Vietnam Airlines DOM flights as SkyTeam Elite Plus - Benefits?

[jmphoto]

Thanks to the generous Alitalia Status Match I've recently been matched to Freccia Alata, so I've got SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

I'm flying VCA-HAN-DAD-SGN on VN next month. I notice that included baggage is 20kg. I'll likely have more, so I was wondering if anyone has experience of VN providing elite benefits to SkyTeam partners?

I'm not that stressed about J counters and priority boarding as I'm on a holiday, not work, but it's really the luggage that I'd like clarity on. I couldn't select seats on any of the flights, but I assume that's the same for everyone, and nothing to do with my status.

PS. If I don't have my card in time, does anyone have experience without it? Should be reflected on BP? It's not as though I would receive lounge access, so that's no concern.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks to the generous Alitalia Status Match I've recently been matched to Freccia Alata, so I've got SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

I'm flying VCA-HAN-DAD-SGN on VN next month. I notice that included baggage is 20kg. I'll likely have more, so I was wondering if anyone has experience of VN providing elite benefits to SkyTeam partners?

I'm not that stressed about J counters and priority boarding as I'm on a holiday, not work, but it's really the luggage that I'd like clarity on. I couldn't select seats on any of the flights, but I assume that's the same for everyone, and nothing to do with my status.

PS. If I don't have my card in time, does anyone have experience without it? Should be reflected on BP? It's not as though I would receive lounge access, so that's no concern.

I have no experience with this, but Vietnam Airlines gives at least 10kg of extra luggage allowance to its own elite members (and even more for the highest tiers). I would be extremely surprised if this wasn't extended to other Skyteam elites.

You should also be able to access priority check-in and priority boarding, at the very least.

As long as your Alitalia number is linked to the booking, your status *should* appear on the boarding pass.

 

[N860CR]

Has anyone used the domestic lounge at HAN? I've unfortunately got about 4 hours to spend there in a few weeks

 

[Spongbob]

The VN domestic lounge at HAN is nothing special. Fours hours is a long time to spend in the lounge.

 

[N860CR]

I figured as much... Does it at least offer beer/wine?

 

[YSSY]

I've just been through Vietnam SYD-SGN-HAN-LHR-HAN-SGN-SYD with Alitalia Fraccia Alata membership. The domestic lounges were pretty dismal, a few chairs, wifi and some random inedible food. I think they had some alcoholic drink offerings, but I didn't try. Accessing the domestic lounges in HAN and SGN was an absolute headache, the status for some reason wasn't showing on any of the domestic boarding passes, and they had never seen the card before, initially they said no access, and eventually after pressing called a supervisor who agreed when connecting to/from an international flight access was allowed.
The international lounge in HAN was okay, the international lounge in SGN was spacious and clean but had no showers (ended up utilising the ANZ FF Black card benefits to access another lounge for that). I got the tickets for $1200 return, so cheap as chips, and did some upgrades using Optiontown, but honestly found the whole thing a headache.
The new 787 is a bit of a joke, they installed all the economy IFE controls in the armrest exactly where your elbow rests, so within 10 minutes of boarding 80% of the call bells were activated and continued throughout the flight, as did the reading lights on/off/on/off/on/off.... Deluxe Economy was okay.
The best privileges with sky team were in Sydney and London, including fast track card on departure from London.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks for the info . Sounds like it'll be a fun few hours... Provided there's some Hanoi beer, I'm sure it'll help me look at it in a better light!