Vietnam Airlines Livery is one of my favourite airline liveries. Since I had already flown one way in Thai Airways A350 and Singapore Airways A350 Business Class, I decided to book a Vietnam Airlines economy cabin for my return flight. I flew the airline’s three A321 aircraft weekly while travelling in Vietnam and India. Here is what it was like to fly one of Vietnam Airlines A321 Economy Cabin. My review is based on the experience of an A321 deployed on the Hanoi-Delhi route.
Basics
- Airline: Vietnam Airlines
- Aircraft: A321
- Flight Number: VN 971
- Route: Hanoi [HAN]-Delhi [DEL]
- Departure Flight Time: 6:15 PM
- Duration: 4 hr 30 min
- Cabin: Economy Class
- Layout: 3-3
- Frequent Flyer Program: Flying Blue
- Miles Cost: 15K Flying Blue Miles
- Taxes & Fees: INR 6983 [$84]
- Ticket Price: INR 23.7K [$286]
- One Mile Value: INR 1.11 [1.35 Cents]
How did I Book a Vietnam Airlines A321 Economy Cabin?
Vietnam Airlines is part of the SkyTeam alliance and has multiple options for booking Vietnam Airlines Award flights. I booked using 15K Flying Blue Miles and paid $84 in taxes. Another option is to book using Delta SkyMiles or Virgin Points. It will cost 35K Delta SkyMiles and Just another $17 in taxes. Booking using Virgin Points is only through their customer care and will cost 11.5K points.
This flight was my last flight on my Vietnam Travel Diaries. During my travels in Vietnam, I have used Vietnam Airlines twice.
Issues to Sort Out
Once you have booked your Vietnam Airlines flight using flying blue miles, you won’t be able to manage your booking on the Vietnam Airlines website. Make sure to contact preferably by email to tell them your preferred seat and meal choice.
Checking In
As usual, I left my hotel early and reached the Airport around 2:30. At the airport entrance, I saw my Check-in Counter Number “G” and went straight to the counter. There was a long queue. And it took me half an hour to reach the check-in counter.
I asked the lady at the counter about the seat availability. Surprisingly, she didn’t listened and quickly printed the boarding pass. My seat number was 16D. 16D was the seat number last time I flew with Vietnam Airlines, but I don’t think there was any coincidence, as their seats differed even though both aircraft were A321.
I asked for seat availability primarily because I couldn’t choose it online. Customer care told me, “Please note—front row, extra leg space, and emergency exit rows are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the airport.” Since my boarding pass was already printed and I didn’t want to change the experience an average person would get flying Vietnam Airlines, I took the boarding pass and left. Overall, it took 4 minutes to complete the process. However, I found the overall experience below average for a full-service airline.
The Immigration and Airport Security Check hardly took 10 minutes.
Lounge Access
Since this was an economy-class ticket, I was not eligible for Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge. However, I used my priority pass to access “Song Hong Business Lounge“. And it was a pleasant experience.
Flight
I love Hanoi International Airport because it offers amazing views and allows me to get a glimpse of the aircraft we will be flying.
Boarding
Our Boarding for Vietnam Airlines VN 971 was through gate 20.
Our boarding was supposed to start at 17:25, but it started at 17:43. By 17:55, all passengers had cleared to board, and there was a queue at the aircraft door. So, there was a ten-minute wait to actually board the flight.
Amenity Kit and More
There was no amenity kit, but we received a Pillow, Blanket, wet wipes and 500 ML water bottle. Although the Pillow felt more like a cushion, it was appropriate for this aircraft economy class. I was a bit disappointed by the Blanket, as a cosy blanket can help one sleep better.
However, the blanket was uncomfortable and a bit small, too. So, neither the pillow nor the blanket was useful. In the end, I couldn’t sleep during a five-hour flight.
Seats
Vietnam Airlines has three seat configuration for its A321 aircraft:
- 16 Business Class & 162 Economy Class
- 16 Business Class & 168 Economy Class
- 8 Business Class & 195 Economy Class
My Hanoi-Delhi flight was on the third, with eight business and 195 economy class seats.
Having travelled on another configuration of A321 on Vietnam Airlines, I expected a good seat pitch. However, the seat pitch was 29 Inches, the lowest of all three, and the recline was just 4-5 Inches.
I am not tall, and even then, I felt cramped. Other travellers, too, discussed the seat being too cramped. The domestic A321 flight had a seat pitch of 31-32 and was way more comfortable. So, I wasn’t expecting a full-service carrier to fly a 29-inch seat pitch on a medium-haul flight. And no other option for headphone jacks was available as was on domestic flight. So, it felt like a downgrade to me.
Even though the seat pitch was below average, the seat cushion was good.
IFE
Vietnam Airlines advertises its IFE as Wi-IFE. Some may get confused, assuming that WiFi is available on the flight. However, that is not the case. By activating the Wi-Fi, you can access Vietnam Airlines’ very limited IFE. There are not many choices, so it is better to download Netflix before you board.
Also, there is no screen in front of your seat. Rather, a screen is placed in the overhead bins, which usually run advertisements and information.
Meal
When you have a long flight, nice food, a cosy blanket, and a good seat are enough to make your cabin experience amazing. The cabin crew came with the food within half an hour of take-off. They had a menu with two options and gave the menu to choose from. Then they realised it is better to ask for a Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian option instead of giving the Menu.
I already booked the Vegetarian Meal via customer support. However, unlike other airlines, the cabin crew still asked me about my choice.
Today, we were having Rajma Rice and Cucumber salad. I also asked for an orange juice. Rajma Rice is one of our favourite dishes, but it turned out to be average. It wasn’t on par with another full-service carrier. Even VietJet gave a better meal last time on their A330. Also, Orange Juice was okay I had it only once as against me having it multiple time during flight if it tastes good.
Cabin Crew
Vietnam Airlines Cabin Crew are professional and will complete the tasks needed for the flight. Our Vietnam Airlines A321 Economy Cabin was being looked after by all male crew. They were doing their job perfectly fine; however, something seemed lacking.
Luggage
We landed at 23:13, and the gate was opened after ten minutes. Within ten, I cleared the immigration and reached Baggage Belt 14 to collect the bags. There was a repetitive announcement by assistants there to check the name on the luggage. My Bag arrived by 23:50, and I left for the Arrival Lounge for Dinner.
Will I again fly Vietnam Airlines?
Recently, Vietnam Airlines announced that it would deploy A350 and B787 on Delhi-Vietnam routes. This will change travellers’ experiences. I like the vibe Vietnam Airlines offers and how it is the pride of Vietnam. However, I would still watch the A321 29 Inch Seat Pitch flight.
Bottomline
Vietnam Airlines A321 Economy Cabin Class experience may vary as it flies three variants. If you fly a 32-inch Variant, your experience will surely be better. However, I flew a 29-inch one, which was uncomfortable for a medium-haul flight. Also, the food was not top-notch, so there were hits and misses. Since Vietnam Airlines will be flying A350 and B787 on the HAN-DEL route, the experience will improve exponentially.
