Did you know there's a transpacific flight where you can redeem miles for a business class ticket but get a first class seat? Specifically, I'm talking about China Airlines' flight between Vancouver and Taipei, which is their only remaining flight to North America operated by a 747-400. I suppose this is a very low yield…
Continue reading: A Transpacific Flight Where You Can Get A First Class Seat For Business Class Miles
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Lucky, the route will convert to A350 this year. I am not sure about the date, maybe around late Summer? So the 744 will be no more, and A350 will just have Business, Premium Econ, and Coach. On another note, their SFO-TPE route, which is now operating with 77W will also convert to A350.
Also, I'm fairly sure that there is an LAX-SFO-TPE route that operates w/744. I've seen it many times. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CAL5107 Flightaware has more.
@Bob, YVR will go to A350 from August and SFO will go to A350 from May with increased frequencies.
How do they sell biz class seats? As premium economy or just give access to them for top tier members?
I will avoid China airlines as much as I can even it's my nation's official carrier!
Lucky, it's also worth mentioning that you can get on a business class cabin if you purchase a premium economy fare from YVR to most cities in Asia. For example, YVR-TPE-MNL gets you on a biz cabin (although angle flat) to TPE and biz recliners onwards to HKG for ~US$1,400.
No, it's not because it's a low yield route nor there isn't enough business class demand, the reason is because this particular 744 has the old recliner-type business class seats, which only recline deep enough but not angled-flat (but they are electrically-operated). CI realized it will be inconsistent if the 49 seats be sold as business class as well. So they have no choice but to sell the 12 first class seats as business class and the 49 business class seats as premium economy. The challenge for them is to how to convince business travellers to try their premium economy once business class is sold out. If you decide to review this 'business class,' hurry! it's only 12 seats. book it as soon as possible, unless you may want to try their 'premium economy.' the seats on the upper deck have side storage bins, and it might be the best 'premium economy' out there even better than their A350's.
@Clippergoodwill5280 - ok, thanks. I did not know the cut off date, now I do. I only know that by December, SFO-TPE route will operate A359, since I am booked on it!
OK, this article doesn't say what mileage program Lucky is looking at. Very strange. China Airlines? Delta? (the screenshots look like Delta). Did I just miss this somewhere in the article?
@ paul5795 -- The screenshots are from Delta, but the space would be accessible to any SkyTeam partner.
"If I were originating in Vancouver I probably would, but I’m not sure it’s worth going out of your way to route through Vancouver to get a first class seat."
I'm surprised at this advice. I thought you'd have jumped at the opportunity to snag a first class seat, since it's a, you know, first class seat.
The final China Airlines 747 flight to Vancouver is 28 July 2017. Afterwards it will be serviced by the new A350.
I booked TPE/HKG on A350 outbound and B747 inbound, rev biz class. The phone agent checked my DL DM status and put me in a first class seat on the lower deck of B747--1A right by the nose. The upper deck 2-2- angled biz class seats are for CI elites and SkyTeam Elite Plus on economy tix with economy meal.