Advertorial - Jonathan Thompson would not mind getting up early to board a 6:05 am Vietjet flight in Hanoi to be able to arrive on time for his 8:30 am conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

The British man, who runs an ad firm in the capital city, would review his speech while having the in-flight breakfast, which saves him even more time to arrive at the event early, and finally conclude his business trip in flying colors.

Thompson used to travel business class and stay at a four- or five-star hotel one night before attending the conference, which eventually cost him more than VND10 million (US$444) in total for each business trip.

But as soon as he started flying with Vietnamese new-age airline Vietjet more than a year ago, his mindset changed.

Flying early in the morning now allows him to relax and leisurely watch the sunrise, and to “enter the conference full of joy and spirit,” he shared.

Thompson said he is now a smart flyer as he knows how to save time and money for the business trips.

Choosing to travel with Vietjet in economy class to save costs, or on the SkyBoss seats to enjoy deluxe services, has become a trend among passengers in Vietnam, both locals and foreigners.

These flyers believe that time and money should not be wasted on business trips that require air travel, and boarding the very first flight of the day is not a big deal.

Passengers who are business owners also ask their employees to save costs when going on business trips by air, and set themselves as examples by choosing to fly with the most economical expenses possible.

“A business class seat on a one-way flight is already equal to one month of salary of my employees,” U.S. national Joe Harris, a Ho Chi Minh City-based entrepreneur, revealed.

“As a boss we have to use the company’s money economically on business trips.”

Vietjet also gives businesspeople in Vietnam another option when they have to fly for their work: the SkyBoss seats.

The benefits passengers have when booking SkyBoss seats are comparable to those in the business class. 

These incentives include prioritized ground services; a separate check-in counter and security gate; fast luggage service; free checked baggage of 20kg or a golf set; free flight schedule changes; and a free shuttle bus.

SkyBoss passengers can also experience the luxury waiting lounge, with a bar, food court, Wi-Fi, Internet and equipment for working and relaxing available.

SkyBoss passengers will sit in the front on luxurious, comfortable leather chairs, and can shop for duty-free goods and souvenirs exclusively available on Vietjet flights. They can also choose from nine delicious in-flight meals and more than 30 different drinks.

With such modern and luxurious touches offered to passengers, SkyBoss seats are favored by passengers who are entrepreneurs, artists and busy people, to whom “time is more precious than gold.” SkyBoss seats on each Vietjet flights are thus always fully booked.

Besides the SkyBoss option, the airfare policy of Vietjet is very flexible, allowing passengers to freely choose travel times and prices.

Passengers can enjoy very attractive prices if they book tickets in advance, or choose to fly on the first and the last flight of a day.

By taking advantage of such a pricing policy, many businesses said they can save as much as 50 percent on costs when booking air tickets for the business trips of their bosses.

Vietjet has also won over businesses with its wide network of destinations and diverse departure times. The airline offers an average of 180 flights a day, with more than 20 round trips between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang service also has more than ten round trips on a daily basis.

Most businesses and entrepreneurs share the belief that traveling by air between big Vietnamese cities had “never been so convenient, simple and economical before Vietjet joined the market.”

But airlines are often hit by delays and flight cancelations, which Nguyen Minh Ha, a Hanoi-based Vietnamese entrepreneur, said are in fact not really a big deal.

“Delays are common for all airlines, just like you can easily get stuck in a traffic jam on the street,” he said, adding that air traffic is affected by many factors.

“As a frequent flyer, I acknowledge that all carriers have delays,” he said.

Ha said he even checked the on-time rate of different airlines on the website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and eventually found that “all Vietnamese airlines have similar delay rates.”

“Late arrivals are not uncommon in other countries, just like Vietnam,” he said. “To me, traveling by air is still the best.”

Vietjet also launches daily promotional programs, creating even more chances for passengers to save costs on their air travel. One of the airline’s passengers recently earned a valuable car for his company after winning a promotional campaign by Vietjet.

Reality shows that traveling by air with reasonable cost, great and convenient services – or becoming smart flyers, who choose “the least for flying the best” – is spreading in Vietnam’s business community, and gradually forms an air travel culture among them.

Saving on air travel is a way for entrepreneurs to show responsibility to their companies, and to reflect their behavior as smart flyers.

The 9000th Airbus aircraft belongs to Vietjet