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China Southern Airlines: My 17-Hour Journey to Chengdu (and Why I Miss Xiamenair)

 


I did it. I survived a 17-hour journey from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu via China Southern Airlines. Barely. Let me tell you, this trip was not for the faint-hearted...or for anyone with a dodgy knee like mine.


 Midnight Flight, Sinking Seat, and Questionable Breakfast


My flight from KLIA took off at 3:10am. Yes, you read that right. The kind of hour where your body screams for a warm bed, not a cramped Airbus seat. The man in front of me decided to lean back like he was in a spa. My seat? Shrunk into a sardine tin. With my post-surgery knee acting up and a seat that felt like it was designed by a chiropractor’s nemesis, I spent five hours contorting like a pretzel.


Inflight service? Meh. I requested halal food(pre ordered during booking). Stewardess confidently said, “All food on this flight is halal.” Then the guy next to me slurped his pork noodles like it was his last supper. I got an “American breakfast” that looked like it had been rejected by America. Beans, a sad omelette, sausage, and hash brown. The omelette smelled like regret. I nibbled some beans and surrendered.


No snacks. No smiles. Just survival mode.


Changsha Airport: Big Space, Small Comforts


Landed in Changsha at 7:55am. Transit time? Almost 7 hours. No free hotel. No lounge access. Not even a complimentary bottle of water. Just me, my aching back, and a giant airport with nothing much to do. I walked. I sat. I stretched. I counted ceiling tiles. I questioned my life choices.


Changsha to Chengdu: Slightly Better, Still Meh


Boarded the 3:10pm flight to Chengdu. Two hours. This leg was more comfortable. But again, the service felt like it was designed for locals only. Outsiders? We get a pack of biscuits and a drink. That biscuit? You can find it at any grocery store for less than RM2. High margin, low effort. Cheapskate vibes.


Honestly, I’ve been flying Xiamenair post-COVID. They offer transit hotels, short day trips, and actual edible food. China Southern? Not so much. I think I’ll stick to Xiamenair next time. My knees and taste buds deserve better.


Chengdu Arrival: Half Dead but Still Smiling


Finally reached Chengdu. Checked into my hotel like a zombie. My step count? Just 5,000. My knees? Screaming louder than my stomach. But I pushed through.


First day? Kept it gentle. Visited the Muslim food street near Huangcheng Mosque which is just behind the Chengdu Museum and then head over to People's Park. By 2pm, I was back in the hotel, clocking 6,000+ steps. Both knees were on strike. Night time? Ordered food delivery. Chengdu nightlife? Maybe next trip. That one also I'm not so sure. This one, I’m on recovery mode.


My final thoughts

Travel isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s biscuits for dinner and back pain for dessert. But every journey teaches you something. This one? Always check airline transit policies. And maybe, just maybe, don’t book a 3am flight if your knees have a personality of their own.

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