Vietnam Airlines to launch service to San Francisco, its first U.S. destination
Vietnam Airlines is about to add a major new pin to its route map: San Francisco (SFO), its first scheduled destination in the United States.
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Service begins on Nov. 28 with a departure from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), and a return flight departing San Francisco on Nov. 29. Flights will be operated using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, and are scheduled to take 13 hours and 50 minutes headed to SFO, with the return flight to Vietnam taking 16 hours and 40 minutes.
The airline plans twice-weekly flights throughout December, with eventual plans to increase to daily frequencies once the COVID-19 pandemic further subsidies.
Not only is this the first scheduled U.S. destination for Vietnam Airlines, but it's the first scheduled destination in the U.S. for any Vietnamese carrier. In clearing its final regulatory hurdle with the Federal Aviation Administration, Vietnam Airlines beat startup competitor Bamboo Airways in the race to launch U.S. service. Vietnamese and American officials marked the occasion with a ceremony on Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City awarding Vietnam Airlines its FAA foreign air carrier certificate.
Vietnam Airlines' 787-9s are configured with 28 lie-flat business class seats featuring direct aisle access, 35 premium economy seats and 211 standard seats, though not all of these seats will be filled, according to the blog Live and Let's Fly. The blog pointed to a VnExpress story in which Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha said that due to the distance of the flights, the airline will have to take about a 100-passenger weight restriction on each flight, both on the 787 and on the Airbus A350 it might use in the future. Neither aircraft has the range to make the 7,838-mile trip fully loaded. Limiting passenger (and cargo) capacity allows for a nonstop journey, by allowing for additional fuel to be carried that increases the range while keeping the aircraft below its maximum takeoff weight.
More: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery
Vietnam Airlines has not yet made these new flights bookable, but Ha told VnExpress that economy class fares will start at around $1,000 USD one-way.
The announcement comes as Vietnam begins to reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since March of 2020.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees