Our Review of China Southern Airlines - The Cheapest Flights Between Bangkok Thailand and London UK
Flying between Thailand and the UK is never a cheap affair, but we think we’ve found the cheapest flight tickets there are with China Southern Airlines. Read on to find out what it was like flying from the Thai capital of Bangkok to London, via a 12 hour layover in Guangzhou airport. We cover what to expect on the flight, what Guangzhou airport is like and whether we would recommend flying with China Southern!
Flying is never cheap and flying the 5,950 miles (9,580 kilometers) between the vibrant Thai capital of Bangkok and the UK capital of London is never an inexpensive affair!
Whenever you book an international trip, flying is always the most expensive part of your holiday. Whoever you choose to fly with, you’re always at the mercy of the airline and whatever they want to charge you for your ticket. As long-term budget travellers, we try to avoid flying as much as possible, opting to cross borders on foot rather than by air. We find flying as a whole to be far too expensive, a huge hassle and often find it can often take longer than just catching a bus or train from a to b. Unfortunately, we can’t always just hop over a border to our next destination and to get to some parts of this world, flying is the only option.
Since the pandemic, the cost of flights have risen worldwide. The world is changing rapidly, and as the world's politics gets more and more turbulent, the globe is getting smaller and smaller. As the 21st century rolls on, more and more places are becoming conflict zones, and more of the global airspace is being shut off to travel. As the planet becomes less easy to navigate, flights are becoming more and more expensive.
We frequently catch flights between Thailand and the UK and every year we’ve noticed a significant increase in the price of plane tickets. We recently needed to catch a one way flight between Bangkok and London, and after much searching online, we had nearly given up hope on finding a cheap ticket, that is until we spotted a Bangkok to London flight with China Southern Airline - at a price we couldn’t believe! When flying we’re not bothered by fancy airlines, airport lounges or upgrades. All we’re interested in is getting to wherever we want to go in the cheapest and quickest way possible.
With this all in mind we booked our cheap flights and set off. This is our honest experience on flying economy from Bangkok to London with China Southern Airlines.
In This Budget Flight Guide:
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will earn a small commission from any purchases made through these links.
Getting to Suvarnabhumi Airport from Bangkok City Centre
The biggest airport in Bangkok is Suvarnabhumi Airport to the east of the city located here. This is the main international hub for tourists arriving to and departing from Bangkok / Thailand. The airport is extremely well connected to the city centre and whatever your budget you can easily get to and from Bangkok's main airport.
Getting to Suvarnabhumi Airport by Bus
If you’re staying in Old Bangkok near the main backpacking hub of Khao San Road, Phra Athit Road and Soi Rambuttri, the cheapest way to get to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport is via the S1 airport link bus.
The S1 bus runs every half hour from 06:00 until 20:00 everyday and tickets cost just 60 baht.
The buses are labelled S1 on the front and are usually bright orange with some newer white and blue buses.
To catch the bus to the airport, you’ll need to wait at this bus stop on the edge of Rambuttri Street located here.
If you’re arriving in Suvarnabhumi, you can catch the bus from outside entrance 7 on level 1 of the airport terminal to take you the other way into Bangkok's Old Town.
The journey can take anything between 1 to 2 hours to reach the city, with the bus taking the main expressways into the centre, before circling around Democracy Monument and eventually pulling into the Khao San Road area.
If you’re staying in or around Khao San Road there are no MRT stations so catching the S1 bus to or from the airport makes more sense than having to fork out for two methods of transport.
However, if the traffic is terrible and you’re worried about getting to the airport on time you can always catch a bus or taxi from the Old Town Bangkok area to Phaya Thai train station where you can catch…
By Train - Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link
The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi Airport with the city centre, with trains running every 10 to 15 minutes from 05:00 until 00:00 everyday.
Trains depart Suvarnabhumi Airport and travel to Phaya Thai in the centre of the city. Catching the train from the airport to Phaya Thai train station will take you a speedy 26 minutes. Depending on where you’re travelling to, ticket fares cost between 15 and 40 baht.
The Airport Rail Link is great if you’re staying in the Baiyoke Sky Hotel or any of the other hotels around Pratunam Market - just get on or off at Ratchaprarop Station.
