Review: Starlux Airlines Business Class Airbus A350 (LAX-TPE)

I was hoping the Starlux review would come out soon and it did not disappoint. They really do go all out with the soft product, amazing. Shame about the OnAir Wifi, that seems like a very odd choice, especially with Viasat's highspeed wifi being around for many years now. Look forward to the Japan hotel reviews!

Funny how the lack of attention to service was similar to my EVA Air flight last month from Taipei to CDG, both ways. The points you highlighted such as the plastic packaging not being cleared, the cutleries places on tray mat instead of taken away and non-proactive service on my EVA flights also left me confused as I remembered they were not like that pre-covid. So I wonder if it is just a generic taiwanese airline service protocol - and also funny that StarLux is started by ex-EVA scion and provably alot of the staff also joined from EVA.

I just got off the flight last night from TPE-LAX, I got a bit different view than you have actually, their services were quite quick and decent, not like that type of things you describe, maybe just depends on crews. They said the Chinese dinning option is only available in bound, so I chose that one and it was the best I ever had among all Fs I tried. They even offer 3 different sets of Taiwanese snacks and bubble tea as well. I am extremely full but did still want to taste as much as possible. I would for sure vote for the best J simply due to the food and dinning experiences. I guess you might want to try TPE-LAX bound?

I talked to the staff at LAX and they said that TSA pre check should be approved by January 2024. Complaining about them not cleaning up your trash is pretty nit picky. I didn't notice that issue at all on my recent LAX TPE J flight.

I would also point out that even NH F red-eyes don't even have full service food. Whereas starlux does.

@ Gerald -- Interesting. The pandemic has certainly had quite the impact on the labor market in many places, and I imagine that extends to Taiwan as well. Hoping to fly EVA Air again soon, so curious if I have the same experience there.

@ Henry -- Yeah, my TPE-KIX flight was excellent, and I loved the boba tea latte and the larger menu selection. It definitely seems to be a better experience ex-TPE than ex-LAX.

@ Jermz -- I wrote a 5,000 word review, so yes, it is very detail oriented. As I acknowledged in the post, individually these things aren't issues, but it was the consistent number of little issues that added up. My last Starlux flight was great, so it all seems to come down to the crew. But that lack of consistency is also an issue.

@ Jermz -- In fairness, all three global Taiwanese carriers have full meal services on overnight flights, so I think that's the more relevant comparison. ANA's limited meal service on redeye flights is indeed very strange.

Impressive non-alcoholic drink selections! I hope more airlines invest in this area - specialty teas/coffees cost lot less than champagne. Curious they don’t serve famous Taiwanese bubble tea on board.
For red-eye flight, I personally prefer light meal after departure and substantial breakfast before landing.

That J seat by the loo - unreal, lol. Loved the boarding pass. Pretty plane/seat.

I had zero Wi-Fi issues on LAX TPE J

Would like to see STARLUX join ONEWORLD.

If you can't manage partner awards on their website, how did you select your seats?

I just flew TPE to LAX and have similar observations (also partnership on my flight was with the Clippers so got a different passport holder and boarding pass!).
Seat is super comfortable but I found the cabin to be very compact, with too much black plastic everywhere and a bit suffocating. And yeah that bathroom situation is inexplicable.
Food was delicious, but the concept from TPE is bizarre: there's indeed the Taiwanese menu, and when they come to get our order, they only ask about the main you want. And the main you choose determines the rest of your menu, you can't pick and choose a starter from the Taiwanese menu and a main from the international menu. Problem is that they don't tell you that, I picked an international main and thought they would ask me later about the starter etc, which they didn't. So I was quite bummed because the Taiwanese options looked way better.
Same observations as you about service: well intentioned but not proactive, kinda chaotic as well and a bit robotic. Service on my LAX to TPE on China Airlines was waaaay better, warmer and professional. I was never offered a menu for instance (it was in the literature pocket) so when they came to pick my order it was confusing.
So mixed experience overall, never flown EVA but I would not hesitate to pick CI over Starlux if schedule is better.

You have to call STARLUX phone line to select award seats unfortunately award seats won’t show on their app !

You just have to call or chat to choose seats. Same with pre-ordering meals. I called and was quickly connected to a very friendly helpful agent.

Great review!

While them not picking up trash may be lucky, it’s a pet peeve of mine. It’s not like it’s a surprise that every passenger has done shortly after settling in.

How much are AS awards in Starbucks now.

And who has the best availability to Japan at reasonable costs niw. I got fouled by JAL F last spring.

