Evaluate: Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class Hanoi to Singapore

​​After immersing myself within the Bamboo Airways 787 enterprise class expertise from London to Hanoi, I accomplished a second flight with the Vietnamese airline from Hanoi to Singapore.

This time, I used to be on the Airbus A321 plane, which is a significantly smaller and older airplane inside Bamboo Airways’s fleet. 

This short-haul flight affords a way more compact enterprise class expertise as an alternative of lie-flat seats, however I used to be nonetheless curious to see how Bamboo Airways’s regional product holds as much as its long-haul routes.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Reserving

Bamboo Airways makes use of the Airbus A321-200 on choose home and short-haul routes throughout Asia. It’s accompanied by the same however barely smaller Airbus A320-200, in addition to newer-generation A320neo and A321neo plane, inside the airline’s regional fleet. 

Whereas the airline continues to modernize its fleet with newer plane, such because the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the A321-200 will seemingly nonetheless play a task in serving regional routes for the foreseeable future, till it’s finally phased out in favour of newer A321neos. 

This flight was part of the “Asia 3” Aeroplan candy spot reserving that I had made, which value 87,500 factors for enterprise class flights from Newark–London–Hanoi–Singapore. I then added a stopover for an extra 5,000 factors in London, for a complete value of 92,500 Aeroplan factors.

This candy spot lets you journey from North America to Asia with associate airways for simply 87,500 factors. You possibly can fly as much as 11,000 miles in distance, which helps you to take the great distance round by way of Europe or the Center East to get to Asia.

It’s a major instance of leveraging the facility of Miles & Factors to unlock a premium journey expertise, and is certainly one of the crucial engaging choices when redeeming Aeroplan factors.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Floor Expertise

Sadly, worldwide transit in Hanoi remains to be extra painful than it must be.

You want your airline’s consultant to fulfill you on the transit desk and course of your boarding move by way of a really handbook course of. In my case, it was the type that entails a Bamboo Airways employees member WhatsApping their colleagues an image of my passport.

After some time, our group of transiting Bamboo Airways passengers was sorted out. We had been then led upstairs to the safety queue, after which we discovered ourselves airside.

Worldwide enterprise class passengers with Bamboo Airways have entry to the Vietnam Airways Lotus Enterprise Class Lounge. Nonetheless, by the point I made it by way of, boarding for my flight to Singapore was quick approaching, so I didn’t have an opportunity to pop in and headed straight to the gate.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Cabin

Entering into the enterprise class cabin, I observed that there are simply eight enterprise class seats in a 2–2 configuration throughout two rows.

The Bamboo Airways regional enterprise class cabin is a regular enterprise class product, just like what you may discover on many airways in North America. The cabin inside is comparatively plain and unassuming, that includes a conventional gray color scheme with darkish blue leather-based upholstered chairs.

By way of seat choice, {couples} travelling collectively have the choice to decide on any pair of seats within the cabin. Solo travellers can select freely between aisle and window seats, relying on their basic desire.

One of many first issues I observed? This needs to be the tightest quantity of legroom I’ve ever seen in a enterprise class cabin. 

I used to be initially assigned Seat 2A within the second row, however the crew – very a lot conscious of the minimal legroom in Row 2 – kindly invited to maneuver to the primary row to get pleasure from some further house.

Nonetheless, since I had a seat mate subsequent to me, I made a decision to maneuver again to Row 2 after the meal service for extra space to work comfortably.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Seat

The seat design on Bamboo Airways A321 enterprise class is useful and offers an inexpensive degree of consolation, however isn’t an excessive amount of value writing residence about in any other case.

Between every seat is a console with a floor house, simply giant sufficient to put your telephone or a drink.

The literature pocket was conveniently positioned on the wall reverse from the seat, as we had been seated within the bulkhead row.

Nonetheless, for passengers within the second row, the literature pocket will be discovered on the again of the seat in entrance of them.

The armrest on the aisle facet of the seat is supplied with a set of three seat controls and the tray desk. When deployed, the tray will be folded out into its full measurement.

