Chinese airlines were better than I expected
Before my first long haul flights with Chinese airlines, I had heard mixed comments about service levels. My own experience was much better than that.
With Air China and China Southern, everything worked well for me so far. The aircraft felt modern, the service was solid and the catering was fine. On a domestic flight from Beijing to Sanya, there was even a proper meal and free drinks. On many European domestic flights, that is no longer something you can expect.
Northern routing, flight time and why the route matters
For flights between Europe and China, I do not look only at the ticket price. I also compare the actual flight time. On a flat map, a northern route can look like a detour. On a globe, it may be closer to a shorter great circle route.
Airspace rules and political restrictions can also change real flight paths. Some airlines may need to fly longer routings, while others can use a more direct route depending on the flight. That is why it is worth comparing both flight time and routing when booking China flights.
Status 2026: routings can change. Always check the actual flight time when booking and again before departure.
I often use Trip.com for Chinese airlines. Some airline websites are not the easiest booking experience for European travellers. With Trip.com, my tickets have so far been issued reliably and usually quickly.
On China flights, online check in with a foreign passport may not always work. I therefore plan enough time for the check in counter.
Your name, passport number and booking details need to match. For international flights to China, I prefer to check everything once too often before paying.
My recommendation
I would not rule out Chinese airlines based on old assumptions. Air China and China Southern have been good options for me so far: modern aircraft, decent service, sensible flight times and practical connections to China.
If you want a straightforward booking process, compare the route on Trip.com and then decide consciously: price, flight time, transfer, baggage, airline and check in options should all fit your trip.