China Southern's Kangaroo Route combo: Airbus A380 + Boeing 787
By David Flynn, July 24 2013
China Southern is set to serve up its two newest flagship aircraft on the Sydney-London route from October 27, tempting travellers with both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner on each leg of the 23 hour trip.
Provided passengers can overcome any nervousness regarding the trouble-prone Boeing 787, the lure of flying on both aircraft will be another factor in favour of China Southern's 'Canton Route' as it lines up in the ranks of Kangaroo Route contenders.
Read: The other Kangaroo Routes – eight one-hop ways to get to London
China Southern's superjumbo will carry 506 passengers in first, business and economy class from China Southern's hub in Guangzhou, with flight CZ326 leaving Sydney at 9.50am to reach Guangzhou at 5.30pm.
After an overnight short stopover in Guangzhou it's time to continue your journey to London on one of China Southern's new Boeing 787s.
The Dreamliner departs Guangzhou at 9.05am (flight CZ303), arriving in London at 3.25pm.
But you'll need to be a bit flexible with your travel schedule.
First of all, the Guangzhou-London Dreamliner service will initially run only five days a week, skipping Mondays and Wednesdays.
And with only 228 seats on the Boeing 787 – some 278 less than the Airbus A380 – there could be a few days between flights in order to snare a seat on the superjumbo.
This is probably a good time to mention the new visa-free transit rules which come into effect from August 1st and let you stay in bustling Guangzhou, or any city in the Guangdong Province – including Shenzhen – for up to 72 hours without a Chinese visa.
When it's time to head home, the London-Sydney flight is a fairly seamless affair.
Catch China Southern's Boeing 787 CZ304 flight out of London at 10.35pm, wheels-down in Guangzhou at 5.35pm – three hours later you're back in the air on the daily A380 service to Sydney (CZ325), which lands at 8.30am.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
"After an overnight short stopover in Guangzhou" - are you serious? Is this the way of modern day travel? Toss here "Made in China" and I will choose SQ or BA as my favorite Kangaroo carrier in blink of an eye! Also there is Cathay Pacific for those who do not like to go via Singapore.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 29
And what's wrong with an overnight stopover in Guangzhou? You think Singapore is an exciting place to stay overnight ...? Methinks you havent stopped over anywhere other than Singapore as a stopover to UK/Europe, so maybe its time to open your eyes to some good alternative suggestions, instead of blinking.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
I have not said that overnight stop in Singapore better (though I believe it is :-P). What I said that having such inflexibility does not attract me. I may stop in Singapore overnight or I may flight straight away because there are plenty of choices. But I HAVE TO stop in Guangzhou - I have no choice. If overnight in Guangzhou in your agenda, then no problem - go ahead. I personally would prefer to get to the destination as soon as I can.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 Apr 2013
Total posts 17
I am happy to fly China Southern via Guangzhou, except for that Dreamliner. I'm one of those people who are very nervous about flying the 787 Dreamliner.
I'm happy to fly their current A330s. Onward to Europe I'm happy to fly their 777s (I fly to Europe often). China Southern's prices are also very competitive.
But before I book, I would need to go through the China Southern timetable and check to make sure there are no 787 Dreamliners on any leg of my trip. I simply will not fly on one at this stage.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
24 Jul 2013
Total posts 3
"Catch China Southern's Boeing 787 CZ304 flight out of London at 10.35am, wheels-down in Guangzhou at 5.35pm"
I feel like am and pm are mixed up; there's no way you can land in CAN 7 hours after departing LHR while accounting for the time difference...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Oct 2012
Total posts 149
It's the same flight time if you mix am and pm up? 10.35pm to 5.35am is the same as 10.35am to 5.35pm?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Oct 2012
Total posts 149
Just worked out that it should be depart at 10.35pm and arrive at 5.35pm the next day...
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