{"id":7159,"date":"2015-12-09T16:04:06","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T16:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=7159"},"modified":"2024-11-07T13:49:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T13:49:54","slug":"flying-vietnam-airlines-deluxe-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/flying-vietnam-airlines-deluxe-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"When David Flew Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>As an ETG Southeast Asia specialist I often get asked, &#8216;What is Vietnam Airlines like to fly with?&#8217;\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0So, being the\u00a0resident flight geek (and of course ever helpful to ETG clients) I recently flew with them on my work trip to Myanmar (Burma). Here is my Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy review&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7543\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7543\" class=\"wp-image-7543 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353.jpg\" alt=\"Staff and dignitaries in front of a Vietnam airlines plane\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" data-id=\"7543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353.jpg 800w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353-585x389.jpg 585w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Capture4-e1452791590353-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7543\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Is it worth flying Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy?<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Historically it\u2019s fair to say that while Vietnam Airline\u2019s domestic routes were fine and continue to be, their international flights were a bit of a lottery. Feedback from clients previously was that the planes were tired and the quality of the service was average at best.<\/p>\n<p>I am pleased to say this is all changing \u2013 with new aircraft (the Boeing 787\u00a0 \u2018Dreamliner\u2019) on the London routes and direct flights from Heathrow to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/vietnam\/exp\/hanoi-city-tours\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hanoi<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/vietnam\/exp\/ho-chi-minh-city-highlights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ho Chi Minh City<\/a> as well as great connections to the other countries <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ETG specialises in<\/a><\/u>.\u00a0I flew from Vietnam Airlines from London to Hanoi and was pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n< ![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/2512862\/d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-img alignnone\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/2512862\/d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956.png\" alt=\"Get your complimentary guide to Vietnam\" width=\"304\" height=\"24\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(2512862, 'd1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<p>The airfares are often very competitive in all travel classes but the real stand out for me is that the 787 has an excellent \u2018Premium\u00a0Economy\u2019 (deluxe\u00a0economy) product which often can be had for very little more than economy and substantially cheaper than other airlines.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7182\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7182\" class=\"wp-image-7182 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2.jpg\" alt=\"Images showing a large amount of leg room in Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy seat\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"7182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5298-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7182\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There is plenty of leg room&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>So how good is Vietnam Airlines premium economy? The seats are wide being a 2-3-2 configuration rather than 3-3-3 in economy,\u00a0making it\u00a0great for couples. The distance to the seat in front (pitch) is 42\u201d which is significantly more than the 38\u201d or so inches than other airlines\u2019 premium economy. With a deep recline, leg support and footrest you have loads of space and you certainly don\u2019t need a bulkhead or exit row to feel comfortable.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7180\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7180\" class=\"wp-image-7180 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2.jpg\" alt=\"Two Vietnam Airlines premium economy seats\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"7180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5292-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nice and spacious<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n< ![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/2512862\/d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/2512862\/d1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956.png\" alt=\"Get your complimentary guide to Vietnam\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(2512862, 'd1247bce-97c9-45a3-9f31-03863b49c956', {}); <\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Now for my Vietnam Airlines food review. It was certainly tasty by plane meal standards, with a Vietnamese and Western option usually offered. The al long haul trip. BA do have better food (with a business class main meal offered), their entertainment (while not as fantastic as other airlines) has considerably more choice than Vietnam Airlines and they also offer noise reducing headphones.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7184\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7184\" class=\"wp-image-7184 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2.jpg\" alt=\"Example of a meal when in premium economy with Vietnam airlines\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"7184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_5321-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7184\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">How does the food compare to other airlines?<\/p><\/div>\n<p>All in all, though these are relatively minor points and there\u2019s no doubt that Vietnam Airlines premium\u00a0economy seat is amazing value for money and for a 12-hour flight that is a real priority! If you&#8217;re looking for direct flights to Vietnam from London Heathrow, Vietnam Airlines is definitely a great option.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. If you&#8217;re still wondering how to select a seat on Vietnam Airlines, yes I did nip back and see Vietnam Airlines economy class. There\u2019s obviously less space but 32\u201d seat pitch, good food and decent service combined with usually amongst the cheapest air fares it\u2019s a great overall deal.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><strong>Inspired? <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>If you\u2019d like to talk to me over the phone, you can always call\u00a0on  <span class=\"InfinityNumber clickable \">020 7924 7133<\/span>\r\n \t. Remember there are absolutely no obligations and we\u2019re here to offer advice for any stage of your holiday planning.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-23a0b79b-891f-418d-b021-49b18f841a56\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><div class=\"destination-nav\" data-country=\"vietnam\"><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<!-- start of ETG Country Guide CTA --> <style type='text\/css'>.country-dnload{margin:100px auto;max-width:1180px;background:#f7f4ee;width:100%;display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:space-evenly}.cdnload-cutout{width:37%;max-width:320px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-color:#f8f4ee;padding:30px;float:none;margin:0;position:relative}#main .country-dnload .cdnload-cutout :first-child,.country-dnload .cdnload-cutout img{margin-bottom:-100px;margin-top:-90px!important}.country-dnload .cdnload-info{width:63%;padding:40px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:nowrap;align-content:center;justify-content:center;align-items:center}.country-dnload .cdnload-info h3{margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:20px;text-align:center;font-size:23px;font-weight:600}.country-dnload .cdnload-info p{color:#051d3d;text-align:center;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;margin-bottom:40px}.clear-button.gold{border:2px solid #b19657;color:#b19657;font-weight:600;max-width:initial;display:inline-block;padding:10px 20px}.clear-button.gold:hover{text-decoration:none;background:#b19657;color:#fff}.cdnload-info a.clear-button.gold{line-height:1em;padding:15px 20px 15px;width:auto}@media (max-width:767px){.cdnload-cutout,.cdnload-info,.country-dnload .cdnload-info{width:100%!important}.country-dnload{flex-direction:column;margin:120px 0 50px}.cdnload-cutout{align-items:flex-start}.cdnload-cutout img{width:100%;margin-bottom:-50px!important}.cdnload-info h3{font-size:20px}}<\/style>\n        <div class='country-dnload'>\n            <a class='cdnload-cutout' href='https:\/\/info.experiencetravelgroup.com\/travel-guide-vietnam'>\n                <img src='\/static_files\/new23\/guides\/Vietnam-Country-Dnload.png' alt='Travel Guide to Vietnam'>\n            <\/a>\n            <div class='cdnload-info'>\n                <h3>CURIOUS TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO VIETNAM<\/h3>\n                <p>\n        Looking for more insider info? Our Curious Traveller\u2019s Guide to Vietnam describes the different regions of Vietnam and the best time of year to book a holiday, as well as our experts\u2019 edit of the best beaches, unmissable sites, and much more.\n        <\/p>\n                <a href='https:\/\/info.experiencetravelgroup.com\/travel-guide-vietnam' class='clear-button gold'>DOWNLOAD NOW<\/a>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <!-- start of ETG Country Guide CTA --> \n        \n<p><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-23a0b79b-891f-418d-b021-49b18f841a56\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><script src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(2512862, '23a0b79b-891f-418d-b021-49b18f841a56', {}); \/\/ ]]><\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being ETG\u2019s resident flight geek, David recently flew with Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy on his trip to Myanmar. Here he shares his rather comfortable experience. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":7543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[216],"coauthors":[1261],"class_list":["post-7159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vietnam","tag-flights"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":18228,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7159"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}