Joyride On Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330-200 (SGN-HAN)

Welcome to my trip report on Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330-200!

*Aircraft photos are credited to the respective photographers from Airliners.net 

You can check out my trip report on the older Airbus A330 trip report over here.

Airbus A330-200 in the old livery (Photo: Osipov Dmitry)

New Livery 

About the airline's Airbus A330-200

This airline has 3 different types of configuration for the A330 fleet. They are all leased from lessors and why the different configuration, well only the management can answer that question. These A330-200 may not be around for long as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft are planned to replace them. I believe VN-A379 and VN-A381 will be the last to go as they are newer than the other aircraft. 

The airline currently operates 8 Airbus A330-200 (July 2016)

VN-A371 - C24 Y242 - Skyteam livery

VN-A375 - C24 Y242 

VN-A376 - C24 Y256 

VN-A377 - C24 Y256 

VN-A378 - C24 Y256 

VN-A379 - C24 Y256 

VN-A381 - C24 Y256 

VN-A383 - C18 Y251 

C - Business Class seats

Y - Economy Class seats

Introduction 

I booked myself on the Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi domestic return trip flights for quite a number of times now is to try out the aircraft types I want to fly on. My target for this trip is to fly the airline's Boeing 777. I hope this would be my last SGN-HAN flight for a while so that I can concentrate on other domestic routes (flying on Vasco and Vietnam's ATR-72 are on my agenda). Unfortunately, the aircraft type for both of my flights this time was changed, so I have to do this again in the near future.

Vietnam Airlines is "notoriously" known for changing the aircraft with other flights, but my record so far has been quite good until recently. My last flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh was supposed to be scheduled to be operated by the 777, but it was changed to the 787 just a few days before departure. Tough luck but I would try again until I get the 777. 

For my plan, I decided to do both ways Boeing 777 to stand a better chance and spend a night in Hanoi. 

Unfortunately, I received an email from the airline that my return sector was changed to another flight and yes, the aircraft type assigned on this was operated by 787 Dreamliner (More info on this on my next trip report - I decided to do the trip report instead as I was lucky to fly on the 2-cabin configured 787: Business and Economy Class configuration). 

Some of you must be wondering why didn't I change my flight. Unfortunately, I couldn't because the air tickets I bought was at a discounted fare so changes were not allowed. I could buy the more expensive airfare, but I was counting on my luck and saving money was my preference.  

For these flights, I booked them separately so that I can choose seats for both flights. I realise that if I book a return trip, I would not be able to check-in for the return flight which I have no idea why. 

Some photos during my stay at SGN airport (Before the flight)

Fried Chicken Rice - quite decent (Mon Hue restaurant)

Nice way to start the hot day at a nearby cafe (Trung Nguyen)

For book lovers, you should visit this place! 

The famous Catholic Church (Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica)

I came here to find a popular cafe but ended up in the wrong place, but still, it was nice to check out this area. 

A typical residential area in Ho Chi Minh City 

Enjoying the strawberry cheesecake and Chai Latte (Cheesecake Ngon)

Fried rice and spicy noodles - average (Street Food Market)

Mexican food at one of the highly-rated restaurants (La Fiesta)

This meal was pretty good! 

Very nice dry noodles (Hu Tieu Nhan Quan)

Mr Dee (Hong Kong dessert) - too sweet for my liking

Trung Nguyen Coffee sells very decent hot food 

Green Tea latte and cookies & cream cake (Cheesecake Ngon)

Hazelnut Latte and muffins (The Coffee House)

Mobile check-in 

When I did my check-in, I was hoping that the seat map would show the Boeing 777. 

2-4-2 seat map means its the Airbus A330-200, the only thing I could hope for was either flying on the A330 in Skyteam livery or one of the newest A330 in the fleet (Either VN-A379 or VN-A381)

The rear cabin of the A330 

After considering, I decided on row 7A. 

Slight delay to my flight by just 10 minutes, nothing bad. After checking in, I thought for a while and decided to try my luck to change my flight at the airport. 

Even though you receive this mobile check-in page, you can still receive the boarding pass at the check-in counter or the self-check-in kiosk. 

VN-A144 - a Boeing 777-200ER was originally scheduled to operate on my flight! Why Vietnam airlines, why the last-minute change? 

On the day of departure 

Unlike my previous trips, this was my first flight to Hanoi in the evening and will arrive there at night time so the experience would be different. Since my flight was at 6 p.m, I spend the earlier part of the day lazing around and headed to the airport quite early. At 2 p.m, I was at the domestic terminal and tried my luck to change my flight. Unfortunately, the staff told me the bad news and I had to stick with it. Tried using the self-checking kiosk earlier on but this machine together with a couple others refused to check me in and I had to do it at the counter. Wasted 25 minutes over here including the waiting time queuing up at the check-in counter.

