Vietnam Airlines

[Justinf]

I promise I have done a search.
Might have to fly to London at relatively short notice and the best value J fare is with VN. Air China is reasonable but the product looks substandard.
Is VN a good way to fly in J?

 

[AIRwin]

I promise I have done a search.

Thread 'My experience flying Vietnam Airlines (VN) for the first time'

Apr 22, 2023

Not a trip report in the true sense but just sharing my experience on an airline not many people have flown.

Part 1:
I recently had the opportunity and pleasure of flying Vietnam Airlines (VN) in their business class for the first time a month ago. I actually did 2 trips - 1 to Paris via SGN and 1 to Seoul via SGN/HAN. Both flights originated from Sydney. All but 1 of the flights were on their A350-900 with that single 1 being on the B787-10. I'm also an AF frequent flyer and have SkyTeam Elite Plus status through their Flying Blue programme.

Overall, VN are a pretty good airline that...

• MH_fan
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 
• 

 

[Justinf]

Thread 'My experience flying Vietnam Airlines (VN) for the first time'

Apr 22, 2023

Not a trip report in the true sense but just sharing my experience on an airline not many people have flown.

Part 1:
I recently had the opportunity and pleasure of flying Vietnam Airlines (VN) in their business class for the first time a month ago. I actually did 2 trips - 1 to Paris via SGN and 1 to Seoul via SGN/HAN. Both flights originated from Sydney. All but 1 of the flights were on their A350-900 with that single 1 being on the B787-10. I'm also an AF frequent flyer and have SkyTeam Elite Plus status through their Flying Blue programme.

Overall, VN are a pretty good airline that...

• MH_fan
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 
• 

Appreciate it.

 

[MELso]

If you can cope with a potentially long layover one or both ways and slightly coughpy lounges, yes it is. Nice, modern 787s and A350s, and decent food and drink.

(VN was my introduction to business class...)

 

[OZDUCK]

We flew them to Frankurt in late 2023 and found them fine in J. Obviously not a QR suites experience but comfortable and the meals we had were tasty enough. The cabin crew were pretty good.

 

[waimate01]

Just flew VN business SYD-HAN-DAD-SGN-SYD. I rate it a solid meh out of ten. Nothing particularly wrong with it, just all a bit of a thumbnail sketch of business class. The A350's are nice, but I found the seats a bit cramped and uncomfortable. Food pretty poor. Lounges likewise.

But it's a lie-flat bed at a low price point, so that's something. Also for travelling to Vietnam it's pretty much VN or JQ, so VN wins.

I do find myself curious about Vietjet, mainly because I loved seeing their flight attendants marching through the airports dressed like communist boy scouts

 

[Flyfrequently]

Just flew VN business SYD-HAN-DAD-SGN-SYD.

You were on A321 for DAD-SGN @waimate01 ?

 

[waimate01]

You were on A321 for DAD-SGN @waimate01 ?

Yep. A320 for HAN-DAD, where "business" was just the front row with middle seat left unoccupied.

The A321 for DAD-SGN was ok for a short flight.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Yep. A320 for HAN-DAD, where "business" was just the front row with middle seat left unoccupied.

The A321 for DAD-SGN was ok for a short flight.

Thanks, am spending the Flyfrequently offspring's inheritance and going J anyway @waimate01
I believe they have priority lines for J pax arriving into SGN?

 

[waimate01]

Thanks, am spending the Flyfrequently offspring's inheritance and going J anyway @waimate01
I believe they have priority lines for J pax arriving into SGN?

Excellent parenting strategy !

I couldn't say for sure about the priority arrivals. We, uncharacteristically, used a travel agent for our entire trip and they'd added some VIP option so we were pretty much handed from person to person and led around like little lambs. Unsure if that involved anything out of the ordinary - except there's no way I would have known to get in the queue labelled "ABCD" for SGN outbound immigration

 

[Flyfrequently]

Excellent parenting strategy !

Thank you @waimate01 - not sure if they'd agree

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Heading to SGN today then onto PVG in morn - I will post some pics mid flight if WiFi permits.

FWIW VN use Merhaba Lounge in NEL for J pax - bubbles offering of Prosecco is undrinkable IMO:

 

[Flyfrequently]

Excellent parenting strategy !

I couldn't say for sure about the priority arrivals. We, uncharacteristically, used a travel agent for our entire trip and they'd added some VIP option so we were pretty much handed from person to person and led around like little lambs. Unsure if that involved anything out of the ordinary - except there's no way I would have known to get in the queue labelled "ABCD" for SGN outbound immigration

I can answer this @waimate01 albeit a year late - no priority arrivals at SGN.
Arrived VN J 8.30 pm it took well over an hour in complete disorganised chaos to get through.
Next time I would pay for Priority Arrival.
Leaving SGN was much easier, only about 20 minutes in the queue.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My office next 8hrs:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What I imm find weird part about VN is seat numbering / window seats clearly numbered via o/h bins:



But middle 2 rows numbers are not visible on seat but rather on a small 3 c 4.5cm tab on ceiling:




Pre dep tipple:



At least this is drinkable unlike the P in the lounge

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Now connected to onboard WiFi which is ‘free’ for 4hrs - US$5 if you want entire flt - Crew have granted me free entire flt as they have seen the ‘gifts’ they will receive later

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Neat little amenity pack provided:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

VN WiFi Speedtest:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I will ‘borrow’ the menus and photograph and post later - but here is lunch - oh I started b4 I realised I should take pics:



And no sooner do you start and then soup is plonked down:

 

[OZDUCK]

I will ‘borrow’ the menus and photograph and post later - but here is lunch - oh I started b4 I realised I should take pics:

View attachment 518460

And no sooner do you start and then soup is plonked down:

View attachment 518461
View attachment 518468

On our four flights on them Sin/Frankfurt/Sin in 2022 all the meals were very good.