Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press Media & Travel Professionals
Routes : Singapore - Vientiane on 12 December 2014 flight QV536 (aircraft registered RDPL - 34199) and Vientiane - Singapore on 14 December 2014 flight QV535 (aircraft registered RDPL - 34223). The same jets are also rostered on scheduled flights to Suvarnabhumi, Guangzhou and Seoul-Incheon.
Airline : Lao Airlines' two Airbuses A320 in current livery and seat configurations.
Aircraft : The Airbus A320 on the Singapore - Vientiane flight with green seats has slightly spacious legroom more than a Tigerair legroom. The back of each seat has an inflight entertainment screen. However there is no audio-visual inflight entertainment. The Airbus A320 on the Vientiane - Singapore flight with blue seats is a normal A320 aircraft with legroom same as a Jetstar A320 aircraft. *****
Inflight Service : Service is excellent. The air hostesses and air stewards are cheerful and passionate about their work. They attend to passengers' requests very well. They speak competently in Lao and English. *****
Inflight Magazine : Champa Holidays is the official inflight magazine of Lao Airlines and is free for passengers and customers interested in Laos and Lao Airlines' flights. One can get it onboard or from the Head Office of Lao Airlines in Vientiane Wattay Airport, the airport offices in Suvarnabhumi and Singapore. Comprehensive information about Lao tourism and destinations help customers plan their next journey to Laos and beyond. It is the best marketing tool of Lao Airlines and the best reference material on Lao tourism. ******
Postcard / Stationery : Lao Airlines' aircraft postcards and other stationery were never issued and are not available. Lao immigration forms sponsored by private companies are issued to tourists entering Laos. ***
Sky Shop : There is an inflight duty-free catalogue but duty-free items were not offered on the flights for sale. ***
Onboard Meals and Refreshments : Onboard meals and refreshments are free and there is a limited range of meals to choose from. Passengers preferring vegetarian meals must inform Lao Airlines via email at least 48 hours before departure. There is no Halal meal. Standard meals come with seafood- or pork-based meals. Email reservation@laoairlines.com for further information or updates. *****
Surcharge : Passengers do not need to pay a surcharge if they want to sit at the emergency rows. ******
Bookings : Electronic tickets are issued at Lao Airlines' official web-site www.laoairlines.com and received via email. There is no pdf itinerary attachment. Ticket cancellations can only be refunded at the Head Office of Lao Airlines.***
Check-In : Passengers must show the check-in staff at all Lao Airlines' destination airport counters the credit card or debit card used for their on-line bookings, ticket itineraries and valid passports. Failure to show the relevant card for verification purpose may result in boarding denial. If any passenger's debit or credit card has been hacked or changed months prior to departure, the passenger must show the counter staff a certified letter on change of debit or credit card issued by the passenger's bank in case the counter staff wishes to verify the change of card if the passenger has no return valid ticket. The passenger may also email to Lao Airlines a copy of the certified letter to facilitate check-in later. Therefore it is advisable to book with Lao Airlines at least four months earlier prior to departure. ***
Ground service in Singapore : Very good. It would provide potential customers convenience if Lao Airlines opened a downtown sales and ticketing office in the city centre of Singapore to facilitate off-line bookings and answer enquiries during office hours, just like Vietnam Airlines, as the branch office in Changi Airport closes during lunch hours to attend to check-in operations. *****
Ground service in Vientiane in response to passengers' requests and enquiries : Excellent. ******
Overall Impression : Lao Airlines, judging from the various aspects of its services, is a five-star airline with room for improvement. It could be ready with the necessary criteria to enter an airline alliance team such as Sky Team or Star Alliance.
Lao Airlines Singapore Facebook : www.facebook.com/Lao Airlines Singapore
Lao Airlines HQ Facebook : www.facebook.com/Lao Airlines
Lao Airlines web-site : www.laoairlines.com
** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press Media & Travel Professionals
Routes : Singapore - Vientiane on 12 December 2014 flight QV536 (aircraft registered RDPL - 34199) and Vientiane - Singapore on 14 December 2014 flight QV535 (aircraft registered RDPL - 34223). The same jets are also rostered on scheduled flights to Suvarnabhumi, Guangzhou and Seoul-Incheon.
Airline : Lao Airlines' two Airbuses A320 in current livery and seat configurations.
Aircraft : The Airbus A320 on the Singapore - Vientiane flight with green seats has slightly spacious legroom more than a Tigerair legroom. The back of each seat has an inflight entertainment screen. However there is no audio-visual inflight entertainment. The Airbus A320 on the Vientiane - Singapore flight with blue seats is a normal A320 aircraft with legroom same as a Jetstar A320 aircraft. *****
Inflight Service : Service is excellent. The air hostesses and air stewards are cheerful and passionate about their work. They attend to passengers' requests very well. They speak competently in Lao and English. *****
Safety Demonstrations : Adequate.
Sky Shop : There is an inflight duty-free catalogue but duty-free items were not offered on the flights for sale. ***
Onboard Meals and Refreshments : Onboard meals and refreshments are free and there is a limited range of meals to choose from. Passengers preferring vegetarian meals must inform Lao Airlines via email at least 48 hours before departure. There is no Halal meal. Standard meals come with seafood- or pork-based meals. Email reservation@laoairlines.com for further information or updates. *****
Surcharge : Passengers do not need to pay a surcharge if they want to sit at the emergency rows. ******
Bookings : Electronic tickets are issued at Lao Airlines' official web-site www.laoairlines.com and received via email. There is no pdf itinerary attachment. Ticket cancellations can only be refunded at the Head Office of Lao Airlines.***
Check-In : Passengers must show the check-in staff at all Lao Airlines' destination airport counters the credit card or debit card used for their on-line bookings, ticket itineraries and valid passports. Failure to show the relevant card for verification purpose may result in boarding denial. If any passenger's debit or credit card has been hacked or changed months prior to departure, the passenger must show the counter staff a certified letter on change of debit or credit card issued by the passenger's bank in case the counter staff wishes to verify the change of card if the passenger has no return valid ticket. The passenger may also email to Lao Airlines a copy of the certified letter to facilitate check-in later. Therefore it is advisable to book with Lao Airlines at least four months earlier prior to departure. ***
Ground service in Singapore : Very good. It would provide potential customers convenience if Lao Airlines opened a downtown sales and ticketing office in the city centre of Singapore to facilitate off-line bookings and answer enquiries during office hours, just like Vietnam Airlines, as the branch office in Changi Airport closes during lunch hours to attend to check-in operations. *****
Ground service in Vientiane in response to passengers' requests and enquiries : Excellent. ******
Overall Impression : Lao Airlines, judging from the various aspects of its services, is a five-star airline with room for improvement. It could be ready with the necessary criteria to enter an airline alliance team such as Sky Team or Star Alliance.
Lao Airlines HQ Facebook : www.facebook.com/Lao Airlines
Lao Airlines web-site : www.laoairlines.com
** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)
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