Getting to Bhutan has been my dream for many years. There were many factors that affect my plan: money, time, visa and a chance. Finally I had one last June.
Since there's no direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Paro (Bhutan), I had to transit in Bangkok (BKK). For SGN-BKK route, I chose Vietnam Airlines as usual. Here is the meal with Vietnam Airlines J class for 1:10 hours flight:
Rice vermicelli with Hanoi-style grilled fish
It was May 31, 2013. On the eve before the flight from Bangkok to Paro, I was informed that our early morning flight at 6:30am delayed to 10:30am due to weather condition at Paro Airport. I heard that it was heavy raining. It's OK for me cos I have more time to sleep in the morning.
June 1, my companion and I didn't have time to have breakfast at the hotel. We went straight to the airport. We booked business class tickets to Paro with Druk Air since the J tickets weren't much more expansive than Y class (more than 150$ more expensive). J class cost 1.050$ (around that) while Y class cost almost 900$. Druk Air was the only carrier that flies to Paro International Airport.
For J class, we were invited to Air France Sky Lounge, got priority lane for security and immigration process.
We were still sleepy and didn't have mood for shopping so we went straight to the lounge.
Generally AF Sky Lounge is good but I prefer Louis Tarvern First Class Lounge near G gate of the same airport
Ready for the flight
Time for boarding, we were taken to the plane by bus. We flew with Airbus A319. My first impression was the cabin crew. They wore Bhutanese traditional costume, the kira. The J class seats are very comfortable for a 2 hrs flight.
Seats and welcome drink
Druk Air Royal Bhutan Airlines' cabin crew. They're very friendly. They were very comfortable when I took photos of them. Perhaps they were impressed by my photo shooting so they treated me really well.
The toilet
Meal services began
Peanuts and orange juice while waiting for main meal
Beef and fish
Dessert was served separately
The plane transited in Bagdogra, India
Snacks for 30 minute flight from Bagdogra to Paro
Paro Airport, I think I like it.
The terminal, very traditional and very Bhutanese
To conclude this FR, I want to share some photos from my Bhutan trip last June:
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Verdict
Druk Air
8.5/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Meal/catering10.0
Air France Lounge
9.0/10
Comfort9.0
Meal/catering9.0
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Services9.0
Bangkok - BKK
10.0/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Paro - PBH
10.0/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Conclusion
A great flight to Bhutan with Druk Air Royal Bhutan Airlines.
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A wonderful report thanks for sharing. Love the tractor pulling the air stairs :-D Catering looks good and these FA's are very pretty!! Nice tourist bonus :)
Thanks for reading my report. If you want to visit Bhutan, I recommend you to contact http://www.bhutanphoenix.com A very professional tour agency although it's a small one. :P
Thank you :D Usually when I write articles in online newspaper format, I'm required to put the text below the photos. It's just like a habit. But I will try next time to make my FR easier to read.
P.S: I don;t drink because I can get drunk easily and who knows what happens next haha
Thanks for this FR to a very special and beautiful destination. For such a small difference you really were right to upgrade to C class. I love the uniform the FAs are wearing.
Another excellent FR to a seldom described destination. PBH's approach is very tricky and only a handful of pilots are qualified to handle it, hence Drukair's monopoly. I note the FA's acceptance of being photographed. Mainland Chinese FAs always scold you if you do. Thanks for sharing!
But just saying IXB is a civil and military joint airport and clicking its picture is not allowed and if you were caught , you could have landed in jail( it is generally strictly enforced) .. so always ask the fa if you go to some airport which runs military ops too :)
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9 reviews
17 Comments
The catering is decent : no champagne ?
Nice tourist bonus
Great pictures as usual
I shouldn't say that but it's pity you're flying dry ;)
Only one thing : reading is made easier when comments are before the photos.
Thanks for sharing !
P.S: I don;t drink because I can get drunk easily and who knows what happens next haha
For such a small difference you really were right to upgrade to C class.
I love the uniform the FAs are wearing.
I note the FA's acceptance of being photographed. Mainland Chinese FAs always scold you if you do. Thanks for sharing!
Still the Y class style snack for the second sector is inapropriate for Business Class.
PBH is a beautiful airport
The lounge looks nice too.
But just saying IXB is a civil and military joint airport and clicking its picture is not allowed and if you were caught , you could have landed in jail( it is generally strictly enforced) .. so always ask the fa if you go to some airport which runs military ops too :)
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