VIETJET AIR A321 Economy Class 🇻🇳⇢🇹🇭【4K Trip Report Saigon to Phuket】How Vietjet Changed Vietnam
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- What's it like to fly internationally on VIETJET Air in Economy Class on their Airbus A321s? Check out this 4K Trip Report & Honest Unsponsored Review on board a VIETJET A321 from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket. (Not your average trip reports, let's chat about how Vietjet is a cultural force in Vietnam!).
Hi there! My name is Kevin and today we will take a deep dive into the full VIETJET Air experience on their workhorse A321. We will check out the airport experience in Saigon, the Apricot Lounge, board via the stairs and enjoy some beautiful views as we talk about Vietjet's impact on daily life in Vietnam. Finally, we'll wrap it all up with The Flip Flop Score.
🚨The graphic erroneously states thìs review as being filmed in February 2022. It is in fact from February 2023.
💎 Support on PATREON!: www.bit.ly/tfft_patreon
💰 VENMO Tip Jar: @kevin_tfft
🧳 Shop ALL of my Gear on AMAZON: www.amazon.com/shop/theflipfl...
💰 Flight Fare
Fare Paid: $118.77
Class: Economy (Extra Legroom)
Inclusions: 25kg Check in, 7kg Carry on, Exit Row Seat
📽 Next 5 Videos
⇢ 22 Apr: (🇹🇭Ep. 2/12) JW Marriott Phuket, Thailand
⇢ 27 Apr: (🇹🇭Ep. 3/12) SALA Mai Khao Phuket, Thailand
⇢ 29 Apr: (🇹🇭Ep. 4/12) COMO Point Yamu Phuket, Thailand (❤️ A MUST Watch!)
⇢ 04 May: (🇹🇭Ep. 5/12) Marriott Nai Yang Phuket, Thailand
⇢ 06 May: (🇹🇭Ep. 6/12) Bangkok Airways ATR72 Phuket to Koh Samui
⏰ Typical Posting Times:
8/9:00 (US-EST), 14:00 (UK), 18:30 (India), 20:00 (VN), 23/00:00 (AEST)
📺 My Other Channel
🛫 ROAM ABOVE (Extended Inflight Videos): www.bit.ly/tfft_RA
-- Video Chapters --
0:00 Flight Preview
00:10 Intro
00:25 Welcome to Saigon
00:48 Flight Info & Channel Scoring Spread
01:00 International Terminal
01:10 Check in Tip
01:35 Heading to the Lounge
01:52 Apricot Lounge Tour
02:20 Vietjet’s Impact on Vietnam
02:52 Plane Spotting
03:23 Heading to the Gate & The Southwest Effect
03:58 Carry On Baggage Hack (no Guarantee!)
04:25 Bus Apron Views
04:35 The Rise of Vietjet
05:55 Boarding our A321
06:10 Today’s Flight Stats
07:00 Extra Legroom Seats
07:20 Taxi to the Runway
07:45 Line up, Spool up & Take off
08:12 Airport Stats
08:38 Our Route Today
08:55 Vietjet’s Route Map Detailed Look
09:45 Changing the Domestic Market
10:05 Flying over Thailand
10:45 Approaching Phuket
11:15 Final Approach over Mai Khao Beach
11:34 Landing
11:50 Taxi to Gate
12:35 Heading to an Insane Immigration Line
13:24 The Flip Flop Score
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that's the way I like it!
#vietjetair #tripreport #phuket
Wow. I flew on this flight in august last year, only 50$. The view when approaching HKT was wonderful. Love Vietjet. Before Vietjet was founded, flying is only for rich people. VJ has given flying opportunity for most people in Vietnam. VJ is the only Vietnamese airline to have a subsidiary in foreign country (Thai Vietjet). That makes them a great and successful airlines to me. Many people complain VJ's service but I think it totally worth the price
Traveling last year was much much (much) cheaper than this year haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I love how you find a way to improve your content for us every time with your unbiased reviews
Thanks very much!