For connections to the Blue BTS line (train links to Sukhumvit, Lumphini Park, Chinatown and Hua Lamphong) get off at Makkasan Station and walk the 200 metres (follow the signs) to connect with Phetchaburi station on the Blue BTS line.
The final station (or beginning station depending on direction of travel) on the Airport Rail Link is Phaya Thai. This train station links travellers to the Green BTS line and is perfect for those staying in and around Victory Monument and Siam.
To buy tickets, either queue up at the ticket counter or use the ticket vending machines dotted around the stations. Just note that almost all of the ticket vending machines take cash and coins only. If you haven’t changed any currency or want to pay on card, you can get your tickets from the ticket booths.
Arranging a Taxi to Suvarnabhumi Airport
You can easily hail one of the bright yellow, green, pink or white taxis from the street, or arrange a car via the ride-hailing apps of Grab or Bolt.
If you’ve hailed a taxi from the street, make sure you ask the driver for a metered ride.
A taxi ride to Suvarnabhumi should cost around 500 baht ($15 USD) per ride.
The traffic in Bangkok is notorious for being in a permanent state of gridlock so make sure you plan plenty of time to reach the airport.
To book a taxi transfer in advance, click here.
The departures terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport is huge!
Transferring Between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports
When taking public transport / booking a taxi, make sure you’re heading to the right airport.
There are two main airports in Bangkok:
Suvarnabhumi Airport to the east of the city (located here)
Don Mueang Airport to the north of the city (located here)
Suvarnabhumi Airport is the biggest and main airport for international flights to the UK, USA, Europe, Asia and beyond, whereas Don Mueang is mainly for flights departing and arriving from inland Thailand, South East Asia and Asia.
The two airports sit 36 KM away from each other and are about a 45 minute drive depending on the traffic.
The cheapest way to transfer between the two airports is via the ‘Shuttle Airport Bus’ with the bus operating between 05:00 and 00:00 at night. Tickets for the shuttle bus are free, you just need to show your passport and proof of onward ticket for your next flight.
To catch the airport shuttle bus from Suvarnabhumi, just head to level 2 of the arrivals hall and head to exit 3. At Don Mueang the shuttle bus can be found on floor 1 next to exit 6.
If you have a very tight schedule between two flights at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, we’d recommend checking out the fast track service provided by Get Your Guide. Border Control can get extremely busy during peak travel periods at Suvarnabhumi airport!
Before setting off for the airport make sure you double check which Bangkok airport your flight is departing from!
Our Experience - Flying Bangkok to London via Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines
After searching high and low on the internet for the cheapest flights back to the UK, we finally settled on an excellent deal with China Southern Airlines - we’re not going to spoil how much we got them just yet 😉 you’ll have to read to the bottom of the article to find that out!
Our tickets were from Bangkok to Guangzhou, China. We would then have a 12 hour layover before catching a second flight from Guangzhou to London Heathrow.
Flight 1 would be a 2.5 hour flight leaving Bangkok at 20:20 and arriving Guangzhou at 00:20.
Flight 2 would be a 12.5 hour flight leaving Guangzhou at 13:20 the next day and arriving back at London Heathrow at 19:00.
The tickets were ‘through booked’, we would be with China Southern for the whole trip. China Southern Airlines would be a new airline for us. We’ve never flown via China before and never with China Southern. We checked reviews online for people’s experiences and they seemed good. So with hundreds of pounds saved, we booked our flights!
Flight 1 - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
We were staying in the heart of Old Bangkok, a short walk away from Khao San Road. We left our excellent hostel, Lost Inn BKK with plenty of time to check in for our flight. As experienced travellers in Bangkok, we’ve been at the mercy of the roads many a time and know just how bad traffic in and out of the Thai capital can be. Luckily for us, on this journey, the Thai traffic gods were on our side and we had what was possibly the quickest journey to Suvarnabhumi airport we’ve ever had.
We arrived so early, we had a whole hour to spare before we could check-in, so we spent time sorting out our Tourist VAT Refund and chilling out in the terminal with one final Thai tea.
