Chinese airlines have been serving up the cheapest flights on the market for as long as we can remember. But after disappearing completely during the pandemic, we wondered if we’d ever see them again. Cut to 2024, and, oh boy, are they back! 

Especially if you’re based in Europe, these airlines have consistently undercut their European or Middle Eastern counterparts on price for loooooads of long-haul routes to places like South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. This has left lots of members asking, “What is it actually like to fly via China, and what can I expect if I book a ticket on one of these airlines?”.

After planning to head back home to Sydney for a wedding, Flight Finder Larissa took the plunge and booked a return trip from London with China Southern. Here’s her review on what it was like to actually fly with one of these airlines, and what you can expect if you do the same.