We’ve flown on a lot of planes over the years. Most were perfectly fine. A few were truly impressive. And one? One stood out for all the wrong reasons. It’s been a couple of years since that flight, and even now, I can confidently say it was the nastiest aircraft we’ve ever flown on.
Back in 2023, I wrote about this flight, and, wow, did the comments come in hot. A few people roasted me for being “entitled,” “spoiled,” and “miserable.” (To be fair, maybe I was a little dramatic.) But in hindsight? I stand by it. It was the dirtiest plane I’ve ever flown on, and it stood out even more because our other flights in the region, including another Lao Airlines flight on an ATR 72-600, were terrific. This one just…wasn’t.
Our Flight From Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (via everywhere)
Our itinerary got jumbled thanks to schedule changes, so our best option from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap was a three-flight journey: LPQ–VTE–HAN–REP. The first leg on Lao Airlines’ ATR was smooth and pleasant. Our second leg was on one of their four A320s, headed from Vientiane to Hanoi. That’s when things got… interesting.
Vientiane’s airport was surprisingly nice, complete with a knockoff Starbucks.
According to Airfleets.net, our A320 was 12 years old but had lived a harder life.
The Cabin: A Study in Wear and Tear
We boarded through the forward door and passed through a first-class cabin with green pleather seats that looked surprisingly decent.
Our seats were back in row 17. Legroom was fine, and I was excited to see an IFE screen. Spoiler: it never turned on. The USB plug also wasn’t working because it was just the top of a broken connector, dangling inside the seat.
You might say, “Come on, it’s a short flight, don’t be so picky!”—and sure, I get that. But then there were the seat pockets covered in doodles.
My wife’s seat had less graffiti but added bonuses:
A cracked armrest;
a half-detached seat pocket;
and a mystery stain on the armrest.
I tried to forget how bad the inside of the plane looked and spent my time looking out the window. At least that was a nice view.
A Meal I Didn’t Dare Try
They did offer meal service, but I stuck with my sandwich from the airport and bottled water. My wife braved the so-called “Luangprabang Burger,” catered from the Crowne Plaza.
Just Let Me Off This Plane
By the time we landed in Hanoi, I was ready to kiss the jet bridge. I get it: Lao Airlines has a tiny fleet, and pulling one of four planes for deep cleaning and repairs isn’t easy. But none of that makes it better for the passengers stuck with filthy seats, broken parts, and questionable seat pocket contents.
In the End, I’m Still a Fan of Lao Airlines
Here’s the thing—I would fly Lao Airlines again. Our other flights with them were great, and the staff on this flight were polite and professional. It’s just that this particular aircraft needed a serious intervention.
Looking back, I can see why people thought my original review was harsh. Maybe it was. But it was also honest. Even now, that flight remains the dirtiest plane I’ve ever flown on.
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1 comment
That looks petty identical to a plane I flew on with EgyptAir from Aswan to Abu Simbel. Different coloured seats in business class, but nearly identical ripped seat pockets, cracked armrests, mystery stains etc.