywhere on the hours. Thanks!

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Paolo Diamond
March 12, 2018, 5:10 am

Of course they don't want photos, lest someone snaps a pic of an official living high on the hog or in the company of a mistress.
The Chinese martinets are no different from those elsewhere, except in motive.

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Richard Guest
March 12, 2018, 12:19 am

Guangzhou and China Southern are favorites. Unfortunately the SkyMiles are few and far between. I do hope China Southern moved from SkyTeam to elsewhere.

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leo Diamond
March 11, 2018, 7:39 pm

I think no photo policy is not only apply in CZ lounge, the Plaza lounge also have the no photo policy

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Helena New Member
March 11, 2018, 6:07 pm

You have forgotten to mention that the upper floor has bedrooms where you can get some sleep (get the bedroom key from an attendant) and showers. During the main meal periods, a chef is stationed downstairs and you can get freshly prepared breakfast and noodle soups.
Greg, they do offer both chinese and Western dishes downstairs.

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Greg Guest
March 11, 2018, 12:22 pm

What food and beverage offerings did they have in the lounge downstairs where you weren't permitted to take pictures? Did they have any non-packaged food items? Did they have any western style food or just Chinese food? I take it the food offerings must not have been too tempting or you wouldn't have just had water.

Also is there a washroom in the lounge? How would you rate this lounge to the the Korean Air...
What food and beverage offerings did they have in the lounge downstairs where you weren't permitted to take pictures? Did they have any non-packaged food items? Did they have any western style food or just Chinese food? I take it the food offerings must not have been too tempting or you wouldn't have just had water.

Also is there a washroom in the lounge? How would you rate this lounge to the the Korean Air Lounge departure lounge that you just visited in Los Angeles

Read more

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Debit Guest
March 11, 2018, 11:47 am

Is the good, water , air in China safe?

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Endre Guest
March 11, 2018, 11:45 am

I Flew dozens of times via Guangzhou to visit my companies
and some factories (exclusively on paid first class or business tickets). Despite the airport being modern, the service and lounge offering are quite poor. Nowadays I mostly fly with Japan Airlines and Cathay which remain my favorites

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J Robinson Guest
March 11, 2018, 11:14 am

Nice Review!
I’ve always found airport climate control an issue, usually in Winter they are far to warm for my liking, 39f is pushing it. 61 is the avg low for March in Guangzhou so that is probably a rare occurrence.
I laughed when I saw Pabst Blue Ribbon beer featured at the lounge. It’s interesting to see how certained brands are positioned from region to region.
Enjoy reading your posts.
Safe travels

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HIM Member
March 11, 2018, 10:21 am

CZ will open new flagship lounge when CAN T2 opens in 26 April

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Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

Maria Guest

June 6, 2018, 8:25 am

Hi all - does anyone know whether the new lounge at T2 will be open 24 hours? I am debating a layover around 1am, and can’t find the information anywhere on the hours. Thanks!

Paolo Diamond

March 12, 2018, 5:10 am

Of course they don't want photos, lest someone snaps a pic of an official living high on the hog or in the company of a mistress. The Chinese martinets are no different from those elsewhere, except in motive.

Richard Guest

March 12, 2018, 12:19 am

Guangzhou and China Southern are favorites. Unfortunately the SkyMiles are few and far between. I do hope China Southern moved from SkyTeam to elsewhere.