Shenzhen Airlines Surprising Economy Class Review (Airbus A330 & Boeing 737) | LHR - SZN - SGN

Today I'm reviewing one of the more gruelling trips of my life. London Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with a 7 hour layover in Shenzhen. The service and food were surprisingly good, but other issues make it hard to recommend them on long haul flights...
China Southern review for comparison:
• Amazing Value: China S...
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- (And more!)
- FLIGHT INFORMATION -
London to Saigon Return Ticket: £675 (but I got £100 back through an Amex offer so actually £575)
Airline: Shenzhen Airlines
Class: Economy
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300 (B-1017) & Boeing 737-800
Seat: 21K (330) & 24A (737)
From: London Heathrow Terminal 2 (LHR)
Via: Shenzhen Bao An Airport (SZN)
To: Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (SGN)
Date: March 2024
- Equipment -
Filmed on iPhone 15 Pro
Edited with Davinci Resolve
00:00 - Intro
00:29 - Route & Flight Stats
00:58 - Heathrow Terminal 2
02:14 - Heading to the Gate
02:50 - Boarding
03:23 - Seat Tour
04:41 - Safety Video & Taxi
05:32 - Takeoff
06:21 - Dinner Service
07:04 - Loo Review
07:44 - (Terrible) IFE System
08:32 - (Not Terrible) Seat Chat
09:17 - Breakfast Service
09:40 - Landing at Shenzhen
11:04 - Transfer Experience & Bus to Arrivals
12:16 - Shenzhen Bao An Airport
13:46 - Boarding Flight 2 (Boeing 737 to HCMC)
14:24 - Boeing 737 Seat Tour
14:58 - Taxi
15:14 - Takeoff from Shenzhen
16:01 - Loo Review 2
16:08 - Midnight Snack Service
16:23 - Landing at Saigon
17:10 - Disembarking and Saigon Airport
17:42 - Final Score
18:00 - Saigon Vlog & Outro

[@O-nb5hu]

Excellent review! I think it's a pretty great value. I do appreciate that these airlines offer low fares for full-service flights, which provide more options for budget travellers like me. I don't mind having no entertainment or not being able to select a seat. If I can save 500 bucks, I'll take the deal.

[@armychap007]

I didn't know much about Shenzen Airlines and I was expecting them to be pretty grim, but I was pleasantly surprised. Seats look comfortable and despite the hassle you had booking them, it's great that they charged no fee for you to preselect your seats. Meals on the Heathrow to Shenzen flight were good. You were brave having a 7 hour layover but if the price is right, I probably would give it a go too 😊

[@freddiesflightreviews]

Thanks for watching! I can safely say I won’t be doing a 7 hour layover again. The flight back was even worse as it left at 2am

[@mulymule12]

Currently sat in Heathrow wonder why I could, expect after flying Singapore previously. I’m pleasantly surprised and now look forward to my flight

[@macurran111]

Nice review. I have flown ZH a few times domestically in China and found them absolutely fine - they add chili paste to infight meals from a large jar which is mildly amusing. However I sought out your review as I a doing exactly the same route in mid-May LHR-SZX-SGN. I was not expecting great things from the IFE (as I recall Air China LHR-PEK were not great either), so it serves as a reminder to download some content!

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

Great video

[@imwsss726]

Another pleasant review! I’ve never flown with them although the airline I've flown most in the past year is their parent company. I was surprised by their IFE contents as they were very different from Air China, I thought they will use similar system for long haul flights, just like China Eastern and it’s subsidiary Shanghai Airlines do.

[@freddiesflightreviews]

I’ve never flown Air China, but from what I’ve seen they’re definitely more international-focused than Shenzhen Airlines.

[@imwsss726]

@@freddiesflightreviews Yeah ZH’s wide body fleet only includes 6 A333s, and London to Shenzhen is probably the longest route that A330ceo is capable of. Obviously Air China operates the most long haul flights in their group, and both Shenzhen Airlines and Shenzhen Airport faces serious competition for it’s long haul routes, mostly from the nearby two megacities: China Southern from Guangzhou and Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong.

