Review: EVA Air Hello Kitty Royal Laurel Class Taipei to Los Angeles

First, I totally think they need that Rimowa amenity Kit-ty. Second, is that piece of carrot cut into the shape of a Hello Kitty hair bow???

She has no hair.

Was her face stamped into the goose liver the thing that qualified it for the healthy menu?

I'm not sure which is more worrisome, that I spent semi-valuable work time reading about Hello Kitty or that I now feel like my life won't be complete until I take the Hello Kitty flight too.

As good as that hard product looks, the food looks downright terrible. Even the quantity looks small too.

How is the quality of their book-the-cook option?

Pretty much agreed after my EVA experiences (see #thatjohnoneva on Instagram), although a few pointers:

• EVA loads a limited number of bottles of Dom. On my TPE-JFK flight it was four. I checked. And by checked, I mean "drank them".
• The Taiwanese food is way better than the Western food. Play to their strengths, and you'll be surprised by the Super Grandma Ragu — it's delicious.
• The matcha is pretty damn good.
• Was it just me, or were there about four more crewmembers in Royal Laurel than were actually needed?

Having said that about the food? The Western-style lamb I had on EVA was some of the best airline lamb I've had in a long time. http://instagram.com/p/e8wNbVgRLb/

I really enjoyed reading this report!!! I plan to fly it in Feb and can't wait! Did you specifically ask to be seated on the last row of royal laurel class? Do you think you would have gotten the Din Tai Fung meal had you sat in the front rows since I presume the flight attendants ask for their orders first?

Flying with my wife SFO to TPE in March. For traveling companions which seats would you recommend?

Curious why you chose the last row of seats in J? I would think you would be at risk of there being a bassinet baby right behind you in that position?

Couldn't you pre order your meals when flying Royal Laurel? Could Din Tai Fung be on the pre order meal as one of options? Just wondering

I'm surprised you didn't preorder your meal. They have lobster and steak and other good food if you preorder. Maybe.. 3rd time is a charm?!

WHY is the amenity kit not Hello Kitty branded? That would have been amazing.

I think your link to this page at the top is broken. Its got royal-laurel-class instead of business-class.

Ben -- I just love that Sanrio Family pillow, you didn't happen to snatch one from the plane that you could lend to me, did you?

@ gobluetwo -- Hah, didn't notice the carrot, I think you're right. Hilarious!

@ George -- Haven't yet booked the cook so can't really chime in there, unfortunately.

@ Joey -- I did request that seat since I like how private it is. My guess is that if I were seated further upfront I would have probably gotten my meal choice. Oh well.

@ AP -- The center seats are really private in that you can't really even easily talk to the person seated "next" to you. So I would probably do two window seats behind one another, so you both have maximum privacy and can still communicate fairly easily.

@ Bgriff -- When I booked it was one of the only window seats left, and to be honest I kind of like how private it is in the very back of the cabin.

@ Wants2fly -- I believe Din Tai Fung is on the pre-order menu, and I should have probably done that.

@ Jon -- Whoops, thanks. Fixed!

@ Matt -- Hah, next time. 😉

These reports have been so helpful! I'm planning a trip to China using a USAir 90K award. Trying to decide -- Air China nonstop? or EVA with the extra time it takes to stop in TPE? (Also interested in ANA) Any strong preferences? Thanks!

Great TR! I absolutely love your reports. I can't wait for the next one. When is your next TR coming?

@ elteetrav -- Thanks! I'd probably still go with EVA Air for the excellent hard product. Otherwise I'd probably do ANA if you can get new business class on them.

@ Kevin L. -- Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it! Lots more trip reports coming shortly. Have some hotel reviews write up, and then embarking on a mega-Delta journey next week that should be interesting.

Great report, Benni!

Did they not have DECAF cappucinos?

Also, while the food doesn't look all that great (maybe the pre-order options are better), the wine list looks excellent. I'm looking forward to drinking my way across the Pacific!

@ snic -- Hah, it hadn't crossed my mind to ask until it was too late, unfortunately.

And yes, why eat your way across the Pacific when you can drink your way across it?

Great report!
Do you happen to know which EVA flight out LAX is a Hello Kitty flight?

@ BTM -- Yes, you can find which LAX flights are operated by the Hello Kitty Jet here:
https://onemileatatime.com/eva-air-publishes-hello-kitty-schedule-for-new-los-angeles-service/

I love reading your trip reports but these Hello Kitty ones are particularly enjoyable 😉 ! Lucky do you book EVA award space through mileage plus? I have flown EVA for years and have always been a big fan especially of their premium economy - but this year I have a trip to BKK and want to fly Premium Laurel - seems like a good way to burn United miles!

@ Mark -- Thanks for the kind words! EVA Air does release plenty of Royal Laurel award space to partner airlines, so it's a great use of United miles pre-devaluation.

Great report, as usual! I need to fly HK Eva Air now!

Is there a difference in the color of the Rimowa amenity kits? Different ones for different flights/destinations? Men's vs women's? What's in them?

@ Andy -- Unfortunately they only have one color/design as far as I know.

I rather like the understated HK décor in their Laurel Class. Perhaps it's less overkill for business travelers and parents?

Did you have a look at economy class to see if the décor was the same as your previous HK flight? Or, are they toning everything down now?