Love your work Kevin !! Keep it up mate !!
Appreciate that!
Can’t beat the cheesy Vietjet Air boarding music. Also if you land at Saigon they have a special song from the 60s about how lovely Saigon is which is pretty cool.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Ah my favourite low cost carrier in Asia, i can't put my finger on why, they're just good! Keep up the fantastic videos, they're really appreciated.
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Your content is clean neat and clear ! 😊 just to the point . It’s nice
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
You seem to be have lived in Vietnam for a while I assume, cause your pronounciation of the city names was so natural like.
And as always loved your review! ✨
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
great vid, very enjoyable :)
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
Thank for video! I'm flying with HKT-SGN on next month.
Welcome to Phuket kevin! I can't wait for review of the hotel in Phuket.
I already have multiple on the channel, fyi ;)
smashing flights from melbourne, so your review will be the reason why I'll choose. thanks Kevin
I don’t know what smashing flights means but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless 😅
Absolutely agree. I am not a fan of Vietjet or have flown more than once. However, I think Vietjet opens travel opportunity for people who can't afford to fly VN Airlines and that's great for the country from accessibility standpoint and competition. This will make Vietnam Airlines knocks the price a bit down. I live in Delta's hub in the States and the pricing structure is crazy. Glad to see it's changed in Vietnam.
Appreciate a good review, Kevin.
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🩴
What a great view from the lounge..
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Setting the bar AGAIN!!!! Top video! Congratulations FFT!
Thanks for watching 🩴
Great video as always! I guess you've gotten lucky if 72 minutes was your longest immigration line, last June I waited almost 3 hours to clear immigration at the Oslo Airport after my Norse flight as there were only 3 desks open for all non-EU passports!
Yah, I mentioned it was my longest until that time haha. Had a three hour wait in Narita more recently! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
What an incredible network! Very impressed by the growth of air travel in the far east. Yo have now made me very curious about bubble tea though 🤣
When half of south east Asia has Type II Diabetes ten years from now, I'm sure there will be many case studies written about bubble tea haha. But in all seriousness, it's amazing how fast a drink with no other benefits than it's flavor (no caffeine like coffee, no antioxidants like green tea) can completly sweep a nation off it's feet lol. Personally, I can't stand the stuff. Thanks as always for your support 🙏🏻
Thanks for making us happy Kevin. Love from India 🇮🇳 ♥.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hey Kevin! Love your channel!
I know you didn't quite enjoy your experience at the capella bangkok, but do you have plans on visiting the capella in hanoi anytime soon?
Likely in 2024, but won’t be making it up to Hanoi this year.
Had a small Vietjet flight last year, was a pleasant experience considering the price.
Thanks for watching 🩴
It valuable info for me
Thanks for watching 🩴
I just ran into the same surprise soem days ago- the lounge change in HCM is rerally a shame! I liked the Saigonese better. During my stay in saigon i made sure to stay in the Hyatt since your review inspired me to do so. I have to say, you have been spot on! The service is truly beyond everything i have experienced in years. But i had also some issues like the fact that there was no pillow menu available. I will come back and see if they improve on that. And OMG are you right about Da Lat! I used the bus once, brutal :D Since vietjet is in the market, i love to fly there just for a weekend. The impact was hughe! And i loooove Da Lat.
Now, if only we could get some truly beautiful hotels in Dalat, my long weekends would be occupied for quite a while! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft I will take the Crazy House over any other place that will ever emerge in this beautiful city. But you are right, the views and landscape certainly could host an upscale hotel as well.
10:30
Those were some really beautiful clouds.
Certainly are!
Generally I love low cost airlines. You get to your destination and you can just prebook a meal. Like the panear tikka sandwich in Indigo is epic. But the problem is when the flights are above 6 hours then I prefer a normal airlines. As always Keep the great work. Love your videos
Yeah, my cut off is a little lower than 6 hours haha. But I appreciate them being there for the longer flights to keep the full service carriers pricing in check! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
This is great... I have a Vietjet video coming next week as well. I found them to be alright. What I'd expect of a low cost carrier. I'm curious to try them on their A330 between Australia and India. I saw some connection fares so that's for me very curious.
