After flying into Bhutan on state-run DrukAir, I flew out on Bhutan Airlines, the privately owned competition. The two-hour flight to India on an Airbus A319 in business class was quite pleasant, even if lunch served onboard was not.
Bhutan Airlines A319 Business Class Review
I booked this flight not only to fly on Bhutan Airlines but because it was the last flight of the day leaving Paro and that meant I could sleep in a bit later.
Booking
I completed the booking on the Bhutan Airlines website. A business class ticket costs $613.76 (a $560.00 fare and $53.76 in taxes), about double the price of an economy class ticket.
Check-In
Paro Airport is so quiet. With only 4-6 daily departures, all in the morning, you never have to wait long for check-in, passport control, or security.
We ran into some issues at check-in… Thankfully they were solved and we were allowed onboard. The check-in staff was amazingly gracious and kind.
> Read More: My Indian Visa Scare At Paro International Airport
Lounge
I reviewed the Bhutan Airlines Lounge here…it’s not worth showing up early for, but I appreciated that an airline with a fleet of two aircraft and sometimes only operating a single departure each day still operates a lounge…that is impressive.
> Read More: Bhutan Airlines Lounge Paro (PBH)
Boarding
Paro International Airport is a quaint airport with plenty of seating, complimentary charging stations and wi-fi, and a handful of gift shops and cafés.
Boarding was scheduled to commence 30 minutes before departure at gate three, but it was not until 20 minutes before scheduled departure that the gate was unlocked and we were invited to walk out to the plane and board…there are no jet bridges in PBH.
Bhutan Airlines (B3) 773
Paro (PBH) – Delhi (DEL)
Wednesday, April 5
Depart: 11:40 AM
Arrive: 01:30 PM
Duration: 1hr, 50min
Distance: 757 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A319
Seat: 2A (Business Class)
Walking outside, I turned left and scurried to the aircraft so that I could be first onboard and grab a few cabin pictures before other passengers boarded.
Seat
Business class onboard this A319 included three rows of old-school style recliner seats, much like we saw in the 1990s and before…I loved it.
I really liked the wide and well-padded old-school seats in business class with footrests (there were even ashtrays).
I also liked the Tiger’s Nest scene on the bulkhead.
The aircraft featured reading lights and individual air nozzles above each seat.
Even the economy class seats did not look bad…and the cabin was spotlessly clean.
IFE + Wi-Fi
While there were no screens onboard, Bhutan Airlines does offer wi-fi internet (not internet) service onboard called Tashi Skynet, with movies, TV shows, and a moving flight map on your personal device via the wi-fi network. Your email address and seat number were required to login, though I do not think that was actually verified.
Announcements were pre-recorded and activated by a button in one of the overhead bins in business class.
Other in-flight “entertainment” included the Bhutan Airlines in-flight magazine:
There were also great views out the window, though not as nice as the journey from Kathmandu to Paro.
Food + Drink
A beverage card was offered after boarding, along with a welcome drink (listed on the menu) and a hot towel.
The Laurent-Perrier Champagne onboard was quite respectable.
Full drink menu:
No food menus were offered. The choices for lunch were described as chicken with noodles or tofu with rice. I had chicken and my friend had tofu. The main course was decent, though not something I would eat on the ground, and the sides (potato salad and some sort of puff pastry) were odd and not at all appetizing, nor was the overly sweet yogurt.. The tofu did not look all that much better.
Very cute tableware though, particularly the cups (I had rather tasteless coffee after lunch) and salt + pepper shakers.
Lavatory
Business class passengers had access to the forward lavatory next to the flight deck (with a curtain firmly fastened to prevent economy class passengers from coming forward to use the lavatory). The lavatory included a green plant to give it a little color as well as fragrant soap and packaged tissues.
Service
Service was superb, with very attentive flight attendants throughout the two-hour flight. Beverage refills were frequnetly offered.
CONCLUSION
We landed ahead of schedule in Delhi, pulling up beside…of all things…a Druk Air A319.
The short flight to India was very pleasant and I would not hesitate to fly Bhutan Airlines again.
Was it worth the premium for business class? No, probably not. But it was nice…and there was something special about flying in these old seats that I have not seen in over a decade anywhere else.
SMALL TYPO:
“…nor was the overly s[w]eet yogurt.”
A very interesting trip…on my bucket list.
Those seats give me major Midwest Express vibes… fantastic.
What’s the motive on paying 2X for Business for a short flight with an airline that does not participate in any Mileage accrual and no status benefits ?
My friend does not fly in the back. Ever.
Looks like a very pleasant way to fly. Also, appears to be a very accommodating country.
@Matthew, good review, but what does this mean? “wi-fi internet (not internet)”
Did you mean wi-fi entertainment or wi-fi intranet instead?
Dear Matthew,
Thank you for sharing your detailed review of your flight with us. We are delighted to hear that you had an overall pleasant journey and appreciated the professionalism and warmth of our staff, as well as the cleanliness of our cabins and amenities. It is always rewarding to know that our team positively contributed to your experience.
We value your comments regarding the food selection in our business class. We strive to offer a diverse and satisfying menu, and we regret that the meal did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will certainly take it into consideration as we work to enhance our dining options.
We are thrilled to hear that you would choose to fly with us again. We look forward to welcoming you on board and are committed to ensuring that your next experience with us is even more enjoyable.
Warm regards,
For Bhutan Airlines
Many thanks for the kind reply!