Bamboo Airways $4228 to Europe J

[Duffa]

Cheapest flights I've ever seen to Europe
MEL - LGW via Hanoi -----$4,444 in business class
SYD - FRA via Ho Chi Minh ---- $4,228 in business class
Next autumn - Feb Mar 2024
Book via Flight Centre - cheaper than with airline.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Of course Bamboo is a LCC and transiting Vietnam is not without its hassles. But I agree, a great fare - beats sitting in Y or even PE. Vietnam Airways also has some pretty good fares to Europe as does Philippine Air to Canada and the US (limited post of course). All of these often with long layovers in at least one direction.

 

[MELso]

It might be cheaper booking through Flight Centre, but it's easier dealing with the airline directly should anything go wrong.

Having said that, I don't think Bamboo allows direct bookings from Oz right the way through to Europe through its site, so a travel agent may be needed.

 

[randompunter]

Of course Bamboo is a LCC and transiting Vietnam is not without its hassles. But I agree, a great fare - beats sitting in Y or even PE. Vietnam Airways also has some pretty good fares to Europe as does Philippine Air to Canada and the US (limited post of course). All of these often with long layovers in at least one direction.

Are they a LCC? Perhaps a hybrid a la VA? They're definitely a step up from the likes of Vietjet Air, AirAsiaX, Scoot et al. Can't comment on their Y but flew recently in J SYD-SGN-SYD. Their 787 has a pretty decent hard product with 1-2-1 reverse herringbone flatbeds. Service was a bit patchy though, several of the FAs had limited English skills but the food was quite nice. Definitely great value at $4.2k return to FRA!

 

[Duffa]

5

It might be cheaper booking through Flight Centre, but it's easier dealing with the airline directly should anything go wrong.

Having said that, I don't think Bamboo allows direct bookings from Oz right the way through to Europe through its site, so a travel agent may be needed.

It is possible to book direct to Europe rtn on the website. But I wanted a stopover in Vietnam. Bamboo website can't do that or multi city. Hence the travel agent.

 

[MELso]

Ah, okay. It always shows no availability out of MEL for me.

 

[Kremmen]

If your transit is over 3 hours, it could be quite miserably boring. Bamboo may not issue boarding passes until 3 hours before departure of each individual flight. (SGN has no usable WiFi and no food or drink in the transit area. The only thing you can buy is SIM cards, though that would get you internet at least. And the Bamboo employees may not even turn up on time, so 3 hours is an optimistic estimate.)

 

[thechung]

Took the plunge on a couple of MEL-HAN-LGW/FRA-SGN-SYD business fares for ~$4479 each which is reasonable for November.

Layovers are only 3 and 5 hours either way but I wonder what happens if delays/cancellations/irrops mean I have to stay in vietnam overnight etc, since I need VOA? I am not confident Bamboo airways will help much in such situations, anyone with experience?

 

[luxury-lizard]

I personally would make sure you have a visa before travelling - I am very interested in your trip report.

 

[jase05]

Took the plunge on a couple of MEL-HAN-LGW/FRA-SGN-SYD business fares for ~$4479 each which is reasonable for November.

Layovers are only 3 and 5 hours either way but I wonder what happens if delays/cancellations/irrops mean I have to stay in vietnam overnight etc, since I need VOA? I am not confident Bamboo airways will help much in such situations, anyone with experience?

I would definitely get a visa before travelling. Worth the minimal cost for peace of mind

 

[Duffa]

Took the plunge on a couple of MEL-HAN-LGW/FRA-SGN-SYD business fares for ~$4479 each which is reasonable for November.

Layovers are only 3 and 5 hours either way but I wonder what happens if delays/cancellations/irrops mean I have to stay in vietnam overnight etc, since I need VOA? I am not confident Bamboo airways will help much in such situations, anyone with experience?

You CAN get a visa on arrival if it all goes pear shaped. There will however be massive queues with all the others who got caught in the same situation.
Yep, get the visa.
You've saved 4k on the fares. Hahaha.

 

[thechung]

Thanks everyone for the input, $38 for an e-visa does make good sense. If things go well, it will be an incentive to take bamboo back to vietnam to visit properly.

 

[jb747]

This hasn't aged well.

 

[Duffa]

This hasn't aged well.

Hahaha.
What did my old man say
"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!!"
Still waiting for my refund....

 

[Saab34]

Some people are claiming they are being told they are not getting a refund.

 

[UP4014]

Took the plunge on a couple of MEL-HAN-LGW/FRA-SGN-SYD business fares for ~$4479 each which is reasonable for November.

Layovers are only 3 and 5 hours either way but I wonder what happens if delays/cancellations/irrops mean I have to stay in vietnam overnight etc, since I need VOA? I am not confident Bamboo airways will help much in such situations, anyone with experience?

Sounds like a perfect journey for a trip report, with photos please.

And looking at some of the comments get travel insurance!

 

[Duffa]

Some people are claiming they are being told they are not getting a refund.

That's why I booked through a reputable travel agent and not the airline.....Flight Centre won't let me down

 

[Gold Member]

I told them they were nuts flying planes made of Bamboo. Was never gonna work.

 

[thechung]

My flights were cancelled some time ago and I still haven't received my refund as yet. I booked through booking.com and they outsourced the booking to gotogate. I have spoken to a couple of agents and they claim Bamboo is withholding some money but have agreed I should be getting a full refund.

 

[MELso]

My flights were cancelled some time ago and I still haven't received my refund as yet. I booked through booking.com and they outsourced the booking to gotogate. I have spoken to a couple of agents and they claim Bamboo is withholding some money but have agreed I should be getting a full refund.

Note that Booking.com/Gotogate require the airline to authorise the refund. Speaking from experience when I needed to get a refund from Aircalin for my (sadly now cancelled) Pacific odyssey, I needed Aircalin to record in the OSI field in the GDS that they authorised the refund before Gotogate would process it.