You'll sooner find me riding in a cargo container than flying any 3-3-3 A330 (or 3-4-3 A350) in economy haha.
@@tfft hahahaha I've survived Air Asia X A330 in economy. I'll be alright, I think! 🤣
Thank You✈️
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Thanks
VIETJET AIR Is Another Airlines Has Not Flown With.Great Trip Report
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Thanks for your video! I flew Thai Vietjet from BK to Phuket last Nov it was quite good compare AirAsia! I hope you will visit Japan anytime soon!
I was just there a couple weeks ago 😉
Wow, I can't believe that immigration line! I went to Phuket in July last year, and there was hardly anyone there. I was out in under 10 minutes.
Thanks for watching 🩴
Is there a way for a fast pass for those immigration lines at both airports? E.g. at Saigon airport you can buy a fast track walkthrough when entering Vietnam. Not sure if something similar exists for outbound of Vietnam and inbound Phuket.
I’m sure there are services but insane lines are the exception not the rule.. so I don’t see a need for it. Thanks for watching 🩴
I’m not a fan of low cost carriers and if I search hard enough I can usually find a legacy carrier with good fares. But you’re right. I saw what Cebu pacific did to the Philippines market. Hate flying them but they keep prices down on the other carriers.
Yupp, if given the chance of flying Vietjet or Vietnam Airlines for nearly the same price- I’d likely choose Vietnam Airlines… but the only reason they’re near the same price is Vietjet’s existence to begin with. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I sat in the same exit row seat as you when I flew Vietjet from Hanoi to Taipei around 5 years ago. I got up to get something from my carry on and turned around to find a woman had colonised my seat and was reaching out to hand me my personal items while smiling sweetly. She was promptly turfed out by a crew member. Nice try on her part though! 😂
Oh she would have had quite the death stare from me lol.
Fun and interesting video as always, Kevin! That line at immigration looked brutal....72 minutes is horrific and not a good way to say "welcome to Thailand!" What intrigues me are the two El Al aircraft in HKT! I wonder what they were doing there. Any ideas??
They normally run the route from TLV 4x a week and during winter add 2-3x per week but not with the same timing. So I think just by chance caught them on the ground together. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Just a wild guess...bringing Isreali tourists to Phuket 😂 😂 😂
Thank you so much for this video. May I ask how you went about booking your flight? I’m trying book a return flight from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City and VietJet’s website keeps saying no flights found despite any day I choose and other websites such as edream are giving me the option to book. Is the website glitchy? I can’t figure out what the issue is.
I book directly through their website all of the time, multiple times per year and have never had a problem... since like 8 years ago, at least. Thanks for watching 🩴
I'll be taking this same route in 2 weeks, hopefully the immigration queues have died down by then! I may bitch about VietJet (as expected), but I appreciate that they offer nonstops to a lot of places I want to go to, if the flight isn't catastrophically delayed then I'm not fussed. Even the lack of legroom is a minor inconvenience if it's a short trip.
I’ve heard that recently Phuket immigration has been much better… Saigon on the other hand… lol. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
They do have service to kazakhstan as well, but only depart from Nha Trang (CXR). Almaty and Astana.
Last I heard I thought they were just running as tour group charters. Perhaps it's changed since then. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hi, I've just booked Vietjet from Tokyo to Hanoi and I can see there are "luxury seats" which are in the first 5 rows on the A321. Any idea what the difference is between those seats and the other normal economy seats?
2-5 are standard seats. You’re simply paying extra to be up front.
I wish they'd bring back the FAs in bathing suits. My go-to LCC here in Thailand is Air Asia for anything under 4 hours. New planes, pretty good on time performance, and good prices.
I'm guessing they didn't want any more government fines lol.
FA's on bikinis!!?? WOW, no wonder they are doing well...