I think HK PJ's and branded amenity kit would be awesome!

@ Andy -- There didn't seem to be too much more decor in coach, though it did seem like they food was a bit more Kitty-fied, including Hello Kitty forms, spoons, etc.

I am surprised you did not take a pillow a safety card and/ or anything from the Lav I take the Biz or first class pillows/blankets all the time when I fly UA or AA three class metal works great for road trips when you need to sleep in the back of your car lol

You didn't have any DP throughout the flight?

@ Kai -- For reasons I can't explain, nope!

I love this trip report and I love hello kitty. I agree with others next times you have to pre order meal. Actually on my last trip Paris to TPE, the purser told me almost 75% passengers chose pre order meals.

One thing which I don't think you've remarked upon (and it's not like you have particular reason to, so that's understandable) is how ridiculously terrible EVA's own program is. 50,000 miles NA-to-Asia... each way... in coach. That's not even in premium economy...

Anyway, next time you mention you'll be having an EVA flight, I'm sure one of us will remind you to pre-book your meals!

Interessting to read about RL-hello kitty service. I think they reserve the total experience for their asian flights as that gives them a competitive edge in the overcrowded asian market: i have reviewed royal laurel flights AMS-BKK-TPE vv on flyertalk thread eva royal laurel including posting full menus and drinks list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-asian-australian-south-pacific-frequent-flyer-programs/1491411-eva-royal-laurel-class-10.html .... As you collect rimowa kite be sure to watch announcements in the future about eva changing their kit colours to the seasons or colours of taiwan. It is at management level suggestion board so who knows when it will implemented.

nice that its Godiva and Din Tai Fung on the menu. Did you get to keep the pillow case?

@ Go -- I guess if you stole it no one could stop you, but I don't think you're supposed to take it. 😀

Gooseliver on the healthy diet? Ha, good to know.

Incidentally, your movie selection was filmed in the Boston suburbs and Cape Cod. Yes, there really is a Water Wizz.

The only thing missing was Hello Kitty temporary tatoos. Or do you have a real one already? 😉

Thanks for your unbridled enthusiasm over the special features of this trip. It's always great to see the passion in your writing.

Really like to read your trip reports. Especially looking forward to this one as I will be trying this product (TPE-SFO) early next year.

I think I have to pre-order the Din Tai Fung meal and try your highly recommended cappuccino. When do they start serving Dom on the plane?

@ maw -- Thanks! They start serving it after takeoff.

Lucky,
I know you've said that EVA Air serves rather poor food, and that for you, the most important thing for J is the seat. I've never tried EVA, but just wanted to know how bad the food really is, and whether I should risk it.
I'm thinking of flying between SIN and AMS. SQ is way out of my budget, but I'm getting similar prices for BR and QR. Which would you recommend? QR has a slightly worse seat (but still excellent, seeing that they have low loads, and I usually get the seat next to me free anyway), but excellent food in my past experience. I'm just worried about going hungry during the flight on EVA. First world problems.

Nice report, looking forward to our trip in oct.

any idea if we can use our business class boarding passes in LAX to access the United lounge in the commuter terminal ?

@ mike -- Business class on a Star Alliance carrier only gets you lounge access at your departure gateway city. So unless you're a United Club member or flying United transpacific you wouldn't get access.

Lucky

thanks for the prompt reply

I thought they maky work like the oneworld alliance,
no problem when I have time to kill ( and a nice shower) before the hop to san diego.

@ mike -- Nope, Star Alliance is slightly different. You can find their lounge access policy here:
http://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits/status-benefits/lounge-access-policy/

"Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges.

-- Customer must present a boarding pass for travel in International Business Class on a Star Alliance flight
-- Customer must be departing from the local airport in International Business Class
-- Customers must be a revenue customer
-- Customer is not entitled to any guests"

@Lucky - have you checked out the HELLO KITTY CHECK IN AREA at TPE? So cool! Wanted to send you a picture this morning when I was there, but then realised I didn't know how to attach it. Haha. Pic turned out blurry anyway, but... you really should go there next time. And the onboard duty free now sells a Hello Kitty Bluetooth keyboard and a Hello Kitty travel kit with a neck pillow, luggage belt and eye mask! So cool, right? Don't you just want a set to replace your current one? 🙂

@ Charlie -- Hah, I'll have to return! Didn't make it to Hello Kitty check-in at TPE last time!

Ben, does this serve the jfk route? I checked br32 and it seems like it's just the laurel class. Will they start serving the jfk route with this plane? I thought it was supposed to start June but I don't see it.

@ wayne -- It's not the Hello Kitty product, but it is the same hard product otherwise.

Hey Ben! Been following your blog for a while but this is probably the first time I've commented on anything. Anyway I will be flying in Royal Laurel from Taipei to Sapporo and in Premium Laurel on the Hello Kitty jet from Narita to Taipei next month, which I am immensely looking forward to, especially after reading your trip reports on it!

On another note, based on your experience, is LifeMiles a better choice to credit my miles to instead of EVA's own FFP?

The Rimowa kits do come in different colors. We got charcoal ones from Seattle to Taipei and light green ones returning to Seattle.

EVA AIR just became a Skytrax 5 star airline!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Z20QSf9sY