Inflight Review : US-Bangla Airlines

Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

The reporter of this travel news medium embarked on his second flight from Singapore to Dhaka, the City of Mosques, on 10 June 2017 at 5.40 am with US-Bangla Airlines, and returned to Singapore on 12 June 2017. The following review was prepared on the occasion of US-Bangla Airlines’ first anniversary of scheduled flights to Singapore. US-Bangla Airlines’ first flight to Singapore is on 9 March 2017.

Airline and Routes : US-Bangla Airlines operates a fleet of B737-800 aircraft on international flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Muscat, Doha and from Dhaka to several domestic cities including Barisal, Saidpur, Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar. It is a full-service airline that competes with Regent Airways and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. 

News : US-Bangla Airlines plans to launch flights to Guangzhou, Chennai, Delhi, Hong Kong, Damman, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai.

Livery : US-Bangla Airlines logo suggests it is a joint-venture between American and Bangladeshi interests. ***

Aircraft : The B737-800 seat legroom is spacious. ***

Baggage Requirements :A carry-on baggage measuring 115 cm in total to be stowed in the overhead compartment and a small item to be stowed under the seat are accepted. Total carry-on baggage weight maximum 10 kg is allowed.***

Safety Demonstrations : Adequate. *****

Inflight Magazine  : Blue Sky is the only official inflight magazine of US-Bangla Airlines. However, copies are not always available onboard and at its ticketing offices local and worldwide. It is the best tool to market US-Bangla Airlines’ flight services and corporate image..**

Inflight Service / Entertainment / Onboard Meals and Refreshments : There is only one standard Economy Class complimentary meal, Indian vegetarian. Preparation standard of the hot meals in Changi Airport and Dhaka Airport is very high. There is no inflight audio-visual entertainment. Only one of the toilet’s water flushing supply was disrupted throughout my flight to Dhaka. Many Bangladeshi passengers have little awareness of toilet hygiene. Toilet paper is running low and not fully stocked up. Passengers have to be prepared to bring tissue paper or sanitary pads to the toilet. The toilet instruction reads in Bangla English, “As a courtesy to the Next Passenger May We Suggest that You use Your Towel to Wipe Off to Wash Basin, Thank You!”. The toilet hygiene of US-Bangla Airlines’ flights puts me off.**

Postcard / Stationery : None.** 

Sky Shop : None.**

Surcharges :  None. ***

Bookings : One can book a US-Bangla Airlines ticket at www.us-banglaairlines.com at one’s own risk as the Bangladeshi bank gateway does not appear to accept online payments from Singapore. Flight amendment and cancellation cannot be performed on-line. It is advisable to book at US-Bangla Airlines’ ticketing offices and agents.***

Check-In and Departures : Check-in at international airports three hours before departures. Check-in counter closes one hour before departure. Flights from Singapore and Dhaka depart on time as it is the first flight to either direction. No flight delays throughout US-Bangla Airlines’ first year of operations to Singapore.*****

Ground service in  response  to passengers' requests and enquiries : There is no frequent communication between US-Bangla Airlines and Changi Airport. For almost one year, nobody knows that US-Bangla Airlines flies to Changi Airport T3. Contact remains Biman Bangladesh Airlines on matters of US-Bangla Airlines bookings! Local Timetables are available at each ticketing office of US-Bangla Airlines. It is best to avail system-wide Domestic and International Timetables to international offices as well. Inflight staff should inform passengers in advance that Bangladesh departure forms can be obtained at their check-in counters so that passengers avoid the airport service staff who want tips up to 500 Taka for helping to get the departure forms. **

Overall Impression :  On its 1 year of flight operations to Singapore, US-Bangla Airlines needs to improve its marketing image, enhance communications with Changi Airport, allow online amendments of flight dates and avail copies of Blue Sky and system Timetables to overseas sales offices so that more international customers can know more about the airline. There is also room for inflight service improvement. Overall, the airline is a three-star airline.***

** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)

Excluding the many pictures in this review, first published in Travel Callings, Dhaka. 
Ref : https://www.travelcallings.com/us-bangla-airlines-new-experience-in-the-sky/