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Bamboo Airways Reviews and Flights

• Airlines    

Bamboo Airways

Airline Summary

• Excellent 106
• Very Good 54
• Terrible 256
• Premium Economy
• Business Class
• First Class
• All languages ( 471 )
• English ( 293 )
• Vietnamese ( 105 )
• German ( 32 )

" DO NOT BOOK WITH BAMBOO AIRWAYS "

" No recommend for anyone "

" Don't fly with Bamboo Airways...you probably won't get a plane or your money back!!!! "

" If you want a reliable flight time, don't book with bamboo or book on the day of flight with no connecting flight. "

" Don't fly with them, you won't get off the ground. "

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An Honest, in-depth Bamboo Airways Review: Is it worth It?

This website contains no sponsored content. The content is written entirely on my own and is based on my personal experience and extensive research. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the  disclaimer  for more information.

How good are Bamboo airways? Is Bamboo Airways safe? Is Bamboo Airways a budget airline?

If you have booked a Bamboo Airways ticket or are about to book a Bamboo Airways ticket, these questions must have popped up in your head.

In this honest Bamboo Airways review, I will share my end-to-end experience of flying with Bamboo Airways. I will go over my booking experience, seat selection, check-in process, seat comfort, in-flight hospitality, and facilities. I will also go over how it fares in comparison with the Vietjet Air experience .

Before we dive into the Bamboo Airways review, here are a few quick facts about Bamboo Airways

• Bamboo Airways was established in 2017. But its first aircraft flew on 16th January 2019.
• It is the most punctual airline in Vietnam since 2019
• It is the second-best regional airline in the Asia category and the fifteenth-best regional airline overall.
• Its slogan is ‘what comes from the heart goes to the heart’ and that’s why its crew always greets its passengers with a hand on their heart.

But how does Bamboo Airways deliver in terms of performance? We will evaluate that in detail below.

Table of Contents

Bamboo airways review – is bamboo airways good.

This in-depth Bamboo Airways review is based on my flights from Hanoi to Da Nang and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. I flew with my husband and my 4-year-old daughter.

Booking Process and Ticket Price

The booking process at Bamboo Airways was seamless.

I booked our tickets from the official Bamboo Airways website .

The website was clean and very user-friendly. Unlike Vietjet Air’s website, this website’s English content was well-written and did not feel like a cheap translated copy.

The payment was made in USD but the tickets were extremely affordable.

In fact, the massive price difference was why we chose to fly Bamboo Airways instead of Vietjet Air or Vietnam Airlines.

Here are some key details that you should know about Bamboo Airways ticket fares – Bamboo Airways has tickets divided into economy fares and business fares.

– Bamboo Airways provides a pay-later option ticket too where you are allowed to hold your seats, are allocated a reservation code, and allowed to pay later (within 4-10 hours and as specified at the time of booking)

We paid 99 USD for the three of us per journey, per way with our toddler only being charged 75% of the adult fare. Thus, we paid a fee (without tax) of USD 7 per adult and USD 5 per toddler. In addition to this, we paid USD 2 per seat selected.

Today, the fares of Bamboo Airways have gone up considerably and cost approximately USD 99 and USD 20-40 (without taxes) for economy class and USD 110 (without tax) for business. The seat cost is between USD 5-8.

Moreover, the fares also include hand luggage up to 7 kg and checked luggage up to 20 kg.

Web Check-in

Web check-in, seat selection, and other ‘manage booking’ features were easily accessible post-booking. This too, is in sharp contrast to my experience with Vietjet Air where logging in to access booking details was a nightmarish experience

Check-in and Boarding

Check-in starts two hours in advance before which the counters remain closed or even if they are open for other flights, you need to wait for check-in for your flight to start.

Other than this minor inconvenience (which we only faced because we reached far too early for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City), the process of check-in and boarding went smoothly.

The airline staff speaks excellent English and could easily understand and communicate with international passengers.

In-flight experience

In-flight experience is where Bamboo Airways over-delivers for its price. The leg space in the aircraft is above average.

The in-flight attendants are extremely warm and friendly. They are happy to help you to the best of their ability.

The aircraft and toilets are extremely well-maintained. The upholstery is fresh and soothing on the eyes. The aisles and overhead bins are clutter-free.

Since the revision in their prices, Bamboo Airways has also started providing free meals onboard. However, since we weren’t given free meals when we flew with them, I can’t comment on the variety and quality of food available.

