Prologue:
Hi guys,I'm back for some new YTR!
I needed to go back to Paris for business purposes, so i decided to maximize my XP by flying PVG-HAN-CDG, which will give me 102XP.
VN also added its 787-9 Dreamliner to the route VN-CN compared to the 350-9 from last year.
Let's enjoy this report
Time to go to the airport Shanghai Pudong Terminal 2. I'm grabbing a Didi (Chinese equivalent of Uber whom he bought the activity a couple of years ago).
Seemly he's an honored driver! Lucky me!
Arrived at the airport we have a first control (anti bomb)
After 45min walking in the terminal they have finally opened the check-in counters! On T2 there is no specific area for the F/J compared to T1 so I'll have to queue a few minutes.
Some spotting before passing the security and the custom
VIP passengers have a dedicated access for the security check. I'm taking quickly a picture then the security jumped onto me to tell me that taking pictures was totally forbidden. Oups... too late!
Time to enjoy the T2 lounge. I see you all coming there is no name just a lounger number!
I let you discover the food and beverage offer
This was my small selection for the lunch.
Restroom was clean but I didn't try the shower rooms. The key should be requested from the staff.
View of/from the lounge.
Seats are a little bit old-fashioned but quite comfortable. However tables seats should be cleaned more regularly.
Boarding time is approaching the boarding will start and will respect the priority.
Finally I'm inside this 787-9. That's the first time I'm flying with it for this segment. Last year I flew on the A350-9.
When Champagne is available I cannot refuse it! Cheers
And now the seat for the coming hours. Seat starts to be old the plastics are removed sometimes. There is no noise cancelling earphones. There are a few places to put our stuff which is convenient.
Books are up to date with the month of September 2019.
As you can see the J cabin was really empty. If I remember correctly we were 4 or 5 pax.
Newspaper is distributed to the pax both EN and VN languages are available.
The jet bridge is being removed departure is approaching!
I let you enjoy some spotting before and after the take off.
Flying over Pudong where you can discover Lujiazui with all the financial towers.
The menu for this flight.
The IFE is available in 8 languages (yeah China Eastern you should improve this point because CN and EN are far to be enough!).
The lunch is served with some delicatessen followed by some beef with mashed potatoes and some veggies. Dessert was made of fruits.
Lavatory was clean.
Hanoi is approaching so is the air pollution!
And some spotting while taxiing to the terminal. There are not so many companies here VN Airlines is using most of the space!
Exiting by bus.
Arrived at the terminal I enjoyed the free visa on arrival (free and valid for 15 days but you need 1 month between 2 visas). Indeed I had 6 hours before the next flight so I walked outside.
========== Pudong International Arpt (PVG) - ==========
========== China Eastern - Plaza Premium Lounge No.77 ==========
========== Vietnam Airlines - Airline ==========
========== Noibai Arpt (HAN) - ==========
Summary:
The flight was nice and the food really good.The crew was professional and responsive (only 4 pax in the Business)
However, some points could be improved:
- providing some noise cancelling headphones,
- starting the check-in earlier to enjoy more the lounge (the check-in started 2h30 before the departure time)
- mo amenities bag for this journey
Next segment coming soon!
18 Comments
ReplyMerci pour ce nouveau TR. Tu as paye combien ? 4 ou 5 pax en J sur un gros porteur, cela a du couter une blinde.
ReplyThanks for sharing this TR
The lounge food offer is not really appetizing
On board it's nice to be only 4 pax
The seat feet box seems to be rather small
Nice pictures of the LH 747 and of the king of the skies, the EK A380
The refreshment looks very good
The appetizer seems really yummy
The beef is a bit overcooked to my taste
A good flight with VN
Did you prefer the 787 over the A350 ?
See you soon for the next leg
--> Lounge could be improved but way better compared to the one in T1, at least for the food!
Seat feet box is quite small, but I think that's the standard for this kind of configuration of seats. However, that's enough to sleep well!
Welcome, i was lucky to have a nice spotting!
787 or A350 that's a tough question. They are pretty similar, both getting old with the same issues/benefits. I'd say 787 for the window. That's pretty cool to change the opacity with a button!
ReplyComme souvent un excellent YTR de ta part. Merci Antoine.
ReplyVery nice review Antoine. Good to have a 787 for this short trip!
ReplySalut Antoine,
Nice report. I can't believe what you get for a 4h flight and what I get on longer flight with AV.
Cheers,
Casper
#NotForMe
@GG_007 haha nice one!
ReplyMerci Antoine pour ce TR.
Le salon offre un large choix de nourritures et boissons.
Sympa d'avoir un gros porteur pour ce vol, qui plus est dans une cabine presque vide.
Le catering donne envie.
Joli spotting aussi bien au départ qu'à l'arrivée.
A bientôt !
Merci pour le commentaire, en effet un tel avion est très agréable.
Ce n'est pas le meilleur salon au monde par contre bien mieux que l'autre salon au T1 de Shanghai!
a bientot!
ReplyVery nice review once again !
ReplySalut Antoine!
Je la joue facile avec mon com en Français, lol!
Franchement un très bon vol sur ce segment avec certes certains points à améliorer mais cela reste d'un très bon niveau.
Merci pour le partage et à très bientôt
Comme tu dis, on peut toujours améliorer certains points, mais il n'y a pas grand chose à se plaindre!
ReplyThank you Antoine for sharing this YTR.
For an Asian carrier VN does not have the deserved reputation that its other competitors enjoy (CX, SQ, JL, NH, GA) However it's encouraging to see that they are investing in new airplanes and that the Vietnamese economy is growing. Hopefully this will bring improvements in the quality of its service in the near future.
I am not a fan of lounges in mainland China and from what I have read it seems that the majority of travelers agree that their purpose is more utilitarian than anything else. Even hub lounges like CA lack the "wow" effect of the ones from CX, TK or QR.
The meal looks fine but I think a more elaborate dessert should be served. What happened to the French influence? :P
Good to know that the service was great and the flight was on time.
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