Sydney to Budapest $1294 Return 13/6-29/7 with 2x23kg Checked Bags @ China Southern Airline

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Sydney to Budapest $1294 Return 13/6-29/7 with 2x23kg Checked Bags @ China Southern Airline
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LIzzieTheStrange on 28/03/2025 - 00:02 oversea.csair.com (458 clicks)
Last edited 28/03/2025 - 10:20 by 1 other user

Hello! Long time lurker, first time poster.

I had a 6 week gap in my work contracts between June-July, so I thought I'd try my luck at a decently priced Europe trip. As I was stalking through Google flights with a few random dates from mid June-late July, I found and booked return flights Sydney - Budapest for $1294 through China Southern departing June 13th and returning July 29th.

It's peak Europe travel time, Budapest was cheaper than most other capital cities by a long shot. It's a beautiful city and very central/accessible to use as a 'base' for a Europe trip. China Southern are a 'budget' airline, however I've flown with them a few times and don't think they're too bad. Layovers both ways in Guangzhou.

Travel Airfare Asia Budapest China Guangdong Guangzhou Hungary

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Comments

  • bob19 on 28/03/2025 - 00:38
    +2

    OP, you said "don't think they're too bad". It doesn't sound positive. Can you be more specific?

    • IzzieTheStrange on 28/03/2025 - 00:42
      +1

      I just mean that from my lurking on here, I've seen many people talk trash about CS. Whilst I don't think they're the best, I think they're really good for a budget airline.

      • bob19 on 28/03/2025 - 00:45

        Thanks.
        BTW, your link says "This site can’t provide a secure connection mau.csair.com uses an unsupported protocol."

      • Innately Incognito on 29/03/2025 - 13:07
        +1

        China Southern aren't a low cost carrier - they are full service given they have baggage and food included in the price?

    • jv on 28/03/2025 - 00:58

      OP, you said "don't think they're too bad".

      OP is saying they are "bad", just not 'too' bad…

      • bob19 on 28/03/2025 - 01:10
        +1

        OP changed his/her view from "don't think they're too bad" to "I think they're really good" :)

    • bigmanlukaku on 28/03/2025 - 15:40
      +1

      Compared to the good airlines, every aspect of it is slightly worse. Food will be on average worse than the good airlines but probably better than Air China which had really poor food that I would imagine the average PLA soldier gets fed. The seats are probably similar but the infotainment screen content would be worse than good airlines. The service is not poor but there will be some language issues and generally a mediocre customer service experience. If you want to save money, these are reasonable sacrifices. If you have money, its probably worth spending more.

      • R-Man on 28/03/2025 - 16:18

        If you want to save money, these are reasonable sacrifices.

        My family and I fly them often and would say this perfectly sums it up.

        If you're gonna have a straightforward trip with no fuss, you won't have much of a bad word to say about them.

        But if you have to speak to the staff because your seat's a bit dodgy or your screen won't work, it's likely the (lack of) customer experience will sour your experience.

  • IzzieTheStrange on 28/03/2025 - 01:20
    +3

    I see what you're saying here. I actually do think they're pretty good, but I have had some personal 'issues' which wouldn't be an issue for the majority.

    I have a severe allergy to shellfish, so I order vegetarian/vegan meals on flights. My last experience on CS, they somehow ran out of the option I ordered and I couldn't risk eating the meat meal options because it was a prawn salad, and the hot dish used oyster sauce.

    Otherwise I found them clean, comfortable, and had pretty decent entertainment for a 10 hour flight.

    Sorry that my original wording caused confusion.

    • bob19 on 28/03/2025 - 01:37
      +1

      Thank you for your clarification.
      Your link still doesn't work though. You may want to check it.

  • naru6705 on 28/03/2025 - 06:28
    +6

    I travel with China southern twice found them better at seat comfort and overall hospitality than Qantas

    • Flying Ace on 28/03/2025 - 09:28
      +2

      Well that wouldn't be hard, but yes, CZ are a pretty good airline.

  • goodwillN1 on 28/03/2025 - 09:36
    +1

    Airline is good when onboard. Pretty bad communication before flight and mediocre check in experience. The transfers in China are the worst bit though. Very chaotic, unclear instructions and communication and, if during the night, not many services available.
    If this where you are OK making compromises then it is a good value.