When exiting, the in-flight attendants stand with a hand on their heart (in line with the airline’s slogan) and greet and thank every passenger. The hospitality and quality of service on flight truly leave a positive impression.

Other Key Observations

Given the fact that the prices of Bamboo Airways have gone up considerably since the time I flew this airline, Bamboo Airways may not seem like an obvious choice especially given how affordable Vietjet Air tickets are.

But a few distinguishing factors about Bamboo Airways that would still compel me to opt for Bamboo Airways are

• Bamboo Airways flights rarely get canceled. Even during terrible weather conditions, when most of the Vietjet and Vietnam flights were canceled, Bamboo Airways continued to operate. This in itself was a major relief given that we were traveling on a tight travel itinerary that would have been completely thrown off had our flight been canceled.
• The flights leave on time most of the time. ln fact, it has even won awards for its on-time performance and has consistently been the most punctual airline in Vietnam.
• Bamboo Airways also operates internationally and flies to major destinations like Australia, Germany, and Japan.
• Checked luggage of at least 20 kgs is included in all of its fare classes (Except Economy Super Saver which is rarely available for booking anyway) and takes away the hassle of buying checked luggage which you otherwise need to do in Asian carriers like Lion Thai Airways, Air Asia, etc.

Bamboo Airways – Frequently Asked Questions

Is bamboo airways a budget airline.

Bamboo Airways operates as a hybrid model. It combines the benefits of low costs and traditional full-service models. Thus, you get excellent leg space, meals, and checked luggage but you don’t get perks like in-flight entertainment, alcoholic beverages, etc.

Is it safe to fly Bamboo Airways?

Bamboo Airways has earned a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings . The staff is fully vaccinated and the flight’s service equipment is fully sanitized as per flight service standards.

Where does Bamboo Airways fly to?

Bamboo Airways flies to various destinations within Vietnam like Hanoi, Da Nang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Hue, etc. Internationally, the flight flies to Tokyo, Frankfurt, Seoul, Taipei, Melbourne, etc.

Should you fly Bamboo Airways?

Given that Bamboo Airways is now priced similarly with Vietnam Airlines and is usually more expensive than Vietjet Air, does it still make sense to fly Bamboo Airways.

Honestly, I have not flown on a Vietnam Airlines flight so I can’t comment on the in-flight experience of Vietnam Airlines.

But if you have read my review of Vietjet Air , you would know that the experience was terrible. There is hardly any leg space and the in-flight attendants are not very warm and cordial.

Plus, during bad weather, we did notice the cancellation of flights of both Vietnam Airlines as well as Vietjet Airways whereas Bamboo Airways flights flew as per schedule. This punctuality and commitment to fly in itself are enough to convince me to book a Bamboo Airways ticket even after the hike in its prices.

In my opinion, if you have the option of taking a Bamboo Airways flight, especially for domestic travel within Vietnam, and budget is not an issue for you, you should choose Bamboo Airways over Vietjet or Vietnam Airlines.

Travelling to Vietnam? Read more articles here

• Hanoi street food tours – A complete guide
• Best day trips from Hoi An for all types of travelers
• What to do in Hanoi in 24 hours
• Best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter
• How many days are enough in Hoi An
• All the other Vietnam articles

TOP TRAVEL RESOURCES

Here is a list of our favorite travel resources- the ones that I absolutely swear by when planning almost every trip. Go through this list to plan a hassle-free trip and save a lot of money!

Flight Booking: Check the availability of tickets, the best time to fly, and the cheapest fares on Skyscanner . You may also find a cheap flight via CheapOair

Accommodation: I absolutely love booking through Agoda . In most countries and particularly in Asia, I often find the best fares on Agoda. But I also love the no prepayment and no cancellation fee policy of Booking.com . For cheap accommodations and hostels, nothing beats Hostelworld .

Car Rentals: You may find and rent an appropriate car via RentalCars . It’s hassle-free and reliable.

Guided Tours: I absolutely love GetYourGuide for local sightseeing tours, walking tours, history tours, and food tours. The booking process is seamless, and the tours are super affordable. But in Asian countries, I prefer Viator or Klook for their affordably priced tours.

Lounge Access : Get Priority Pass – my personal favorite card that gives me unlimited access to premium airport lounges all over the world

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Vrushali Ketkar is a lawyer turned travel blogger. She has travelled to 14 countries. She travels like a regular working woman with family. Her lawyer-level research skills make her a destination expert and help her get the most out of my trips. Today, her travel articles and videos help thousands of people across the world plan their trips to various parts of the world.