Getting a Tourist VAT Refund in Suvarnabhumi Airport
For those getting a Tourist VAT Refund, you need to head to the dedicated counter next to Entrance 10 of the Suvarnabhumi departure terminal.
The process was super quick when we were there. We just showed them our tax receipt and proof of purchase and got a stamp. To get your refund, you’ll need to get the stamp at Entrance 10. Then, take everything with you through security and Passport Control to the second Tourist VAT counter. Just head to the right as soon as you leave Passport Control and follow the signs. If you have bought specific goods (technology and other high value things) you will need to show them and their packaging to the VAT Refund Officers. If you don’t have it you may not be able to claim it!
Check with the shop when you buy your goods what process will be needed. We bought ourselves a new laptop in Thailand and had to bring its original box with us to claim the refund.
The departure terminal at Suvarnabhumi is massive, but there’s plenty of seating and lots of places to get food and drink. If you’re after cheap Thai food, head to the foodie famous Magic Point Food Court on floor 1 for super cheap, super tasty Thai street food favourites (located here). Around the departure hall are plenty of coffee chains and convenience stores.
Check-in for our China Southern flights was extremely easy. The lady was very friendly and quick to answer all our questions. John was worried about our luggage and the long layover at Guangzhou but the lady reassured us that its was “checked through” to London and we didn't need to claim it in China. She even showed us the labels on the bags so we had no worries at all.
Checked-in, boarding cards in hand and feeling a lot lighter, it was time to take one more journey on the “saddest escalator in the world”. It’s never easy saying goodbye to Bangkok. We feel it's our second home now and it always feels sad to leave. Whoever coined the name the “saddest escalator in the world” really captured our feelings as we said au revoir to our beloved Thailand!
Suvarnabhumi’s “escalator of sadness” - it’s always a sad ride!
We were travelling at the start of the wet season and the airport was a lot quieter. Gone were the long queues at security and we just whistled through. Since our last departure from the airport they have introduced electronic passport gates and it seems to have dramatically cut the queues at immigration. We just put our passports down on the scanner, had a photo taken and were let through!
If you have an electronic passport you can just use the e-gates and pass straight through. If you do not have an electronic passport, there are still passport control booths on either end of Passport Control.
Suvarnabhumi is a massive airport and is the main airport for tourists arriving to or departing from Thailand. It is also one of the main regional aviation hubs for South East Asia.
In 2024, Thailand welcomed over 35 million tourists, most of which would have passed through Suvarnabhumi. If you are travelling through this airport, leave as much time as possible. It can get very busy and during peak times, you will need to queue for security and Immigration.
Our advice is get there as early as possible!
If you have a long layover in Suvarnabhumi or fancy treating yourself, you can easily book a stay in the airport lounge in advance. Check out the offer below from Get Your Guide.
We had about an hour on the other side of security to wait, so after getting our refund back from the Tourist VAT counter (see above), we treated ourselves to a cheeky burger from McDonalds and headed to our gate.
It wasn’t long before our quiet gate was filled with other China-bound passengers. We can definitely say everyone travelling on our flight was very punctual! It was still 30 minutes before our gate opened and it looked like the whole of our plane had descended onto the gate and were waiting patiently in line with their boarding passes ready.
We boarded our Airbus A320 and found our seats. As soon as we were up in the air, the trolley service came around. We didn’t expect food or drink on a 2.5 hour journey, but we were given 2 drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic available), one before our meal and one after. For our food we both opted for chicken noodles (it went well with our beers!). The chicken noodles were good for airplane food. You’re never going to have a gourmet 5-star meal, but chicken in a soy sauce gravy sitting on a bed of noodles was perfectly edible. Also we can confirm the Pearl River Beer was very good.
It wasn’t long after we had finished our meal and drinks that we had to stow away everything as we prepared for our descent. It was time for our first glance into China!
A Layover at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport - What to Expect
We touched down on the runway at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport just after midnight. As soon as the wheels had hit the tarmac, we realised just how big the airport was!
In every direction, a sleek, modern, wavy glass terminal stretched out on either side of us. We taxied around the airport for what felt like hours, passing by gate 10, gate 50 until we eventually pulled to a stop at gate 150 - as we said, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is massive!
