As y’all know, my goal for 2016 is to review as many new premium cabin products as I can, especially in business class.
So far this year I’ve reviewed Finnair business class, Air India first class, Iberia business class, LAN business class, Oman Air business class, Air France business class, Avianca business class, Aeromexico business class, Air Canada business class, and South African Airways business class.
Air Canada business class
Coming up I have reviews of SAS business class, Aeroflot business class, Air Tahiti Nui business class, Fiji Airways business class, Royal Air Maroc business class, China Eastern business class, Saudia business class, Pakistan business class, and Swiss first class.
Swiss first class
However, there are two incredibly practical business class products to Asia which I haven’t yet reviewed, and didn’t have any immediate plans to review. I have some days this week there I don’t have any other commitments in terms of where I need to be, so I decided to book a quick trip to review two new products — over the coming days I’ll be flying China Airlines business class and Japan Airlines business class. Let me explain.
Reviewing China Airlines business class
China Airlines is part of SkyTeam, and has some gorgeous new Boeing 777-300ERs equipped with Wi-Fi and reverse herringbone seats. Combine one of my favorite hard products and one of my favorite business class amenities, and it might just be one of my new favorite transpacific airlines.
Most importantly, this is a great use of Delta SkyMiles. My ticket from Los Angeles to Taipei to Singapore costs just 70,000 SkyMiles without fuel surcharges — the total taxes were just $5.60. That’s a value which is tough to beat!
China Airlines business class
This is one of the best values using Delta SkyMiles, and one of the many reasons to consider signing up for one of the offers on the Delta American Express Cards.
Stay tuned, because I’ll be live reporting from the flight, given that it should have Wi-Fi.
I’ll then be connecting onto one of China Airlines’ A330s to Singapore, so I’ll get to experience their older business class product as well.
I’m also curious to see how China Airlines compares to their Taipei based rival, EVA Air. I’ve flown EVA Air business class from Taipei to San Francisco, Tokyo to Taipei, and Taipei to Los Angeles.
EVA Air business class
Reviewing Japan Airlines business class
This is a product I’ve long wanted to review, as Japan Airlines business class is a great use of American miles, and soon it will also be possible to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on Japan Airlines.
I’ve reviewed Japan Airlines first class before, but since American’s award chart devaluation, the sweet spot for award redemptions is now often in business class.
Japan Airlines first class
I got really excited about reviewing Japan Airlines’ new business class after flying Oman Air’s excellent Apex Suite, which is one of my favorite business class hard products.
Oman Air business classJapan Airlines has the same seats in business class, and I managed to snag a window seat. So I’m excited to see what Japan Airlines’ soft product is like.
Private window seat in Oman Air business class
Furthermore, for the flight within Asia I’m flying Japan Airlines’ 767 business class. This plane’s business class is in a staggered configuration, similar to what you’d find on Austrian, Brussels, Delta, etc. I’m curious to see how Japan Airlines’ product compares.
Delta business class, similar to what I’ll experience on the JAL 767
The entire trip from Singapore back to the US cost 70,000 American AAdvantage miles.
Bottom line
This is a very quick trip I’m taking exclusively to review new products, so I’m excited to check them out. I’m confident Japan Airlines will have a great product, though I’m very curious to see what China Airlines’ new business class product is like. I know the hard product will be excellent, though it’s the soft product which is more of a mystery.
Stay tuned for the review, as these are two very practical airlines for transpacific business class travel.
Are you more curious to read about China Airlines or Japan Airlines business class?
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