It has been almost two months since VietJet launched daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore. Vietjet joins other low cost carriers s such as Tigerair, Jetstar, Lion Air and and full service airlines including Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines to offer direct services between the two cities. VietJet operates from two hubs in Vietnam – Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
VietJet takes off from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. Changi Airport Terminal 3 also serves Asiana, China Eastern, Ethopian, Garuda Indonesia, Jet Airways, Lion Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian, Singapore, SriLankan, United and Vietnam Airlines.
Airfares on this Vietnamese low cost carrier are very competitive offering three tiers – Promo, Eco and Deluxe.
Priority For Deluxe Passengers
Deluxe-Flexible fares average less than S$700 and come with 7kg carry-on baggage, 20kg checked in baggage, seat selection, airport lounge access, priority check in at a separate Deluxe check in counter and no charge for change in flight, date, route except you pay any fare difference. If you wish to check in additional baggage, there is a charge of S$25 for 15kg or S$30 for 20kg.This class of travel sells out fast so you may want to plan your flight early.
Pre book your meals when you purchase your tickets. These are some of the cheapest meals on any low cost carrier that I have flown on. A Bun Xao Singapore or Spaghetti costs only S$3.75 each.
VietJet lets Deluxe passengers check in at a separate counter at the airport. Here, the counter staff will tag your check in luggage with a ‘Priority’ tag and manually write your flight details onto an airport lounge invitation card. I do wish they could speed up the check in process especially when you check in together as a group.
Deluxe passengers can visit the SATS Premium Lounge in Singapore. Located on the immediate left after clearing immigration, head up to the second floor and the lounge is located between DNATA Lounge and DBS Asia Treasures Lounge. SATS Premier Lounge T3 is located at #03-MS-04 Departure Transit Hall, Level 3 Terminal Three and operates 24 hours every day of the week. Here you can get some food and drink before your flight. But be warned, the food is a tad bit too salty.
Inside VietJet Air Airbus A320-200
VietJet Air operates the Airbus A320-200 aircraft. Seats in the aircraft have a seat pitch of 29 inches. There is no inflight entertainment, USB or power plugs or internet access. Take the bulkhead seats at row one if you want to maximise on comfort and also be the first to disembark. Premium seats are from rows one to five. Deluxe passengers get to pick their seats when booking online.
The seats on board seem to be a little more spacious than on AirAsia with ostensibly more legroom even when I sat in row 2. But it really does not make much of a difference considering it was a short flight of two hours or less between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.
VietJet Air Inflight Meal Menu
How Much Are the Full Service Carriers Charging for the Same Route
Full service airline and Skyteam member, Vietnam Airlines has also started to offer promotional rates for bookings before end June for travel before the end of the year. Round trip business class flights between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City are selling for S$502.10 with three flight timings daily while Singapore Airlines discounted Economy fares average slightly below S$500 and offers twice daily flights between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City.
You can use baolau.vn to search and compare to find your way in Vietnam.
This VietJet experience was part of a media familiarisation trip organised by the airline from 15 to 18 July 2014 when we visited Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat.
