Star Alliance member EVA Air has long operated special Hello Kitty flights, which I’d consider to be one of the coolest aviation concepts in the world. In this post, I wanted to write a guide about what exactly you can expect with these unique flights, especially as the airline has just put a new Hello Kitty jet into service.
In this post:
The basics of EVA Air’s Hello Kitty flights
EVA Air business class is one of my favorite business class products in the world, as the airline really does a phenomenal job with its soft product. However, if you really want a unique experience, there are some specific routes you might want to check out.
EVA Air has a partnership with Hello Kitty, whereby the airline operates select flights as Hello Kitty services. Obviously this is intended to be something that passengers — both young and old — get excited about.
So, what makes these flights special? For one, the aircraft are painted in special Hello Kitty liveries, with different Hello Kitty jets having different characters featured.
But the experience goes so far beyond that. For one, at Taoyuan International Airport, EVA Air has a special Hello Kitty check-in and gate area.
Onboard, the service has also been modified to match what Hello Kitty herself would probably enjoy (no, there’s no cat food, don’t worry). The meal service has been Hello Kitty-fied, from rose champagne, to mixed nuts in Hello Kitty packaging, to Hello Kitty napkins, to Hello Kitty foie gras, to Hello Kitty airsick bags (in case her food doesn’t sit well with you).
Even the pillows, slippers, menus, and toilet paper, are Hello Kitty themed.
The flight attendants also seem to enjoy these flights, and have special Hello Kitty aprons and uniforms.
Honestly, regardless of whether or not you’re a Hello Kitty fan, you’ll no doubt appreciate just how committed EVA Air is to the theme.
I’d note that there’s nothing quite like this in the world. While other airlines also have special themed planes (ANA and United both have Star Wars themed aircraft), those seem to mostly revolve around the liveries, and the actual inflight experience doesn’t differ much, aside from some themed headrest covers.
Read my review of an EVA Air Hello Kitty flight here.
EVA Air Hello Kitty flights & routes
EVA Air currently has four aircraft in Hello Kitty liveries, and they operate a total of four routes:
- EVA Air offers Hello Kitty flights on three weekly frequencies between Taipei (TPE) and Chicago (ORD), BR55/56; this route is operated by the Hello Kitty “Besties Jet” Boeing 777-300ER
- EVA Air offers Hello Kitty flights on daily frequencies between Taipei (TPE) and Clark (CRK), BR233/234; this route is operated by the Hello Kitty “BAD BADTZ-MARU Travel Fun” Airbus A330-300
- EVA Air offers Hello Kitty flights on daily frequencies between Taipei (TPE) and Bali (DPS), BR255/256; this route is operated by the Hello Kitty “Joyful Dream” or “Celebration Flight” Airbus A330-300
- EVA Air offers Hello Kitty flights on daily frequencies between Taipei (TPE) and Cebu (CEB), BR281/282; this route is operated by the Hello Kitty “Joyful Dream” or “Celebration Flight” Airbus A330-300
Keep in mind that this schedule remains subject to change, so you’ll always want to check the flight listings on this page.
Note that there’s not an extra cost to take a Hello Kitty flight. The pricing should match what you’ll find on other routes, it’s just a function of a particular route being operated by one of these aircraft. EVA Air is pretty good about not swapping planes at the last minute, so you can expect that if your route is intended to be operated by this aircraft, then that’s in fact what will happen.
How to redeem miles for EVA Air business class
Want to experience EVA Air business class using miles, especially on a Hello Kitty flight? EVA Air is part of the Star Alliance, and sometimes you’ll find award availability through Star Alliance partner frequent flyer programs.
Short haul business class award availability is often available in advance, while long haul business class award availability is typically only available closer to departure.
The good news is that the EVA Air Infinity MileageLands frequent flyer program has access to considerably more business class award availability, so this is the key to unlocking these kinds of awards. If you don’t have any miles with EVA Air, note that the program is transfer partners with Citi ThankYou (transfers are at a 1:1 ratio) and Capital One (transfers are at a 2:1.5 ratio). Redemption rates are quite reasonable, so I consider the EVA Air opportunities to be a great advantage of the Citi ThankYou program.
Bottom line
EVA Air’s Hello Kitty flights are so fun, regardless of whether or not you’re a Hello Kitty fan. You’ve gotta appreciate when a company goes all-in on a theme, and that’s very much the feeling you’ll get on a Hello Kitty flight. EVA Air currently has four Hello Kitty jets, which operate a total of four routes, including the Chicago service on select days.
What do you make of EVA Air’s Hello Kitty service?
PSA: Hello Kitty is not a cat.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/07/19/hello-kitty-not-a-cat/74469203007/
I heard this too, but they are wrong. It’s an anthropomorphized cat.
It has a tail, cat ears and whiskers. It’s been a few months since I’ve been to London, but as far as I know, few English girls have those features.
On my bucket list. I like Bali and I like Taipeh. Raheem's comment concerns me though.
This is stupid
I took this flight yesterday (Aug 29) from TPE-DPS. Not sure if an anomaly or they are phasing stuff out, but only the coaster for the drinks was Hello Kitty themed. The napkins, champagne, pillows, blankets and yes toilet paper were all standard EVA products. Obviously, the exterior livery and interior artwork remained.
The problem is that when I searched for a couple of business class seats from Chicago to Taipei for these wonderful flights there were zero dates available for an entire year. That's using United for the search. I've checked before a number of times with similar results. In short, you can pretty much rely on never finding this space without EVA miles since they won't release long haul business class space to partners. I wish...
The problem is that when I searched for a couple of business class seats from Chicago to Taipei for these wonderful flights there were zero dates available for an entire year. That's using United for the search. I've checked before a number of times with similar results. In short, you can pretty much rely on never finding this space without EVA miles since they won't release long haul business class space to partners. I wish Ben had just said that rather than dancing around the subject.
Good. Airlines aren't required to release seats to partner programs. They are rewarding people who use their program.
They're actually Sanrio Characters flights. Hello Kitty is only one of the many characters.
people still Buy this Garbage? This was over almost 40 years ago. Oh I see they are still selling the Clap the Lamp Gimmick.
I am not a big Hello Kitty fan as well, however the 2 BR Hello Kitty flights I have been on were total fun. And the mad grab for any left over Hello Kitty swag before deplaning was a hoot to watch.
There's also a Hello Kitty train between Osaka and Fukuoka. It was fun for about 20 minutes of the trip even for this old man. Then, it was slower than the other option because it makes all the stops.
"Outrageous"? Really? Ease up on the hyperbolic click bait title Gary.
I dunno, in the staid, mostly beige-and-blue world of airline cabins inside mostly white airplanes with plain branding, I think the Hello Kitty aircraft are a breath of fresh air. Compared to an Asiana or JAL flight, for instance, they're definitely outrageous!
Yea, I think outrageous has significantly more negative connotation than positive, and I don't think Ben viewed these Hello Kitty flights negatively. Not the best work choice. Good article though.
I flew one of the A330s from Taipei to Fukuoka back in 2017. I had no idea it was a Hello Kitty flight until I boarded. Still one of my favorite business class experiences, It really does bring the kid out in you.
I thought you already outgrown this Hello Kitty thing.
:)