LAO AIRLINES review :  5 July 2009 by Andrew Fleming   (Ghana)

Vientiane to Hanoi, route is a code share with Vietnam Airlines but if you book with Lao Airlines the price is significantly lower (though still a fair sum considering the distance). Equipment on this route was a new Chinese made Xian MA 60 aircraft. This turbo prop aircraft offers adequate comfort for its size in a 2-2 configuration throughout. Though there is apparently a business option on this route it is very difficult to see the benefit and indeed, as the usual entry to the cabin is at the rear a seat at the back is preferable for many. Though the flight is just over an hour a reasonable box meal is served comprising a fresh sandwich (tuna on this flight), fruit, a biscuit and a drink. In addition tea and coffee are served by the friendly crew. Coupled to this the check in process, whilst entirely manual is reasonably swift, Vientiane airport is small but pleasant and bags were delivered quite swiftly on arrival in Hanoi. My wife is not keen on small aircraft and said she would rather not fly this type of aircraft again; I on the other hand certainly would and can recommend Lao Airlines (who also have some jet ATR 72s in a fleet and no Russian antiques) to anyone.

LAO AIRLINES review : 13 December 2008 : by Paul Nesbitt

Customer Rating : 4/5

Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Bangkok In November, Both flights were on time and the aircraft were clean. Cabin crew were courteous and a small snack was provided on both flights. I would be happy to fly with this airline again.

LAO AIRLINES review : 29 September 2008 : by Kurt Memmert

Customer Rating : 5/5

Siem Reap – Pakxe - Luangphrabang. Friendly staff at check-in. Modern, clean plane, ok seats. Turbo-prop and flying relatively low. Risk for turbulence but chance for excellent views of breathtaking landscapes. Crew served refreshments on a 40 min flight. Quick stop in Pakxe. Transit passengers stay onboard. Another box with sandwiches plus juice and coffee on the next leg. Amazing service, amazing smiles. LPQ airport is modern, efficient. This airline seems to have come on par with regional airlines anywhere in the western world in terms of safety and efficiency but maintains a service, which is truly Asian.

LAO AIRLINES review : 5 September 2008 : by Penny Wilcox

Customer Rating : 4/5

Bangkok - Luang Prabang. Very easy to book flight online from UK. Flight on time. Aircraft modern and clean and barely half full. Very courteous service. I am certainly looking forward to flying with this airline again. I rather wonder why they bother with serving food on such short flights - I didn't find the sandwich appetizing at all.

LAO AIRLINES review : 24 June 2008 : by P Hutchinson

Customer Rating : 3/5

BKK-VTE. No more than 25 PAX so plenty of space to spread out - not much legroom if flight had been full - but it's only a 70min flight. Simple basic boxed meal. Would use again. Have more convenient connections than TG.

Lao Airlines review by M Carson

29 January 2008   Customer Trip Rating :

Luang Prabang - Vientiane, impressed by the professionalism. Modern aircraft, on time, courteous, no complaints!

Lao Airlines review by Geoff Becque

21 January 2008   Customer Trip Rating :

VTE/LPQ on Xian MA60. Booked on e-ticket, both of us 5k over luggage weight but no charge. 5000chip($0.50) departure tax! As usual in Laos , welcomed with a broad smile by FA who took my hand luggage for stowing at the rear [small overhead lockers on these MA60's]. Quick take off and after climbing to cruising height the cabin noise level was OK, other than a bit of trim rattle. Smooth flight with magnificent views over the forest clad mountains. Juice and cake (delicious) served on short (50 min) flight. Wonderful views over the valleys leading to Luang Prabang and the town and Mekong beyond. Sound landing and quick taxi to terminal with only a Bangkok Air ATR72-500 on the stand. Luggage off quickly - had to hand in luggage receipts matching our cases at the exit. What a good idea. Altogether a very pleasant flight.

Lao Airlines review by R Sunico

27 December 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Luang Prabang - Chiang Mai. Flight 4 hours delayed. no announcement (or perhaps hard to understand). Given boxed meal at airport which was good. Flight crew professional. Plane nearly new. Smooth flight. I'd fly them again. I was on vacation mode so was in no rush to get to Chiang Mai. I just went outside the airport and sat in the sun and read a book.

