Is it still on the don't fly list?

I think they've improved quite a bit in recent years, although I have yet to use them.

I'd put them on the 'best avoided' list, but would fly them if it was the only option. With Bangkok Air, Siem Reap and VN Airlines now serving a lot of Lao destinations, it is often easy to avoid Lao.

I was on Lao Airlines between Luang Prabang three weeks ago. The plane was brand new, the staff very professional. It was better than the Bangkok Airlines flight I took where the pilots were smoking and the whole plane smelled it, much to the dismay of the flight attendants.

The international flights use all new ATR planes and have a bevy of French consulants and maintenence people. It is the domestic flights that use the older planes that have had issues in the past.

I wasvery comfortable on my flight between Luang Prabang and Hanoi and could not see a difference between Lao air and Vietnam or bangkok Air.

Sorry, I wasn't "between Luang Prabang" I was between LP and Hanoi. I would fly them again without hesitation on international routes.

They have improved a lot, but I believe they are still on the do not fly list (though I haven't checked in the last year). The equipment on their international flights is good, the questions are about pilot training and maintainence.

If it were me, I'd connect through Bangkok.

I also flew them about a week ago between LP and Hanoi; my ticket was a Vietnam Air ticket with a code share with Lao and it was a Lao plane. It was fine in every respect.

Perfectly good airline over the last several years. Part of the Bangkok Air pass and the only airline to fly between Chiang Maiand and Luang Prabangand direct.
Fares have gone quite a bit, 2 years ago under $120 now 176. Thia is where the pass saves you money.

Isn't there a travel agent in bangkok that lots of people use for airline tickets? Would he be the best one to get me a ticket from bangkok to chiang mai /chiang mai to LP and then back to bangkok?

Eddie (travel agent in bangkok) recommended Lao air over bangkok air for price and schedule. I asked him if it was safe and he said yes. Should I believe him? I don't care about the price so much because it isn't a huge difference but it is a better schedule.

Just as safe now as Siem Reap or Bangkok Airlines. If they were not considered so they would probably not be part of the Bangkok Air Discovery Pass.

I just booked Luang Prabang to Siem Reap on Lao Air as part of the discovery airpass from Bangkok Air.

The strange thing is the flight is listed as 3:25 in duration, with one "technical" stop. It's such a short distance where would it stop?

Vientiane, I would assume.

It makes a stop in Pakse. Funny thing is that there is a direct Laos flight leaving at the same time but because it is operated by Vietnam Air, not considered part of the Bangkok Air Pass.

I've flown Lao a number of times now and think they are fine. My brother in law lives in Vientiane and uses them a lot. About 5 years ago all the government and ngo people were recommended not to fly but thats no longer the case - they all use them.

If you aren't booking an airpass then the Lao website is fast and very efficient.

Linjudy - yes that flight does stop in Pakse - you will find that a lot of people will be getting their visa for Lao at the Pakse stop. It can hold up the flight as it seems to take forever to get them through. I caught a similar flight in Pakse in July - it was coming through from Siem Reap and going to Vientiane - The plane was fairly full when it arrived with only about 12 people getting on in Pakse - we ended up an hour and a half late as they took so long to process people - so don't be surprised if this happens.

Thanks for the responses! Seems like Lao Air is pretty OK. I read that if the flight is on a newer plane (like the ATR72) they've never had a safety issue.

Since this flight is going FROM Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (via Pakse) and thus leaving Laos, would there still be a lot of people doing visa processing? The cost difference is $100 to fly as part of the coupon, and about $237 to fly direct on Vietnam Air. Worth it?

Since the stop is within Laos no one will be getting a visa here. Siem Reap airport is where you you will get a Cambodia visa if you don't have one. Coming the other way requires obtaining a laos visa in Pakse. I would go with the pass.

We flew Lao Airlines twice last year. Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang and then Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (with a refuelling stop in Pakse).

One of our flights was a Russian made plane and the other Chinese made. Both were twin props. The flights were smooth and the service was very good. One thing I did notice was that the flights did not fly on time. They flew before time. I guess they flew as soon as all the passengers had arrived (full flight both times).