Good morning Vietnam (airlines) in business class on the 787/9 to Ho Chi Min
The third leg of my world tour was aboard Vietnam Airlines, the national airline of the [...]
Vietnam Airlines
SkyTeam
SGN
Vietnam
The third stage of the my world tour Has been on board Vietnam Airlines, the national airline of Vietnam, from Seoul to Phnom Pen in Cambodia via the former Saigon, now Ho Chi Min City.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- 787/9
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- ICN - SGN
- Price:
- 490€
- Book
The best bonuses
I have already been to Vietnam e I recommend everyone to visit this beautiful country In continuous transformation and at the speed of light. Unfortunately, this company does not currently fly to Italy, however, we hope it will arrive soon, so there is no direct VN flight, unless you have a stopover in Paris or Frankfurt.
Reservation
This is the only ticket I could have booked with points from this RTW and instead preferred to book by paying cash. The reason is quickly stated, With just under 500 € of spending, I put 45 XP points in my pocket. on my Flying Blue card, and a fair amount of points.
Of course I could also avoid accumulating points since I have the Club2000, but sooner or later AF may take that privilege away, so better be prepared.
An unfortunate series of events
Let's say it didn't run smoothly, But as they say in such cases, he who is the cause of his own ill, let him weep for himself. Fortunately, however, I left theHilton Garden Inn on time and arrived at terminal 1 in Seoul Incheon around 6 a.m., with my embarkation taking place at 9:20 a.m.
Even before arriving I realized that something was not lined up right, almost at the airport we got stuck in traffic because of an accident, as can be seen in the photo at the end of the straight, before the climb leading to the starts we found ourselves a car turned on its side. Quoting my brother-in-law (Rally driver) : "But how belino do you..."
Having passed the traffic jam, I arrive at T1, look at the monitors but my flight was still unmarked, and here my personal comedy of errors begins.
- App in the air was telling me that my flight was leaving from T1.
- If I had double-checked the ticket I would have seen that it said T1
- If I had read the monitor carefully, I would have read that flight VN409 was departing from T1
Instead, I was shallow and, probably trusted appearances that misled me.
- All major Skyteam airlines, including of course Korean Airlines depart from T2
- I looked up the flight to Ho Chi Min on the monitor and got the wrong VN flight, which was Korean's code-share flight leaving from t2
- I remembered that I would have access to the KAL lounge and assumed it was at T2
So I first wandered around the terminal looking for a way to get to T2, walked down to the train station and then back to where I was and took the free shuttle bus. After nearly 20 minutes crammed in like sardines, we arrived on the other side of the island that houses the airport.
Here I can't find the Vietnam Airlines counters, I ask the first attendant who tells me, "Look it's leaving from T1," and I like an idiot realizing the unfortunate series of mistakes I made.
I retrace my steps, go back to the shuttle bus stop and return to my initial starting point, meanwhile it is just past 7 a.m. when I return to T1 departures.
At the airport
This time I calmly check the screen and find directions to my check-in area, arrive at the counters, and there is a flood of people. In fact, a few minutes apart two 787/9s were departing one in the direction of Hanoi and mine toward Ho Chi Min.
Obtained boarding passes for the two flights, as well as an invitation to the KAL Lounge. I ask the attendant if there is a fast track the answer was beautiful, "For business no!" I wanted to answer her and for economy?, but I realized my sarcasm would not be understood.
After passing immigration, I headed to the lounge.. Kal lounge is not bad at all, although I would have paid to be able to enter the brand new oneWorld lounge just opened. Of course, I tried to enter it but was bounced without appeal.
Important if you depart from this airport you have to pay attention to timing. Gates below 100 are in the main body of T1, those between 101 and 150 are in the central satellite, and those above 200 are in Terminal 2.
As I found out, only after going crazy outside, it is possible to move between the two terminals from the inside, you have to take the connecting train, but moving around takes up to 30 minutes, so watch your timing, because if you go crazy in the shopping area you might risk missing the plane.
