China Southern Baggage Fees & Tips to Cover the Expenses

- February 6, 2019

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China Southern Airlines has a clear policy for checked baggage and a generous allowance in particular for first class passengers, allowing 3 checked items.

This clear-cut policy extends to excess baggage as well, with standard charges for oversized and overweight pieces up to $435.

So ensure you distribute across your piece allowance, and don’t take any chances with a bag that might be too big or too heavy — you’ll regret it at the airport!

Table of Contents

China Southern Airlines Carry-on Allowance:
China Southern Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance:
Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees:
Additional/Excess Baggage Fees:
Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?
Exclusions & Waivers:

China Southern Airlines Carry-on Allowance:

1 personal item: FREE
1 standard carry-on bag: Free for economy, premium economy and business class passengers
2 standard carry-on bags: Free for first class passengers

Size and Weight Restrictions

Personal: Undisclosed
Standard: Maximum weight for each item is 5 kg. Maximum sum of external dimensions of each piece is 115 cm (45 in).

Lap Infant Carry-on Policy

When traveling with a lap infant, a collapsible stroller or bassinet can be taken as carry-on in addition to infant food and other necessities.

Stroller Gate Check Policy

In addition to the free checked baggage allowance, transportation of a fully collapsible stroller is free of charge as checked baggage.

China Southern Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance:

International & Regional Journeys Involving Japan, America, Oceania, Russia, Dubai (or routes originating from Singapore to China)

Flight Class	Maximum Number of Pieces	Maximum Weight of Each Piece	Maximum Dimension of Each Piece (L+W+H)
First class	3 pc	32 kg	158 cm
Business class	2 pc	32 kg	158 cm
Premium economy/economy	2 pc	23 kg	158 cm
Infant without a seat	1 pc	10 kg	115 cm
Child/infant with a seat	Same basic baggage allowance as an adult	Same basic baggage allowance as an adult	158 cm

For journeys involving sectors between Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport/London Heathrow and Dubai, premium economy has a free allowance of 1 piece (32 kg), and economy 1 smaller piece (23 kg).

First class and business is the same as the chart above.

Other International Routes

Class of service	Maximum Number of Pieces	Maximum Weight of Each Piece	Maximum Dimension of Each Piece (L+W+H)
First class	3 pc	32 kg	158 cm
Business class	3 pc	23 kg	158 cm
Premium economy class	2 pc	23 kg	158 cm
Economy class	1 pc	23 kg	158 cm
Infant without a seat	1 pc	10 kg	115 cm
Child/infant with a seat	Same basic baggage allowance as an adult	Same basic baggage allowance as an adult	158 cm

For routes involving middle and west Asia, Nairobi, and routes originating from South Korea, check the specific chart in China Southern’s checked baggage policy.

If connecting to a domestic flight in China, then the free baggage allowance applies from the international leg of the journey.

Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees:

Credit Card	Card & Fee Reimbursement Details
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card	Use your miles to offset or "erase" any travel purchases that you make with your card. It's easy. Earn 20,000 mile sign up bonus (worth $200) once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months Annual Fee: $0
American Express® Gold Card	$100 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 3 months. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US restaurants. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Annual Fee: $250 For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express How We Get $1,500+ In Value From This Card (Per Year) >	$200 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Access more than 1,100 airport lounges across 120 countries and counting, including the amazing Centurion® lounges. Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually. $200 Airline Fee Credit. Annual Fee: $550 For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	$200 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points. Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 & an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 all on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. Access more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting, including the amazing Centurion® lounges. Annual Fee: $595 For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants. Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Annual Fee: $450

Additional/Excess Baggage Fees:

International & Regional Journeys Involving Japan, America, Oceania, Russia, Dubai (or routes originating from Singapore to China)

First Class & Business Class
Type	Maximum Weight	Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H)	Fee
First piece in addition to the standard allowance	32 kg	158 cm	$145/pc
Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance	32 kg	158 cm	$290/pc
Oversized	–	159 cm-300 cm	$145
Heavy piece	32-45 kg	–	$435

Premium Economy Class & Economy Class
Type	Maximum Weight	Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H)	Fee
First piece in addition to the standard allowance	23 kg	158 cm	$145/pc
Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance	23 kg	158 cm	$290/pc
Oversized	–	159 cm-300 cm	$145/pc
Heavy piece	23-32 kg	–	$145
Heavy piece	32-45 kg	–	$435

For routes involving the U.S., each piece of checked baggage must not exceed 45 kg (90 lb). For routes not involving the U.S., each piece of checked baggage must not exceed 32 kg (70 lb).

Other International Journeys

First Class
Type	Maximum Weight	Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H)	Fee
First piece in addition to the standard allowance	32 kg	158 cm	$65/pc
Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance	32 kg	158 cm	$189/pc
Oversized	–	159 cm-300 cm	$145
Heavy piece	32-45 kg	–	$435

Business Class, Premium Economy Class, & Economy Class
Type	Maximum Weight	Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H)	Fee
First piece in addition to the standard allowance	23 kg	158 cm	$65/c
Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance	23 kg	158 cm	$189/pc
Oversized	–	159 cm-300 cm	$145
Heavy piece	23-32 kg	–	$145
Heavy piece	32-45 kg	–	$435

For routes involving middle and west Asia, Nairobi, and routes originating from South Korea, check the specific chart in China Southern’s excess baggage policy.

Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?

China Southern Airlines does allow passengers the ability to pre-pay for luggage online.

Passengers need to log in to the pre-paid luggage section of the China Southern website to do this.

Exclusions & Waivers:

Special passenger checked baggage allowance

Types of passenger	Free baggage allowance rules
Sky Pearl Gold Card member, Skyteam Elite Plus	20 kg more than the standard amount for each single piece of baggage on domestic, international, or regional journeys.
Sky Pearl Silver Card member, Skyteam Elite	10 kg more than the standard amount for each single piece of baggage on domestic, international, or regional journeys.
Overseas students/laborers/seamen	1 more piece of free baggage on international or regional journeys in accordance with applicable specifications.*

*Overseas students, laborers, and seamen need to present the following documentation when applying for their ticket, and the proof should also be taken with them when flying:

Students: Copy of passport and visa, and student ID or admission letter
Seamen: Copy of seamen certificate or equivalent proof of the contents, passport, and visa
Laborer: Copy of laborer certificate or equivalent proof of the contents, passport, and visa

Overseas student is defined as a foreign student studying in China or a Chinese student studying abroad. Extra baggage only applies between the country of nationality and the country of study.

To see more airline baggage fees and policies, click here.

Featured Image: Courtesy of Shutterstock; Logo courtesy of China Southern

FAQ

What is the baggage weight limit for China Southern Airlines?

China Southern Airlines has varying baggage weight allowances depending on the route. For flights to/from Japan, America, Oceania, Russia, Dubai (or originating from Singapore to China), Economy and Premium Economy passengers have a baggage weight allowance of 23kg. Business and First Class have a baggage weight of 32kg. For other international flights, Economy, Premium and Business Class passengers have a checked weight allowance of 23kg. First Class passengers are allowed 32kg.

What is the baggage allowance for China Southern Airlines?

China Southern Airlines allows Economy, Premium and Business Class passengers to bring 2 checked bags and First Class 3 checked bags for flights to/from Japan, America, Oceania, Russia, Dubai (or originating from Singapore to China). For other international routes Economy is allowed 1 bag, Premium Economy 2 bags and Business and First Class 3 bags.