Pre-purchase for flights to Vietnam?

jhanses New member

9POSTS

5 years ago

Does anyone have experience pre-purchasing open-ended flights? I'd like to get a flight into Vietnam as soon as I'm able for the least amount, surprise surprise! I'm now seeing some reasonable prices on justfly.com that have "flexibility" but I'm not clear on what that means. Ideally, I'll book something that can apply when things open up and also have an open return date. I'm asking too much, aren't I? Just wondering if it would be best to work with an agent, an airline, or one of the websites?
Thank you for any info!

1 member reacted to this post

The Hai Phong expat guide

Comprehensive and free

Read it now

jhanses New member

9POSTS

5 years ago

Thank you, Kurterino!

matthanoi Active member

29POSTS

5 years ago

The problem with fully flexible flights is that you are stuck with that airline, and right now we don't know which airline will be the first to fly.

For example I booked a flexible flight with Vietnam Airlines last summer, I needed to get to Vietnam and I thought this would give me the best chance to get on a plane when they started running again. I then found a flight with Emirates while at the same time all the VA flights were cancelled. I cancelled the VA flight and booked with Emirates, however, it took 6 months to get my money back from VA even though my flight was fully flexible and could be cancelled without charge. I got in to Vietnam but had to hold the cost of a fully flexible flight for 6 months.

I would also be highly sceptical of links on the internet. I found a lot of flights advertised last summer that never actually flew. Best to speak to someone who knows what they are doing in person (quite hard to find admittedly).

Kurterino Serial expat

540POSTS

5 years ago

matthanoi wrote:
The problem with fully flexible flights is that you are stuck with that airline, and right now we don't know which airline will be the first to fly.

I would also be highly sceptical of links on the internet. I found a lot of flights advertised last summer that never actually flew. Best to speak to someone who knows what they are doing in person (quite hard to find admittedly).

There are international flights arriving in Saigon every day, from a few select destinations. You can see which ones on the Saigon airport website, the arrivals panel is online. These flights can apparently be booked by calling the airline’s office in Saigon. From what I understand, they will check if you’re eligible to enter Vietnam, make sure you’ll have all the documentation and also book a room in a state approved hotel for the quarantine. This is information I got on the forum here, I don’t know anyone personally who has booked a flight that way.

As to your second point, this is so true, tickets to Vietnam can bought no problem, pretty much since the beginning of the pandemic, it’s just that the flight won’t happen and you’ll be stuck with the refund process. Beware, it’s not just ‘shady’ agents doing this, some very reputable airlines had/have flights to Vietnam right on their official website.

1 member reacted to this post