Like the quiz ! The first one must be Marriott. Is the last word insane ? !! 😀
This video is years old and I haven’t the slightest idea at this point lol.
I feel your pain ….. I had over a 1 hr wait on line at immigration at Jakarta International Airport 😢
Wait until you hear about my recent three hour wait at Narita lol
phuket had airbridge, i had to always go by bus to the planes
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
artist and song name featured on this video clip? and where to get it.... thanks....
All of my music is from Artlist. The exact song title I don't remember off the top of my head. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Customs at Shanghai was crazy.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
The VietJet route network is stupid impressive.
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
hi, I wanted to ask you what you think is the best airline for a flight from Saigon to Singapore?
Singapore Airlines, for sure. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft thank you for the answer, I am going to Singapore in September, but I found a very nice offer from Prague via Istanbul with turkish airlines in business class to Saigon for 1700 euros return and all I have to do is find a nice connecting flight from Saigon to Singapore
Btw how many KrisFlyer and aeroplane points do u have?
I don’t keep points/miles with airlines. I only transfer in when necessary to book a flight.
@@tfft Then how do u afford to almost always be in bc or above
Credit card earnings, sign up bonuses, transfer bonuses, etc.
@@tfft Nice!
do you know what their official website is, finding 2-3 sites and confused
vietjetair.com
Kevin, have you ever called the customer care number of Vietjet due to a cancellation or rescheduling?
Not for a cancellations but yes I’ve called them many times… why?
@@tfft I've had very bad experiences. Most of the time they're unresponsive. And their communication if flights are rescheduled is very poor.
Call the Vietnamese hotlines, wait times are short and things get done quickly.
Thanks Kevin for pointing out the Apricot Lounge for Priority Pass Holder . I will check it out in January 2024
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I think you give low-cost carriers more grace than most would, a max two hour delay for the number of times you have flown with them would have to be pure luck. Usually, it takes one bad experience that puts people off and can influence many 👍
Honestly, I think it's all about expectations. LCCs are a means of transport, nothing more. If I book an Uber for a 15 minute ride, but they arrive 5 minutes later than the app suggests, it likely wouldn't matter one bit, probably still going to give 5-Stars and tip. Similarly, if I have a three hour LCC flight and it's delayed 30 minutes... eh 🤷🏼♂️... LCCs and Restaurants in my opinion are the two industries that suffer the most from very anecdotal bad wraps (as you mentioned).
Took me so long when trying to book with them to see why the price went from like 36 usd each to over 100 then I saw the amount of taxes 😱 I still haven't bit the bullet and paid yet haha
Typical price display style for LCCs in SE Asia. Thanks for watching 🩴
@@tfft it's crazy isn't it, there's a European airline Ryanair and they're similar but their price shown is all in! No problem I enjoy your videos :)
Love me some low-cost carriers for short-haul flights. Unfortunately, Vietjet isn’t one of them. Something about their seat shape is just making by back hurt. Never been more uncomfortable in my life. Never again. 😂
Yeah I’m not sure I’d be able to choose them for a 5 hour flight but short ones my back doesn’t seem to mind so much. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Man, I just realized I haven't been anywhere in 4-5 months
Except… where you are right now, I hope 😉
@@tfft Well i live here so.....
Top quality video as usual, although I do prefer the 5* airline and hotel reviews
08:38 nothing to do with ETOPS, simply a lack of established ATS Route Network and boundary points between Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh and Bangkok airspace. Historically there's just not been sufficient traffic flow in that direction to warrant it. See Skyvector
Great to know about the routing! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I have lots of horrible experiences flying Vietjet domestically, and so do many customers. However, people keep complaining and can't help flying with them again and again due to attractive prices. I wish there woule be more LCC in Vietnam so that we have more choices.
Three LCCs and a hybrid carrier isn’t enough?! Lol
@@tfft Pacific used to be a good alternative to Vietjet when they was Jetstar.