The plane was unloaded with relative ease. It might have been the late night arrival or that everyone was slightly delirious from lack of sleep, but compared to the usual rugby scrum upon arrival, everyone was super polite and eager to help others. We quickly left the plane and headed to the terminal.
The modern exterior of the airport continued inside. As soon as we had left the plane there were clear signs showing the way. It was so easy to navigate, we just followed the ‘transit signs’. We left the majority of the plane at Passport Control and turned to the right.
At the transit desk, a friendly lady checked our details and asked if we wanted to go to an airport hotel for the night. We were entitled to a night’s accommodation for free as we had a long layover and had booked our tickets through China Southern. Definitely check if you can claim this if you have a long layover!
We had already decided that, as we had only 12 hours, it wouldn’t really be worth our time (or nerves) heading to Passport Control, getting a visa to leave the airport and catching the shuttle bus to the hotel. Only to grab a few hours sleep before heading back to the airport to check back in through security and Immigration. As we declined the airport hotel, she asked if we would like to head to the lounge for a couple of hours. We decided against this as you can only stay for 2 hours and it costs 230 yuan ($32) per person.
After our passports were checked we headed through to security. Security was completely empty at this time of night. It was just us and two guys who helped, with clear instructions on what to unpack and what not to. In general it was just everything with a big lithium battery (laptops / iPads etc). All portable chargers were checked as to what voltage they were - tip don’t cover this up with a sticker like John did on his battery!
We unpacked our laptops but could keep our camera and lenses inside their cases. Ellie had a small set of toiletries in a small bag, but they didn’t seem to bat an eyelid and just waved it through.
Compared to other airports we have travelled through, the Chinese staff were very scrutinous of everything going through the x-ray machine. We were so glad we decided to come straight through security when we did. If we had left the airport for the hotel, we can imagine it would have taken us a lot longer to unpack and go through if we hit security at a busy time, but as it was just us and some late night staff, it was completely painless.
Repacked, we headed through to the airport departures zone.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is very similar to other airports around the world. There’s the usual duty free shopping area, lots of restaurants, coffeeshops and international fast food chains. It was now very early morning and everything was closed apart from a late night Subway and a Lawson’s supermarket so we headed on through.
We found an information board (they’re located everywhere) in the terminal and scanned our passports to get onto the WiFi. The internet in Guangzhou airport is very patchy. We did manage to get some internet, but if you’re looking to download a film it’s best to do this beforehand. Also remember you’re in China so Google and other apps may not work.
VPNs are super useful when travelling especially when connecting to open networks such as airport WiFi and cafes. Not only do they keep us protected but it means that we can keep watching our TV and films whilst aboard.
If you’re looking for a reliable VPN, we’ve been using Surfshark for the past 3 years and are never without it. Click here to get your own VPN to keep your internet searching safe!
Internet sorted we found some comfy looking seats in the middle of the food court area, opposite the information desk. Ellie, not eager to take the first seats and always willing to explore, decided on wandering the airport a little more. Our adventure lust was rewarded, as we quickly found the ‘transit lounge’. Not to be mistaken for a fancy airport lounge, this was a small area full of reclining chairs, foot stools and sofas. It looked like a great place to set up base.
We found the perfect seats, away from the other sleeping passengers and right in front of the huge glass window overlooking the runway and airport. If anyone knows Ellie she’s like a meerkat and loves to watch planes take off so this was the ideal spot! We made camp and set about getting a couple of hours shut-eye.
John ready to bed down for the night!
For those who don’t want to sleep on a chair; just below the ‘transit lounge’ is a set of cupboards that were Guangzhou’s newly opened sleeping pods. Sold on an hourly basis, the pods started at 38 yuan for one hour ($5.30) during the day and 58 yuan ($8.09) for one hour during the night. There are discounts available if you book multiple hours, just head to the nearby desk and ask.
The next morning, after an actually quite comfy night's sleep, we woke to an airport covered in very thick, dark and threatening clouds. We were seeing the tail end of a typhoon that was hitting Southern China. In amongst the torrential downpours, thunder and lightning we watched as airport staff wrangled with suitcases, filled up planes with fuel and did their final airplane checks. We felt guilty sitting in the dry, watching these poor souls drenched to their core.
