Review: Bamboo Airways Business Class A321neo (SGN-HAN)

Years ago, arriving with Vietnam Airlines on a remote stand in SGN, I also got the separate business class shuttle bus - although at that time the seats were in rather bad condition.
I wonder whether those buses are a general service at that airport, independant of the airline.

Great report... very attractive looking cabin and just enough colorful finishes to draw attention to the right places.

Just a point of data: Flying on Breeze Airways last week on an A220 (VRB-BDL), they had the exact same automated seatbelt announcement. Perhaps it is part of a new default pre-loaded package by Airbus?

During the pandemic when I had a dozen planes from my airline parked at my station, I got to play with the automated announcement system. Turning the volume all the way up and playing the evacuation tape in screaming German is quite the experience.

Bamboo and Starlux have rightly got all the attention among Southeast Asian airlines, and their brand-new A321neos are a good part of that reputation.

Now I’d truly be glad if you could review two more A321neo products in the region: Cathay Pacific and Vistara, which are also up there in quality. The latter is especially important since it will hardly be a year before it disappears into Air India, so I fervently hope that you, in true OMAAT fashion, book another Aeroplan adventure on Vistara before it’s gone! (And, of course, to see how it compares to Jet Airways’ previous product. Let’s all hope that the original Indian premium airline is able to come back.)

Not to mention that Vistara, like Bamboo, has three 787-9s that fly to Europe.

Sorry for the third comment in a short span, but there is some problem with the connection on my end. Too bad there is no IFE on Bamboo — this is where Starlyx and Vistara shine!

I have a few domestic flights in Vietnam coming up soon. Would you recommend this over Vietnam Airlines domestic business class?

Seems like a nice experience.

The meal looks like breakfast to me. But for a 1 hour 40 min flight, that meal and seat are definitely above the average European J experience.

PS. I hate beer, too!

I won't go spoiling anything for you @Ben but a certain Mr Bunnik recently reviewed Bamboo Air and was in the same boat, unable to find other reviews. The ground experience was awash with eccentricities like yourself and he managed to bag a whole 787 J cabin to himself on an international leg where the crew proceeded to spoil him rotten.

His take away was that the crew where a pleasure and knew that delicate line between friendly and in your face.

Here's hoping your long haul segment is as enjoyable as this one even if you don't manage to repeat your sole occupancy. We're considering Vietnam this year and if we do it then I think I'll be proactive in checking them out myself

(it’s the only lounge in the domestic terminal)
At the other end of the terminal there should be a Lotus Lounge of Vietnam Airlines.

I think the agent asked for the ticket number may be because you booked with Aeroplan points so the ticket number begins with 014, which maybe unfamiliar to the agent. Hence the need to verify. Just my two cents

We have just got back from Vietnam and you were very lucky that they didn’t have any wine on the flight! We travelled for 3 weeks and we’re served the most horrible wine in virtually every bar we went in (apart from western hotels!). It’s not something they do at all, beer on the other hand- is virtually everywhere and is extremely cheap, the least we paid was $0.50 for a beer in Hanoi!

I want to fly 'em just to hear the automated announcements

Nice review. Airplanes are probably the worst place to experience beer, as the selection is almost universally bad. Those cheap Asian pale lagers are some of the worst beers out there.

The review is very nice but I don't think you can really appreciate business class service no matter which company when you are the only passenger it is not wise for the staff to be kind and generous that they only have one passenger a real review can be written when the business class is at least half full
In any case, good review and writing as usual, thank you very much

In the 7 or so years I have been following your blog & every trip review, I dont think I have ever seen you order a beer!!!

Hi Ben, thanks for this report! Very fun to see you on different and lesser-known airlines. Looking forward to your Bamboo long-haul review. Have you forgotten to publish it? Your latest reviews seem to have moved on from Asia. . .