Vietnam Airlines

Pros

• Quality business class experience on long-haul aircraft like the A350, featuring good food and spacious seating.
• Generous standard baggage allowance, typically 23kg for economy tickets.
• Strategic flight paths, including the ability to fly over Russian airspace for certain routes.
• Good availability and value for award redemptions through SkyTeam partners like Flying Blue.

Cons

• Customer support is often described as unhelpful or difficult to reach for clear answers.
• The Lotus Miles loyalty program has a complicated and difficult onboarding process.
• Rigid policies regarding ticket modifications, especially for bookings made through partner airlines.

Caveats

• Booking through third-party partners (e.g., Virgin Atlantic) can make simple corrections like name changes extremely difficult or impossible.
• Economy award redemptions may offer poor value compared to cash prices; users suggest checking revenue tickets first.

Best for

• SkyTeam loyalty members looking for award redemptions.
• Travelers seeking a full-service experience over budget carriers in Southeast Asia.
• Long-haul business class travelers.

Avoid if

• You prefer a highly responsive and easy-to-navigate customer service department.
• You are booking through a third-party agency and anticipate needing flexible ticket changes.