Flying domestic in China

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    DanielRawson
    Participant

    I wonder if anyone has any advice on flying internally in China. I need to fly from Chengdu to Shenzhen and am concerned I may be taking my life in my hands if I choose the wrong carrier of the several which are suggested or does China have a good domestic safety record? Also any hotel advice in Shenzhen would be appreciated.

    Thanks

    Daniel


    IanFromHKG
    Participant

    You could always fly Dragonair (a Hong Kong airline, subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, and affiliate member of oneworld) to Hong Kong, and then take a car, bus or ferry to Shenzhen.

    http://www.hongkongairport.com/CBT/Controller?locale=eng

    I think I am right in saying (though not 100% certain) that if you use the ferry you don’t even need to go through immigration in HK


    PeterCoultas
    Participant

    last year flew Beijing-Kunming, Lijiang-Chengdu & Chongqing-Beijing with various carriers (associated with *A & SkyT) no worries, much better than most european point to point carriers & helpful to non-mandarin speakers


    stevescoots
    Participant

    Dragon is good choice but you then have a 2hr drag over to the border and depending where you need to be in SZ that can be a 3hr trip. I spend a lot of my time in Dongguan and when I need to go up to Shanghai or Beijing i either use Shenzhen airlines or China Eastern. TBH all China airlines are a bit crappy but they are as safe as most western airlines.

    Where do you need to be in Shenzhen? the airport is in BaoAn, the best hotels are down in Nanshan and Lohu. if you have meetings in longhua, longggang etc then its a drag if you stay in the main center. the intercontinental is nice if a bit pricey, the Shangrila is ok..but the rooms tiny, Westin is nice. Avoid the Crowne Plaza in lohu, its a dive but the one in Longgang is ok


    stevescoots
    Participant

    Ian, you are correct you can go direct but only if you do not have any hold luggage


    IanFromHKG
    Participant

    Stevescoots, according to the HK Airport site, ferries take 30-40 minutes, so two hours seems to be overstating it a bit – what am I missing?


    stevescoots
    Participant

    Hi Ian, judging from Daniels post he isnt a HK ID card holder or a China old hand so I was assuming he has hold luggage.

    40 mins to clear HK customs and get bags, another 40 mins at least to the border by MTR/Taxi/bus (usually takes me an hour if i get a taxi from HKG to Kowloon Tong then MTR to Lohu/Lok ma Chau) 30 mins to cross the border then another 30-40 mins to get to where Daniel needs to be in SZ. If using the ferry its still 40 mins + China immigration 20-30 mins) and another 30 mins to downtown at least.


    DanielRawson
    Participant

    Morning Chaps,

    Thanks for your help. I’m only there for three nights so will travel with hand luggage. I’ll have a look at both options though am thinking i will go with a flight to Shenzhen with a carrier that is aligned to one of the major alliances.

    Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

    Daniel


    Californian
    Participant

    You should be able to fly nonstop on China Southern or perhaps Shenzhen Airlines. I have found both to be reasonably reliable even if the service can be a bit impersonal. China Southern is a sky team member and Shenzhen is owned by Air China and I believe is part of Star alliance. I think it would be much easier to go directly from Chengdu to Shenzhen than have to transit via HK. If the fare isn’t much different I generally pay for business class within china to avoid some of the lines.


    Frankie-HKG
    Participant

    Hello Daniel, I am fron HK and have been flying frequently within China. Actually, the domestice airline is SAFE, not so bad as you may think and you had choice to fly from Chengdu to Shenzhen with a few frquency. You can take a visit to the Shenzhen Airport and it will display all the available flight with airlines details. Just relax and you are safe in flying in China Domesitc with the airline that fly also international. Hotel in Shenzhen City has many choice and are GOOD. Nowadays, Shenzhen is very modernise and international. Wish you a pleasant flight and stay in Shenzhen.
    I would suggest you, NOT to go Shenzhen via HK. This take you more time and is not worth for it.


    newbieflyer
    Participant

    Hi Daniel. I would like to second few of the comments above. Over the past three years I’ve travelled on cz, mu, air China and spring airlines, all domestic China sectors and never had any issues.
    They are very cooperative to non mandarin speakers, decent meals, and in my opinion way better than some of the European carriers.
    You can most certainly try China southern or shenzen airlines. It was a surprise to me but according to wikipedia, China southern has the largest fleet in Asia! For maintaining that title, i am quite certain that it should be doing something right.
    Enjoy your travels within China. Safe flying.


    ReggieHo
    Participant

    Hi Daniel,

    Californian is correct, Shenzhen Airlines is a member of Star Alliance http://www.businesstraveller.asia/asia-pacific/news/shenzhen-airlines-joins-star-alliance and based on my visits to its facilities at the airport, it seems to be a decent airline.

    Based on reported incidents, domestic air travel in China is as safe as in much of the world.


    FaroFlyer
    Participant

    Hi Daniel,

    I fly within China quite often and can confirm that all of the major airlines are as good as any others in western Europe, and probably better than some budget carriers.
    A tip for Shenzhen airlines, an obvious choice for your route, is to book economy then, when on board, ask if First is full. It probably won’t be and the staff take cash for the upgrade, roughly half the normal difference, and they will give you a receipt.
    Hotels is a different question and depends entirely on where you will be in Shenzhen. Shenzhen has a population of ~15 million, double London, and is about 50% bigger than London geographically. SZX is north-west of Shenzhen. Check where your business will be and then decide.


    DanielRawson
    Participant

    Thanks everyone for your kind contributions. I’m flying out on Thursday with BA to Chengdu and connecting to Shenzen with Air China. I’ll let you all know how I get on.

    Daniel

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