Royal Brunei Airlines
Headquarters: RBA Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Darussalam BS 8671
Overview
4.01,167 reviews
Travellers' Choice 2020 Winner
Travellers' Choice 2019 Winner
Travellers' Choice 2018 Winner
Legroom
Seat comfort
In-flight entertainment (WiFi, TV, films)
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Value for money
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Food and beverage
About Royal Brunei Airlines
Airline Summary
Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) is the flag carrier of the Sultanate of Brunei and flies to about 15 destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Europe. Its fleet features plans with two different two-cabin (Business Class and Economy Class, as well as First Class and Economy Class) configurations. The airline operates from its hub at Brunei International Airport (BWN), and premium passengers have access to Royal Brunei's Sky Lounge at the airport. Although it is not a member of any of the major airline alliances, it does have codeshare agreements with several other airlines.
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4.0
1,167
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498
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355
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Syed A
2 contributions
Very bad experience
Melbourne - DubaiInternational
We were travelling from Melbourne to Dubai 18 January flight no BI6 .plan got problem we were 3 hours inside plan but they didn't fix it after that staff said we will arange bus for you all to take you inside lounge all passengers were very upset any way take got bus after 2 hours .we went to lounge flight was 1.30 pm and the plan flew 8 pm .i book house at Dubia via Airbnb and spouse to check in 2 am and check out 9 am just for 7 hours i paid $ 231.we spouse to reach at Dubia 1.10 am we arrived late 6 am i reached at house around 7 any way i checked in and check out after 9 am .so i paid $231 just for 3 hours now i asked Airline that it was your fault not mine so you guys have to pay for it i got late due to airline but they stated we can not reimbursed it .our condition is different. So i dont recommend to my family and friends .i got video but i can not load it here.
Date of travel: January 2025
Written 5 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Charlie C
1 contribution
HUGE SCAM DO NOT FLY WITH ROYAL BRUNEI
Dubai - LondonInternational
Normally don’t write reviews but this one was necessary. Absolutely horrendous airline and a SCAM. I paid almost £140 for exit seats on the way to and from London to Dubai because of a back problem. Not only was I overcharged twice for my purchase but on the return journey they didnt even provide the exit seat and instead gave an aisle seat despite my paying £95 for it proof attached. couldn’t recall the payment as it was a bank transfer. They are a huge SCAM - do. Not. Fly. With. Royal. Brunei.
Date of travel: January 2025
Legroom
Seat comfort
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Value for money
Cleanliness
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Written 25 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
adjadj
United Kingdom
79 contributions
Able to impress the fussiest of passengers
London - MelbourneInternational
I have flown this 24+ hour route many times with many airlines for nearly 50 years.
I have flown Royal Brunei several times and they stand out as one of the best airlines I have travelled. The cabin crew are consistent in their level of service. Courteous,helpful, attentive, well groomed and proud of the airline they make something special. On the Australia to UK route I would rate RBA as a 9.5/10, and by comparison would rate BA and Qatar as 2/10, Singapore would get 6/10, Qantas nowadays 7/10, Emirates 7/10, JAL 9/10, United 8/10. The food is of a high standard and seems freshly prepared in comparison to many of the other carriers. The best thing with RBA is there is no fuss. They aren't an "over-rated" corporate monster of an airline who spend more on marketing than on their product, they are the real thing. Calm, and interested primarily in the passengers. Legroom on their 787 aircraft is way more than offered on most carriers, the seats have a decent recline. Their 9 abreast 787 layout seems much less cramped than that of their competitors, and there is a real sense of cleanliness and calmness over the whole event of travel with them.
The two stops makes a huge difference to the tolerability of the flight. 3x7 hour flight legs is perfect. The one-stop flights with the 15 hour leg most carriers offer is pure misery. You might arrive an hour earlier, but you feel so much worse. Give me two stops any day. Dubai is a big airport but well managed for transit passengers. I personally love the Brunei stop. The airport is calm and well ordered and a very manageable size. I recently transited through Doha airport which ranks as the worst and the most overcrowded I have encountered. It was utter hell. The one thing which is a downgrade at Brunei: in the past you disembarked your first flight directly into the transit hall and only went through security at the gate as you boarded your next flight. Nowadays, you disembark your first flight and have to go through security to re-enter the transit/departure hall, a process which takes up valuable time at the start of your transit. I have a workaround. I go straight to the arrivals hall, clear immigration on a transit visa and go landside, then re-enter departures through that security channel which is way quicker - usually no one else there. It also gives me a quick break from being locked in planes and airport buildings, as I go for a short walk outside and take in the gardens and vegetation which surrounds the airport. For anyone who has read complaints about the secondary security at the gate to check for liquids, this is an imposition initiated by the Australian Government and not Royal Brunei Airlines. Signage explaining this are displayed through the terminal. Simple thing is, read the signs and don't buy drinks to take on the aircraft. They have water and all manner of soft drinks on board.
I have flown Royal Brunei between the UK and Australia at least 6 times, and I cannot fault them. I am extremely fussy, and just old enough to remember the days when Economy Class was much the same as what we now call Premium Economy. But while other airlines seem set on destroying the things which make international travel so special, Royal Brunei have maintained some of those special values unlike other high profile airlines who spend all of their resources telling you how good they are without being very good at all. I have always found Royal Brunei to be in a league of their own, something of a boutique operation who go to great lengths to look after you in every way possible.
Date of travel: January 2025
Legroom
Seat comfort
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Written 14 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Barry
1 contribution
Lost my luggage and never found it / poor service
London - DubaiInternational
direct flight from london Terrible service , lost my luggage and did nothing to help .
flights cheap price for a reason i would recommend to avoid
Date of travel: January 2025
Written 3 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joseph A
1 contribution
Great service and great value
Melbourne - Kuala LumpurInternational
Very happy with Royal Brunei. Great service and great value.
Inflight entertainment is good. Food is tasty and there are plenty of snacks
Date of travel: December 2024
Legroom
Seat comfort
In-flight Entertainment
Customer service
Value for money
Cleanliness
Check-in and boarding
Food and Beverage
Written 25 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Charlie C
1 contribution
Don’t fly with them. I raised the issue with their staff and cabin crew and they were completely unhelpful.
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MelbourneTravelmad
Melbourne, Australia
788 contributions
check their schedule carefully if you consider them, sometimes there is a long layover in Brunei of 19 hours.
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Ipasu o
2 contributions
Great service helpful social best air line in town. Helped me find a seat and had a great feast of food. Air hostess is beautiful. Royal Ind
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