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This review is from my flight taken in November 2023. Since my flight in Nov 2023, the airline has been in financial trouble with the Vietnamese tax authorities. The recent exit ban on the airline has relegated them to domestic routes only.
After a weekend in Bangkok, it was time to hop over to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to connect with family for a few days before returning to Canada. Many airlines fly between Bangkok (BKK) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), from low-cost carriers to legacy airlines. For my 2-hour flight, I tried Bamboo Airways, a regional Vietnamese airline. Thanks to the partnership between Bamboo Airways and Aeroplan, I could have booked the flight for 15,000 Aeroplan points. However, I noticed that the cash rates were reasonable. I decided to “splurge” $263 and book directly into the Business Class cabin, which included standard recliner seats on the Airbus A320 aircraft.
Bamboo Airways A320
While my tickets were booked well in advance, I wasn’t as diligent with the Vietnam e-Visa, which I had applied for 2 days before my flight. Unfortunately, with the weekend at play, I wasn’t sure if my e-visa would be ready by check-in time. The other option was to apply on arrival, requiring a physical passport photo and exact cash. Thankfully, I had both of these, so I made my way to the airport, hoping the eVisa would come through. Just in time, 90 minutes before the flight, my eVisa appeared in my inbox. I was happy to be flying in Business Class, allowing me to use airport priority services. I quickly stopped at the Miracle Lounge before heading to the boarding gate.
Fast Track lanes at BKK
Miracle Lounge, while basic, offered all the necessary amenities for a short stay before flights. The seating layout was crammed, but thankfully, I was one of three people in the lounge at the time. The food offerings were surprisingly good, with fresh hot food served along with a decent selection of drinks.
Miracle Lounge BKK
Miracle Lounge – seating and layout
Miracle Lounge BKK – hot food options
Miracle Lounge BKK – Bar
The boarding area had a beautiful display of a traditional Thai temple, a popular spot for family pictures and selfies. Besides that, the gate area was unremarkable, with several seats in a natural sun-lit area.
BKK Gate area
BKK Gate Area – Waiting to Board
Boarding commenced promptly, and I was the only one in the Business Class line. My first impressions of the cabin were positive, as the seats looked clean and sharp. The single-aisle aircraft had a 2-2 seat configuration in Business Class and a 3-3 seat configuration in Economy cabin. The cabin crew was very formal in their greetings, focusing on being professional rather than chatty or friendly with the passengers. The recliner seats were comfortable, offering enough width and leg room to stretch out. Business Class cabin did not have any IFE system, instead they were equipped with old school monitors that hung from the ceiling and played a movie for all passengers.
Bamboo Airways – Business and Economy cabins
Bamboo Airways Business Class Recliner Seats
Shortly after settling into my seat, I was given the option of coconut water or orange juice for a welcome drink. The coconut water was delicious and accompanied by a cold towel, an equally refreshing way to kickstart the journey. Unfortunately, the food served onboard fell short horribly as I picked stuffed buns, which turned out to be dry and crusty. They tasted as bad as they looked.
Welcome drink and Cold towel
Bamboo Airways Business Class Meal
Snack and IFE
For a two-hour flight, the seat and cabin comfort set the mark, while the food was a disaster, with the exception of the coconut water. For $263, Bamboo Airways Business Class was a nice ride, but I doubt I will pick them again for any future trips to or from Vietnam.
Other posts from this trip:
Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class, Doha to Bangkok
