Caution to people who wants to take Vietnam Airlines . We bought a connecting flight that is 10hrs long from Japan Narita to Singapore. Layover to be at Ho Chin Minh Airport.
Japan to Vietnam is 9.30am-1.45pm, original departure timing from Vietnam to SG is 4.10pm(plenty of time for transit).
Few days ago received an email that they have rescheduled the plane’s departure to 2.10pm?!! They then emailed us that the connecting flight will be missed as a result. It is very silly to sell a connecting flight and you request your customer to miss the flight and get on the next flight-which is on the next day(the only flight avail). All of us have work and we won’t be able to stay for an extra day at Ho Chin Minh city as suggested by them.
Their only solution was to take up the hotel offer and stay an extra day or have a refund for the latter which is only 65sgd. Enough to cover the flight ticket but additional luggage fees having us to fork out ourselves.
Truly a bad experience when the flight was amended by them but they show no means of wanting to help us to get on this “weird timing connecting flight”
4stars airline? Make sure the company carry out a 4star recovery service.
Please be careful that the same thing might happen to you too
Here is what netizens think:
- Possible to take the connecting flight if ground staff assist. I had an experience where the flight from Singapore to KL, the plane departed 30mins late. The ground staff assisted those who were taking the connecting flight and I made it to the plane just in time. 10mins before departure.
- This can happen for any airline. I have flown with Vietnam Air a few times and their staff is always very helpful and prompt, even when they reacheduled our direct and connecting flights. No problem at all for me, fortunately.
- This is a risk you take when you decide to save a few bucks and do a multi sector flight instead of direct flight. As far the airline is concerned, you have 2 separate, independent journeys and they don’t ensure you can make both flights. It’s not a single journey with a layover… where the airline keeps you on board the plane or in the transit hall during your entire layover, and ensures you make both flights (either same or different aircraft).
- U cld ask to take the same connecting flight but u have to request front row seat and ground staff to expedite/assists u at the gate to direct u to the next gate. Can be done but risky. But 1 thing for sure, ur ckin in luggage will not be making it on time