Very interested to see what comes of this. Would love to book a F class reward ticket but spending $4800 without knowing availability is just too risky. Wonder if there’s a workaround. Also, will mileage F tickets get you PS at LAX?
yes it does offer the full services same as venue fare. Including PS at LAX. I was able to tried last year, coz I have Taiwanese credit cards which can earn JX miles.
I was just able to book F from LAX-HAN using points I bought.
- Registered for Starlux account
- Looked for availability
-- saw "mixed class" so called to see which legs in what class. LAX-TPE in F, TPE-HAN in J
- They couldn't hold it (but I had a backup through SFO, just without the PS terminal); Opened another window and bought the miles
-- miles posted instantly BUT I had to redo the trip search and get the flight
Had a specific date I needed to travel and wasnt able to find an award seats that didn't include Ethiopia or China (not traveling to/through either for personal reasons). So I was looking at 5-7K to buy a J ticket. So $4800 for F a no brainer for me
I've flown JX F from TPE-NRT. It was really nothing to write home about beyond the drinks list featuring really rare Taiwanese wines. I booked last minute and they didn't cater any F meals (go figure I was the only passenger in F haha), but I did get a refund of around $60...I did get an escort through immigration at NRT which was nice. Just keep in mind that if you were to book make sure you book more than 2-3 days in advance so you are eligible for the car service/first-class terminal flying out of TPE. Good luck.
Yes, the miles required to redeem for a ticket from Asia via TPE to USA is the same as just from TPE to USA.
Ben, if you end up going for it, please do LAX-TPE-XXX. That way you'll be able to update your PS LAX review as well as reviewing the private/VIP terminal at TPE.
Maybe check when that comment was posted. Ben is reposting a slightly updated old post here, so there’s plenty of comments that were under the original post. Bit of a mess tbh.
How many 1st class award seats do they make available per flight typically? Wonder if this is feasible for a family to do.
It’s def feasible. But paying $3400 one way for effectively business class doesn’t seem worth it.
@Mick Then, how much do you think a one way business class fare should be? Starlux first class (business class plus) soft products are very competitive. You are only focusing on the seat which is better than a standard business class seat and not what else is on offer including what Ben described as a very good ground experience. Also, if you think $3,400 for a transpacific first class (business class plus seating) is too expensive then you can always stick with the cheapest economy class fare. By the way, other airlines that offer standard business class charge a lot more one way.
Isn't there just two seats available per flight, or did I misunderstand something?
Agree. It’s business class. Private terminal at lax a bonus but looks very sterile and lacks views of runway so hardly an amazing proposition in my mind.
@Mick As Ben said, it is more like business class plus seat instead of just standard business class seat. Also, the soft products far exceed what other airlines offer in business class.
do the miles expire?
I saw this come up yesterday and have seriously thought about purchasing...my problem is it would a be speculative purchase and that seems like a terrible idea (I don't have plans to visit Asia next year...yet).
I want someone to compare this Starlux first class pod with the business plus pods of United and American in the new hard product.
I believe they would be mighty close in size. In this day and age, angled seats in first class is unacceptable.
How good is business class availability?
I doubt it, but am curious if I could use Starlux miles to upgrade a flight booked using Atmos miles?
I assume an upgrade only kicks in if I buy the ticket via Starlux.
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I do need to be in Tokyo next month and this sounds awesome. But I can’t justify the extra time wasted repositioning from DFW to LAX and going thru Taipei. Maybe I will just pay for the PS at DFW and fake the experience.