Wish there was an edit function. Could have sworn I wrote spoiled, not fouled.

I feel like we're really splitting hairs here. Imo all the three Taiwanese carriers are quite good, especially compared to US. Meanwhile in Delta, I had 5 empty water bottles and a pile of trash at my seat by the end of the flight, all of which I had to go get myself.

Going to be flying their shorthaul service to Japan, soon, hope it lives up to expectations.

As lucky pointed out.. this obsessed with pork needs to be addressed... especially since two major religions and vegetarians don't eat pork. i would take Chicken or seafood and day over beef and pork.

It was always a given from the get-go that Starlux was going to bowl you over — though, it turns out, just not as much as another all-Airbus airline, ITA Airways, that also operates the A321neo, A330neo and A350 (and, to boot, the A220 as well, which no-one other than Korean Air has in Northeast Asia!). I mean, between NH/JL and BR/JX, Taiwan and Japan have absolutely stolen the thunder from CX as the premier countries to fly to in Northeast Asia for the world’s best service and product. Can’t quite say the same about South Korea yet, even though both KE and OZ are Skytrax 5-star airlines.

Next on my wishlist: Azul (because it’s exotic), Vistara (because it will disappear soon) and possibly Air India on its new ex-Delta/Etihad 777s!

I agree with you with Starlux and after flying my first flight a few months ago, I felt that the airline is overhyped. The airline is expanding quickly while unable to provide the training necessary for the F/As to provide that detailed service. I personally did not seek out ways to fly its transpacific flights because I hate redeye flights. I just have no interest in a eastbound redeye flight.

However I also want to warn you that EVA Air has also gone downhill after Covid. They still refused to bring back printed menu service citing environmental reasons. Singapore Airlines tried that BS and rescinded that move after receiving tons of complaints. I flew a few EVA Air flights and the service was just average. I could not tell you what is wrong but it was clearly that the workforce was somewhat deflated. To me, Singapore Airlines remains the only Asian airline that maintains a good standard after Covid.

Starlux will expand to SFO soon and Seattle earlier next year. I hope they can read all these reviews and work harder to achieve that high standard that they envision.

My partner is from Taiwan and she says that there’s a lot of excitement and hype over Starlux there, so its not just Aviation geeks who are interested!

As a sufferer of Crohn's, I'd pay an arm and a leg and whatever else they asked for to get that seat. That's a dream seat for those that suffer!

I guess, but how many of those folks are flying via Starlux through Taipei and booking via Points? If you book with Starlux you can preorder your food.

the new Thai Airway A350-900 have the same setting , Seat 11F is just a similar seat and beside the loo.
you can get it with BKK-TPE

Champagne is okay, but not in the level of QR.

The wine is nothing to talk about, not premium, Chateau Clark is a subpar Bordeaux and the vintage 2011 is probably one the worst in Bordeaux of the last 12 years, Robertparker.com give this wine a note of 78/100, seem almost undrinkable.
The white French is the entry level of this producer, 22USD value.

Wonderful review.

Just one note: North American airlines are the only airlines that keep their cabins freezing cold, especially annoying in the middle of summer when people are in light clothing. Asian carriers keep the cabin temperature to world average, as North America has ~5% of the world's population (5% is not average!)

Nice review.

“ I know airlines do what they can to achieve cabin density for an efficient configuration, but I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen a lavatory so close to a business class seat, with no separation of anything.”

It’s not that unique even though indeed annoying: even renowned SQ has this toilet/seating arrangement on their A350 Long haul version. Usually you see an off-duty pilot in that seat on the left hand (port) side but I am not sure about the other side.

I really think you need to get a life instead of dwelling on these. The truth of SQ don't even provide amenity kit , pj in their business class. The seat is so bad for tall passenger. It is an overrated airline in my book. I am not even crazy about Starlux.

I agree this guy is so cherry picking

Aaah nothing better than the warm air on a 10h+ flight, mixed with people's sweat and without the lack of any individual nozzles. All glory to the 95% who clearly preffer it. Or rather, suffer in silence.
If you are cold, put on something. If people are warm, there is nothing else to do than stay in t-shirt, sweat and suffer. Thanks for your consideration.

Maybe it's just me, but trip reports seem confusingly spaced out like they hadn't been previously. IE this flight review was released 12 days after the Jetblue review from the same trip, and 6 weeks after the actual flight. I seem to recall trip reports being released closed to real-time, and/or reviewing being grouped together (1 day in between reviews, not 2 weeks).

