Li Zhen, Pan Jing, Sun Li,

    Shen Zhiyong

    ximhan@126.com

    FLIGHT CZ3151 of China Southern Airlines will have its maiden flight at Shenzhen airport new terminal at 8 a.m. this Thursday.

    A special group of passengers will be on board. Twenty two years ago, these passengers flew with China Southern Airlines from Shenzhen to Beijing on Nov. 25, 1991, thus raising the curtain on Shenzhen’s aviation industry. On Thursday, the same people will be witnesses to history again, flying on another China Southern Airlines flight departing from Shenzhen’s spectacular new airport terminal.

    China Southern Airlines has expanded over the years to become one of the top players in China’s aviation industry.

    Check-in service

    Passengers are advised to arrive at the terminal two hours before departure, as the check-in service will be closed 45 minutes before departure.

    The service area of China Southern Airlines at the new airport terminal has doubled in size and it needs about 20 minutes for passengers to go to the furthest boarding gate after completing security checks.

    China Southern Airlines has 36 exclusive check-in counters at A and B areas on the fourth floor of the departure hall, where passengers can enter through gates 1 and 2. International passengers enter through Gate 3 and check in at D area. The airline company has set up a counter for general service in A area. Passengers with oversized, overweight and irregular baggage can check in at the counter on the right of the 38 security check lane.

    VIP passengers, business seat passengers and member card holders can check in at 7-12 counters in A area.

    A general reception center at the departure hall has been set up by CSA for passengers to inquire about flights, time changes and printing boarding tickets.

    VIP service

    The VIP Lounge of China Southern Airlines — with three halls: V1, V2 and Hall for Elite Members — covers an area of 3,200 square meters in total, and is five times the size of the original one in Terminal B.

    V1, which covers 500 square meters, is on the east wing of the third floor of the main building near Gate 21. It mainly serves VIP and business class passengers of China Southern Airlines, contracted passengers and flights of other companies which are operated by China Southern Airlines. It has VIP rooms, an Internet area, nursing rooms, a baggage area, a tea-tasting area, shower rooms and 3-D movie rooms.

    Passengers can enjoy noodles or Chinese dumplings, which are prepared at the terminal. Passengers can also experience tea culture through demonstrations by trained employees.

    Hall for Elite Members, which covers 1,400 square meters, is located on the second floor of the east side of the main building, which passengers can get to by taking escalators near boarding gates 21-26 after security checks on the third floor.

    It mainly serves Skyteam members who take China Southern Airlines flights, or airline companies which share flights codes with China Southern Airlines and contracted airline companies. The hall, which is divided into different functional areas for e-business, dining, reading and entertainment for children, has 296 seats for passengers to rest. It has been decorated with paintings by well-known artists.

    V2, which covers 1,200 square meters, can accommodate 200 people. It is on the second floor of the north side of the main corridor near Gate 27. It has VIP rooms, bedrooms and shower rooms.

    China Southern Airlines has introduced golf at V1 and V2. A mock training room of 50 square meters was equipped with golf simulation devices and video teaching software. The trainers were teachers from golf schools in Shenzhen, and can speak fluent English.

    Baggage service

    Baggage transportation is often a problem that easily draws complaints from customers. The baggage system of China Southern Airlines also faces a challenge with regards to the new terminal.

    To save time in luggage checks during the check-in service, China Southern Airlines has upgraded the baggage check to the level of Grade 5, in a move to reduce time for passengers to have their baggage rechecked. At the same time, for baggage which is vulnerable, irregular in shape or small in size but not suitable to be kept in trunks, the airport can put the baggage in baskets for transportation. It should save time and trouble for passengers to complete baggage transportation procedures at the oversize baggage counters.