I queue here for a short while before remembering about the self-check-in kiosk, I headed there after a short wait. 

Here I am, trying this for the first time. The system looks good, and I wasn't expecting any issues. 

I tried using both PNR and ticket number to check-in but once I reached the next page, I couldn't proceed no matter how many times I tried. 

I gave up and headed back the check-in counters for passengers without baggage. 

It was a mess at the check-in counters with frustrated check-in agents waving away passengers who were simply making a nuisance to the staff, can't blame the staff for feeling frustrated. One elderly went to ask the staff something and he got waved off and guess what he did? He came into my line and cut into my queue. I had to ask him to move to the back of the queue. After that, he kept staring at me like a hungry wolf! What a country bumpkin!

Got my boarding pass and I was the 4th passenger to check-in for this flight. 

Once that was done, I made my way to the airside via the security check. That country bumpkin was still watching me while I was leaving that area. 

At the airside. I grabbed a bite at a nearby cafe before sitting around surfing the internet before it was time to board the aircraft. 

At that time there were 2 A330s, VN-A376 (new livery) and VN-A379 (old livery but the 2nd newest A330 in the fleet). For me, it didn't matter which aircraft as I had not flown on either aircraft before. 

Thanks to flightradar24, VN-A379 was my assigned aircraft to Hanoi, while VN-A376 would fly half an hour earlier to the same destination. 

VN-A144 was heading to Da Nang. You can imagine how disappointed I was at that time. 

Despite being quite busy at that time, there were lots of vacant seats. 

Checking the fight status, there was no delay 

This is the airline's Boeing 777-200ER, VN-A144 and I found out that this aircraft was heading to Da Nang! Arghh, I would have gone to Da Nang instead if I had known. 

I booked this flight was to fly on this Boeing 777, I guess I have to wait. 

Soon it was time to board! After 10 minutes of waiting, we were cleared to go to our aircraft. The queue was in the mess because there was another queue lining up at the same gate was heading to Hanoi with Vietjetair, so it got a bit messy when boarding commenced. 

Those queueing up at the Business class line were told to move to the Economy Class. 

Flight route: SGN-HAN

Miles: 717

My ride: VN-A379

Date of departure: 29th June 2016

Airline: Vietnam Airlines

Flight: VN264

Route: SGN-HAN

Aircraft: Airbus A330-200

Registration: VN-A379

Delivered on 19th October 2011 (leased from ALC)

Configuration: C24 Y256

Engines: 2 X PW4168A

MSN: 1256

Seat: 7A 

Load: 90% full in Y class

Gate: 6 change to 7

Duration: 1 hrs 45 mins 

Departure time: 1815

Boarding: 1749

Push back: 1837

Take off: 1844

Scheduled arrival: 2015

Actual arrival: 2026

Departure runway: 25L

Arrival runway: 11R 

We were initially allocated to gate 6 but because VN-A379 was parked quite a few gates away from gate 6, our departure gate was changed to gate 7, that made sense. Once boarding commenced, we headed to our waiting aircraft. My walk to my seat was within a few seconds, that was how front I was for this flight. The reason I chose this seat so that I could take an engine and wing shot photos. 

I was seated alone for quite a while and was hoping for the seat beside mine to remain vacant, but it was not to be when someone popped up last minute and settled down. At least with the 2-4-2 configuration, it wasn't so bad comparing to being stuck with 2 seatmates in the 3-3-3 seating configuration.

Boarding the aircraft 

Welcome on board, VN-A379! 

Business Class cabin 

Looks decent to me. IFE system is stored at the hand rest area. 

Old Economy Class cabin (On the other older A330-200 aircraft)

This makes you feel like flying in the 1990s. Fortunately, I got the A330 with the newer cabin. 

Newer Economy Class cabin (My aircraft)

Photos are limited as I wasn't able to take many shots. 

The seat is different from the 787 and 350. 

The bulkhead row with the view of the Pratt and Whitney engine 

The overhead compartment is smaller than the 787 and 350

Legroom space is adequate 

Vietnam Airlines has different In-Flight Entertainment system in the airline's fleet. Time to reduce them to save maintenance cost. 

View of the row of seats behind mine 

The legroom space of the bulkhead row 

The screens to look at for the passengers sitting at first row 

Decent seats 

These seats are way better than the old ones 

Can you see what's wrong with the photo below? Country bumpkin placing his leg on the wall. These folks need to be educated. 

The view of his leg is certainly an unglamorous sight 

Few more shots before I left the aircraft 

Time to disembark! 

Seats are quite comfortable 

Almost windowless seat for this particular row (photo below)

Did you know: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is originally supposed to be configured in 2-4-2 for Y Class, to compete with this aircraft type, the Airbus A330 family. 

More photos of my seat 

The system of the IFE was locked so I couldn't play around with it.