Yeah on my 10hr Delta day flight sitting in the dark and cold wraped in the blanket. Not mentioning their weird tray tables. Unfortunately coukd not avoid the US carrier. Sure when they been in shorts even during childhood no wonder they always feel hot.

A few notes on my JX experience in September:

1. due to the shell of the J seat and the crappy window spacing of the A350, most seats have awfully misaligned windows, to the point that you do not even have a window view. In my experience, I'd say 5A/K is the best, followed by 4A/K, and then 6A/K. Other rows have the wide frame instead of a window. LAX flights are overnights both ways, so i guess it will not matter to some. However, TPE-LAX is part dayflight.

2. JX A350s have dimmable windows...so expect the same thing as flying a 787. The windows do still let some (faint) light in when it's at its darkest setting, just like on the 787-9/10s. It was my impression Airbus was able to block light completely, that was not the case. I woke up mid-flight on TPE-LAX because I got very warm since the faint light hit my upper body.

3. in TPE, if flying to LAX (and soon SFO), you will not get access to the JX Galactic lounge since you'll be departing from a different terminal. US flights depart from T2 while JX Asian flights depart from T1 and i do not think they are connected post security. I also do not think they'll let you access T1 with a T2 bp though. Anyway, i did not know this so I was a little let down, especially since T2 lounge JX J pax use is the Oriental Lounge, which felt like a priority pass lounge.

well, Eva (business class) has printed menu only if asked for when it was given

It's okay to use JX Calactic lounge if you flying to LAX, all terminal of TPE is connected, so you can walk from T2 to T1 to use it, or take the MRT to T1.

Despite all their good efforts facilitating customers, our family’s recent ordeal with Starlux Airlines at Tokyo’s airport left us utterly disheartened. As we hurriedly attempted to catch our 3:30 PM flight back to Taipei, our one-year-old toddler suffered a distressing fall, necessitating urgent attention. Unfortunately, our plea for assistance to Starlux’s emergency line was met with indifference, as they claimed an inability to aid us in making our flight.

Upon reaching the airport counter with a mere 30 minutes left, our distress deepened. A second call to Starlux’s emergency line resulted in a minimal gesture of partially waiving the handling charge, but this offer was unfairly selective, leaving me, the father, to shoulder the full burden.

This experience has raised serious doubts about Starlux Airlines’ commitment to passenger care and service. The callous response in a situation involving an injured child is both shocking and disappointing. As travelers, we anticipate empathy and support in times of crisis, yet Starlux’s indifference has left our family questioning the airline’s priorities. Our distressing encounter serves as a cautionary tale, prompting fellow travelers to consider the human aspect of airline service beyond schedules and urging Starlux Airlines to reassess their approach to customer welfare.

Starlux now does participate in TSA pre Approval , I have a flight this week and i added my known traveler number in it

I flew this route roundtrip in April booked using Alaska miles for 60K one-way and was very impressed. Being fairly tall, the extra room in the footwell was probably the most important factor, but I also liked the decor, thought the food and service were excellent (though I skipped dinner on both legs and opted to sleep instead) and had no issues with the wifi. The only slight negative on board for me were the tight aisles. I’m pretty thin and it was nearly impossible for me to walk without brushing the seat walls. Of course, the flip side is that there’s more room in the pods, which is the most important thing for me, but larger folks will find it’s a very tight squeeze. The made-to-order food at the Taipei lounge was also very good, though the buffet items were not, and the servers were incredibly kind and attentive (almost too much). In contrast, I’ve flown EVA four times in the last year and it didn’t measure up to Starlux, although everything except the food (do not pre-order their vegetarian meals is all I can say) was still quite good. It’s been ages since I’ve flown China Airlines, but I do recall enjoying the experience quite a lot. I’ll probably fly them next time since Flying Blue miles are easier to come by than Alaskan.

Few observations from my recent flight:
- Starlux now participates in TSA Pre. I was able to add my number during online check-in process and received TSA Pre. Didn't actually use it since I was connecting from another flight and walked over airside, but should be useful to those originating in LA.
- Can't manage reservation online if booked via Alaska so can't select seats. However, you can use chat function during certain hours to get desired seat assignments. Not sure if the chat function would work for meal ordering.
- The menus now include descriptions for the signature cocktails.
- Didn't find any major issues with service although only participated in the dinner service and then slept the rest of the way.
- Movie selection was decent. Maybe not the latest Hollywood releases but a good selection of recent releases.

If you are a vegetarian for a premium cabin the menu is very underwhelming.. mushroom pizza as a main?? Really