We headed to the currency exchange to change up some Thai baht to Chinese Yuan and were charged £5 for the privilege in fees. You proabably do not need to do this - see our notes later. Yuan sorted, it was time to scour the airport for breakfast!
There’s plenty of restaurants in the terminal offering noodle soups, rice dishes and more but we settled on an intriguing crispy bun stuffed full of beef and spiced with Szechuan pepper. Known as Guo Kui in China, the buns were brilliant. Full of juicy meat, zingy pepper and crispy casing. They were a great portable breakfast to eat whilst watching the planes take off. Each bun cost 22 yuan ($3) so not overly expensive for an airport breakfast!
After breakfast we headed to find coffee. We ordered two lattes from Pacific Coffee in the terminal and what came out was a massive goblet. The coffee was nothing like the craft coffee we had been drinking over the last fortnight in Bangkok but it was exactly what we needed to wake us from an airport sleepover. There’s also a Starbucks in the departures terminal that we may or may not have tried! Both the coffee from Pacific Coffee and Starbucks cost 35 yuan a cup ($4.88), not the cheapest, but not terrible for airport prices!
After coffee we moved and set up camp next to our gate. Our few hours' wait turned into a couple more as the storms just didn’t let up. During the delay, China Southern were great and handed out free bottles of water and pot noodles. After a 2 hour delay, there was a brief respite in the weather and all hands were on deck, it was time to depart from China!
Guangzhou Airport - Facilities and Essential Information
Things to remember:
There are no ATMS in the departures terminal. There are plenty of currency exchange booths and most food stalls and restaurants will accept credit /debit cards.
We used a currency exchange but you don’t actually have to! You can pay on card for most things and it will probably be cheaper than the currency exchanges fees - we learn from our mistakes!
There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores. You can have a full sit down chinese feast or just grab some of Lawson’s famous fried chicken!
China uses both type A (2 flat head pins) and type C (2 round head pins) plugs. There are charging stations around the transit lounge and in some of the seating areas.
You can buy entrance to the lounges on an hourly basis but you cannot stay overnight in them.
Internet is available within the airport. It is very patchy and as you are in China, some apps and websites may not be accessible. You will need your passport to log in to the free Wifi, just look out for the information booths, or Wifi stands.
There are information desks throughout the terminal, lots of which seemed to be staffed 24-7.
There is ample seating in the airport, both next to the gates and in the food areas. We didn't struggle to get seats. That being said we were glad we got to the transit lounge early as the comfiest recliners were all gone by the time the sun came up!
If you leave the airport to go to sleep in a hotel / explore Guangzhou you will need to be stamped in and out of the airport and will need to acquire a visa-free-transit stamp.
There are plenty of places to refill your water bottle with both ice-cold and boiling hot water. They are free and found outside almost every toilet. They also mean you can buy and eat a pot noodle from one of the stores if you are on a budget!
You can easily book a stay in the airport lounge once you arrive at Guangzhou, but if you prefer to have everything sorted in advance, click the image below:
Flight 2 - Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to London Heathrow (LHR)
After our 2 hour delay due to the stormy weather, we were quickly boarded. The staff were very efficient, at making sure everyone had their boarding passes ready to go. In what felt like only a couple of minutes, everyone was sitting in place, belts on ready for take-off.
On our economy seats sat a pillow, blanket and a small bag full of toiletries including handcream, toothbrush and toothpaste. As soon as we sat down, we instantly noticed how much legroom we had. We were flying on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplane and had much more space to spread out. Unlike our first flight, where we were treated to an empty seat next to ours, we were sat in a full row, but it didn’t feel cramped.
The entertainment system on board had a good selection of films and a few Western TV series. Most of the films were epic action movies, with plenty of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They also had: the full Harry Potter collection, all 3 Lord of the Ring films, lots of Disney (including all 4 Toy Story movies) and a couple of rom-coms. There was definitely enough to keep you entertained. The seats also included USB charging to keep our batteries topped up throughout the flight. If you needed Wifi you could buy it but it was very premium priced!
