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 $432.
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, but the item references a handbag as an example
- Standard: Maximum weight for each item is 11 pounds (5 kg). Maximum sum of external dimensions of each piece is 45 inches (115 cm).
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, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Oman, Yemen, Africa and China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central and Western Asia, Europe (except Russia and Turkey), Africa, Middle East, Americas, 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 | 70 pounds (32 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) |
| Business class | 2 pc | 70 pounds (32 kg) | |
| Premium economy/economy | 2 pc | 50 pounds (23 kg) | |
| Infant without a seat | 1 pc | 22 pounds (10 kg) | |
| Child/infant with a seat | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult |
Zone 2:
Routes between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia (Asian region), 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 | 70 pounds (32 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) |
| Business class | 2 pc | 70 pounds (32 kg) | |
| Premium economy class/Economy class | 1 pc | 70 pounds (32 kg) | |
| Infant without a seat | 1 pc | 22 pounds (10 kg) | |
| Child/infant with a seat | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult |
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 | 70 pounds (32 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) |
| Business class | 2 pc | 70 pounds (32 kg) | |
| Premium economy class | 1 pc | 70 pounds (32 kg) | |
| Economy class | 1 pc | 50 pounds (23 kg) | |
| Infant without a seat | 1 pc | 22 pounds (10 kg) | |
| Child/infant with a seat | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult | Same basic baggage allowance as an adult |
The free baggage allowance for routes between Urumqi and Dubai is: 1 piece for Premium Economy Class, 32 kg/piece; 1 piece for Economy Class, 23 kg/piece; for First Class and Business Class, as shown in the table.
Domestic routes
- First Class: 88 pounds (40 kg)
- Business Class: 66 pounds (30 kg)
- Premium Economy: 44 pounds (20 kg)
- Economy Class: 44 pounds (20 kg)
- Infant without a seat: 22 pounds (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, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, and Africa
| Type | Maximum Weight | Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H) | Fee |
| First piece in addition to the standard allowance | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $198/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $288/pc |
| Oversized | – | 62.5-118 inches (159 cm-300 cm) | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 50-61.7 pounds (23-28 kg) | – | $72 |
| Heavy piece | 61.7-70 pounds (28-32 kg) | – | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 70-99 pounds (32-45 kg) | – | $432 |
Zone 2:
Journeys between China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), Southeast Asia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Russia (including both European and Asian parts), Middle East and Japan, Turkey, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
| Type | Maximum Weight | Maximum Combined Dimension (L+W+H) | Fee |
| First piece in addition to the standard allowance | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $158/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $288/pc |
| Oversized | – | 62.5-118 inches (159 cm-300 cm) | $145/pc |
| Heavy piece | 50-61.7 pounds (23-28 kg) | – | $72 |
| Heavy piece | 61.7-70 pounds (28-32 kg) | – | $145 |
Zone 3:
Journeys between China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, 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 | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $115/pc |
| Second piece or more in addition to the standard allowance | 50 pounds (23 kg) | 62 inches (158 cm) | $187/pc |
| Oversized | – | 62.5-118 inches (159 cm-300 cm) | $145 |
| Heavy piece | 50-61.7 pounds (23-28 kg) | – | $45 |
| Heavy piece | 61.7-70 pounds (28-32 kg) | – | $100 |
Domestic Flights
Excess baggage is charged per kilogram at a rate of 1.5% of the full adult one-way economy class ticket price applicable on the date of purchase.
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.
Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees
| Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card - This no annual fee card comes with a 20,000 mile welcome bonus (worth $200) once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months. When you use your card for travel purchases (e.g. baggage fees), use your miles to pay off all, or part of, your statement! This is why we like this card. |
| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card - The "big brother" card to the VentureOne® with a larger 50,000 welcome bonus (worth $500), when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. |
Exclusions & Waivers
Special passenger checked baggage allowance:
| Types of passenger | Free baggage allowance rules |
| Sky Pearl Gold Card member, Skyteam Elite Plus | Weight concept: 20 kg more than the standard amount Piece concept: 1 additional piece |
| Sky Pearl Silver Card member, Skyteam Elite | Weight concept: 10 kg more than the standard amount Piece concept: 1 additional piece |
| 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.
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.
Hi, i’ll be flying back to the Philippines and I would like to know if I can have 2 check in luggage not exceeding 23kgs each in the economy class?
If not, can i bring 1 duffle bag and 1 plastic/eco bag in the hand carry? Not exceeding 5kgs each. Thank you.
Hi Nikki,
Where are you flying from?
Hi, I am flying from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport on economy class. Can I know what is my free checkin baggage allowance. TQ
Hi Valen,
The checked baggage allowance for that route in economy would be 1 x 23kg.