One of the best things about this airport was the chance to see a dying scenery: Asiana and Korean's A380s parked on the runway, or docked at the fingers. A 747/8 from Korean a waiting to depart and a taxing A380 ready for takeoff.
On board
This Vietnam Airlines Dreamliner is outfitted with two classes: business and economy. The business cabin is configured with 4 seats per row, so all passengers have direct aisle access, which is so on the entire VN fleet.
The colors are light, but it is not the dirty white of ITA. The first thing that strikes you is the space, as there is no hat rack above the center rows everything is much more airy.
The cabin is not new, but let's say it keeps well. The seat is a popular product and is the same one found on several Dreamliners.
Obviously no door and also zero privacy, but VN uses these planes for medium-haul routes with high fill rates, while in Europe and the U.S. it flies the A350/900.
I had assigned myself the seat in row 4, because as we have also explained in an article row 5 is the one that has one less window and therefore, if possible, is the one to avoid.
The armchair obviously becomes a bed, is operated with the hand control on the console (so you don't accidentally press it) and allows you to adjust position, tilt and lumbar support.
There is a small well near the armrest, and nothing else in terms of space to put one's persoal items.
The coffee table comes out of the side console and is very rigid, so you can work on the computer without jolting and eat without risking spilling food on yourself.
The orientation of the seats near the windows is outward, while the seats in the middle rows are oriented toward the inside of the fuselage.
This configuration is the one that gives the most comfort and more legroom, partly because all seats are oriented in the same direction, not forcing anyone to travel with their back to the pilot.
Service
I'll say it right now we are at a very high level. I had flown VN before, in economy from BKK to SGN, but never in business class and the staff was really exquisite.
The attendants, swaddled in a beautiful uniform, always smiling and ready as soon as a passenger looked up to ask how they could help. Within 3 minutes of my setting foot on board they arrived first with the welcome drink and then with the warm cloth.
In place all the complete kit: blanket, pillow, slippers and small trousse with useful products during the trip. Considering that it is a 5-hour daytime flight it is a truly 5-star offer, many more emblazoned airlines on these distances give nothing (or almost nothing).
Inside the beauty was everything needed such as crime, socks, mask, toothbrush and comb. Really good.
The only downside is that the pillow is not bagged, like the blanket, and placed over the footrest, so not exactly the cleanest place on the plane.
Very clean bathroom, even at the end of flight, fresh flower and several products for business class guests.
IFE
Medium-small screen size, sure the new business classes have much larger monitors and 4k, but this screen is still larger than what BA offers in the old club world or Lufthansa on almost the entire fleet.
The amount of content is also impressive, many new releases and classics. More scarce is the supply of TV shows. The screen comes out of the backrest and therefore must remain closed during takeoff and landing, which is quite boring.
I must say that I had never seen so much publicity during a flight, sometimes companions put the commercials before the movies, here they were before and after the security video, never seen such a thing.
No wifi and that surprised me since Dreamliners are not that old machines.
Food & Beverage
The beginning was not the best. No menu, but an attendant who comes by to take your order showing some, not at all appetizing, pictures on her cell phone. Note how orders are marked, as always, on a sheet and I was renamed simply "Matte."
No menu, but a wine list is distributed. Nothing special in VN's wine cellar, compared to what other Asian carriers offer on similar routes.
I ended up having chicken with potatoes as the main course and shrimp as an appetizer, too bad I later found out it was a kind of veal tonnato, because my choice was exhausted.
Before the actual service began, a small amuse buche was served., but without receiving any information about the contents. Then the appetizer was served with a tray, along with a velvety carrot and potato soup, a salad , along with bread and butter. Shortly after came the chicken with potatoes and some boiled vegetables.
Finally, a triptych of trays: cheese, fruit and desserts. I of course took a little bit of everything. And when the tray of bitters arrived, I got two small bottles for Marika.
In conclusion
Vietnam Airlines promoted (almost) with flying colors. Service and chair are great, too bad about the catering flaws (no menu and running out of dishes). Ok also IFE, lacked wi-fi to make en plein.
Pro
- The crew
- Amenity kit
Against
- Catering
- No wi-fi
- Zero privacy