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Simple Flying

From zero to hero: the incredible rise of bamboo airways.

Vietnam is one of the world’s hottest aviation markets, with Bamboo Airways expecting at least 50 aircraft by the end of 2021 – less than three years after it started. Is it biting off more than it can chew?

Vietnam is one of the hottest aviation markets anywhere in the world. The country's domestic market more than trebled in the past decade, with 35 million (!) seats added. It expects just over 50 million domestic seats this year, up by 13% over pre-coronavirus 2019.

Vietnam Airlines is the country's top domestic airline, followed by VietJet and Bamboo Airways. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Bamboo Airways is much older than two, but it's not.

Like the country itself, Bamboo Airways has grown exceptionally quickly from its January 2019 start, with nearly 7.5 million domestic seats this year for a 15% share of the market, analysis of OAG data shows.

Domestic currently key for Bamboo Airways

Bamboo Airways' growth (which does not refer to profitability) was somewhat helped by coronavirus. As the carrier's CEO, Dang Tat Thang, said:

"The first success of Bamboo entailed its leadership promptly making appropriate decisions from the beginning of the year, such as stopping international flights even before being requested by the government and an early focus on domestic resources."

This doesn't mean that international markets are not key to Bamboo Airways' future – they are. Indeed, Vietnam's total international scene saw 49 million seats in 2019, up by nearly 32 million in a decade.

Bamboo Airways has already operated internationally, with its top route, before the pandemic, being Da Nang-Seoul Incheon, a huge leisure market with 11 airlines. But it's on the domestic front that Bamboo Airways is focusing on while planning to resume and to grow internationally:

"We are focusing on the domestic market, but have never stopped preparing resources for international flights. Non-stop flights to South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are set to commence as early as the second quarter of 2021, if allowed by the government."

B787s to Embraers for domestic flights

Bamboo Airways now has 29 aircraft comprising A319s, A320ceos, A320neos, A321ceos, A321neos , B787-9s, and Embraer 190/195s – all after 26 months. And its CEO expects "at least" 50 by the end of 2021. There is some commonality between the Airbus aircraft and, of course, it has the ability to right-size capacity with demand.

But it's crucially important that Bamboo Airways does not overstretch itself with all the potential problems that could result in. Growing so quickly and trying to do so many different things all at the same time can be deadly.

Bamboo Airways has a network of 57 domestic routes this year, with the A320 by far its top aircraft by scheduled capacity, followed by the A321, Embraers, B787 (clearly sub-optimally), and A319. Yet, Vietnam is for now really all about core routes, which is why Bamboo Airways' top-10 routes have nearly four million seats and over half (53%) of its total.

Stay informed:  Sign up for our  daily  and  weekly  aviation news digests!

B787s on two routes, Embraers on 26

Bamboo Airways uses its B787-9s between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the island of Phu Quoc, some 769 miles away. That's nearly as long as a route gets in Vietnam, with the country's geography brilliant for multiple sectors a day. That one reason why it's so attractive to low-cost carriers, with which Bamboo Airways competes.

Its Embraers, meanwhile, are used on 26 routes, with Hanoi-Con Dao, Hai Phong-Con Dao, Can Tho-Con Dao, Da Nang-Con Dao, and Phu Quoc-Can Tho top. The island of Con Dao, some 143 miles south of Ho Chi Minh, has a runway of just over 6,000 feet.

Big international ambition

Bamboo Airways has always been clear on its desire to serve the US along with Melbourne , Munich, Prague, and more, on a scheduled basis, and this hasn't changed:

"Preparations for flights to Australia and China, Germany, the Czech Republic, America, and so on are also underway. As you can see, in 2020, a big aim for Bamboo was to be licensed to transport passengers and goods to and from the US."

That ambition hasn't yet been met with reality. But make no mistake: the markets are often large. Nearly a million people flew between Vietnam and the US in 2019, with Ho Chi Minh-Los Angeles top with nearly 200,000 point-to-point passengers. Almost half-a-million traveled between Vietnam and Germany, while Melbourne-Hanoi alone saw 74,000. And they're pretty fast-growing, too.

Big markets, but...

The issue isn't size, but often fares and long distances, most particularly to the US. Bamboo Airways should avoid routes that may look ‘attractive’, and instead focus purely on those with strong potential. Perhaps less sexy, but hopefully far more sustainable.

As its CEO said:

"During the pandemic, increasing flight routes proved to be the right decision. When the market recovers, we will already have a well-rounded system to serve the needs of our customers." 

Review of Bamboo Airways flight Sydney → Ho Chi Minh City in Business

INTRODUCTION

Hello, long time viewer and first time poster. In this trip report, we will share our trip on Bamboo airways long haul flight from Australia to Asia. This trip to South East Asia took place during Christmas/NY break.  While looking for our options to get there, we realised that Air Canada signed up Bamboo as their partner and we found some last minute reward seats on SYD-SGN (Christmas eve reward seat!)    

Checkin and ground experience

To start with, Bamboo don't let you do seat selection online on Aeroplan bookings. And, it is not possible to do online check in on international flights. Flight was delayed by 2 hours due to the late arrival of the aircraft into Sydney. This is looking like a patchy start. We got to the check in counter 3 hours before the scheduled time (5 hours before the departure time) to try and get seat selection done. They have a separate priority line for business and their elite guests, which was good and enforced. The flight was full as expected and the system assigned us to random middle seats. Note: Bamboo gives a generous 65kg!!! of checked baggage each in business class to/from Australia and Europe.

Lounge access

The lounge used in Sydney in Plaza premium which is actually the Skyteam lounge and it was pretty cool. The lounge food was not that great. They were about to change from breakfast to lunch, so not quite the ideal time to visit. The lounge is pretty good for plane spotting.

Next up is boarding time and here is a look at the Bamboo 787. It is their first 787 and named "Halong Bay" Out of the 3 787s that Bamboo has, two are ex-Hainan and this is also one of them. Seat is a reverse herringbone configuration. There is a smaller storage on the left with the essential ports and TV remote and a bigger storage on the right (also serves as arm rest). Some pictures of the seat.

wifi and inflight entertainment

Entertainment screen is decent and touch screen or control via remote, but content is very limited. You might want to bring you own. The headphones provided were poor, no NC. No WIFI on this aircraft either. I don't think actually any of their aircraft has WIFI

Menus are digital and shown by the crew on a tablet. Not big on alcohol, but I realised they only had 2 whites and 2 reds.

Some pictures of the food. They really like their branding.

Second meal service

AMENITITES KIT

No fancy brands, but lots of useful stuff in the distinctly branded amenity kit

Bamboo Airways

Skyteam lounge, sydney - syd, ho chi minh city - sgn.

Overall, pretty good considering everything including the cost and the nature of the trip. The crew were attentive and excellent.

Some points to note. 1. They wouldnt let us pre-select seats on Aeroplan bookings. I notice the option when booking a flight on their website, but once we booked ours through Aeroplan it was not possible. 2. It is not possible to do internet checking (and select seats) for international bookings. 3. They has only 3 787-9s in their fleet and they fly long haul to several cities, so it is a bit of a tight operation and our flight was delayed by 2.5 hours due to late arrival of the aircraft from FRA.

Taipei ✈ Ho Chi Minh City

Eva air flight in premium eco.

China Airlines flight in Business

Duong Dong ✈ Ho Chi Minh City

Flyone flight in economy.

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• Airline Bamboo Airways
• Class Business
• Aircraft Boeing 787-9
• Take-off SYD
• Arrival at SGN
• Flight time 08:45
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Những trường hợp không áp dụng làm thủ tục trực tuyến: - Hành khách có yêu cầu dịch vụ đặc biệt (trừ dịch vụ suất ăn đặc biệt) - Hành khách bị từ chối chuyên chở, bị trục xuất - Hành khách đi cùng trẻ nhỏ dưới 02 tuổi - Hành khách là phụ nữ mang thai - Hành khách yêu cầu trợ giúp y tế (dịch vụ xe lăn) - Hành khách có mua thêm dịch vụ bổ trợ nhưng chưa hoàn tất thanh toán - Hành khách có mã đặt chỗ thuộc danh sách standby, sổ chờ

Những trường hợp làm thủ tục trực tuyến nhưng cần lấy thẻ lên máy bay tại quầy làm thủ tục: - Hành khách là trẻ em từ 02 tuổi đến 12 tuổi - Hành khách có tên trùng với danh sách hạn chế bay

Online check-in is not applicable for the following passengers: - Passengers who request special services (except for special meals) - Passengers who are deported/rejected of transportation - Passengers who travel with infants under 02 years old - Pregnant passengers - Passengers requiring special medial assistance (wheelchair) - Passengers who buy ancillaries but not finish payment - Passengers who have booking in standby status, waitlist status

Online check-in is applicable but need collect boarding pass at check-in counter for the following passengers: - Passengers who are children from 02 to 12 years old. - Passengers who have the same name with black list.