Hi! Can you tell me how I can use Google and whatsapp in Guangzhou? I’m traveling from India to Guangzhou for 15 days! Thanks!
Hi Meenakshi,
In order to access those networks in China, you will need to do so through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Some popular options are Nord VPN and Private Internet Access.
Hi! I would like to ask how many bags and kilos I can carry from Dubai international airport to Guangzhou, then from Guangzhou to the Philippines? Thank you.
Hi Yuuji,
You should be able to bring 1 personal item, 1 carry-on item, and 2 checked bags weighing no more than 23 kgs.
Thanks for reading!
How many bags and kilos can I carry from Moscow to Guangzhou, then from Guangzhou to the Philippines? Thank you
Hi Vangvang,
You should be able to bring 1 personal item, 1 carry-on item up to 5 kgs, and 2 checked bags weighing no more than 23 kgs.
Hi! Can a bag acceptable for carry-on be different from a personal bag?
Hi Melanie,
Can you be more specific? What type of bag did you have in mind?
Hi, can I bring laptop, a small personal bag (for passport and small stuff) and a carry on luggage and 2 pc of 23kg baggages. Route is from Dubai to Manila.
Hi Chynn,
Yes, you should be able to bring each of those items.
Thanks for reading!
Hi
I’ll be travelling on a flight from Paris to Vientiane in a 3 leg journey with my bicycle. If it is well packed inside a dedicated bag will it be charged extra or can it be part of my baggage allowance. The dimensions will be 120cm X 60cm X 20cm. This seems to exceed the maximum dimensions. In which case what penalty will they apply?
Thanks
Hi Rupert,
China Southern states that non-motorized bicycles can be checked in the free allowance but they must not exceed 158 linear cm. So you will be charged an oversized fee which based on the zones, looks to be CNY1000 (approx $143).
China Southern also states:
“1) The handlebars of non-folding bicycles must be rotated 90 degrees and firmly secured. The pedals and wheels must also be removed and secured firmly to the body of the bicycle.”
Hi… May I know how much checked baggage allowance for flight Manila to Dubai that has a layover in Guangzhou?
Hi MJ,
It looks like your route would be included in the ‘Zone 1’ baggage allowance (2 x 23 kg checked bags for Economy) but be sure to check the details on your ticket or contact the airline directly to confirm.
Hi! Awesome info! Just would like to ask, if i’m flying Jakarta-NYC economy class, they say I have 2 x 23kg, what happens if I have 1 x 30kg? Will I be charged over weight? Thank you!
Hi Emilija,
With piece concept destinations each piece must not exceed 23 kg, otherwise you would be charged an overweight fee. The overweight fee is $145 so you would be best to pack your weight across 2 pieces.
Thank you so much!
Hi, we are a group of golfers arranging a golf trip to Sanya (Hainan Island, China) flying from London, Heathrow and all taking golf clubs. Each bag exceeds the 62 inch overall dimension allowance but will weigh well under 23kg. Please confirm the oversize fee for a return flight .
Can you also please confirm that the 23kg limit includes two pieces of luggage for this route. – thanks.
Hi Graham,
The oversized bag fee for this route should be $145. You’re correct that you should be able to bring 2 checked bags weighing up to 23 kgs each for this route.
Thanks for reading!
Hello! Very useful info, I would like to ask how many bags and kilos I can carry from Amsterdam to Indonesia, and back? Thank you. I would like to book a flight from skyscanners, however, they don’t specify how many kg per luggage and only mentioned that one luggage is included
Hi Valerie,
You should be permitted to bring 1 personal item, 1 carry-on bag, and 2 checked bags weighing up to 23 kgs (50lbs) each.
We are looking at flying Singapore to Sanya. From what I understand do we only get 1 free check in bag weighing 23kg? As we will have a 2nd bag, but overall between the 2 bags we check in they will be 30kg total. We will get charged for another bag, or will they charge just for the 7kg over?
Hi Adam,
Your allowance would be 1 x 23 kg bag and if you brought another bag, you would be charged for another piece. If you packed the excess into the same bag then you would be charged a heavy weight fee rather than for another piece.
The Philippines is included in Zone 1 right? I just want to make sure I can check in 2 bags. I have a 23kg bag and a Guitar that weighs 6kg. My flight route would be from Sanya to Guangzhou then Guangzhou to Manila, connecting flights via China Southern Airlines. Thank you very much.
Hi Paul,
Yes, the Philippines is included in zone 1 so you should be permitted to bring those items.
Thanks for reading!
Thank you very much Jarrod. 😊👍