Review of Vietnam Airlines' Premium Economy Class Experience

Unharnessed, Unmuffled, Bold Review

7.5 out of 10 Stars

28 January, 2025

Jack "The Aviator" Thompson

Vietnam Airlines - Pushing the Envelope in Premium Economy

Route Flown:

SGN - SYD

Flight Number:

VN773

Seat Number:

14G

Date of Flight:

December 22, 2024

Vietnam Airlines, a Southeast Asian titan hidden in plain sight, is one of the region's largest carriers — and it's made some noise on the long-haul scene. With a steady focus on domestic routes, Vietnam Airlines leverages its 101-million-strong population, boasting over 1,000 weekly domestic flights. In recent years, though, it's quietly made its mark on intercontinental travel, showcasing Southeast Asian hospitality to the world.

This ride took us on an 8-year-old Airbus A350-900, the workhorse of their long-haul fleet. Besides the 787-9 Dreamliner, the A350-900 has been the backbone of VN's long-haul fleet, serving destinations like San Francisco and Paris, while also chugging medium-haul routes to cities like Seoul, Sydney, and Shanghai.

Skinny-hipped and flexing its muscles, Vietnam Airlines' A350-900 fleet boasts 14 aircraft, with two Premium Economy configurations. Four aircraft cram into a cozy 3-3-3 layout, offering a "Forward Economy" experience, best for short and medium-haul routes. The remaining 10 aircraft stretch out in a more spacious 2-4-2 layout, typically deployed on long-haul flights like today's record-breaking 8-hour red-eye to Sydney.

Stepping into the Premium Economy cabin on this bird, we were greeted by generous legroom (38 inches!), wide seats and a frame-worthy 15-degree seat recline, complete with a raisable footrest. This is easily one of the most comfortable airplane seats I've ever encountered, making for a soothing and relaxing 8.5-hour ride.

The Premium Economy seat also boasts a robust, stowable tray table hidden inside one of the armrests, for when your hunger strikes. Above, you'll find call lights and personal reading lights. No personal air vents are provided on this aircraft, but fear not, it may just be a standard feature of the A350.

A Brush with Serendipity

A near-empty seat next to me on this flight offered some extra legroom, making the journey down under a breeze.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Attention Sky-Trotters, it's Vietnamese Airlines we're talking about here, so expect the exceptional hospitality you'd find at a spa retreat instead of a passenger plane. The stewardesses were warm and welcoming from the get-go, extending their professionalism and kindness during every interaction, be it during meal service or throughout the flight.

A moment of hullabaloo before takeoff saw a larger-sized passenger seeking the bulkhead's spacious legroom. The crew swiftly took note, and, post takeoff, arranged a smooth switch for the passenger, a thoughtful and compassionate gesture that set the tone for the flight.

Speaking of compassion, there was a minor mix-up with my seat assignment. I requested a window seat, and although my request wasn't fully understood at first, post takeoff, a stewardess returned to offer the change-an effort that impressed the hell out of me.

Hospitable Heroes

One of the standout aspects of the Vietnam Airlines experience is the exceptional hospitality, not only to me, but to all passengers in the Premium Economy cabin. The crew's dedication to ensuring each passenger has a top-shelf experience is a hallmark of their exemplary service.

The crew was diligent in offering hand towels at every opportunity, a service I appreciated a whole lot. I can be a clean-freak at times, and I deeply appreciated this service pre-boarding, pre-meal and even after awaking from my nap.

Supper Stuffed

Offered two meals on this flight — one shortly after takeoff and another before landing — passengers were given two meal options for the supper, which was more a midnight snack than a late dinner:

Vietnamese Braised Pork with Galangal and Fish Sauce, Steamed Rice, Mixed Asian Vegetables
Buttered Spaghetti with Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and Vegetables

Feeling a tad devilish, I opted for the Western selection, a rarity for me, as I usually favor the Oriental Asian options. This was a choice I didn't regret. My meal fell short of Business-class standards, but it was entertainingly delicious with flavor combinations that made me want to scoff down every last morsel.

