Over the years, we’ve been on plenty of planes. I can say that in my memory, I can’t remember being on a worse-looking plane. Even the Eastern Airlines plane we flew to Cuba was way better than this one.
I was actually looking forward to flying on a Lao Airlines A320 after having such a great experience on their ATR 72-600. Due to some flight schedule changes, the only way our tour group could get to Siem Reap from Luang Prabang was a three-flight journey, LPQ-VTE-HAN-REP. Our first leg was on a Lao Airlines ATR to Vientiane. Then we were to take one of Lao Airlines’ four A320s to Hanoi.
The airport in Laos capital was much nicer than the one at Luang Prabang, complete with a knockoff Starbucks coffee shop.
According to Airfleets.net, our A321 was 12 years old.
We boarded through the forward door and walked through the empty first-class cabin of 8 seats, 2 rows of 2-2 seating. The seats looked nice, except for the green pleather upholstery.
However, we weren’t sitting in first class, so we headed toward the back of the plane, to our seats in row 17. Once again, Sharon and I were forced to sit on different sides of the plane.
I put my bag in the overhead and my backpack under the seat. Legroom was decent.
The next thing I noticed was an IFE screen, which was unexpected.
Unfortunately, it never turned on for our flight.
There was a coat pull next to the IFE screen, but I don’t know what that is or what it’s for. I can’t imagine hanging a coat where it would be 1/2 way into the next seat’s legroom.
There was also an unexplained hook on the other side of the screen.
I was excited to see a USB plug to charge my phone.
I found out that this was only the top of a USB connector, as it had fallen into the seat. Even after I pulled it up and plugged in my phone, nothing happened. Other people in our group confirmed that the USB plug did nothing.
OK, I understand if you’re saying I’m a grump because a Southeast Asian carrier didn’t have a working IFE or USB for a 1+ hour flight. But wait, it gets better.
Apparently, the seat pocket is where you doodle while bored on the flight.
Sharon’s seat was a bit better than mine because they only used the seat to test a pen.
Instead, they used the back of the seat to draw on.
I tried to forget about how bad the inside of the plane looked and spent my time looking out the window. At least that was a nice view.
As it turned out, Sharon’s seat was way worse than mine. She made the mistake of looking into the seat pocket, which was partially detached.
And had a cracked armrest.
And a broken coat pull, whatever that’s for.
This stain was on the back of the armrest from the row in front of me (and the person next to me wearing sandals, who needed a pedicure).
They offered a meal service. I had my sandwich from the airport so I passed. Sharon accepted the “Luangprabang Burger” catered from the Crowne Plaza.
I wasn’t willing to try the meal or a drink in a paper cup and stuck to my bottled water.
I never thought I’d be happy to see Hanoi Airport again but all I wanted was to get off this plane.
I appreciate since the airline only has four planes, it would be a huge disruption to remove 1/4 of the fleet to repair the interior, even if it’s badly in need of a refresh.
However, that doesn’t make it any better for a passenger who has to fly on a plane with broken armrests, filthy seats and who knows what in the seat pockets.
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19 comments
Consider this News worthy?
We don’t specialize in the news as plenty of other blogs cover those topics. I did it could be helpful for anyone planning a trip on this aircraft.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I found it helpful. And I didn’t read into your story too much like some of those other comments did.
If I am watching TV and they’re showing something that doesn’t interest me or that I don’t like…I change the channel.
Thanks again.
Nice, but I’ll raise you a Yemeni Air domestic flight as they use(d) aircraft that are de-certified for NA/European operations. The planes were generally flown by some ex-Russian pilots or half trained others. Had to use them some years back before their current situation while rotating in/out for some energy company work. It was a relief to finish the contract and to never go back.
This article really comes off as entitled and spoiled. The fact that you have the luxury to fly (even though most of Laos probably don’t and can’t) rather than take a very long bus ride is something to be appreciative of. I really do think you should actually delete this embarrassing article.
I am a senior person (89) and have several thousand hours of flight time. The price charged by the Air Lines should include clean and well kept equipment, if not this tells me the owners don’t care àbout anything but making extra money. Yes, we all are concerned about those who are less fortunate than us but we would still get what we pay for. I say keep complaining unless you are flying for free.
It really does read as “south east Asian carrier on a super short haul” problems for foreigners. I am pretty sure I am younger than you and I know what a coat pull is (standard in a lot of older Canadian aircraft without cloak storage in the aft, though Ive seen them worldwide).
“(and the person next to me wearing sandals, who needed a pedicure)”. I’m an AC SE and this gives me the “i walked by all the cattle with my zone 2 boarding” vibes from the junk AC 50k members post up and and down. “Asian people have different priorities than me because they have a different economic situation from my own—and I think that’s gross!”
I dislike when travel blogs pass from “useful information” posts to “ugh, coat pulls and pen markings in a national carrier in SE Asia”. Sounds as bad as when Bev Oda bought breakfast at YYZ cuz she couldn’t handle the ‘broken crackers and cold brie’ of AC signature class breakfast. Did you arrive safely and on time? The carrier has already given you your money’s worth.
Travel blogger traveling on group trip. Lol. The pathethic comment about someone wearing a sandals and needed oedicure(by your standards). What about you look first at your home yard? With obese people crammed into narrow seats and bossy flight attendand with NOmeal service in economy for 5 hours? Maybe you would be better of staying in your US-Hawai bubble. Laos is one of the poorest if not the poorest country in Sea and your expectations were a bit high.
And you’re saying I’m judgemental?
STAY HOME , PERIOD.
Why were you flying to North Vietnam in the first place? What a dull destination.
The Boomeriest Boomer what ever Boomered
Not a Boomer. Thanks for playing.
Wow. What a miserable traveler this author must be. You have led a privileged life if this is the worst you have experienced. Unnecessary comments about your seat mate is just tacky too. Amateur hour here.
Kudos to you for going to Laos, but apparently you learned nothing about the country or the people. Too bad, travel is supposed to be enlightening.
We built the first bridge over the Mekong River (Freedom Bridge) and I flew Lao air from Bangkok to Vientiane. Our Lao aircraft was an old Russian prop aircraft and still had the notices in Russian. Aircon on the flight was a rattan fan in the seat pocket!!
Great times!!
What you expect… Fork over the extra 20 USD and fly Vietnam airlines. Don’t fly cheap ass an complain that it is not op to your standards.
Fly Ryanair, expect Emirates… And complain. Smh.
That’s bad? You have not flown enough. Flew many flights which condition is worsethan that, and yes, peeping into the seat pocket is never a good idea, even in established carriers. Coat hanger is to hang coats, surprised you have never seen those, and the one on the left is to put in your specs – again a common thing.
Have to love these hack journalist wannabes that just use any excuse to spend an entire story bitching about something that literally nobody cares about.