Prized certification marks key developmental milestone for flag carrier after transformative year
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines www.vietnamairlines.com has been certified as a 4-Star Airline by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax ranking it alongside some of the world’s most reputable airlines, including British Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa. Vietnam Airlines new President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Duong Tri Thanh, accepted the official certification during the World Airline Awards event at Farnborough International Airshow 2016. Awarded after comprehensive Skytrax evaluation across all customer-facing product and service factors both onboard flights and at airports served by Vietnam Airlines, the prestigious 4-Star Airline certification is recognition for the significant recent improvements that Vietnam Airlines has made to the quality of its product and service standards, as part of its strategic plan to establish itself as the leading carrier for the region. Last year Vietnam Airlines underwent a dramatic transformation, launching its new corporate identity and beginning a major fleet-wide upgrade to replace its entire fleet of wide body aircraft – significantly enhancing its product offering. 2015 saw Vietnam Airlines become the first airline to operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nonstop between Southeast Asia and Europe, and the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing and Airbus’ modern next-generation aircraft at the same time. A total of 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350-900 XWBs will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines by early 2019. At the same time, Vietnam Airlines implemented a programmed to upgrade service levels to international 4-Star Airline standards – spearheaded by Vietnam Airlines’ new President and CEO Mr. Thanh in his previous role as Executive Vice President. Commenting on the news, Mr. Thanh said “I am honored to accept this highly prestigious accolade on behalf of Vietnam Airlines. This fantastic achievement is testament to the hard work of all of Vietnam Airlines’ dedicated employees, and an important indicator of the excellent progress we are making towards our goal of becoming one of the best-regarded airlines in Asia-Pacific.” Mr. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said “This 4-Star Airline rating is an excellent achievement for Vietnam Airlines and the result of their hard work across a range of product and service areas. Introducing two brand new aircraft types into the fleet in such a short space of time is a difficult task, but the reward for Vietnam Airlines is a fabulous new product in their core long haul market. We acknowledge the considerable change and improvement they have achieved, with a new service concept rolled out in Business Class and an overhaul of cabin staff training procedures – all of which will further strengthen Vietnam Airlines position as a major Asian airline.” Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 16 within Vietnam 5 in Indochina and the rest in other countries. Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.
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How to avoid online holiday booking scams The post-Christmas rush for holiday bookings is in full swing, as are reports of fraudulent travel companies operating online. Do you know what to look out for to avoid being scammed? The growth of holidays and flights available on the internet has provided a wealth of opportunities for the travelling public but it has also provided opportunities for fraudsters. At the start of each New Year fraudsters steal millions of pounds targeting holidaymakers who book their summer holidays online. HOLIDAY BOOKING FRAUD The criminals scam unsuspecting members of the public by posing as online travel agents and setting up fake travel booking websites. They can make large sums of money by taking payments for holiday, hotel and flight reservations that do not exist. This is common for bookings related to high profile events as well as holidays.
As a result, individual consumers are losing up to tens of thousands of pounds on phone bookings. They often do not discover they have been ripped off until it is too late and are unable to afford a replacement holiday. This has an impact on the health of the victims, as well as on their purses, due to added stress and worry. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has seen an increase in customer inquiries relating to fraud during January, the most popular month for consumers to search for cheap holiday bookings. In response, the associatio has released a helpful guide to the warning signs of fraud online. 1. Prices that is considerably lower than competitors Although prices may vary slightly amongst different agents, flight and holiday prices are largely set and it is unlikely that one is drastically cheaper and genuine. 2. Low resolution and blurry logos for trade associations and credit card companies If you are unsure, check with the protection organization or trade body that the company is still licensed to trade. 3. The only payment option is a bank transfer This indicates that no bank is prepared to provide credit card facilities, but paying by credit card will protect your money. 4. Non-receipt of tickets Always check the paperwork and be wary of companies that don't give any. 5. Check customer reviews and the website address If a company is defrauding people, there is a good chance that consumers will post details of their experiences and warnings about the company online. An illegitimate website can be spotted by a slight change in the website domain. Above all, always use your instincts. The sad truth is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So the next time you want to book an exciting getaway online, take on board ABTA's warning signs to escape the scammers. |
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