AirAsia Premium Flex Chiang Mai to Hanoi

January 7, 2023
Featured image for “AirAsia Premium Flex Chiang Mai to Hanoi”

My reviews of AirAsia Hot Seats from Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumpur and back were pretty detailed.

So this review of AirAsia from Chiang Mai to Hanoi will just focus on the AirAsia Premium Flex experience.

Chiang Mai Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Hanoi Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

AirAsia Premium Flex

Thanks for the Ride, Kantary Hills!

After our experience flying to Kuala Lumpur and buying lots of add-ons we wanted to review AirAsia Chiang Mai to Hanoi on a Premium Flex ticket.

AirAsia Premium Flex is basically a bundle of all of the premium add-ons that AirAsia offers.

If you are familiar with Southwest Airlines, it’s AirAsia’s version of Business Select.

Wondering how we find cheap coach and business class flights? Check out our Cheap Airfare Guides:

How To Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Business Class Flights (And Cheap Economy Flights Too!)

Passive Ways to Find Cheap Business Class Flights

AirAsia Premium Flex Perks

Here are the published benefits of AirAsia Premium Flex:

  • 20kg checked baggage allowance 
  • Pick A Seat Standard or Hot Seats (Hot Seats are subject to availability) 
  • Xpress baggage 
  • Xpress boarding 
  • Premium Flex counter: Premium Flex guest are able to use the Premium Flex counter.
  • Complimentary 3-hour AirAsia Premium Red Lounge access for guests departing from klia2. RM79 charge applicable for every additional 3 hours. Click here to learn more.
  • Complimentary inflight meal included (limited selection) 
  • Insurance 1 Hour On Time Guarantee and Baggage Delay
  • Guests may change flights up to 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure. No fee is charged for the first two (2) changes, but fare differences apply (if any).
    For flight changes after the first 2 i.e. 3rd and onwards, guests may change flights up to 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure, however, both fees and fare difference will apply.
  • Flight Change has to be done at least 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the new flight for AirAsia (AK, QZ, FD, PQ, Z2, I5)   and at least 4 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the new flights for AirAsia X (D7, XJ, XT).
  • Earn AirAsia BIG Points – RM1=3 AirAsia BIG Points except for D7 which is RM1 = 1 BIG Point.

The Cost and Benefits of AirAsia Premium Flex

The fare difference between a basic ticket and AirAsia Premium Flex was about 1000 Baht ($31US) per person.

But when you subtract the cost of all the add-ons we had bought on previous flights (hot seat, meal, etc) the difference is more like about $15US pp.

For us, the biggest perks were Xpress checkin and being able to reserve and sit in row 1 which have the best seats on AirAsia.

When we had flown to KL during Chinese New Year the queue for check-in had been sooooo long. With Premium Flex we just walked right up to the counter.

Because of AirAsia’s strict baggage weight limits and all the new product samples we were carrying we had decided to just check our backpack/wheelies – the best long-term travel bag in the world!

And at the Premium Flex counter we were pleased to get Xpress Baggage stickers on our bags.

Premium Flex has Express Check-in…No Queuing

Boarding

Once again, Hot Seats allowed us to be among the first to board. Boarding to row 1 felt great:

Row 1 on AirAsia is the BEST Row!

The Air Asia Premium Flex Flight

Chiang Mai to Hanoi

It’s a quick and easy 1.5 hour flight from Chiang Mai to Hanoi.

In row 1 we had ample leg-room to spread out, cross our legs and enjoy the flight.

Once again, our (included with Premium Flex) hot meal was mostly rice which we don’t eat on our travel keto diet, but the small portion of chicken that was served with it was surprisingly tasty.

Arrival

We arrived in Hanoi and dealt with the visa-on-arrival formalities which we had fast-tracked (more on that in another article).

In all it took about 30 minutes to get to the baggage carousel. But the bags from our flight were still not out yet.

When they finally came out 15 minutes later the notion of ‘Xpress Baggage’ was undermined: our bags were among the last to appear.

Air Asia Xpress Baggage
Not So Xpress Baggage

But soon enough we were in Hanoi and at the start of a period of exiting fast travel.

Bottom Line – AirAsia Premium Flex Chiang Mai to Hanoi

Once again, you get out of AirAsia what you put into it.

AirAsia Premium Flex fares provide the best possible experience.

But are they WORTH it?

For us, AirAsia Premium Flex adds a touch of affordable luxury to the entire AirAsia experience.

Other Articles About Affordable Luxury AirAsia Flights


Share:

Leave a Reply

Recent posts

There are affiliate links in this page, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will be compensated if you click through and take action.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommed products and services that we have used and found helpful, so please do click on our links.

Related articles

Featured image for “Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is Worth the Price”
September 3, 2025

Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is Worth the Price

Featured image for “How We Avoid Jet Lag”
September 2, 2025

How We Avoid Jet Lag

Featured image for “How to Avoid the Airbnb Scam That Got Us Kicked Out”
August 21, 2025

How to Avoid the Airbnb Scam That Got Us Kicked Out

Featured image for “How to Book Trains in Europe Without Overpaying”
August 20, 2025

How to Book Trains in Europe Without Overpaying

Featured image for “What to Do if Your Flight is Cancelled”
August 14, 2025

What to Do if Your Flight is Cancelled

Featured image for “Why Travel Insurance for Seniors is a Must”
August 13, 2025

Why Travel Insurance for Seniors is a Must

Featured image for “The Best Things to Do in Europe for Free”
August 12, 2025

The Best Things to Do in Europe for Free

Featured image for “7 Unique Travel Experiences”
August 11, 2025

7 Unique Travel Experiences

Featured image for “How We Find Cheap Car Rental in Europe”
August 4, 2025

How We Find Cheap Car Rental in Europe