Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - VN C experiences

Does anyone have any experiences with VN short/medium-haul C recently? I have a couple of flights booked and I'd like to know about the quality/types of food, IFE, seat comfort (sitting and sleeping) and lounge at HAN. Any comments about service would also be appreciated but I'm not too concerned about service on intra-Asia flights. I'm not looking for seatguru type information, just some anecdotal input would be perfect. Thanks.

Does anyone have any experiences with VN short/medium-haul C recently? I have a couple of flights booked and I'd like to know about the quality/types of food, IFE, seat comfort (sitting and sleeping) and lounge at HAN. Any comments about service would also be appreciated but I'm not too concerned about service on intra-Asia flights. I'm not looking for seatguru type information, just some anecdotal input would be perfect. Thanks.

I flew HKG -> HAN and HAN -> BKK on VN C back in January, in an A319 (I think, could have been a A320).

To me it was just like a standard UA domestic USA F product. I don't recall being served any memorable food, if any at all (perhaps a pre-packaged tray of some sort of snack). There was no IFE. Seat was a US-type domestic F seat, so reasonably comfortable for a short/medium haul (under 4-5 hours), but not designed for sleeping, i.e. doesn't recline much.

I also don't recall being able to use any sort of lounge at HAN. But, then again, my memory isn't the best for non-memorable events.

Wish I could help more...

I did short haul on a A319/320 - can't remember which. Food I remember was nothing memorable - as this picture shows. I took the morning flight out and the early evening flight back. I didn't even bother to take a pic of the return flight.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn56/Braindrain232/Dec%202011%20trip/P1080474.jpg



Seats are the old intra-Asia C, similar to other Asian carriers. Comfy enough for short flights but definitely not for long-haul.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn56/Braindrain232/Dec%202011%20trip/P1080470.jpg



Also, as mentioned, no IFE. I left from the SGN terminal so can't comment on the HAN lounge but it was nothing spectacular. In fact, I remember it was less than spectacular.

Service, on board, wasn't bad.

VN has very good lounge at HAN and SGN. Their C class is similar to US domestic F and there is no lie flat seat of any types. The food quality is so-so typical of second tier airliners. The FA is not very well verse in English so you might have to repeat yourselves a few times to get what you need. On board service is also kind of slow compared to CX/JL/SG etc. IFE is none existent.

My long-haul experience on VN from MEL-SGN: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/my-first-time-pointy-end-38982.html

Thanks for the link. A very entertaining read indeed. Sounds like VN business class is worth it.

The first two segments of my RGN - North America itn are on Vietnam Airlines. I am booked into coach. I am wondering if Vietnam Airlines is in the habit of offering paid upgrades at the gate?

Second, I have 13 hours between flights in Hanoi. While I may pay the money to get a Vietnamese visa to go to a hotel, I am wondering if there is a transit lounge at the new Hanoi airport.

, I am wondering if there is a transit lounge at the new Hanoi airport.

Is there a 'new' Hanoi airport ? The current terminal has been operational for 10 years, and yes there is a lounge on the upper floor.

Well, the thread says "VN C experiences"...

I met an earlier Ms Jimbo flying VN C. I was 1A and she was the chief purser and one of their senior trainers. She was shuttling SGN-HAN before filling in for a friend on HAN-CDG.

A couple of years of great fun. She was the reason my EVA gold dropped to EVA silver for a year.

We are still in touch today.