  • foodsnob on 28/03/2025 - 12:46
    +4

    China Southern is NOT a budget airline. It is a full service airline with meal service and (usually) 2x 23kg luggage allowance included in the fare. I've done this trip as a multi-trip: arrive AMS, depart BUD and these prices are fairly common for China Southern. Chinese hospitality is really good although there might be a bit of a language barrier if you don't speak Mandarin. Nothing to complain about it except the horrid booking system that is web based. Managing your booking was a complete pain as if you were navigating through a website in 2000. I'm assuming they put all their money into their WeChat app etc. Other than that, for this price, you are paying a bit more than Scoot for a full-service airline with good service and good planes (better than Qantas nowadays).

  • Cluster on 28/03/2025 - 13:15

    I'm looking to fly to Europe in May or June and have looked at the tempting Chinese airline offers. However one factor always dissuades me: the long layover time. 10 hours is quite common. Barely long enough to go through immigration twice to see some of the city, but too long to hang around in the airport.
    The OP's connection time is almost 7 hours. Lengthy.

    • IzzieTheStrange on 28/03/2025 - 13:57

      True, it is almost 7 hours on the way there, but 2 hours on the return journey. IMO that's worth the saving of $1k compared to the bigger airlines.

    • R-Man on 28/03/2025 - 16:22

      Consider adding a night or a day in Guangzhou if you've never been. Take a little cruise in the river if nothing else.

      No longer than that I'd say, it's not a city for novice travellers where none of your apps will be useful (even if you get them working). I was there 2 days and I ended up going to the visitor office and getting a physical map and tourist guide!

  • fl360 on 28/03/2025 - 15:11
    +1

    I have no problem flying CS, their toilets are very clean, only Japanese airlines are better than them because I think they do require crew to clean after X uses.
    Also service is mechanical and you get what you expected. Don't expect great wines or alcohol and you will be fine.
    Western movie selections are as expected not as good as Western airlines. So BYO or dose off….
    Also they fly over Russian airspace to Europe so you save about 1.5 hrs compared with others which have to squeeze through south of Ukraine.

    Budapest is popular for hot spring baths, so I am not sure this will be as enjoyable in summer….

    • IzzieTheStrange on 28/03/2025 - 15:18
      +3

      Budapest has so much more to offer than just the cesspool of germs that are the hot springs 🤣

      • belongsinforums on 28/03/2025 - 16:03
        -2

        what else is there? a quick google search only shows public baths and old buildings

        • goodwillN1 on 28/03/2025 - 18:25

          Good clubbing scene, bunch of cool pubs.
          What else do you normally look for in a European capital besides old buildings, food and a chance to get (profanity) in style?

    • R-Man on 28/03/2025 - 16:24

      Never imagined someone's first benchmark for a good airline is whether the dunny is in good nick, but I respect it

  • H E B on 29/03/2025 - 00:08

    Not a bad find at all OP! You mind me asking how you came across this fare you settled on in the end?

    • IzzieTheStrange on 29/03/2025 - 06:32
      +1

      Everyday just searching 'flights' on Google Flights with no place in mind. I've travelled to 35 countries now, mostly without a plan and just basing it on when I find some kind of sale or deal.

      I put in random dates I knew I was available and played around with them, of course knowing it was peak Europe travel time. Every other city was well over 2k, but when I scrolled over Budapest a $1600 fare showed up, so I played around with the dates a bit and it went down to $1497. I put a track on the fare price and about a week later got a notification that the fare had decreased 👌👐

  • richvon on 29/03/2025 - 14:14
    +1

    I flew CS many times. As what others have mentioned, not the best, not the worst.
    A very small portion of CS crew members are quite dodgy, don’t be too polite and you should voice your concern if you notice anything is below expectations. I think they might be over worked.
    I can get that price on CS web page. So the offer is valid.
    I will definitely take this offer if I haven’t planned anything this year. The price is great.
    CS plans to roll out new seats with super thin back cushion. If you want to fly CS, better do it sooner.
    Similarly other Chinese airlines might offer great deals.
    BTW the shortest route to Paris is via Beijing regardless Russia issue or not.
    Honestly I feel China is the go-to place at the moment. The price and service and experience is hard to beat.

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