As you’ll be able to see, the seats onboard the regional enterprise class cabin are very worn-out. The airline may certainly profit from changing these drained A321s with newer A321neos as quickly as doable, to be able to ship a extra constant regional enterprise class expertise.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Facilities

A number of moments after boarding, a crew member supplied me a towel and a selection of pre-departure beverage. This time, I opted for a glass of orange juice.

There was no amenity equipment of any kind on this short-haul enterprise class flight, nor had been there any bodily menus. Throughout the flight, we had been supplied a bottle of water.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Meal Service

As we hit cruising altitude and the seatbelt signal was turned off, the flight attendant got here by with a pill to take our orders.

The menu learn as follows:

I made a decision to go along with the Asian meal among the many two choices obtainable, which included a three-course Western or Vietnamese–Asian meal.

The meal service started with a superbly introduced appetizer of lemongrass grilled hen skewers, accompanied by salad rolls and Asian inexperienced salad.

I assumed this appetizer was fairly inventive, with a lemongrass grilled hen skewer and spicy sauce nestled inside a hollowed-out cucumber slice. The flavours of the lemongrass and the spices had been properly balanced, offering a tantalizing begin to the meal.

Then it was time for the principle course, which featured a mattress of egg noodles stir-fried with an assortment of greens, accompanied by succulent prawns bathed in oyster sauce.

This dish was additionally fairly tasty, and I loved slurping up the noodles. The oyster sauce introduced a wealthy and salty flavour, which paired properly with the seafood.

In comparison with the appetizer, the principle course lacked a little bit of creativity, though it was nonetheless well-executed with good flavour.

I additionally sipped on a crisp glass of the New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which properly accentuated the flavours of the meals.

For dessert, I snacked on a candy soup made with longan and lotus seed. This was a pleasant mix of sweetness and nuttiness, typical flavours of South East Asia-style desserts, of which I’m notably fond.

I made a decision to make my manner again to Row 2 at this level, giving me extra room to unfold out and get some work completed.

Moreover, I made a decision to bask in one other Vietnamese iced espresso, which occurred to be my third of the day, following my two helpings onboard Bamboo Airways 787 enterprise class from London to Hanoi.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Leisure

Sadly, there wasn’t any in-flight Wi-Fi on this regional enterprise class flight. As an alternative, there was a “Bamboo Sky” Wi-Fi choice, which was meant to serve instead.

Nonetheless, when trying to entry the leisure choices, I discovered that the flicks, documentaries, and music tabs had been completely empty, and the one obtainable choice was video games.

With out every other choice, I took benefit of the uninterrupted time throughout my three-hour flight to get some work completed, after which napped for just a little bit. The time handed by swiftly, and earlier than I knew it, we started our method to Singapore.

Bamboo Airways A321 Enterprise Class – Restrooms

The restrooms onboard are on no account outstanding, however there’s quantity of counter house. I assumed the fake flowers had been a pleasant contact, as they added a contact of character.

Moreover, there’s a fold-down desk situated above the bathroom, which is right for putting small private objects whereas freshening up.

Conclusion

Bamboo Airways leaves one thing to be desired when it comes to its regional enterprise class arduous product on the Airbus A321.

Whereas the seats had been useful, I discovered that they fell brief when it comes to trendy requirements, and the facilities supplied on this short-haul flight had been restricted. Particularly, Wi-Fi ought to be a top-priority funding for the airline.

Regardless of these shortcomings, the service onboard is polished with a crew that’s keen to help with any wants you may need. Moreover, the meal service delivered a few tasty dishes that had been stuffed with flavour and creativity.

Primarily based on this expertise, the short-haul enterprise class product is in want of enchancment if Bamboo Airways needs to compete with different main airways within the area.

Certainly, it’s my understanding that Bamboo Airways’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo plane ought to at the very least provide a much-improved arduous product in comparison with the older A320-200s and A321-200s.

In any other case, I’d be inclined to look elsewhere to extra established full-service airways or a low-cost service with a sexy fare once I’m flying round South East Asia.