We boarded through door 1L, where we were greeted by several friendly flight attendants, one of which escorted me to my seat.
Continue reading: Review: EVA Air Royal Laurel Class Taipei to San Francisco
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Great report, as usual!
There are some complaints about the seat on FT - apparently you disagree? It was wide enough, and not too hard?
(Diet Coke and Dom? At the same time? I'm just going to shake my head at that one.)
Good review - now I know to ask for a seat in the rear cabin on my upcoming flight 🙂
Hey Lucky,
Nice trip report! How does EVA compare to Swiss business class? I think you have flown it right?
I'm trying to decide whether I should fly AMS-ZRH-HKG on Swiss or AMS-BKK-HKG on EVA/Thai as part of my US airways "rtw"
Thanks!
Now I want to plan a trip to Taipei with EVA. The business class seems better than the ANA staggered.
@ snic -- I thought it was great in every way. It was well padded and plenty wide I thought. Just about all airlines with reverse herringbone seats have almost identical products, and I'm convinced it's simply the best hard product out there.
Pre-order some lobster next time and you might not be disappointed with the food :). I'm excited to have Din Tai Feng on the plane! Waiting for my flight in 4 months..
@ Acs -- I actually haven't flown Swiss longhaul business class, though I have flown Austrian and Brussels business class, which is a very similar hard product.
I do think EVA has a better hard product and better entertainment, and probably better service. The only place that Swiss would win, in my opinion, is with food.
@ romsdeals -- Hah, I'm lucky to have a Din Tai Fung a block from my apartment, so I get a bit less excited about DTF than others. 🙂
Seems like you're trying not to infuriate anger taiwanese, ha!
I remenbered that they served soup and salad, maybe is because your flight is a late night flight !
Just wanted to chime in regarding the Swiss vs EVA Air's long haul business class. For me, the seat, entertainment, the DOM, amenity kit, and cabin appearance is better on EVA. Food and service was better on Swiss.
How did you like Taipei? You had a couple days in the city - did you explore, or go to the night markets at all? It is one of my favorite cities in terms of food - the varieties and options for the cost. Hope you had fun on this trip.
Food service (minus the Dom) looks very similar to what I had in biz on a China Airlines flight last year (probably that same plane in your picture). EVA's seats look more comfortable than CI.
Can't imagine what I'd think seeing the wreckage of Asiana 214 - or any wreckage - shortly after it happened. It would probably be one heck of a reminder to me that there is always a possibility of something going wrong and it's always good to stay alert and ready to move FAST if necessary.
Great trip report. Do you plan on doing reports on your recent trips on the Thai a380 and ANA 777-300. I'm flying both in the future and was hoping to see what you thought.
@ John T -- Loved it! Next installment will be about my time on the ground in all these cities. 🙂
@ Brett -- Of course! Trip report is already more or less written, so will post it over the coming days.
Any word on when the Pacific Northwest will get the new business class? I see EVA flies to SEA and YVR and would love to grab the new business class on those routes, when its available.
@ PNW -- Trust me, I wish Seattle would get the new product as well! Unfortunately until they retire the 747s or change the aircraft on the routes we won't see the new business class here.
"It’s a question I get often, and while the answer couldn’t be further from the truth, I usually just smile and say “yes, and I’m so excited.”
My go to move also ... I find that sometimes it seems they go out of their way to try and provide extra special service as a result.
As usual, it is a great trip report! I have never flown in anything else except coach, but this really gives me the motivation. Thanks Lucky.
Dom first, maybe with some sparkling water.
Maybe a diet coke later, not at the same time!
Don't be that American haha
Great TR. Which Seats Do You Recommend For A Couple?
I've Read Middle Seats Are Actually Kinda Far Apart From Each Other So Maybe Window And Aisle Vs 2 Middle?
Does Mini Cabin Share Lavs With Econ Or Premium Econ? Galley Noise A Problem?
Thanks!
@ Steve -- Yeah, the center seats have quite some barriers between them, so I'd probably just do two window seats.
The lavs for the mini cabin are in front of the mini cabin, so they're shared with the rest of business class. Noise from the galley wasn't an issue since they kept the curtains closed the whole flight.
That's exactly right, Craig! The Dom is likely to make the Diet Coke taste really funny.