Lao Airlines review by Xuess Wee

21 November 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

BKK-LPQ. Journey is 2 hours each way. Airplane is the ATR-72 and with 2 stewardesses on board. Meals are simple, served in a box (a burger, a cake and some fruits) but served efficiently. Don't expect any form of entertainment except for the inflight magazine - and there is no duty-free shopping.

Lao Airlines review by Anne Jones

17 July 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Travelled Vientiane - Luang Prabang & back. I would endorse all the earlier positive comments. Its a bit of a shock travelling in a propeller driven plane again and we were delayed by bad weather getting into Luang Prabang but I would definitely travel with them again.

Lao Airlines review by B Crowley

19 June 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

LPQ-VTE. Booked the flight by email and paid when I arrived in Laos, friendly no-fuss service. The flight was delayed about 30 minutes, but we were kept informed. The MA60 aircraft was immaculate and the cabin still had a new car smell! Inflight service improves every time I fly with Lao - we were served a boxed snack (savoury pastry and fresh fruit) and soft drink on this 40 minute flight.

Lao Airlines review by Trevor Hay

28 May 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Vientiane-Luang Praband in the Chinese MA60. Flight departed 20 minutes early (we were all there so why not?). Inflight catering consisted of choice of water or juice, but for 30 minute flight that was sufficient. No problems at all and felt very safe - would happily fly with Lao again.

Lao Airlines review by Bill Newbrough

3 May 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Vientiane to Oudomxay. Nearly new MA60 (a recently-introduced Chinese high-wing 2 engine turboprop 60 passenger aircraft). Flight was nearly full and on time. All aspects of the journey, including reservation via email and ticket purchase in Bangkok Silom Lao Airlines office, were superior. Good overhead luggage storage for this size of aircraft -- better than Lao's ATR-72's and most commuter-sized aircraft used in North America. The Lao tamarind candies, beautifully packaged and delicious, were an excellent snack for the 55 minute flight. Luang Prabang to Vientiane QV 102 again on MA60, this time every seat filled. No snack during 40 minutes flight, but limited beverages were served. On time. A little longer wait for checked luggage in Vientiane than I would have liked, but they were working on baggage handling changes that might improve time in the future. Although not yet up to the service standards of Thai Airways, I would not hesitate to recommend Lao Airlines. What other airline in the world displays on a public bulletin board (in the Vientiane international terminal) the names of flight crew members and the N numbers of the aircraft to be used on each day's schedules? And how ironic to find such transparency in a country with a reputation for mystery and secrecy!

Lao Airlines review by Henrik Sperber

28 April 2007   Customer Trip Rating : n/a

Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Vientiane. Tickets were easily bought in Vientiane on the day of departure. First flight had only about twenty people on it and the flight departed 30 minutes early. I agree completely with all the other comments - it was a pleasant flight and I felt very safe. The tamarind candies were excellent. We arrived 1.5 hours in advance for our return flight and were asked if we wanted to be rebooked to an earlier flight which apparently had been delayed with about 2 hours. The flight was almost full and we were put in row number 1, not giving us much leg room nor enough space for our luggage, but it was a short flight so we didn't suffer that much, and most importantly we arrived an hour earlier than we had planned. All in all a very nice experience but I recommend other passengers to avoid the front row if they can.

Lao Airlines review by Nigel Biggs

20 April 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Vientiane to Luang Prabang on board a new looking MA60 (Chinese built I believe). Very clean, comfortable, departed and arrived on time, no problems at all. Only a forty minute flight so no in fight meal, although a drink and some sweets were given out.

Lao Airlines review by Tim Cummings

10 April 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Hanoi-Vientiane, Vientiane-Pakse, Pakse-Siem Reap. Every flight was on an ATR72 turboprop. The plane was clean and staff friendly and helpful. Flights left and arrived on time and I felt safe the entire time!

Lao Airlines review by Martin Walker

20 March 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

Lao Air from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in early March 2007. Plane was an ATR 72 turbo prop. Plane was clean. Flight left and arrived on time. FAs somehow managed to serve a boxed meal and coffee, and clean up in the 50 min flight over the mountains. Full marks.