Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® CardEarn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year

Ho Chi Minh City – Beijing flight review with Air China in Business Class

  • Business

Note8/10

Flight Carrier
Air China
Departing Airport
Ho Chi Minh International Airport
Arrival Airport
Beijing International Airport
Aircraft
Boeing 737
Cabin Class
Business Class
Share

We begin the return journey towards Montreal with this regional flight between Saigon and Beijing.

It is very early this Sunday morning when we take a cab to go to the airport. On the way there we took an Uber because it is easier to avoid problems with fraudulent cabs. On the way back the hotel booked us a cab.

img 0991
cab to Ho Chi Minh City airport

We present ourselves to the counter for the recording, few people at this hour, our flight being at 5:40 am the terminal is almost deserted.

img 0992
not many stores open at this time

We head to the back of the terminal to access the Apricot Lounge, an independent lounge accessible to Star Alliance airlines.

img 0993
the big Sunday morning crowd

I admit that I was not expecting a great experience but I was pleasantly surprised. The lounge has a nice view of the tarmac, a decent offer and a pleasant setting.

img 0994
view of the apricot lounge at Ho Chi Minh City airport
img 0995
buffet
img 0999
the restaurant area with tables
img 0997
buffet
img 0996
buffet
img 1001
a simple breakfast for me
img 0998
the lounge area

In the meantime our boarding gate has changed and we have to join the other end of the terminal, a little sport before spending the day in plane.

img 1002
boarding room
img 1003
our plane, an Air China 737-800
img 1004
boarding gate

The flight is on time, we embark in this rather old aircraft, the cabin makes think of the Airbus A320 of Air Canada with seats with the limited inclination.

img 1005
seat in the Air China Boeing 737
img 1006
Business class cabin in Air China’s Boeing 737
img 1007
a blanket and slippers are distributed
img 1008
the seat is not very young anymore …
img 1009
limited comfort
img 1010
hot towel distributed before takeoff
img 1011
no personal IFE in this plane 🙁
img 1012
breakfast is served
img 1013
limited spotting

The flight lasts a little less than 5 hours with a lot of turbulences because of the mountainous reliefs overflown according to the co-pilot crossed at the exit of the toilets. We arrive at the end of the morning in Beijing.

img 1014
Beijing suburb
img 1015
buildings in the suburbs of Beijing

Bottom line

My first flight with Air China. Despite the limited comfort, I would have preferred a Boeing 777-200 which is operated on other regional routes but it was not a disaster as the service was good. The continuation with the Air China lounge in Beijing and the flight to Montreal.



Annual fee
$250
Our valuation
$1,020
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

  • 5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

  • 60,000 Aeroplan points
  • 60,000 Avios
  • 60,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

  • $100 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
  • $50 NEXUS credit

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

  • gas stations
  • grocery stores
  • drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Annual fee

Primary card$250
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xPharmacy
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xGroceries
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,555
2nd Year Value$589

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$160

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days


Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$1,139
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

With this offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year.

  • Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card
  • Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening.
  • Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on:

  • Grocery purchases
  • Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
  • Purchases made directly with Air Canada® (including Air Canada Vacations®)

You also earn 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xGroceries
  • 1.5xAir Canada flights
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714
2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.