72 mins is nothing for immigration, when I visited Bali in 2022, the immigration was 3 hrs long!!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
The Boeing 737 while good for 2/3 hours, anything above 5 hours is hard work
...this wasn't a 737 lol
In any lounge my priorities are: shower, shower, and shower, in that order.
You would hate my airport then, 5 lounges no shower
So if you just left your house 30 minutes ago, your priority at the lounge is to take a shower? Strange travel habits you have lol.
Phuket in particular hasn’t done a great job in managing tourism in the area. The line at immigration is the tip of the iceberg. It seems the area has become a victim of its own success. Like you, I am a traveler having visited 50 countries so I have some perspective.
I'd have to disagree actually. The long immigration line was a one off for me. In my experience Phuket has far better infrastructure throughout the island than it's "peers" in the region, leading to experiences that are generally more seamless than those in Phu Quoc, Penang, Samui, Bali, Langkawi, etc. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Agree, they have opened up a lot and great to make affordable travel. However I avoid them like the plague. Terrible seat pitch, always late or cancelled. This is in Thailand, maybe it is an issue with the Thai operations? Also when they are late, they do not care, the reports are not good
Yeah Thai Vietjet is run as a completely separate airline. I’ll be flying them in June so it’ll be interesting to compare. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Ahhh good to know, did not realise they were separate.
总觉得博主的中文应该很好😂
...why?
Love Vietjet their slogan should be the same as Air Asia NOW EVERYONE CAN FLY
Just can’t see how they can make money with such low prices some say the lady that owns it is using it for money laundering
I always try early flights as they usually are on time .
Flew last week to BKK for 8:35 am got to airport at 5:30 and check in was already a nightmare but the immigration was the worst I ever seen .
Immigration line wrapped around the airport and main reason was there were only 40 % immigration officers on the rest started at 7:10 am
So I just barely made it on time and I even snuck in line and cheated.
Will be going 4 hours early now because of immigration lines
Vietjet was on time perfect and cheap
I would agree about the slogan, but considering the bad blood between VJ and AK I doubt that’ll be happening anytime soon haha.
As for the business, Chị Thảo has plentyyyyyy of other smaller lower profile businesses that she could use for laundering… if that’s what she was doing… which I’m not saying she is lol. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Vietjet is managed by a smart woman
Sure is!
I dare you to fly
Singapore-Frankfurt on scoot IN NORMAL ECONOMY
I dare you to find any other airline that sells a ticket for as cheap as Scoot does on the route lol. You get what you pay for. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Lol impossible
@@tfft Id you do a trip report on logan air westray to papa westray this is the only thing we will hewr
Welc Ok were done
Love the Viet Cong color palette lol!
Also known as simply, a Vietnam color palate...lol.
So "budget" that Vietjet hasn't got money to pay for the leasing costs of their fleet since 2021. The owner FW Aviation has now take possession of the jets to sell or lease to other customers. Vietjet now says that FW Aviation owns the jets but can't take them out of Vietnam. A court in the UK has order Vietjet to stop interfering with FW Aviation taking the jets out of Vietnam. If this is Vietjet way of doing business it might as well shut down the airlines and let everybody go home. Who is going to do business with Vietjet or any airlines in Vietnam?
It sounds like you have a limited understand of how the dispute came to be, as well as the endless list of airlines (full service and LCC alike) around the globe who declared bankruptcy or received billions in government capital injections during COVID. Neither of those apply to VJ as the only government support they received from the government were discounts on landing fees and environmental fees.
Sorry this review totally missed the mark, you didnt show any of the inside of the aircraft nor the service or the food
So, when I boarded, walked to my seat, showed my seat, showed my legroom… was that not inside the aircraft? Lol. It’s an LCC and I don’t like repeating content. This trip report, as noted in the description (literally says, “not your average trip report” in the opening paragraph), is about Vietjet’s influence on Vietnam. I have another VJ report on the channel.
