The Ins & Outs of flying Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy

Disclosure: I was invited by Vietnam Airlines to try their Premium Economy.

For my recent move to Bangkok, I decided that I needed to go with an airline that offered a generous luggage allowance. And since I was heading straight to my dad’s 90th birthday on my way back, I decided that I needed more space to arrive well rested. 

Thus, my research began, and I decided that I would splurge on flying Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy. Having tried both their Business and Economy Class before, I was curious how this product would compare and if it would be worth the price. 

Here is what to expect when flying Premium Economy with Vietnam Airlines. 

Vietnam Airlines at the airport

The advantages of flying Premium Economy with Vietnam Airlines at the airport depend a bit on your departure hub. I flew from Frankfurt Airport, where, once you have made your way to Terminal 2 by shuttle bus, you have a designated check-in counter for Priority and Premium Eco guests. This is separate from yet another check-in for Business Class passengers. 

On my return from Bangkok, I just went with the Priority/ Business Class check-in and nobody minded. However, there was no designated counter for Premium Eco. I assume that the Vietnam hubs, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, have designated check-in counters, though I didn’t see those since I just had a quick layover. 

Unfortunately, that is where the airport perks for Premium Eco customers end. You won’t be able to use a priority line at security nor get lounge access. To use a lounge while you wait for boarding, I recommend investing in a Priority Pass, especially if you are a frequent traveler. 

• Check out Priority Pass memberships here

For boarding, you are in luck again as you will board immediately after the Business Class passengers. This is great as you will have enough time to settle in and find enough space to store your hand luggage in the vicinity of your seat. 

Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy cabin layout & seats

The cabin layout and seat configuration will depend a bit on your aircraft model. I flew with a Boeing B787 where we had 5 rows of a 2 – 3 – 2 configuration, one of my favorites. The overall look of any Vietnam Airlines cabin always reminds me a bit of Mad Men and the 60s – lots of beige or turquoise and a bit of gold. It can look a tiny bit dated, but also looks cool and retro. 

While the seats in my Premium Economy cabin were anything but cool, they were probably some of the most comfy seats I have ever sat in on a plane. They are plushy and cozy and quite wide (there is no official information on the airline’s website how wide). 

I got lucky to have a seat in the first row so nobody could recline onto my lap, always a problem in most Premium Economy seats. However, I did look at the guest behind me, and he had ample space even with me reclining to the full 18 cm. Apparently the distance between two seats is up to 107 cm. 

If you get an Airbus A350, you can recline 15 cm and have space up to 96 cm, still ample. 

On both aircrafts you also have a footrest that can be raised and various charging points. This is especially important considering how many Asian airlines are getting very strict about the use of powerbanks on board. 

Vietnam Airlines Food

I am such a big fan of Vietnamese food, and luckily Vietnam Airlines lives up to the hype especially when you are flying Premium Economy or higher. 

The way they served the food continued the 60s feel with the chicest mint green retro tray and matching bowls and plates. While you get proper cutlery with those cute trays, I was sad to see that the drinks were still served in paper cups and your actual meal in a disposable bowl. Though I guess the latter is for operational purposes. 

During my almost 11-hour flight, we were served two hot meals. Instead of disposable individual menus, they crew showed you a menu for you to select from. While I usually love checking out the menu for ages before the food is even heated, I guess this is an easy way to save paper. 

For each meal, they had a choice of three mains with a mix of international and Vietnamese dishes. While I never thought I would admit this, I love eating fish on planes, and my Vietnamese dish with fish, rice, and veggies was delicious. 

They also served a yummy cabbage and chicken salad, an unfortunately cold roll, and a super very interesting spicy salt mix. I wasn’t sure what it was meant for, but I put it on my buttered roll as well as my fish. 

While the dessert was nothing to write home about, I did enjoy the little bowl of seasonal fresh fruit we got – plums and lychees. They come with a little note showcasing their seasonality in Vietnam and were fresh and juicy. Such a welcome change from the usual boring airline fruit salad.

For breakfast, I chose sticky rice with mushrooms, which may have been an unusual but perfect choice. If you wanted something a bit more familiar, they also offer eggs, and you get a fruit plate, a yoghurt, and yes, a freshly warmed croissant. 

While I am generally one of those freaks of nature who tend to like airplane food, this meal really stood out, and besides presentation, can easily compare with the meal I’ve had in the Vietnam Airlines Business Class. 

Amenities & Entertainment in Premium Economy

Always a nice touch in any cabin class: a hot towel to start your flight, especially if you have just been running through the airport (more on that later…). We even got another one to wake us up – after all, I didn’t pay for a shower in the sky. 

You also get a small water bottle and it is one of those simple things I want to see more often – I would assume it makes cabin crew life so much easier. 

Do you get an amenity kit when flying Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy? Yes, you do! Albeit, it is small with just an eyemask and earplugs in a little box. That said, I appreciated the gesture.

When it comes to its entertainment system, Vietnam Airlines still has room for improvement. While the movie & TV selection is quite decent, I did not get noise-canceling headphones (though they are mentioned on the website) or the option to connect with my own wireless set. And while I didn’t miss it for this trip, there is still no wifi on most Vietnam Airlines planes. 

Luggage allowance for Premium Eco

Transferring in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh

On my way to Bangkok, I transferred in Ho Chi Minh City and on my way back in Hanoi. There is nothing to write home about those transfers. While neither airport is particularly noteworthy, they are also nice enough with ample shopping opportunities, eateries, and lounges. I usually use the time to stock up on Vietnamese coffee. 

A big shoutout to the Vietnam Airlines ground staff in Hanoi, though: flying from Bangkok, we had a two-hour delay due to weather, melting my two-hour layover to a big fat nothing. Staff greeted me and a few other passengers on the plane before disembarking, took us with the business class bus to the terminal, and ushered us through security and to the gate. 

Never have I ever been one of the last to board, but we arrived on time in Frankfurt and I was super impressed with the kind and efficient staff who got us on the plane. Unfortunately, my luggage wasn’t as lucky and arrived quite a few days later, though that was the fault of Frankfurt Airport as per usual… 

How much does Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy cost? 

Yes, Premium Economy is quite a bit more expensive than Economy but far from a Business Class ticket. As a general rule you can assume that Premium Eco is 50–100% more than an Economy ticket and usually half the price of Business Class. 

Vietnam Airlines has a Premium Economy classic and Premium Economy flex tarif. The latter is quite a bit more and not worth it in my mind. You will pay slightly less in case of cancelation or changes and get more miles but honestly, you might as well upgrade to Business Class. 

Your seat selection in Premium Economy is free except for the first row, which is usually kept for families as the bulkhead has the bassinet seats. I reckon just ask at check-in if one is available. 

One annoying caveat: If you are catching a connecting flight like I did, i.e., from Ho Chi Minh to Bangkok, you are stuck in a regular economy seat for this flight. While those short-distance planes tend to have a proper Business Class (unlike most European airlines), there is no such thing for Premium Economy customers. 

And while I wouldn’t have minded that, I was surprised to realize that you are not even getting a preferential seat selection in the Economy Class with a Premium Eco ticket. In fact, the only free seats you can choose are far in the back. For any other seat, you will have to pay extra, something I think Vietnam Airlines can definitely improve upon for their Premium Eco customers. 

That said, all in all flying Premium Economy with Vietnam Airlines is well worth the investment if you want a really spacious seat and a more generous luggage allowance. And compared to the other Premium Economy products I have tried, their seats lead the pack when it comes to comfort.