One thing we can say about flying long haul economy with China Southern was that we definitely didn’t go hungry or thirsty! During our 12.5 hour flight, we were served two in-flight meals with drinks before and after as well as pastries, snacks, drinks and water refills. The in-flight meals were very similar to our first leg, with a choice of beef or vegetable rice, chicken and noodles or fish and potatoes. We were also handed out 2 sets of sausage sandwiches in between the main meals. The flight attendants were always buzzing around and offered water throughout the flight - a very welcome change to other flights we’ve taken where we landed like extremely parched camels!
We had a lot of turbulence throughout our flight but the crew were very quick to turn on the seatbelt sign and ensure everyone was safe.
The 12.5 hours slowly drifted by and before long it was time to begin our descent into London.
As we descended along the snaking Thames, we passed over the Thames Barrier looking like a tiny metal zip, flew over the iconic white circular Millenium Dome and continued towards South London. From our small aeroplane window we passed over the radio tower at Crystal Palace, waved hello to our flat in Streatham, crossed over the green commons at Tooting Bec, Clapham and Wimbledon, soared over the vast Richmond Park before descending down over the rooftops of Hounslow. We eventually came to a bumpy stop on the runway outside London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 just as the sun was starting to set.
There’s something special about London sunsets, and this was the perfect welcome. After three years, we were back home!
Getting into London From London Heathrow
If you’re arriving into Heathrow and need to get into London you have a couple of options.
Heathrow Express
The quickest way to reach the centre of London is via the Heathrow Express which has trains running every 15 minutes and connects London Heathrow with London Paddington. From Paddington you can easily transfer to the Bakerloo, Circle or District tube lines to head further into the city. Single fares cost £25 a ticket. To book your tickets in advance, click here.
Piccadilly Tube Line
The Piccadilly Tube line (dark blue) links London Heathrow with the city of London. You can catch the tube from Terminals 2,3,4 and 5 and the line takes you directly into London stopping at stations in Hammersmith, Earls Court, South Kensington, Knights Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and King’s Cross in the north.
The Elizabeth Line
The recently opened purple Elizabeth Line runs through Heathrow connecting Terminals 2,3,4 and 5 with the city of Reading in the West and Central London in the East. The train stops at Paddington station, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon in the centre of London.
By Taxi
The most expensive but luxurious way to reach the city of London is via a taxi transfer. To book a taxi transfer in advance, click here.
China Southern Airlines - Essential Information
China Southern Airlines Baggage Allowance
With our economy tickets, we were each allocated the following baggage allowance:
1 x 23 kg checked-in bag - the dimensions of the bag L+W+H must be under 158cm
1 x 7 kg carry on bag
We were hoping to bring back lots of noodles, curry pastes and 7-Eleven goodies from Thailand, but after checking out the prices to buy extra baggage, we decided we would have to make do with the free allowance. If you do need excess baggage, an extra bag will cost 1100 yuan (185 USD) per 23 kg piece.
China Southern Airline Seat Allocation
In terms of seat allocation, the seats we chose were free. There were options to book extra leg room seats and seats closer to the front but these were at an additional cost.
We actually ended up sitting in the exact same seat number on both flights - 61A and 61B. These were on the right hand side of the plane (if you are looking towards the tail) and had a brilliant view over London when we landed.
Our economy seats on our first flight - Bangkok to Guangzhou!
Airport Hotels and Accommodation
Accommodation Near Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you have a long wait between flights in Suvarnabhumi and need a bed, the Hyatt Regency Hotel is only a 5 minute walk between the hotel and the terminal.
We stayed there a few years ago and had a very comfy stay and a big breakfast to set us up for the travel day ahead. Book your stay here.
Accommodation Near Guangzhou Airport
If your flight ticket doesn’t offer free accommodation, or you don’t fancy a night sleeping rough in the airport, then there’s plenty of accommodation dotted around the airport. The Pullman, the Novotel and the Crowne Plaza are the most popular international hotels nearby, and all three offer free breakfast, have shuttle buses to and from the airport, as well as options to book further lounge access.
To check out all accommodation near the airport available, click here or search using the map below:
To leave the airport you will need to go through security and get your passport stamped. Just check, when you check in for your first flight, whether you need to collect your luggage at Guangzhou or not. On some flights your baggage will go straight through to its final destination, but on some tickets, especially if you are travelling on two different airlines, it will not. Make sure you check before you check in on your first flight and ask if you have ‘checked through baggage’ included. If you do have checked through baggage, make sure you have packed whatever you need for your layover in your carry on bag!