オンラインチェックインが適用されない場合: - 特別なサービスリクエストを持つ乗客（特別な食事リクエストを除く） - 乗車を拒否されたり、追放された乗客 - 2歳未満の幼児を連れている乗客 - 妊娠している女性の乗客 - 医療支援をリクエストする乗客（車椅子サービス） - 追加のサービスを購入したが支払いを完了していない乗客 - 待機リストに予約コードがある乗客

オンラインチェックインは可能ですが、チェックインカウンターで搭乗券を取得する必要がある場合: - 2歳から12歳までの子供を連れた乗客 - 名前が飛行禁止リストと一致する乗客

온라인 체크인을 적용하지 않는 경우: - 특별한 서비스 요청이 있는 승객 (특별한 식사 요청 제외) - 탑승이 거부되거나 추방된 승객 - 02세 이하의 유아를 동반하는 승객 - 임신한 여성 승객 - 의료 지원을 요청하는 승객 (휠체어 서비스) - 추가 서비스를 구매했지만 결제를 완료하지 않은 승객 - 대기 목록에 예약 코드가 있는 승객

온라인 체크인 가능하나 체크인 카운터에서 탑승권을 발급해야 하는 경우: - 02세에서 12세 사이의 어린 승객 - 이름이 금지 목록과 일치하는 승객

不适用在线办理登机手续的情况包括： - 有特殊服务要求的乘客（不包括特殊餐食要求） - 被拒绝承运或被驱逐的乘客 - 旅行中携带2岁以下婴儿的乘客 - 怀孕的女性乘客 - 请求医疗协助（轮椅服务）的乘客 - 购买额外服务但尚未完成付款的乘客 - 在候补名单上有预订代码的乘客

可以进行在线办理登机手续但需在办理登机手续柜台取得登机牌的情况包括： - 年龄在2到12岁之间的乘客 - 姓名与飞行禁飞名单相符的乘客

不適用線上報到的情況包括： - 有特殊服務要求的乘客（不包括特殊膳食要求） - 被拒絕承運或被驅逐的乘客 - 旅行中攜帶2歲以下嬰兒的乘客 - 孕婦乘客 - 要求醫療協助（輪椅服務）的乘客 - 購買額外服務但尚未完成付款的乘客 - 在候補名單上有預約代碼的乘客

可以進行線上報到但需在報到櫃台取得登機證的情況包括： - 年齡在2到12歲之間的乘客 - 名字與飛行禁飛名單相符的乘客

VIETNAMESE REUNIFICATION DAY - Save 8%* on base fare - Applicable for Economy Saver Max and Economy Smart classes

>> See details

CHÀO LỄ CHỐT DEAL - Giảm ngay 8%* giá vé cơ sở - Áp dụng cho hạng vé Economy Saver Max và Economy Smart

>> Xem chi tiết

• Hanoi HAN Noi Bai International Airport
• Ho Chi Minh city SGN Tan Son Nhat International Airport
• Da Nang DAD Da Nang International Airport
• Hai Phong HPH Cat Bi International Airport
• Thanh Hoa THD Tho Xuan Airport
• Vinh VII Vinh International Airport
• Nha Trang CXR Cam Ranh International Airport
• Quy Nhon UIH Phu Cat Airport
• Da Lat DLI Lien Khuong Airport

Web Checkin is available 24 to 1 hour before flight departure

Please ensure you input the family name as it appears in your ticket

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Family members

Nominee members, vietnamese reunification day.

Celebrating the great occasion and anticipation for the second long holiday of the year after returning to work from the Lunar New Year holiday, Bamboo Airways presents to you a discount of 8% .

Enter code: HOLIDAY - Save 8%  on base fare when booking from 1 passenger or more

Promotion period:  April 27, 2024 - May 01, 2024

Sales channels: Bamboo Airways' official website, mobile app, agents and ticket offices

Applicable routes: All domestic flights (EXCEPT flights between Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Applicable flight period:

• Departure at least 24 hours after ticket issuance
• Flight period from May 02, 2024 to May 20, 2024

Applicable fare classes: Economy Saver Max, Economy Smart

Applicable for adults and children, not applicable for infants under 2 years old.

Hurry, promotion codes available!

• Discount applies only to base fare, not including taxes, fees, and surcharges.
• Any bookings, ticket issuance, and changes made after the promotion period will not be eligible for the discount.
• The promotion cannot be combined with other offers.