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Home » Trip Reports » Fifth Freedom Flashback: Bangkok To Ho Chi Minh City On Qatar Airways + Lufthansa
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Fifth Freedom Flashback: Bangkok To Ho Chi Minh City On Qatar Airways + Lufthansa

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 11, 2020November 14, 2023 8 Comments

This week we are taking a walk down memory lane with a vintage first class trip report. I’m sharing photos and brief commentary from a trip I took in the final days of 2010 and first days of 2011 that included many first class flights from five Star Alliance carriers. As we enter a new decade, the goal of this trip report is to examine how airlines have changed over the last one. Although this trip report has never been published, I will not be publishing a detailed, word-heavy review as I do for current trip reports. Instead, commentary will be limited and the focus will be on photos. For the final post, I will summarize, as generally as I can, how premium products have changed over the last decade.

  • Prior Segments
    • United Airlines 757-200 First Class Los Angeles to Chicago
    • Lufthansa A340-300 First Class Chicago To Munich
    • Turkish Airlines 737-700 Business Class Munich To Istanbul
    • Turkish Airlines 777-300 First Class Istanbul to Bangkok

Fifth Freedom flights are declining. New, fuel-efficient long-range aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 have made it possible to offer direct flights to more cities in a way that never made sense in the past. Back “in the day” (even less than a decade ago), many carriers offered several Fifth Freedom routes. Only a handful remain. Today’s report looks back on how I traveled round-trip from BKK to SGN.

Flight #5: Qatar Airways A330 Economy Class Bangkok To Ho Chi Minh City

  • We booked this flight for less than $100 a few days before travel
  • This was prior to my Priority Pass days, so we had no lounge access prior to departure
  • The flight was 30 minutes late
  • It was my first time on Qatar Airways and my first time on a Gulf carrier.
  • Before takeoff, a towel and candy were offered…in economy class.
  • I remember being struck by the international crew onboard: there were flight attendant from all over the world onboard
  • I also remember one flight attendant interaction.
    • During beverage service she asked, “Would what you like to drink?”
    • I said, “Do you have sparkling water?”
    • She looked at me for a moment, then said, “Yes.”
    • Then said nothing and did nothing.
    • I then asked, “Um, may I please have some sparking water?”
    • She said, “Yes,” and poured it.
  • The snack board was a savory hot pocket with cheese and tomato sauce inside.
  • IFE was turned off for flight.
  • Legroom was very tight.

a plane in an airport

a large glass building with many seats

a plane parked at an airport

a sign with a running man and a running man

a row of seats with monitors on the side

an airplane with seats and a monitor

a seat belt in the back of a plane

a close-up of some candy

a red box with a drink in it next to a glass of water

a food on a green tray

Flight #6: Lufthansa 747-400 Business Class Ho Chi Minh City To Bangkok

  • We purchased economy class tickets for about $150.
  • At check-in, I asked if an upgrade was available.
  • The agent said nothing, typed for a few moments, and handed my brother and me business class boarding passes.
  • Onboard, we were seated in the forward downstairs nose of the plane (the 747-400 had first class upstairs, but has since been removed).
  • German crew was proficient, taking beverage orders prior to takeoff for the 445 miles flight.
  • A meal was served after takeoff – a cold plate with noodles that was not very tasty.
  • IFE was a looping promotional video about Thailand – other choices were unavailable.
  • We landed on-time in Bangkok and headed right for the Thai Airways First Class Lounge.

people standing in a terminal

a large white airplane in an airport

a large airplane at an airport

a large white airplane at night

a screen with a number and text

an airplane with a person sitting on the seat

a tv on the side of an airplane

a glass of water on a tray

a tray with food and drinks on it

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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8 Comments

  1. Aaron Reply
    January 11, 2020 at 7:56 am

    So on what basis were you upgraded? Status, or…?

    • Matthew Reply
      January 11, 2020 at 10:36 am

      I’m sure it helped that I was Star Gold, but I just asked.

  2. Aaron Reply
    January 11, 2020 at 8:56 am

    Also, unless I am mistaken, neither of these routes still exist today. So definitely a nice record of things gone by…

    • Ex- 1K United Reply
      January 11, 2020 at 10:14 am

      They still exist. For example, Emirates has Fifth Freedom flight between Italy and US. Carriers reduce this strategy due to probably low demand (obviously pax prefer nonstop, faster to destination). But it hurts pax also- less choice for award ticket, higher fare due to less competition. Using Mathew’s examples, before if one wants an award seat between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, TG, LH, and QR all offer service. Award was much easier to find. Had these carriers still operate this route, it is still better for pax even with UA outrageous “dynamic price award” system. Nowadays, only TG offers this, so if they don’t offer award seat, prepare to get connect in Singapore for a double miles (minimum) requirement of UA.

      • Aaron Reply
        January 11, 2020 at 10:42 am

        I meant the routes as offered by Lufthansa and Qatar no longer exist.

        • Ex-1K United Reply
          January 11, 2020 at 1:37 pm

          I see. QR terminated that one, but made Ho Chi Minh City a connecting point between Doha and Phnom Penh. Ho Chi Minh City -Phnom Penh (50 minutes) a shortest route flown by 777’s??

          • Matthew
            January 11, 2020 at 2:46 pm

            I was booked on that flight last year, but had to cancel. I hope to check it out again, if for nothing else than to see what QR manages on a flight that short. I know they manage a full meal on short flights like KWI/DXB-DOH (RIP for now…).

    • Ex- 1K United Reply
      January 11, 2020 at 10:33 am

      accept my apology- his name is Matthew.

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