Just got back last night from India. First leg on 9W from MAA-SIN. But the highlight was SIN-TPE-LAX on EVA. Great service in Coach as well, the most comfortable Coach seats, awesome pillows and blankets and very nice special meals. I am a believer in their product. Next time to Asia, I am flying EVA and it helps that they are now part of Star Alliance. However, only 75% mileage on the United account, oh well.
If you ever visit Taiwan again... For luxury traveling, I think you should visit Taichung instead. The wealthy who work overseas or in Taipei have up and moved to Taichung... the new part of that city is full of luxury residences, stores, eateries, galleries. I actually found Taipei more tired looking comparatively.
Healthy menu selection = burdock, button mushroom with monascus purpureus sauce. I don't know what any of that is. 😉
Ummm...how do you stay in shape with all these elite buffets and premium class meals?
"But the part I really didn’t get is that they literally just served a two course meal. There were no drinks with nuts to start with, or any sort of an appetizer, salad, soup, etc."
But Lucky, to be fair, you did pick the Star Special option, which does seem to be a quicker meal. The other 2 options seem to be a 3 course meal...
Lucky - How did you choose a seat with EVA? Is it possible to do it online? I couldn't find the option on their site with my reservation # from US Airways
Thanks!
@ ChasingThePoints -- You need to retrieve the EVA record locator (which you can get by calling US Airways or EVA) and then you can select a seat on EVA's website using that.
ChasingThePoints - If you booked far in advance, you can't get a seat assignment on BR until 90 or 100 days before the flight (I forget which).
@lucky it doesnt look like they served any meat accordign to the menus, is EVA cutting costs
I enjoyed the trip report on EVA business class to San Francisco. The 777-300ER seems to have a very nice configuration. I fly from Seattle and I was wondering if you would recommend EVA business class on a route that doesn't fly these planes.
@ Ashgabat Flyer -- The business class seats on the 747s are pretty ancient, so in your shoes I'd do whatever you can to avoid them. If it's the only option on miles I"d still take it, but I do think it's worth a more circuitous routing in order to experience the better seats.
So I had to look up monascus purpureus - too literal a translation of something known as red yeast rice. I think I'd have to try something with a name that weird.
@somebody Er, roasted chicken, beef soup, prawns, shrimp and pork wontons, chicken patty wrapped in bacon? The picture with the huge chicken pieces on top of the noodle soup?
Ben, how would you compare EVA business to other Asian carriers (Singapore, ANA, Malaysian, Thai, etc.)? Thank you.
@ ChasingThePoints -- The reservation should display correctly on EVA's website immediately. When entering the name just make sure you do so exactly as it appears on the ticket, so in the first name field you may have to put your first and middle name, if that's what your ticket shows.
If you have your e-ticket number use the "Inquire Details Using Ticket No." tab under "Manage Your Trip"
https://eservice.evaair.com/evaweb/eva/b2c/manage-your-trip/log_in.aspx?lang=en-us
@lucky - I think I did Firstname+Middlename like they said on the site the first time.
Then the other day when I picked my seat I did just first name.
Thanks again for the help
Lucky, Thanks for your sharing.
I will try this EVA Royal laurel class from Taipei to JFK with my mom and my baby (1 year old) a few months later. Which seats would you recommend, 1 window + 1 middle seat or 2 window seats? The two middle seats seems inconvenient as there are some barriers in between.
@ Amama -- I would probably just do two window seats since the center seats are so private that there's not really an advantage to them over the window seats for a couple traveling together.
We are flying EVA 's Royal Laurel in Feb, do you know how far in advance we can select seats? We too, booked using US Air miles and although I was able to lg in to EVA, I was not offered seat selection option.
@ Radmoo -- Seat selection only becomes available about three months before departure.
Hey Lucky,
Which seats are best for someone traveling solo? It seem like I have plenty of good window options, but are there any specific ones to avoid? I'm currently in 2A
@ Acs -- I'd say just about any window seat is equally good. I kind of liked the mini cabin in the back since it was a bit more private, though I'm not actually sure it was better than the main cabin. I guess I'd choose any seat not too close to the galley, just to be on the safe side.
I cant seem to make up my mind between the mini J cabin and the main one on the BKK-LHR flight. Have my choice of 5, 6, 9, 10 & 11 all window. i'm assuming row 9 is fare enough away from the galley and the premium economy bassinet area behind row 11?
