Shenzhen Airlines is one of the major Chinese carriers and belongs to the Star Alliance. While it’s not a global airline like its alliance partner and parent company Air China, it excels at connecting most of China with the rest of Asia, covering almost all provincial capitals and major cities in key regions while building an Asian network focused on Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Its hub airport in southeast China gives it a strategic advantage for travellers from southeast Asia reaching certain Chinese destinations without backtracking through other major hubs.
The route map for Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines flies to almost all provincial capitals and major cities across China, plus major Asian destinations including Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Phnom Penh, Sapporo, and Phuket.
Beyond its main Shenzhen hub, the airline operates from secondary bases in Shenyang, Nanning and Guangzhou. If you’re flying to Doha or London Heathrow, Shenzhen Airlines can take you there. Unlike many Chinese carriers though, it doesn’t fly to North America.
Shenzhen Airlines major hub
Shenzhen Airport’s location in the southeast is very close to Hong Kong. Ferry services typically carry traffic between the two cities, and Shenzhen serves as a key gateway to the mainland. Hong Kong is a major hub for Oneworld member Cathay Pacific, which is why Shenzhen Airlines plays such an important (competitive) role for Star Alliance in this region.
Note that the ferry service from Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal to Hong Kong Airport is temporarily suspended, while ferries from other Shenzhen ports such as Shekou Cruise Home Port remain operational.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is the main hub and has an incredibly modern and bright terminal. The passenger flow is so strong that the airport added a satellite hall. The airport dedicates most gates to domestic flights, with just a dozen for international departures.
Since the airline belongs to Star Alliance, many of its partners like Asiana and ANA fly here, too. This allows them to feed traffic from their global networks to Shenzhen’s route map of Chinese secondary and tertiary destinations.
While this competing airport and airline network is not great news for Shenzhen Airlines’ regional business, it does provide an alternative for those who need to travel further afield. Cathay Pacific even opened its own airline lounge at the Shenzhen Shekou Cruise Home Port to drive more business.
Shenzhen Airlines’ fleet
More than 200 aircraft make up Shenzhen Airlines’ fleet, split between modern Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The vast majority are narrowbody planes, with widebody Airbus A330-300s flying the longest routes such as the Shenzhen-Doha service.
The airline’s cabin offerings vary by aircraft type, from recliner-style business class on narrowbodies to lie-flat seats on select planes. Shenzhen calls its highest cabin first class, but by international standards it’s business class.
Cabin layout
On Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 family aircraft, you’ll find recliner-model seats in a 2-2 layout (most planes have two or three rows, larger planes have a few more). The Airbus A321neo and A330 planes offer lie-flat seats in 2-2 and 2-2-2 layouts respectively. These narrowbody A321neos actually offer the best business class product of any Chinese carrier on similar aircraft since their seats lie fully flat.
Onboard service
As someone who flies often within China and on Chinese airlines, I find Shenzhen to be one of the better carriers here. I prefer it over airlines like China Eastern or Air China. That said, the airline has mixed reviews from frequent travellers, and its website has some limitations. International routes currently support advance seat selection only, and online check-in is not yet available for international flights.
I like that they offer newspapers to passengers as they board in all cabins, something that seems to have disappeared on other airlines. Another perk I appreciate is that Star Alliance Gold members (no matter where you are sitting) receive a dedicated flight attendant greeting thanking them for their loyalty and offering a bottle of water, which is a really nice touch.
On the A330 and A321neo, there is also seatback entertainment with free headphones. I wish the airline had more Western programming; most movies and programs are in Chinese. Instead, I peruse different types of international music, which is entertaining. Other features include a moving map and several games.
Other planes have overhead screens playing one option, often only in Chinese. The newest Boeing Max planes come with streaming entertainment that allows travellers to connect to the onboard Wi-Fi and use their own devices.
Premium class and Economy offer essentially the same services, the main difference is the nearly 50% extra legroom in the former cabin. Economy class passengers enjoy drinks and snacks onboard, with hot meals provided when a flight falls during mealtime.
Shenzhen Airlines doesn’t serve alcohol in either cabin, but there’s a limited selection in business class on longer flights (but not on most domestic sectors). The wine is passable, but won’t win any international vintner awards.
In business class, I like how they provide slippers to passengers on all flights (both long-haul and short hops), but there are no amenity kits. And when not using a jet bridge and being transferred to the plane by bus, the airline always provides a dedicated bus for business class flyers.
When it comes to meal service in the business class cabin, white table cloths come first with a drink. Most meals are served all on one tray with either a Chinese or Western option. On shorter flights, there may only be one option, and I find it is usually a Chinese noodle dish.
Lounges
Business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members can access Shenzhen Airlines lounges. At the main Shenzhen hub, the International King Lounge offers a buffet with food and drinks, a shower room, massage area, coffee bar, and wine-bar area. Other King Lounges operate in cities such as Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Shenyang (these tend to be nicer than airport-operated facilities). Many Chinese airports, including Shenzhen, accept Priority Pass. Members have access to several lounges in Terminal 3, including the Domestic Guest Lounge and International Guest Lounge, so check if your credit cards include complimentary credentials.
Loyalty program
Shenzhen Airlines participates in Air China’s PhoenixMiles loyalty program, where passengers earn miles based on booking class and cabin with percentage multipliers. Since Shenzhen is a Star Alliance member, you can also credit flights to other alliance programs. Personally, I opt to credit my flights to Air Canada Aeroplan or United MileagePlus because their loyalty programs are more rewarding and easier to use for redeeming miles.
Special meals
Passengers can request a special dietary meal like a vegetarian or diabetic selection in advance. I like the wide range of alternative options that Shenzhen provides. When I’m not sure I’ll like the Chinese option on shorter flights (where there may only be one choice), I choose things like the fruit platter or salad meal. Families can order children’s or baby meals.
Onboard upgrades
A system is available that allows flight attendants to use their iPads to sell upgrades to passengers once they board the flight, with payment options including credit card, WeChat Pay, and cash. The prices can sometimes be cheaper than what’s offered weeks before departure, making it a good deal. I still think it’d be a good idea if the airline opted for a bid-for-upgrade system in advance though.
Intercity bus service
Customers booking certain ticket classes or with top elite status with the airline are eligible for complimentary bus services from other cities to reach its hubs.
For flights from Shenzhen, free bus service is available from Longgang and Dongguan. From Guangzhou (a nearby city that is a hub for the airline as well as a major hub for competitor China Southern Airlines), free bus service is available from Huizhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhuhai, Qingyuan, Heyuan, Sanshui, Taishan and Zhaoqing.
Notable Shenzhen Airlines services
To compete with the growing number of Chinese carriers, Shenzhen Airlines has several offerings that make the travel experience better.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
