Folks, Starlux Airlines COSMILE frequent flyer program has finally gotten into the business of selling miles to consumers. Objectively its a pretty awful deal, as the airline is charging an astronomical four cents per mile (well see if there are promotions in the future).
I just hope some hot deal Alaska Atmos partner awards in J come back. 1990 want some sweet 70K to Taipei! I’d fly to LAX, SFO, even PHX to do it. Better yet, start flying TPE-JFK!
There was a nostop Starlux PHX-TPE J deal about a month ago. Price was 170,000 Atmos+$39 r/t. Not the greatest deal ever, but it was an excellent opportunity to gve Starlux a try!
Gene, I think it was even better, but, like only for a few hours, maybe a glitch… (Also, I know I was resistant at first, but, I’ll admit, I finally registered just so I can ‘Yowzers!’ for my buddies on here, yourself included! *wink*)
What about an upgrade award?
Looks like J to F is only 25k miles but you need to be on a basic or full paid ticket.
@ Steven -- That's a great question. I guess I should check if I can find any reasonably priced business class fares on the airline. Though I also feel like there's more that can go wrong with an upgrade than an outright award ticket.
Just checked my PHX-TPE flight next week and I see a F award is available. Slightly tempted to cancel my J award via Atmos and book it to beat Ben to the punch!
@lucky as tempting as it is, I think I'd rather hold onto my $4800. Plus I could use the status points from my existing award.
I wonder if that indicates they'll eventually be entering the transferrable mile ecosystem. Hard to turn down that sweet sweet Amex cash
Would opening the floodgates be a really good idea?
Depends how good your canoe is I guess!
"I’m More Excited Than I Should Be!!"
Because you're looking forward to the next devaluation?
"Because you're looking forward to the next devaluation?"
Yes.
Yes, that is why Ben is excited more than he should be.
Now ask another add-nothing pointless question.
The premium over business class is insane (both in terms of miles and money). I know Ben wrote about it before, but you have to wonder, what are they thinking?
@Lucky, I really hope you get to try their F, because the product difference doesn't seem to justify what they're charging.
Nonstop Dan (I know) posted about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIQ69-qFYv8
Look, it was the above link or Sam Chui. I think I posted the right one. 🙂
@ TravelinWilly -- Saw that as well, and it was interesting, though it really shows how scaled back the regional service is. That's also why I really want to experience it on a long haul flight, where there are things like bedding.
@ Tennen -- I totally agree, I find the price difference to be insane, and that makes me all the more interested in giving it a try, even if I don't think I can make sense of it!
TBH, I think of Starlux’s First Class as a Business Class Plus product. Same seat, same cabin, just bigger foot well. I wouldn’t go to the trouble. I flew Starlux J from TPE-LAX last year. It was meh…. and the lounge was so weird.
I'm not sure I'm understanding your obsession with Starlux First. As a senior airline reviewer, you out of all people should know that a proper First Class does not share the same lavatories and cabin with Business Class. Starlux is marketing a First Class product that is simply Business Plus, similarly to how Etihad does it on its A321XLR fleet. Thus, if you want to waste your money, go for it, but again, Starlux does not have a proper First Class product.
@ Kenny -- There's no "obsession" with Starlux first class, but really it comes down to two things.
First of all, I've done nearly every first class product, so since I'm so close, I'd like to complete that "task." Second, I've been intrigued by how little the cabin has been monetized and how consistently it has gone out empty, so the strategy (or lack thereof) has fascinated me.
I agree with you that the product doesn't look impressive, but then again, the soft product seems to be massively differentiated, particularly on the ground. I've also heard that if someone is in first class they'll block business class passengers from using the lavatory, so I'm curious to experience all of that firsthand, and see what it's like.
Hopefully, you won't ever be "done". As long as airlines order new aircraft with first class, there will be another one to check off! I appreciate thay you've review some bizarre airlines, but I honestly wouldn't have bothered with some of them if I were you.
Plus, this is presumably a tax-deductible expense, so 30-40% off $4,800 is a better than $4,800 (or $9,000...).
Ben did you see the new starlix silver livery? Maybe I missed your article.
I get you are going for completeness and I enjoy all your reviews, but this isn’t really first class!! It’s like a bulkhead row!
Is cosmile a reference to cosplay?
Hard to see @Ben get so excited. Starlux as you said is a regional carrier, Taiwan centric. Very few alliances to use the miles (currency) and even for a travel blogger it’s a miss as there are more robust carriers in that part of the world with stronger alliances with either star alliance or OW
I don’t get why JX doesn’t add more miles transfer partners. Sure, CX is keeping JX out of Oneworld, but that doesn’t mean that you stick solely to Alaska miles, which is very difficult for those of us in Asia (but not Taiwan) to rack up — short of outright buying them. Bear in mind that Etihad is another big strategic partner of Starlux, so shouldn’t JX add the ability to redeem and earn Etihad Guest miles at a minimum? There are so many opportunities that JX is leaving on the table here…
Because "more miles transfer partners" would be an instant devaluation of their product. Think about it.
Also, I’m not sure how JX’s A350 F experience is watered down on flights to SGN, SIN or BKK. So long as you depart from TPE’s Huan Yu Terminal, it should be excellent…
This makes very little sense for anyone based in the US. Alaska Atmos is a much better deal (aside from the limited-time First Class cash for miles redemption mentioned above) and place to earn miles while flying Starlux.
I know they're a young airline, but Starlux needs to get more aggressive with COSMILE for North America.
Idk if all these people saying how outrageous this is know they if you originate or end in LAX you get PS access as a first passenger. If you're solo you get salon and if you're two or more you get private suite. Given what a PS suite costs on its own without membership, I'd say it's pretty damn worth it to pay 4,800 for F if originating out of LAX. You and Ford that's 9600. AND you get to review PS LAX! Given that you need Ford to get the suite you could write his ticket off as a biz expense too. And if you go solo, hey at least you can review the salon.
I flew business class on Starlux once to Taipei from LA. We sat in the row behind first class. Their first class seat didn’t look much different than a business class seat. A little bigger.
Would need to see bonuses of 100%+ (a la Lifemiles) if they want to be serious players!
Publishing their T&Cs would be helpful too.
But is it really First Class?
It's a slightly bigger seat, no separate cabin, so I don't really get the excitement. Business plus or business suites maybe? They are doing a few interesting things but I'm skeptical about their long term success with that business model. It's a bottom less pit.