@CDKing - I nearly always prefer the mini-cabin, so would probably go with that, personally, and row 9 is a good choice.
Lucky, thanks for the report. Flying next year TPE-LHR via BKK, a marathon flight. Any info re: pre-ordering meals to avoid the regular EVA menu? I'm thinking western, something I can actually recognize and swallow/digest during the 17 hour haul. If not, I might end up eating my shoe leather with whiskey. The big complaint I see from reading internet-wide EVA reviews, the grub (er, food). That's why I don't think EVA deserves as high a rating as some give.
Hi Lucky, this is a good report. How did you like being in the last row of the business cabin? Was it noisy since it was just one curtain away from the Elite cabin?
I am flying from SFO to TPE next month, and I picked row 10, but I wonder if last row has even better privacy :-).
@ Sharon -- I quite liked being in the last row, I felt it was very private thanks to the thick curtain behind it. I'd choose it again. But row 10 is great as well.
nice review, but "Their safety video was pretty awesome, if not a bit potentially offensive based on the stereotypes." --- what's wrong with stereotyping? we do that every day, all the time. politically correct = realistically hypocrite.
I will NEVER fly on their business class again. These are good seats if you are SMALL, perhaps ASIAN. They are absolutely the smallest area I have ever ever sat in on any long haul flight. DO NOT FLY ON THEIR BUSINESS CLASS IF YOU ARE OVER 6'2" WOULD BE MY GUESS. FORGET ABOUT HOW OR IF YOU CAN LAY FLAT, YOU SIMPLY DON'T FIT IN THE CRAMPED QUARTERS. Great food and service, but who cares if you don't fit. Also, there is an arm rest on the right that raises, if only you know it exists. So there I am, barely cramped in, of which was incredibly physically annoying, but no right arm rest, until the end of the flight, i realize there is one, but no adequate marking to show it.
@frank james
"I will NEVER fly on their business class again. These are good seats if you are SMALL, perhaps ASIAN."
The seats were built for normal-sized people. You must be one of those obese white Americans. So sorry the seats didn't suit you. Please fly one of your country's crappy carriers aka United, Delta, and AA/US Air. I'm sure the Asians won't miss you...racist redneck turd.
@frank james
and your idiocy of not knowing there was an armrest only justifies your...idiocy...
@ frank james - The armrest is pop up, I find the seat to be reasonably wide and I fit in it well despite being 6'4".
@ You're an Idiot - Don't laugh at obese people. Have you heard of the word "fat"?
@ Lucky - Sadly during the last time I took EVA (Hello Kitty, TPE - HKG) I just started a movie on SkyTV when we were about to land, thus not being able to explore. Economy seats on BR are good too.
I know it is old post but for anybody who still will read reviews; Just completed the flight on EVA from Tpe to jfk in business. Absolutly great airline: food was better then on ANA from DUS to narita and comparible if not better then on Turkish Jfk to IST. Awesome amenity kit, seat, entertainment and head phones as well as a free PJ in business. Comparing to ANA, Turkish and even Cathay I found this flight a pure pleasure
I enjoyed your report on the Royal Laurel flight. We are treating ourselves in April. But you didn't mention the night pajamas that I thought were supplied. Do you have to ask for them if you want them?
@ Kath -- Enjoy your flight! They do indeed offer them now, though didn't offer the pajamas back when I flew with them. It's a fairly new service offering.
I just hopped off an EVA Air flight from BKK to LHR, and, similarly to you - it was awesome.
The only difference I could spot was they now have beautifully embroided table cloths. By far and large the best business class I've ever flown.
Thanks for the great write up 🙂
Hey, just got put into eva air, seat 11k, after reading your report, I'm excited, I'm flying TPE to JFK, so it's a long one! Wish me luck,
🙂
Ian
i'm on this same flight, same seat today! just happened to read your review a couple of hours before boarding ... looking forward to my din tai fung pre-ordered meal!
i'm on this same flight, same seat (11A) today! just happened to read your review a couple of hours before boarding ... looking forward to my din tai fung pre-ordered meal!
Don’t you think there’s a more beautiful airport in the country to fly into than San Francisco in terms of the views on approach?
I suggest you try Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro (SDU)
After that you tell me again 🙂