[@TripReportaviation]

Excellent trip report. Liked and subscribed. That's a decent economy class product; but they could have done much better with the IFE. Welcome to Vietnam

[@freddiesflightreviews]

Xin cảm ơn!

[@AnNguyen-tp2vi]

Not bad at all, I’m easy to pleased, they transport me to the right destination, don’t lose my luggage, that’s a 5 ⭐️ airline in my book

[@jerrythemouse28]

SZX is my old home base, I currently live in the Bay Area, and it's 15 minutes away from SFO. I always stick with United and other Star Alliance Members if flying

[@freddiesflightreviews]

I generally prefer Star Alliance (especially Singapore Airlines), but living in London British Airways and Oneworld is usually my most convenient choice.

[@charlio85]

Great video! Thank you very much for your review. I am interested to book tickets with this airline to travel from Barcelona to Osaka. Is it needed to exit the airport and re-check your luggage upon your arrival to Shenzhen? In affirmative case, is it an easy procedure with a 3h transfer?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

No need to leave the airport and re-check. Your bag will go all the way to Osaka, as long as you book it all on one ticket. And 3 hours is plenty of time

[@jodiesmith7450]

Thanks for the great, informative review! How do you get the priority pass for lounge access please? And did you have to collect and re-check your baggage for second leg of the flight or does it transfer straight to HCMC from Heathrow check in? Thanks!

[@freddiesflightreviews]

Thanks for watching! I get free Priority Pass as a perk of the Amex Platinum card in the UK (not sure if you get it in other countries). And for baggage there was no need to collect and re-check it. It just went straight through to HCMC.

[@jodiesmith7450]

@@freddiesflightreviews Amazing, thank you! Did you also fly back via Shenzhen? We are looking at flying this route later in the year but coming back Hanoi to Heathrow with a 9 hour layover in Shenzhen! 🙈

[@toposebi95]

Great video! Were you able to get a VPN going with the Airport WIFI?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

I didn’t try actually. Instead I used an eSIM which gave me access to Western websites.

[@toposebi95]

@@freddiesflightreviews Which one may I ask?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

@@toposebi95 I used an App called Nomad and got their 10GB plan

[@umc185]

Hello, i'm travelling soon with this airline from barcelona to Osaka, thanks for the review! One question : is the airline picky with the 5kg weight of the cabin luggage? Do they control the weight (and size) like other lowcost airlines or not check at all? Thanks for your answer.

[@freddiesflightreviews]

They weren’t picky on this trip. Didn’t see a single cabin bag being weighed. Mine was about 8kg with no issues

[@queenfarfar]

I booked sz airlines for my upcoming flight and my one way ticker cost 600 so not rly budget but ig it's cos I'm going at a. Peak time

[@Tom-jj3db]

Hi Freddie, I’m heading to Hanoi from LHR and have to transit through Shenzhen airport, did you need any special visa or anything? I’m a UK citizen if that helps! I assumed I’d be able to go straight to my next gate like with most transfers?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

No visa required for transiting in Shenzhen. You’re just not allowed to leave the airport. Just follow the transfer signs.

[@xvxxvx4750]

very much similar to China Southern. Everything was really good.

[@rossdonnelly7397]

Did you book with one of those providers like gotogate or directly on their website?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

I booked through an Australian travel agent called "Luxury Escapes", only because they had an Amex offer at the time. Usually I would book directly with the airline.

[@shoz2502]

How tall are you pls?.. so can get a idea about the seat size.

[@freddiesflightreviews]

5'6" or 166cm, so I fit in most seats honestly.

[@kevin19358]

On your 1st flight, how many hours did you sleep on the plane? Is that your 1st time flying Shenzhen airlines and how is it?

[@freddiesflightreviews]

Probably about 5 or 6 hours I think. And it was my first time flying them. Overall I’d say they’re just average. Similar quality to British Airways.

[@kevin19358]

Okay I see. Thanks.

[@stephanetaing]

Better fly CX next time which is much more better Mainland China airlines are lack of services

[@freddiesflightreviews]

Definitely agree. Cathy’s Pacific are one of my favourite airlines

[@andrewhuang3171]

you get what you pay for let's put it that way and cathay service has been deteriorating