 AC power socket to power your laptop or charge your electronic devices (below the seat) 

For the 2-seater, there is a small IFE box, taking up a bit of legroom space (windows seat) as shown below

Remote control 

USB port - important for travellers 

Foldable tray 

In-flight service experience

The cabin crew didn't seem to be in a good mood when they welcome us on board, it was the usual Vietnam Airlines service that I am accustomed to. It is a pity because this airline has the potential to compete with the big boys with the new aircraft being delivered. The airline may not be able to compete for the in-flight product with the big boys but at least make an effort to emphasise on the in-flight service, win the hearts of the frequent travellers so that the airline can gain more share of the market. This is my belief. 

Got to my seat with the seatmate appearing, later on, looking around me at least for my section, it was full. The flight purser apologised to us for the delay and we should be heading off soon. Captain updated us on our flight path and weather on the route but did not mention about the delay. During his announcement, a lady sitting behind me was talking very loudly on her phone, hence I missed most parts of the captain's announcement.

After that, we didn't move until 20 minutes later, why? I had no idea at all and to make it worse, there wasn't any update or apology for the further delay. 

It was getting dark when we finally pushed back. We taxied to runway 25 Left which took around 10 minutes before taking off. Weather on the route was fine for most parts, a bit of turbulence while flying through some clouds along the way, but the seat belt sign was not turned on until we were below 10,000 feet. 

In-flight meal was served, with the cabin crew having a hard time to differentiate between the locals and foreigners. The crew serving my aisle hardly had any smile on their face. I looked at them and wonder whether they prefer to be somewhere else and it seemed to be the case.

We landed at Hanoi late and not surprised that we parked at the domestic terminal gate with the aero-bridge connected. The return flight was affected as it would depart later and perhaps this was probably the reason for the crew's indifferent mood? Who knows! Whatever it is, delays is part and parcel of flying, and one shouldn't make such a big deal out of it.

In-flight meal

A choice between fish noodles or beef rice, I chose the latter.

Tasted decent, nothing special about it. I was quite hungry at this point and a warm meal like this satisfied me. 

A choice of coke, coke light or water. I chose coke to enjoy with this meal

What's inside the seat pocket?

Safety card 

Heritage Fashion magazine 

Heritage In-flight magazine 

Disposal Bag 

Window shot photos 

Good view of the engine and wing and Vietnam Airlines VN-A327 featuring the Skyteam livery A321 aircraft was heading to Da Nang.

A Vietjetair Airbus A321 came in not long after, it was heading to Hanoi too.

Finally, we were on our way and I spotted the airline's Boeing 777 parking at the remote parking lot (Photo below), sigh! 

Taxiing to runway 25 Left 

Almost there! 

A nice view of the city as we took off smoothly into the skies 

It's strange that the landing lights were only turned on during climbing. Shouldn't the landing lights be turned on before departure? 

Not long after, it was completely dark 

Landing at Hanoi Airport was a smooth one, the weather was cleared at that time.

Parked at the domestic terminal with this airline's Airbus A321 resting for the day.

The walk towards the arrival hall took around 5 minutes. 

It was quite crowded at that time as we have other flights arriving in around that time

I headed out and met the hotel representative before heading off to the hotel

My rating:

Airline's website/mobile app: 6/10
Check-in staff: 6/10
Ho Chi Minh domestic terminal experience: 5/10
In-flight service: 5/10
IFE system: 6/10 (Looks decent - got USB port to charge electronic device)
In-flight meal: 6/10
Cabin interior: 9/10
Cleanliness: 10/10
Seat comfort: 7/10
Aircraft condition: 10/10
Overall rating: 71/100

Conclusion

Flying on Vietnam domestic flights for aircraft types depends on your luck and if you want to be sure of flying the aircraft type, get yourself the more expensive ticket which allows you to change your flight, otherwise, just keep your fingers crossed. The worst change would have to be any wide-body aircraft changing to the narrow-body (A321), I hope that won't happen for me. I would probably do a different routing the next time. SGN-DAD-HAN-SGN is very much in my plan. (DAD-Da Nang, SGN- Ho Chi Minh and HAN - Hanoi)

In-flight service once again was disappointing because of this set of unenthusiastic crew. Whether its domestic or international flight, the crew should learn to be proud of their jobs by showing more enthusiasm to the passengers. Whether the passengers are good or bad, everyone deserves to be treated well and for the nasty ones, let the senior pursers handle them and remove them if they cross the line. On the bright side, this airline offers cheap airfare at times and also have a good safety record. 

The ugly behaviour of some passengers still exists at airports and on planes around the world, and it is difficult to change or educate them. Sad, but that's how life works, you have to mix the good and bad people to gain travelling experience. When one encounters such people, the best thing is not to get into an argument with them, it is pointless. 

Thanks for reading this trip report! 

For my previous A330 trip report with this airline, click here.

Hope you enjoy it.

Cheers,
Charles