If you are heading out of the airport, China offers a brilliant visa-free transit pass which gives you 240 hours to explore without the need for a full tourist visa (read more in the section below). If you have the time during a layover, you could easily catch public transport / a taxi into the city and have your very own Guangzhou adventure between flights! We would love to have done this, but as we landed at midnight and were flying the next day at lunch we’d only have a few hours to explore in the very early morning - possibly not the best time to get an idea about the city!
If you do leave for an exploration of the city make sure you leave enough time to get back to the airport to check-in, head through passport control and security before your next flight!
Accommodation Near London Heathrow Airport
If you’ve just landed at London Heathrow and need a bed before you set off to your next destination, then there are plenty of hotels surrounding the airport. From the budget friendly Premier Inn to the much more fancy Hilton or Novotel, there’s a bed for every budget.
Click here to book hotels near Heathrow.
All You Need To Know About A Long Layover in Guangzhou
240 Hour Visa-Free Transit - China
China is currently offering a 240 hours (10 days) visa-free transit policy for 55 nations. This policy allows individuals to travel out of 60 open ports in 24 provinces of China, and stay visa-free within the allowed areas for no more than 240 hours (10 days).
This policy is open to citizens from the UK as well as European nations, Australia and the USA.
To find out more information about where in China this is applicable and to check if you’re eligible for this visa-free transit policy, click here.
This visa-free transit is free of charge.
What to do in Guangzhou City on a Long Layover
If you have a long layover you can easily take advantage of the visa free transit and explore Guangzhou city.
To book a taxi transfer in advance, click here.
Depending on the length of time you have, you could take a tour to fill your time and see the best of what Guangzhou has to offer. From a walking tour to see some of the old and new highlights of Guangzhou city to munching your way through the cities streets on a food tour. You could spend the evening on a boat trip down the Pearl River or view the city from up high at the Canton Tower. There’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Check out all the tours available in Guangzhou below.
If you have a long time in Guangzhou, there are plenty of hotels and accommodation. To book a room in the city, click here.
China Southern Airlines - How to book a flight / Would we Recommend the Airline?
Cost of Our Flights and How to Book Your Own Flight
Ok enough foreplay: Our flight for two passengers from Bangkok to London including a stopover in Guangzhou, one piece of 23 kg checked baggage and one 7 kg carry bag each, cost a total of £482 for us both to fly - that is £241 each!
This price included a free nights stay in Guangzhou and breakfast in China Southern’s hotel near to the airport.
To book your own Bangkok to London flights, check out Kiwi below:
Would We Recommend China Southern Airlines
Yes, absolutely.
Even with the scheduled 12 hour layover, the 2 hour delay and the overnight stay in Guangzhou airport we had a stress-free journey.
Out of all the aspects of modern travel, we find flying and airports to be the most stressful. The endless queuing, the waiting around and having to unpack your bag at security means we can never relax in an airport. Whilst we did encounter all of the above, somehow everything seemed stress-free and easy going on these flights.
We walked straight through security, found a perfect spot to sleep in Guangzhou airport and even the 2 hour delay wasn’t bad. We’ve had delays in the past in other airports and they’ve herded us all together outside the gate where we’ve had to stand for hours. This time we had plenty of water, seats and were kept as up to date as the gate staff themselves.
Despite it being a 24 hour travel day, it really didn’t feel long. We were extremely well fed, well watered and had plenty of leg room on the flights. The airline staff were super friendly and super welcoming and there was enough entertainment to keep us occupied.
We were a little worried about the layover but our decision to stay in the airport worked out well. The small ‘transit lounge’ was very comfy and we managed to get enough sleep during the night.
Would we fly again with China Southern? Yes we would. The flights were extremely cheap and the service provided was excellent.
Should you book a flight? Yes.
If anything, flying with China Southern has just stoked our travel fire further and made us eager for a whole China adventure, but that’s for the future…at least for now!
Safe flying all.
Thanks for reading,
John & Ellie x
#adventuresofjellie
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