My Qatar Airways 777-3ooER Qsuite flight is right around the corner. But I have nothing booked home…
This is a review trip and I’m not planning on spending any time in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a lovely city that I have visited in the past, but this time my objective is to come straight home…too much going on in LA.
There are easy choices…like fly United Airlines from Hong Kong or Singapore. I may well do that just to save time and keep building my lifetime status. But I feel like I’d be doing myself and you a disservice if I did not try out a new product on the way home.
Thus, I’ve narrowed it down to four options.
1. Etihad Business Class
I’ve flown Etihad First Class before on the A380 and 777 as well as business class on the A330, but the business class flight was only from Male to Abu Dhabi, so relatively short. I’d like to try the Business Studio aboard the A380. By the way, I will eventually get to the India + Maldives + Etihad trip report…
2. Korean Air First Class
I have yet to fly Korean Air First Class. I’d position to Hong Kong to try out the Kosmo Suites 2.0 aboard the 747-8 then the Kosmo Suites on the A380 to LAX.
3. JAL Business Class
I love JAL First Class and the temptation would be to just pay the extra 20K AA miles to upgrade. But I’ve never flown JAL before and
4. Vietnam Airlines + Virgin Atlantic Business Class
Vietnam Airlines operates a 787-9 to London…this would be my top choice…if there was award space on my date. It would force me to spend two day in Ho Chi Minh City. Now that’s not a bad thing at the Park Hyatt Saigon, but I don’t want to be gone longer than necessary. From London I’d hop on a Virgin Atlantic flight to Los Angeles, which also has the downside of exorbitant fuel surcharges. Note: I know I’ve pictured a Vietnam Airlines A350 above. I’d rather fly that.
5. United Airlines Business Class
I put this in here just because it would be easy, and with my backlog of reviews, maybe that is what I need. Just a connection to Singapore, maybe a night at the Andaz, then a nonstop flight to Los Angeles with no review necessary. I already reviewed Singapore to Los Angeles on United here. I’ll save Singapore Business Class for later in the year.
CONCLUSION
I am open to other options as well. What do you prefer I fly home from Vietnam?
No EVA availability? Well, then my vote is for JAL!
I love EVA, but want to sample a carrier I have not yet flown.
EVA was my first thought, too.
Haha, I’m sitting in an EVA flight right now in HCMC about to go to LAX via Taipei. Love EVA, but looking forward to your review of another route.
JAL has some fairly reasonably priced one way business class tickets from SGN to LAX that are fairly direct and include JAL Sky Suite on the 777-300ER. Been eyeing it for the next time I go.
JAL is the way to go. Great service, great food, nice bed padding mat. Lot of good stuff on JAL. Can’t go wrong with them.
The first comment is not from me, its from a different brandon. I swear.
What about China Airlines with a layover in Taipei. Not sure if you’ve flown them before though.
For my post Qatar flight plans, I’m traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang to try out the new Sheraton Da Nang Resort, then a short hop to HKG on Hong Kong express. A Cathay business class award flight over to Colombo and then finally a $1,300 r/t business class flight to Doha continuing to PHL. The return to CMB will start another trip going to India. That one will end with an award flight on Qatar from Chennai back to the US. I understand your interest in trying other products but between the reasonable prices, best in class service and beautiful aircraft and lounges I find little reason to stray from Qatar.
Hop down to SYD or MEL and fly Virgin Australia J back home?
How about United nrt-sfo or hkg-sfo for the new Polaris seats? You could do a mini review of that since I don’t think you’ve done a new Polaris seat review unless I missed in.
You’d get your lifetime miles, pqm, and a mini review out of it.
My vote would be to see you fly Korean first and failing that JAL. If not those then Ethiad.
Just go by boat/raft. That’s how the Vietnamese got here.
Putting the vote in for JAL!
My vote is for Vietnam Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. You can easily fly any of the other airlines you mentioned in the future given that they all fly to LAX, while Vietnam Airlines doesn’t.
I sort of lean in this direction. Hope some space opens…
EY Business is the worst option
Why is that?
Hop a flight to Singapore and try out the new suites down to Sydney and then take Virgin Australia J back.
Will fly both later in year on an Australian trip. Going twice to Australia already.
Korean or JAL.
Both are in cabins I’ve never close before but could do with points. I’d like to see what is be getting.
How about Hong Kong Airlines. They have A350’s flying to LA, and it would make for an interesting review.
Anything
But
United
Nothing to see, 10+ year old product, already downgraded Polaris experience
The beauty of flying United is that I would not have to write about it! 😉
Why not just fly EVA then? Wouldn’t it cost the same number and type of miles, require only one stop from SGN, and also not require a review, since you say you’ve flown it recently? Voluntarily downgrading to United would just be sad.
Vietnam Airlines for reviewing
Korean
Second vote for CI via TPE.
Though if you fly KE you could review the new T2 at ICN.
Any airline is fine as long you dress as a leprechaun or a gnome.
Set yourself apart man. A traveling leprechaun!
Dont do korean because you’ll be disappointed… or maybe thats the point of a review lol . last time i had the choice of flying biz from IAD (where I was) or first from JFK, decided for First and drove 4 hours to JFK to try the experience, and it was all but underwhelming even though i was one of only 2 passengers in the cabin. no caviar (foie gras was served), shit catering out of jfk, language barrier, little service (presumably due to language barrier). Should’ve just went with the Apex Suite out of IAD.
VN has daily flights to London just departing different airports. If there is none departing SGN why not do a short hop on VN to HAN and get to LHR that way?
Fly with who you like. But 2 days in Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Airlines to LHR and who you like from there would be my preference. Other options elicit boredom from the likes of me. By the way you could choose other far more interesting local hotels in Saigon such as The Rex.
JAL – would love to read a review before I try the product myself later this year…