The appetizer, an iceberg salad, was adequate, and the dessert, a sweet slice of heaven, was the perfect sweet conclusion to a long day.

Every meal tray includes a warm bread roll, fresh fruit slices, and a choice of soft drinks, juices, or alcoholic beverages.

Sunrise Served

In the wee hours of morning, the cabin lighting on our A350 brightened as the crew began distributing menus and taking breakfast orders in the Premium Economy cabin.

Breakfast options included:

Vietnamese Sticky Rice with Mashed Mung Bean, Roasted Chicken, Coconut, and Five-Spice
Frittata with Bell Peppers and Potatoes, Grilled Pork Sausage, Sautéed Spinach, and Grilled Tomato

Fueled up and refreshed, I opted for the latter, which was a filling choice that did not disappoint. The frittata, packed with its listed ingredients, was deliciously savory, with the potatoes acting as the star of the show. The pork sausages were decent, while the grilled tomato added a touch of Western zest to the meal.

Screen Time

Each of the 36 Premium Economy seats on the aircraft features a 10.6" entertainment screen, an IFE remote located below the armrest, a personal power outlet, and USB ports for charging handheld devices.

The entertainment selection was extensive, particularly for local Vietnamese content, with a decent variety of international movies and music also available. If it's a Korean movie or two that gets your motor running, rest assured you'll find them here. With the flight lasting 8.5 hours, I had plenty of time to enjoy every minute of the 100-minute Korean movie Love Reset.

Now, while the in-flight map was adequate for providing necessary flight information (2D geographical map, cruise speed, altitude, etc.), I think a Heads-Up Display or perhaps even live cameras would elevate VN's IFE offering from great to absolutely incredible.

The Premium Economy lavatories were separate from those in other cabins and were exceptionally clean throughout the flight. I was pleased with the crew's attention to detail, as they frequently used a floor towel to clear water droplets after passenger use — a small but considerate gesture.

Amenities such as razors, toothbrushes, and hand cream were readily available in the lavatory compartments for passengers to use at any time during the flight.

I'm sorry to report that not all Vietnam Airlines' flights are equipped with Wi-Fi, and that was the case for my flight today. Fortunately, this red-eye flight was long enough for me to get my beauty sleep, and the comfortable seat made the time fly (pun intended).

Bang for Your Buck

Comparing the market for the SGN-SYD route, Vietnam Airlines is the only full-service carrier (FSC) running non-stop flights on this route. Competing with low-cost carriers like VietJet Air and Jetstar, VN provides the most suitable product for long-haul travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney.

As an FSC, their pricing is often comparable to the premium classes of their budget competitors — SkyBoss from VietJet and Business from Jetstar. Despite a small price increase over economy, the significant upgrades in space, service, and dining make Premium Economy a "sweet spot" for travelers seeking a step up without breaking the bank.

In summary, Vietnam Airlines' Premium Economy experience on the Airbus A350-900 is worth its weight in gold on long-haul travel. With a few minor flaws in certain aspects of the hard product, such as the lack of WiFi, the soft product, and specifically hospitality, set a very high standard for my future perceptions and reviews of flights on full-service carriers. Fact!

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Comments

Don't be shy, share your thoughts and be the first to comment!

Vietnam Airlines, known for its expansive reach in the Southeast Asian industry, has recently made significant strides in intercontinental travel, giving a taste of Southeast Asian hospitality to the world.
The A350-900 aircraft in Vietnam Airlines' long-haul fleet, equipped with a 2-4-2 layout in its Premium Economy cabin, offers a comfortable and relaxing travel experience, especially on long-haul flights.
The exceptional hospitality and customer service provided by Vietnam Airlines' crew, particularly in the Premium Economy cabin, is a hallmark of the airline's commitment to ensuring a top-shelf experience for all passengers.