For those who don't know Skytrax awards are basically purchased. Basically you contract them for "consulting" and poof you get a star. Pay for enough "consulting" and you win best in class. This is well documented at this point.
I was already done with Vietravel Airlines after your check-in experience! What a shambolic process you had to endure and the 1hr wait would already have rattled me so much 🤬 Especially having flown Vietjet now myself, I don’t know what on earth the point of this airline is, when Vietjet does everything so efficient, have so many destinations, many different service options and are reliable. Oh well, I guess it won’t take long until they put themself out of business with this kind of service. Thank you for another great review Kevin 🙏🏼
Exactly this. I’ve been flying VJ almost since they were established and never understood the amount of hate they get. For what they are, they’re pretty damn good!
Just rode Vietravel from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. 1.) They cancelled my flight 2 days before and moved me to the next days flight. 2.) They also asked me to sign the limited liability release 3.) They seem to use our flight as a promotional video/ad or something, with one female vietnamese being "served" by the FA and a some photographers taking videos/photos.
Up to your usual totally honest review. It must have cost them so much ❤to achieve the award that they can no longer afford another thing other than water. Keep up the good work, Kevin 😊😊
Thank you for your review. I flew Vietnam Airlines in December 2022 from Da Nang to Incheon. I thought that was a horrific experience. This is a new low.
They are ridiculous in their service and IMHO you were too linient with your scoring. The laughable policy on your luggage and their facist decision to mark it in this manner even without your consent is outrageous. The only highlight of the flight was the breathtaking approach to the destination. Safe travels.
Years ago I used to go to BKK and check-in online before arriving to BKK airport on my return on Thai Airways. There was always a long line for the regular check-in and one check-in for internet check-ins. People would sometimes think I had jumped the queue, because I would just rock on up to the empty kiosk and get my bags checked in immediately and was given a paper boarding pass.
Based on my experience, Viatravel went all out in 2022, bagged all the awards... then decided to cut back in major ways. When I used them from Hanoi to Da Nang the Check - In had the shortest line at the airport and they provided a bag of mixed nuts as a snack... not much but for the same price as Vietjet it was a "deal" back then
Very weird with this limited release procedure. Don't think it's valid without your signature. As always keep up with the good work and thank you for the informative review!
I was on Vietravel on 30th August from SGN-BKK and I will not use them again. Couldn't believe that they fly straight through cumulonimbus cloud while other airlines avoid it at all cost. also my baggage came very late. 40 mins after the arrival.
We were in that same line, too. I told my companion to watch our luggage, and i found out Singapore Airlines' bag drop had very few people in line and was not part of that Vietnam airline. How pissed would i have been to wait in a line i wasn't meant to be in😂
I cant get enough of your content. Honest review with a hint of sarcasm keeps me watching till the end. I wonder if you will get into the banned list like another travel content creator recently and find the one day you might not be welcomed at an IHG hotel ....😅
The limited liability release issue gives me the feeling that the airline is trying to cheat their way out of their responsibility to handle luggage with care. Certainly taking advantage of, as you mentioned, the considerable portion of their clientle who are first time/infrequent travellers. The lengths they are willing to go, insulting passengers for having padlocks on a seemingly well-packed bag, is a very big turnoff
I never believe star ratings as I've found the same airline being great outbound and terrible on the return flight. The ground crew at check are the first to set the tone of the experience, if they try to force rules that don't apply, and I've had from British Airways so it's not just the small guys. Really a padlock means the zip is broken, I thought it meant security from anyone tampering with it. I live under the flight past for SGN and have never heard of Vietravel, nor my Vietnamese wife who travels about 8 times per year. I have friends come by for sundowner beers on my roof garden and never has a Vietravel aircraft been spotted and remarked on. Must check out landing times and put a special watch out for them. Thanks for posting and stay safe. Thumbs up.
