Review of China Southern flight from Guangzhou to Dubai in Business

Hi everyone
This flight is part of the following itinerary
CDG-DXB le 28 mars 2017 AF 662Not reported
DXB-CAN le 30 mars 2017 CZ 384 Not reported
CAN-HAN le 30 mars 2017 VN 507 Under construction
HAN-HUE le 8 avril 2017 VN 1547 Not reported
DAD-SGN le 13 avril 2017 VN 117 Not reported
SGN-REP le 15 avril 2017 VN 3825 by Cambodia Air services on a Small Planet Airlines aircraftUnder construction
REP-CAN le 19 avril 2017 CZ 3054 Under construction
CAN-DXB le 21 avril 2017 CZ 383: This is it
DXB-CDG le 23 avril 2017 AF 655 Not reported
A few lines of explanation.
First, our plan to visit Vietnam.
Then, how to spend as few FBlue miles as possible while travelling business on the longest legs.
Solution is to fly from an asian city, as close as possible from Europe; TLV is considered as being in Europe!! Don't ask me why; Beyrouth offers flights to Vietnam with airport change in Moscow, not easy. There comes DXB with CZ flights connecting in CAN and onwards to HAN.
What's left? how to get cheap tickets to DXB? We had a long delay on an AF domestic flights, absolutely no inconvenience for us; however we got vouchers from AF.
And with these vouchers we could pay most of a cut return fare from CDG to DXB in Y; Not travelled long distance in Y for ages, but I should survive.
So here we are with CDG-DXB, 35€ per person et DXB-CAN-HAN and return CAN-DXB business paying taxes, about 200€ pp and 150 000 miles used instead of 200 000
Ice on the cake, when checking in on line, AF offers an upgrade to Premium economy for 140€ pp; never been in this class, good opportunity to try and we'll appreciate the difference.
Domestic flights in Vietnam as well as flight to Cambodia was bought in Vietnam, very cheap; and I bought the REP-CAN flight on CZ website, Y fare quite affordable, and enough comfort and good service for just over two hours.
Here comes the report itself:
We had a 48 stop over in Guangzhou, with Visa on arrival before flying back home.
Long but cheap and fast trip with underground from downtownGuangzhou to the airport.
Quick and easy access to the terminal, thru a first security check.

Let us get upstairs

Are we already in DXB? Palm trees!

Check in seems to be in zone F

But eventually, business check in is in G zone opposite First class welcome and check in lounge.

We have plenty of time, pleasant and english fluent staff, few people in line and …red carpet

Bye bye , see you in DXB, at least I hope

A first check, what for? that will remain a mystery; then quick and easy security and emigration.

My 3rd time in CAN; rains every time

I love the lines and volumes of this terminal
Let's get to the lounge.

CZ PAX can go upstairs, with a nice view over the noodles bar; I love it

And I ove the noodles too; I'll have a second one actually
I won't use the showers but I did appreciate them last times I was in transit here
Lounge is quiet at this time

Then boarding downstairs; A03

This boarding room looks a bit mean

But biz PAX can wait seated in a separated area.

Special bus for biz PAX; plane is parked miles away; it seems a second terminal , as large as he first one is being completed and should open soon

Skyteam.
Welcome onboard

I like the pale colors of the cabin; I selected both seats in the center as the flight will be mostly night flight so each of us can move out easily

Very pleasant and efficient FA

Menus are handed over, and at the same time they take order for pre take off drinks and shortly afterwards order for meals; very quick!
I do apprenante that FA asks if se may wake us a meal time. Good idea because I'm so tired after more than three weeks travelling, heat wave, that I fall asleep shortly after take off

My home for 8 hours

Settling down in the most comfortable, if not elegant way!

Already drunk out my glass, day in Guangzhou was so hot

Pushback on time

Safety video

Safety instructions

Strange way to fly west

Lovely warm nuts to start with

Then comes garlic bread

To start with, a nice plate but I'm not very fond of starters

Ht dish was nice, beef; but I was not really hungry because of the noodles bowls ordered in the lounge

There comes the trolley for cheese and dessert

I'll have fruit and an ice cream will be offered
Sorry, I must go the loo. But…WAIT! Overtime I went there, a FA skid me to wait and she went to clean the place! I did appreciate that

I like the cups

and mouthwash

Of course it has ben cleaned

nighty night

FA wakes me for breakfast; I selected the western style; nothing fantastic but I appreciate the little jam jars

We are miles away from CAN now and getting close to destination
Landing some minutes under schedule

Automatic train to main building

Staff at immigration is very relaxed

A good flight so far, but we'll wait our luggage for so long; priority luggage will arrive on belt 70 minutes after the aircraft has come to complete stop, which is unacceptable
It's a shame to finish a good flight with such inconvenience
So, this was a long story; thanks for having read it thru; you deserve a bonus; here it is:

Wonderful Shamian island where french and english concessions first settled down

Walk at medicines market

Yes it's a medication!

Entrance to the Orchid garden; Moon gate I presume

Nice pavilion in the garden

Orchid hot house

Tea pavilion where we spent lovely hours