Review of the flight Hanoi - Hue on Vietnam Airlines in economy class

After 5 nights at the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, it is time for us to fly to another destination with a domestic flight: Hue and Hoï An. It will be on Vietnam Airlines, using Flying Blue miles!

Obtaining Flying Blue miles

Flying Blue is the Air France – KLM frequent flyer program. Since I am French, I have had a Flying Blue account for a long time.

Problem? In Canada, it is almost impossible to collect Flying Blue miles easily. Indeed, much to our regret:

Flying Blue is not an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner (as are Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and Delta Skymiles). In the United States, however, this is the case!
And no Canadian credit cards are affiliated with the Flying Blue loyalty program.

So sure, you can still earn « some miles » by crediting your flights on Skyteam (or Westjet) airlines, but it’s going to be a long process before you can earn an airline award!

What’s up? What are the options for earning Flying Blue miles?

Via the Marriott Bonvoy program

We can’t say it enough: Marriott Bonvoy starpoints are very valuable. There’s a reason we’ve dubbed the Marriott Bonvoy program the « Swiss Army knife » of travelers!

Starpoints can be transferred into miles from over 35 airline loyalty programs, including… Flying Blue.

The transfer rate is 1:1. And for every 20,000 starpoints transferred, SPG adds 5,000 miles.

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So the bonus offered by each American Express Marriott Bonvoy card can give you 25,000 Flying Blue miles (or Aeroplan, Avios…).

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Annual fee

Primary card$120

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What about Delta Skymiles?

No way to find a flight on the Delta website. I also called, Skymiles was unable to see the award tickets I was seeing with Flying Blue.

Booking on Flying Blue of the flight with Vietnam Airlines

In Vietnam, the only airline to be part of an airline alliance, in this case Skyteam, is Vietnam Airlines. There are other low cost airlines such as Vietjet or Jet Airways, which often have very low prices… to which you have to add other fees, especially for luggage.

Domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines cost 10,000 Flying Blue miles and a few dollars in taxes (around $5). Availability is quite good on all destinations served by Vietnam Airlines.

vietnam airlines flying blue han hue — Cost of a Flying Blue award ticket on Vietnam Airlines

You will still have to compare with the public fare, but for us, traveling on Vietnam Airlines represented several advantages:

One 20kgs luggage included
A serious company (few delayed flights)
Greater comfort compared to low-cost airlines
Schedules that were more convenient for us

On our dates, the ticket cost about $170 per person for 10,000 Flying Blue miles and $5. This gives you an idea of the small savings.

However, I must admit that the booking was not easy for our baby, I wrote it in a previous article: Flying Blue, Air France and Vietnam Airlines kept on passing the buck. In the end, it was Flying Blue that had to issue the ticket.

Travel between Hanoi and Hue on Vietnam Airlines in economy class

After a 30-minute drive from the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi to Hanoi Airport, we arrived at the check-in counters of the domestic flight terminal.

Check-in and security at Hanoi airport

As you can see on the clock at the top left: it is 07:35, a little less than an hour before the flight departure.

vietnam airlines han hui 01 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

The check-in is done quickly at Vietnam Airlines.

vietnam airlines han hui 02 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

We had optimized each of our suitcases to the best of our ability in order not to exceed the weight limit of 20 kgs. The proof:

vietnam airlines han hui 03 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

Vietnam Airlines is however tolerant to within 2 kgs.

After a short passage through security…

vietnam airlines han hui 04 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 05 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 06 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

… we are now at our boarding gate. Unfortunately, this section of the terminal was under construction at the time of our visit: no playground for children. No lounge for Priority Pass holders either. We will be satisfied with the « food court » and a Vietnamese coffee.

vietnam airlines han hui 08 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

Boarding on Vietnam Airlines to Hue

Boarding will be on time and passengers travelling with children will be invited to board first. The Vietnamese coffee was so good… that we missed out on priority boarding. We will still pass through the « business » line without any problem.

vietnam airlines han hui 09 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 10 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 11 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 12 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

vietnam airlines han hui 13 — Vietnam Airlines with flying blue miles

The cabin of an A321 of Vietnam Airlines

We pass the business class.

vietnam airlines han hui 14 — Vietnam Airlines – business class

vietnam airlines han hui 15 — Vietnam Airlines – business class

Then the first rows of the economy class.

vietnam airlines han hui 16 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

The seats offer reasonable comfort with good legroom.

vietnam airlines han hui 17 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 18 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 19 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 20 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 21 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 23 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

No individual screens though. But the flight is short (1h). A blanket, in the company’s colors, will be donated by the crew.

vietnam airlines han hui 24 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

The flight will take off on time after a final cabin tour by the flight attendant. As you can see, the weather is gloomy.

vietnam airlines han hui 26 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

vietnam airlines han hui 25 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

The flight on Vietnam Airlines

Shortly after takeoff, the crew will give only… water bottles and refreshing towels. No coffee service.

vietnam airlines han hui 32 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

The screens will be deployed above our heads during the whole flight to allow us to follow our progress. A little thought at this time of the morning in Vietnam for Canada which has just entered the night!

vietnam airlines han hui 35 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

We will land in Hue… under the rain, for a change.

vietnam airlines han hui 37 — Vietnam Airlines – Hue

Like most of our flights in Vietnam, we will land on the tarmac with a very short bus transfer.

vietnam airlines han hui 38 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

Last view on the aircraft: I like the blue and gold livery of Vietnam Airlines!

vietnam airlines han hui 39 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

The airport is very small: the luggage will arrive in a few minutes.

vietnam airlines han hui 40 — Vietnam Airlines – Economy Class

Bottom line

A smooth flight with Vietnam Airlines: take-off and landing on time. The seats are comfortable. A little disappointed with the service on board (a coffee would have been appreciated…).

Go further with Flying Blue

To maximize your Flying Blue Miles earning, check our complete Flying Blue program guide and our best credit cards to earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada ranking. And if a Miles purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Flying Blue Miles purchase guide with Air France.

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