Thanks for sharing this random airline. Regarding 4:43 I think it's not marked as limited release. It should have a check mark in the square to have it marked as limited release as far as I know. With LH and KLM it shows the same
08:52, lovely A320 by Lao Airlines... You should come to Laos, but preferably to Luangprabang. Lao Airlines flies their ATR72 to LPQ, however you are better off with Bangkok Airways and their A320 or, for a fraction of the price, Air Asia from DMK.
I’m totally planning to do the same thing on my next trip to Bangkok from Saigon, “just to experience the new airlines lol” But so glad I see this videos now, Sgn airport itself is already boring enough, cannot stand any other delay for more than an hour lol
I flew in January 2024 from Hanoi to BKK using VietTravel. I wasn't asked to sign a waiver. Your experience sounds like a knee jerk reaction by a middle manager in BKK, that was thankfully overruled by someone higher up.
Not just Viettravel....I recently flew a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines called Pacific Airlines from HCM to Phu Quoc. The pilot landing that morning hit the runway at Phu Quoc so hard I am surprised the landing gear didn't collapse.
Gosh Kevin the adventures you go through! Thank you for posting this as it helps travelers like me to be aware of such terrible experiences and airlines. Random question. Is the BKK airport Suvarnabhum or SuvarnabhumI? I always assumed later (given its similarity to the word in Sanskrit and Hindi) but I could be wrong.
Haha The Amazing Race used to be my favorite show like… 15 years ago. As soon as they started a new season and coordinated the flight FOR the contestants, I checked out. At that point may as well be The Amazing Race to the Airport 😂
But did your bag arrive safely though? It flipped my radar when they forced everyone to sign the limited liability release and I was thinking that they routinely damage/lose bags.
I had THE worst experience recently on my first ( and hopefully only ) flight with Air Asia , from Manila tom Cebu , seemed easy , but it was delay after delay for " all " thier flights , and they kept changing the gate also , luggage issues also, very incompetent ....I had Air Asia for my return flght to Manila also, the day before my departure I received email from Air Asia stating "8"hour delay for my return flight , I immediately got online and booked a flight with Cebu Philippines airlines and had zero issues ....
To be fair, that's Air Asia Philippines which is known to be the... let's say least reliable of the portfolio of airlines, which are all run separately. Air Asia Malaysia is a well oiled machine.
That is very very (very) far from the truth. Last year Bangkok had over 22m visitors, more than any other city. Hong Kong didn't come close to the top 10.
I think that's all can they be ranked to top 5 Airlines when they scam there customers I don't think Skytrax actually gave them the award the liers are not very good at it at all
Generally the lightest quality non-zip bags are at least 5kg. I fly a lot of low cost airlines and try to check in bags as little as possible- so for my longer trips, a lighter zip bag is a must. I have one non-zip bag which is nice for short leisure trips.
They’re less than half the size they were meant to be by now. I think we’ve passed the growing pains phase and have already hit the “cut costs because capital is running low” phase…
Worst airline ever They cancelled the ticket right 1 day before the plan, and even sent the message at late night. -> I tried to contact to the service, but no one get & calls more than 3 hours, and i gave up. -> I complained in the airport, and the staffs are never say sorry, and they keep telling the price will be refunded with no any offer. -> They don't refunded for many days and i sent the email, and they replied that wait until 15 business days -> Even 22 business days passed but they still not refunded the ticket they cancelled. This airline is horrible and so stupid management. They don't care about the customer or take care the complaints which caused by their faults. I hate Vietjet with similar issue, and i tried this airline, and they doing the same shits. Trust me, its worth to use Vietnam airline with pay more money.
Just. Come home from saigon Vietnam Air line,going. Out was. Fine. The. Return. Was. Terrible. Premium economy BIG. WAST OF. MONIE , THE. stewards ,men &. Women . Let the economy passengers. Walk through the isle to the use the toilet. Seat. Was broken. Food was burnt. Dry , Stay. Well. Away ,