Phonsavan to Vientiane

Lao Airlines QV402 | XKH/VTE
Economy Class
Aerospatiale ATR72-500 | RDPL-34171
ATD/1330 | ATA/1407

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After packing, I checked out at 11am. My flight to Vientiane wasn‘t until 1.20pm. I considered forcing some lunch down before heading to the airport because I wouldn’t get to eat before 3pm otherwise, but I decided against it as I wasn't hungry. I reasoned that there might be a snack bar at the airport, but I bought a stuffed bread roll just in case.

I woke up a snoozing sawngthaew driver and hired him to take me to the airport. En route, I grinned maniacally, loving every second being on his transport. Xieng Khouang Airport turned out to be a little building with - you guessed it - no snack bar. I checked in and sat there cursing my bad decision; I should have hung out at a coffee shop in Phonsavan and checked in later. Fortunately, Pam and Turong came along not long after. At least I had someone to chat with.

The two hours passed slowly. Finally, boarding was called. My Aussie friends headed out to their plane - it turned out their flight to Luang Prabang would be in a tiny single-engine turboprop. I googled their aircraft's registration later and learned it was a Cessna Grand Caravan. Most people would have been anxious, but not them - they embraced the experience. Later, they told me that one seatbelt was broken and a mountain peak appeared in front of their aircraft during flight.

My own flight on an ATR72 was much more sedate. It took only 40 minutes to fly to Vientiane, as opposed to the 11 hours (probably more) by bus. The flight only cost me $61, whereas the bus would have cost around $15. A good trade off if you ask me.

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