Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines recently took delivery of its first of 18 Airbus A350-900s, which the airline will use for long haul flights (with the first long haul destination being LAX, expected as of April 2023). Up until now we haven’t known what the interiors of these jets would look like, though. Fortunately the wait is…
Continue reading: Revealed: Starlux A350 First & Business Class!
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It doesn't look like buddy seating is possible either in First Class... I'm quite disappointed.
I meant to say that buddy seating isn't possible either—one of my favourite things about F is the possibility to dine face-to-face.
IMO, the first class seat looks like a glorified bulkhead business class seat and rather tight for first. I reckon the foot cubby for the first row of business is under the side console of first class, leaving first with a very small footprint, hence why they were able to fit so many seats into the plane.
As far as the hard product is concerned, I see little difference between First and Business. I also dont see much of a difference between PE and Economy. I guess it will come down to the soft product as well as their pricing.
There seems to be no real difference between business and first, they should just call them business plus or business first.
Size matters! First class does haven an 8 inches BIGGER display. And a LARGER door, so that me and my inflated triple-platinum double-diamond frequent flyer status ego can fit through it.
"Starlux will be the first airline in Taiwan to offer first class."
Actually China Airlines offered First Class
China Airlines is the ROC's flag carrier - not to be confused with Air China for PRC
This seat is "Elements" from Collins. It's basically a refreshed gen Super Diamond.
The first class is actually just the first row of business class cabin with modified CMF, bigger monitor, slightly less angled seat, and higher wall. It'll feel like BA first class at best, and a bit tighter than that more realistically. Under the "first class" console is the footwell of business class passenger.
It looks like they'll segregate the first and business class cabin with curtains.
China Airlines based in Taiwan does not offer First Class. Don't try to confuse people with Air China which is based in China.
Do you know how silly you sound? China airlines IS a Taiwanese carrier. Air china, on the other hand, is not.
The key word was "offered." China Airlines absolutely offered First in the past. So Starlux is not the first to offer first from Taiwan.
Lucky also mentioned this would be the first airline to introduce First on the A350. I'm pretty sure Japan Airlines has First on their A350s.
You are absolutely correct about China Airlines offering first class in the past. I flew in that cabin before it was discontinued. Also, Eva Air had first class nearly two decades ago.
Just to correct your article. Malaysian Airlines introduced 4x FC seats on their A350’s some 4-5years with a very spacious seat which has a suite door Etc. 1st class is not a new concept on A350, just this week I see Virgin introduce a game changing F/C retreat suite on an A330!
Yes, it’s disappointing that such a highly anticipated new start up airline played it safe with an old cramped product which lacks interest or differentiation. They have to compete against EVA who already have an excellent product on their 787s! (Ps I hope they role out across the rest of their fleet)
As a oneworld flyer who is unsure about the future of CX, I would love to see Starlux join oneworld
Please Join OneWorld already!!! Will book multiple flights THE DAY Starlux becomes available!
Agree 100%. Actually, looking at the photos of their "first class suite", my first impression was:"oh, somebody screwed up, that's a a photo of a cramped business class seat." Take a look at those photos!
First class? Only marketing spin. That's a standard business class seat on American or Delta, and not a particularly good one.
Their actual business class seats look OK, nothing special, again, they look cramped to me.
Only people with a door fetish will be impressed here.
OMG thanks goodness I know the context. Maybe I have received too much spam, but "Size maters! 8 in BIGGER!" sounds... hilariously inappropriate in my head.
Somewhat related, but I love the Starlux livery on the A350. Absolutely one of the best looking aircraft.
Why show any photos featuring deep purple ambient lighting? It's offputing enough to disuade one from flying that airline!
I don’t think that was their first class image. It looks like their business class
JAL will also have first class on their A351s as they'll be a 1-1 replacement for their 77Ws. I'm excited to see what they come up with. I expect an evolution of their 77W suite as well as their APEX suites. As for premium economy, probably a shell type of seat that dates back to their 744s.
“Starlux” sounds like the drag name of an airline known during the day as Taiwan International Airline.
MH F seats on A350 are the same type as VS did on their A339s, the Vantage XL Suite, which is not a true first-class seat. The difference is that MH advertised the seat as another type of product while VS didn't. The truth is accidentally there are no true F class seats like what is equipped on 77w/A380/747, which is quite odd since A350 offers similar space like 77w.
Dont know if Lucky read comments on a post this old.
The chairman just went on a travel/food TV program (to promote his route to Penang Malaysia with support from the Penang tourism department). Surely not often you see the boss of an airline do this!
He can't help but explained why they have to go with these rather underwhelming first / business class hard products.
Basically first class is here not because they wanted to sell first class tickets, but because of how they were trying to position themselve as a premium airline, so they got to have a first class cabin. Also some of the premium food/drinks suppliers he wanted to work with will only supply their products to first class. They wont work with business plus or premium business, first class only. Regarding his first class seat, he went on to say how Qantas just unveiled their 1-1-1 first class with a seat and separate bed. But since business class is still 1-2-1 the aisle wouldnt be straight, making it really difficult for passengers and nearly impossible for food cart to go through between the two cabins.
They are actually not that serious in selling those 4 first class seats, but hey, at least they got it should anyone wanted to fly it.
Regarding the business class seat, the main sticking point is having to do the 16G crash test. If they were to be creative with the business class seat, they might end up spending forever working on the business class seat, for it to never pass the crash test. Then the whole project would need to be scraped. He also said Qatar spent like 5-8 years working on the Qsuite. But Starlux being a new and small airline they simply doesnt have the resources or scale like Qatar. So they went with a proven product
CHINA AIRLINES FIRST CLASS BETWEEN HKG AND TAIPEI WAS GOOD. POOR SAFETY RECORD.