Detailed Evaluation of Vietnam Airlines' Premium Economy Class

Southeast Asia's Hidden Gem 🚀

Hit the skies with Vietnam Airlines and dive into a world-class flying experience!

Date: 28th January, 2025

Author: Nicholas Ling

Route: SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) to SYD (Sydney)

Flight: Vietnam Airlines - VN773

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

A gem hidden in Southeast Asia's sky, Vietnam Airlines is one of the region's largest carriers, quietly carving out a niche in long-haul travel. Historically, this airline focused on domestic routes, boasting over 1,000 weekly flights to cater to Vietnam's 101-million strong population. Yet, in recent years, it's peeled back the curtains of Southeast Asian hospitality to the world.

Our ride today is an 8-year-old Airbus A350-900, registered VN-A891, delivered to Vietnam Airlines in December 2016. Together with the 787-9 Dreamliner, the A350-900 has served as the backbone of their long-haul fleet, shuttling between destinations like Paris and San Francisco, while also handling medium-haul routes to cities like Seoul, Sydney, and Shanghai.

Vietnam Airlines' fleet of A350-900s consists of 14 aircraft, with two Premium Economy configurations. The first setup, used for short- and medium-haul routes, deploys a 3-3-3 layout that resembles Economy, offering what we'd call a "Forward Economy" experience. The remaining 10 aircraft, typically deployed on long-haul flights lasting 8 hours or more, boast a more spacious 2-4-2 layout, such as the one featured on today's flight to Sydney.

Stepping onto the aircraft, you'll be greeted by the comforting presence of generous legroom (38 inch pitch) and width, a remarkable 15-degree seat recline, and a raisable footrest—all combining for a seriously relaxing 8.5-hour red-eye. The Premium Economy seat also comes equipped with a sturdy, stowable tray table, call lights, and personal reading lamps. Unfortunately, the aircraft doesn't come fitted with personal air vents, a feature common across other A350s on competitor airlines.

Fortunately, we had an empty seat next to us, offering extra wiggle-room and an open sensation throughout the flight.

Beyond the seat itself, Vietnam Airlines' hospitality and service distinguish it from the crowd. The crew greeted us warmly from the moment we boarded and consistently went the extra mile, demonstrating professionalism and kindness in every interaction. One memorable instance involved a larger-sized passenger, who was rehoused in a bulkhead seat for the extra legroom after takeoff, following a prompt call from the crew. Another stewardess offered to swap me for a window seat during takeoff and landing, despite an initial slight misunderstanding of my request—both instances underscoring the level of dedication and care emissions from the crew.

Rarely do we come across acts of consideration like these, but they serve as a shining example of Vietnam Airlines' exceptional service. Each passenger on this flight was treated like royalty, in a truly world-class manner.

Speaking of meals, the options in Premium Economy typically fall into either the Business Class or Economy-class categories, reflecting the dividing line between ticket prices.

For today's supper, passengers were offered two choices: Vietnamese Braised Pork with Galangal and Fish Sauce, Steamed Rice, Mixed Asian Vegetables or Buttered Spaghetti with Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and Vegetables. Despite my near-exclusive preference for Oriental Asian options on Asian airlines, I felt adventurous and opted for the Western selection. The dish didn't exactly wow me, but it kept me coming back for more—a rare finding for an Economy-class meal on a long-haul flight.

Breakfast, served shortly after the sunrise, offered passengers two options as well: Vietnamese Sticky Rice with Mashed Mung Bean, Roasted Chicken, Coconut, and Five-Spice or Frittata with Bell Peppers and Potatoes, Grilled Pork Sausage, Sautéed Spinach, and Grilled Tomato. I opted for the latter, which turned out to be a decent choice, packed with its listed ingredients.

Each seat in the Premium Economy cabin features a 10.6-inch entertainment screen, an IFE remote, a personal power outlet, and USB ports for charging handheld devices. The entertainment options were extensive, boasting a range of local Vietnamese content and a decent variety of international movies and music.

While the IFE system was great, I couldn't help but dream of features like a Heads-Up Display or live cameras to elevate it to an exceptional level. The Premium Economy lavatories were kept impeccably clean, and amenities such as razors, toothbrushes, and hand cream were readily available at any time during the flight.

Wi-Fi wasn't available on this flight, but as it was a red-eye flight with a comfortable seat, I was more than content to spend my time watching movies and getting rested for the day ahead.

And now, for the elephant in the room—price. Let's take a look at the market for the SGN-SYD route. Vietnam Airlines is the only full-service carrier (FSC) operating non-stop flights on this route. While ticket prices can soar during peak travel seasons, like the Tet holiday period in January and February, overall the Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy product is considered great value.

Vietnam Airlines is absolutely worth it on long-haul travel, offering a pleasant and comfortable in-flight experience. If you're looking to elevate your flying experience without breaking the bank, look no further than Vietnam Airlines.)$$

Footnotes:

https://www.airlineratings.com/news/vietnam-airlines-premium-economy-wins-best-value-award/
https://www.seatgurus.com/airline-reviews/vietnam-airlines-airbus-a350-review.html
https://headforpoints.com/2023/06/26/review-vietnam-airlines-premium-economy-ho-chi-minh-city-to-paris/
https://pointschase.com/ australian-airlines/top-10-best-long-haul-economy-cabins/
The airline industry is buzzing about Vietnam Airlines' growth in long-haul travel, particularly on the SGN-SYD route, where it stands as the only full-service carrier.
Technology enthusiasts are keeping a close eye on Vietnam Airlines, with some dreaming of features like Heads-Up Displays and live cameras becoming a part of their Premium Economy flights.
The finance world has taken notice of Vietnam Airlines' Premium Economy product, considering it great value for long-haul travel, even during peak travel seasons.
Aviation aficionados and travelers seeking a world-class experience are drawn to Vietnam Airlines, which offers a competitive edge in both lifestyle and transportation sectors.