After months of anticipation, the day was finally here — it was time to fly Starlux Airlines! I can’t even begin to describe my level of excitement and anticipation, as there’s something I enjoy way too much about having no clue what to expect from an airline.
Continue reading: Review: Starlux Airlines Galactic Lounge Taipei Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
You are definitely not a whiskey drinker - that blue bottle is Chivas Royal Salute 21 year, normally retails for $200/bottle in the US and is excellent. I wouldn't care if it's 5am when I'm in the lounge, I'd have at least a couple glasses of that! 😉
You forgot, that previously in SQ Lounges in Changi Airport, there is no toilets inside the Lounge too. You had to use the public toilets outside at the main terminal area. It’s probably due to some airport restrictions. Good to know that these are slowly changing and Lounges are having clean private toilets plus shower facilities.
If I recall correctly, it’s because that part of the terminal doesn’t have the infra setup for bathroom, I don’t think that row of lounges have bathrooms and have to go outside near the elevator.
@ David -- On the way back I visited one of each of the China Airlines and Plaza Premium lounges, and both had bathrooms.
The lounge looks very nice, too bad about the modest wine selection.
Speaking of the name, the "space" theme is so overused in Moscow Sheremetyevo airport lounges, where I'm based, for absolutely no reason. Galaxy lounge, Space lounge etc.
You guys probably know this, Starlux's founder is the son of EVA's founder who got forced out post his father's passing... so it almost doesn't matter if Starlux itself has a USP or chance at survival. If Starlux turns out to be wildly successful, I'm assuming he could parlay that into a takeover/merger bid with EVA. And worst scenario, Starlux fails, the authorities would probably just make EVA absorb them.
I'm hoping for the former, I avoid both EVA and China Airlines. I feel they both desperately lack Cathay's professionalism. My eyes also can't handle EVA's garish aesthetic choices. Coming from that, Starlux looks very promising, as though someone can see what I see and shares my opinion - that lounge being a great case in point.
The lounge thing is probably due to delays around TPE T3. Starlux can't wait till T3's done to launch (that would be what, 2030?). This might be the best? only? space TPE could carve out for them. Or someone recognized TPE T2 is a zoo and T1 is a nicer experience... no bathroom is a glaring oversight for any Asian carrier, though.
Starlux A350s supposed will have F, so I wonder how that'll be addressed lounge-wise.
Giving you a bottle/a drink refill straight away without asking is putting you in an awkward situation. If you just leave it there, will it go back into the fridge later? How pleasant is that for the next person?
Such a shame that they've launched when they have. I don't expect they'll be long for this world, unless things improve in the region quickly. I wish them all the best - there's evidence of real investment here. I hope the flight was just as good.
Seems like things are off to a good start; looking forward to the flight review!
@stratifier Is there anything specific about EVA that makes them lack professionalism in your opinion? I’ve flown both often and personally prefer EVA over Cathay.
I always liked the name of Eastern's Ionosphere lounge - - alas, classic EAL was long gone by the time I started flying...
a "beer machine"?
Is that like a coffee machine? You put water and some beer powder in it and it gets you a fresh beer?
Maybe it's because I'm not a native speaker, but I never knew such a thing existed,,,
Would it be much suitable to use the term Lunar New Year instead of CNY? Why is your choice of words are so CCP??
No, it pours beer like a bartender would pour beer from tap. Sometimes the machine will then add some beer foam on top.
@David:
But is "beer machine" really how you would call that?
Maybe a beer tap, a beer pump, perhaps even a beer dispenser, but a beer machine just sounds hilarious to me...
Chivas Royal Salute 21 year is indeed really good. However it is "only" priced at around $80~90 in Taiwan. Very generous that they provide that.
General Terminal public bathrooms are a great alternative to dedicated Lounge bathrooms, said no one, ever!
Oh, and how does a poached egg with sauce on half a muffin get to be a 'set' ?
Your flight departs at 920a and they told you to come back at 800a if you wanted to check luggage? Even for a narrow-body flight, that's not much time to check in a complete flight.
@Mikey your comment shows your lack of awareness behind the backers of this airline. They are among the wealthiest in Taiwan, the only question should be whether they are concerned in the airline making or losing money in the long run, otherwise its going to be business as usual like the ME3s.
I wish they swapped their current location with the free area Plaza Premium Operates in the middle, which would give JX with a larger footprint to operate a bigger lounge with existing bathroom and shower facilities.
The Cathay Pacific lounge in Terminal 1 has bathrooms but no showers, and it's probably one of the largest CX Lounge outside of HKG.
I visited one of the Eva Air lounges in TPE Terminal 2, and with morning arrival of a bunch of flights from North America, it was overcrowded. It only has four showers, and I had to wait an hour plus to use one. Food was ok but simply put nothing special about Eva Air lounge.
Starlux probably picked a bad time to start flying, but it looks like they got the lounge right at least.
Lucky, I admire your dedication at getting to the airport at 4:30AM just to get undisturbed lounge photos.
Can you access the lounge if you arrive from LAX in biz but depart TPE in economy?
I recently flew business class on Starlux Airlines using Alaska Airlines miles. I have some significant cautions to potential customers. If you use miles or pay big for business class, you will get an excellent lay flat seat but the experience is marred by some surprising shortcomings. First, onboard your meal choices are limited. You are handed a menu with some 25 pages of choices but you are directed to a few pages from which you can order. Flight attendants are very friendly but spotty in service and attention. When you depart from Los Angeles or (soon) San Francisco and return via Taipei, your flight leaves near midnight and the lounge experience is disappointing. In LAX, you are assigned to a so-so lounge. In Taipei, home base for Starlux, you don't get to use the company's Galaxy Lounge, which closes at 5 p.m. Instead you are sent to a terrible, crowded lounge of limited service and lousy food choices. The Oriental Club Lounge feels more like a high school cafeteria and a luxury lounge. Finally, for fliers using Alaska Airlines miles, know that you cannot check in online or using an app; you must do that in person before the flight, a bit of a hassle, and you cannot preorder any food. In short, for West Coast fliers going to Asia, for a quality experience, I would recommend Cathay Pacific airline -- same plane, better service, better lounges.
Today was chicken day. There's a black chicken soup (bone in, a Chinese delicacy) and curry chicken.