China Southern Airlines transit question

Question

Hello,

I have booked a return flight from Jakarta to Hangzhou (transit at Shenzhen) and for the return flight (transit at Guangdong).

Saw a youtube video of someone with a rather similar route and he had to retrieve his luggages and check in again at the domestic terminal at Shenzhen when he was in transit.

Is there really a need to collect luggages and check in again since I only purchase one ticket for the journey?

Answer

For a single ticket itinerary with China Southern Airlines from Jakarta to Hangzhou via Shenzhen, whether you need to collect your luggage and re-check it depends on the type of transfer and the terminals involved.

Here are the key points to consider:

If your flights are all on the same ticket and are both operated by China Southern Airlines (or its codeshare partners), your luggage is usually tagged to your final destination (Hangzhou) at check-in in Jakarta. In this case, you typically do not need to collect it in Shenzhen; it will be transferred automatically by the airline.
If your transit involves switching terminals in Shenzhen (for example, between domestic and international terminals) and the airline does not provide through-checking of luggage, you may be required to collect your luggage and check in again. This is more common if you are connecting between domestic and international flights with different ticketing rules.
Even with one ticket, sometimes airport procedures may require a security or customs check in Shenzhen, especially if you enter mainland China before continuing domestically. This could necessitate retrieving and re-checking luggage.

Practical advice:

Confirm with China Southern Airlines at the time of check-in in Jakarta whether your luggage will be checked through to Hangzhou.
Check your boarding passes and luggage tags to see if Shenzhen is listed as a transfer point or final destination.
Allow extra time during transit in Shenzhen in case you do need to retrieve your luggage and go through security or customs.

In most cases with a single ticket and same airline, you should not need to collect your luggage, but airport and terminal specifics can occasionally require it. Confirming with the airline is the safest approach.

China Southern Airlines transit question

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