China Southern Baggage Fees & Tips to Cover the Expenses
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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 $425.
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
Table of Contents
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
Zone 1:
Routes between Japan, Americas, Southwest Pacific, United Arab Emirates (Note 1), Kenya and China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central & Western Asia, Europe (except Russia), Africa, Middle East, America, and routes originating from Russia to China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan)
| 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 |
Zone 2:
Routes between Central & Western Asia (Note 2), Turkey and China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), routes originating from China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) to Russia, and routes originating from Singapore to China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan)
| 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 | 2 pc | 32 kg | 158 cm |
| Premium economy class/Economy class | 1 pc | 32 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 |
Zone 3: 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 | 2 pc | 32 kg | 158 cm |
| Premium economy class | 1 pc | 32 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 |
The free baggage allowance for routes between Urumqi and Dubai is: 1 piece for Premium Economy Class, 32KG/ piece; 1 piece for Economy Class, 23KG/ piece; for First Class and Business Class, as shown in the table.
Domestic routes
- First Class: 40 kg
- Business Class: 30 kg
- Premium Economy: 20 kg
- Economy Class: 20 kg
- Infant without a seat: 10 kg
- Child/infant with a seat: Same basic baggage allowance as an adult
Additional/Excess Baggage Fees
Zone 1:
Journeys between China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), Southeast Asia, Central and Western Asia, South Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas, Africa.
| Type | Maximum Weight | Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H) | Fee |
| First piece in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $190/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $285/pc |
| Oversized | – | 159 cm-300 cm | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 23-28 kg | – | $70 |
| Heavy piece | 28-32 kg | – | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 32-45 kg | – | $425 |
Zone 2:
Journeys between China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), Southeast Asia, Central and Western Asia, South Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Russia (including both European and Asian parts), Middle East and Japan, Turkey, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand.
| Type | Maximum Weight | Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H) | Fee |
| First piece in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $155/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $285/pc |
| Oversized | – | 159 cm-300 cm | $145/pc |
| Heavy piece | 23-28 kg | – | $70 |
| Heavy piece | 28-32 kg | – | $145 |
Zone 3:
Journeys between China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central and Western Asia, Europe, Russia (including both European and Asian parts), South Korea, and the journeys unspecified above.
| Type | Maximum Weight | Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H) | Fee |
| First piece in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $115/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 23 kg | 158 cm | $185/pc |
| Oversized | – | 159 cm-300 cm | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 23-28 kg | – | $45 |
| Heavy piece | 28-32 kg | – | $100 |
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.
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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
Hi, is this venture capital one credit card applicable to southern china airlines only or which other airlines? Also, is the 50,000 bonus miles on $3,000 the ticket purchases?
Thank you.
Hi Michelle, you can find a significant amount of information on this capital one credit card in our piece: 31 Benefits of the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card.
There, we talk about the details of the sign-up bonus and other benefits of the card. Hope this helps!
Hello, I am a trainee in Wuhan Polytechnic. I would like to know how many kilograms do you allow students to carry when starting with economy domestic connecting to economy international to east Africa.
Hi Samusu – first, please be advised we are not China Southern. We are Upgraded Points, a website dedicated to publishing articles based around points & miles/award travel, as well as additional helpful general travel pieces like this baggage fee article.
In regards to your question, as far as I know, airlines generally don’t afford any special waivers or exclusions for students – the baggage allowance you are allotted is based on the fare type of the ticket purchased.
In order to accurately help you in figuring out how much you are allowed, we would need to know where you’re starting from and where you’re connecting… if you can give us that information we can try to be of more assistance.
Additionally, if the tickets have already been purchased, your luggage allowance should be clear in your reservation confirmation so you can always check there.
Can a backpack be included as checked baggage?
Hi Glennette,
Yes, you can check your backpack if you would like.
Thanks for reading!
Hi. I will be travelling to Guangzhou, China this Sunday, Oct 20. I need to know how to purchase additional baggage allowance online or through the phone. Hoping for your kind assistance. Thank you.
Hi Christine,
Passengers need to log in to the pre-paid luggage section of the China Southern website to do this.