$10000
🧐
希望中国也出现一家像越捷一样的航空公司。搅动一家死板的中国航空市场。中国这么大的航空市场，现在都没有一家有竞争力的廉价航空。即使有一些号称廉价航空的公司，普通民众感觉只是服务廉价了，票价根本不廉价。祝越捷航空越来越好。
I agree, domestic fares in China are crazy compared to Southeast Asia.
I hate checkins at Vietjet, they are the ONLY ones who ever give me grief about my carry ons, the ONLY ONES in years of travel
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
😭😭vietjet...worst experience...went from delhi to bali and back to delhi in February 2023...bad experience... absolutely 0 legroom , and average food quality...
I'm surprised there were no better options. Personally the only LCC in the region I'd ever book a connecting flight with would be AirAsia. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
好视频
travelling with VietJet was a bad choice. 乘坐越捷航空旅行是一个糟糕的选择
Thanks for watching 🩴
travelling with VietJet was a bad choice.
Disagree.
horrible customer service and they lie. changed my ( paid and confirmed) flight HAN-SGN. Would not pay for lounge for 1 flight changed 3 times. I asked why? Weather in HCMC, yet VN AIR FLY and flew hourly. Shameful treatment. Never again.
If a delayed flight with no lounge access is the worst you’ve had since Covid began, I’d count your blessings lol.
The weather of the airport you’re flying to is only 1/3 of the equation. Perhaps your inbound aircraft was caught in a blizzard.
@The Flip Flop Traveller pre-covid. horrible airline in Vietnam. Viet air was flying the same route - hourly. I asked them. Anyway, ThaiViet was good. "We" figure aircraft mechanical issues, never were we told. 3 other flights of Vietjet did take off at their time. Poor customer service.
Vietjet is the worst airline in Vietnam according to people what do you mean
Wow, that was deep.
One of the worst airlines
Insightful.
This is my take based on my experiences. VietJet was pretty good prior to COVID. But after COVID I have had nothing but terrible experiences (I've flown 4 times after COVID, 1 international and 3 domestic) and I will never fly with VietJet again if I can help it. Why? Rude customer service at the airport, always long delays, often multiple delays, cancelled flights. My time is worth much more than saving a few dollars. VietJet has become a joke in my view. I thought I had a string of bad luck, so I began asking others about VietJet and they stated the same things. I think VietJet is headed down the path of Nok Air. Just terrible. Again, they were much better before COVID but something happened and it's clearly noticeable to myself and everyone I've asked. Finally, I think it's interesting to consider why VN has restricted Bangkok Air routes into VN. My guess is that it would decimate VietJet's business. I'm going to given Bamboo Air a try. I've heard nothing but good things.
Who says VN has restricted PG’s routes?
My lunch is more than 7 kilos 😂
Well that's an easy fix then, just eat it before boarding 😂
This airline is known as second class airline … the sears are not good as well as the service , and most annoying is the fact there are no business class in the most domestic flies
No, it’s known as a Low Cost Carrier lol. There are no domestic flights in Vietnam over 2 hours. Where’s the need for business class…?
Thanks
Thanks for the support 🙏🏻
Well, welcome back to Phuket Kevin.
It was great to be there as always!
High speed reply. Means, your in my time zone, or enjoy wifi on board an aircraft.
Or I just reply to all comments in the first two hours of a video publishing very quickly 😅. Just replied to someone from Helsinki also, but I’m not in Finland.
As always, most likely, somewhere in Asia :-)
A month ago you posted from the Marriott Nai Yang Beach, my original home base nearly 20 years ago. A time where this hotel was called the Aramas or so. Back then this beach was so pristine, untouched and natural that my daily walks have been joined only by the wild Buffalos. I miss that time. Just yesterday I had dinner with my staffs to celebrate my birthday. Still, even I have relocated for work, this is the beach with the most minimal changes in terms of hotel developments and landscape changes. All other west side beaches of the island have changed rapidly to cope with the increasing amount of tourists. Just from March 2020 until July 2nd 2021 those beaches have been completely empty.