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Review: Hello Kitty Ridiculousness At Taipei Airport
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Review: EVA Air Hello Kitty Business Class 777 Taipei To Singapore
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Confession (okay, I’m not sure this is actually much of a confession, as it’s likely quite obvious): I’m a tween Asian girl at heart. At least I like most of the same things they do, including Hello Kitty.
So there’s nothing quite like the Hello Kitty experience at Taipei Airport. EVA Air operates select flights as Hello Kitty services. They pick a theme, and boy do they stick with it.
As we pulled up to the airport in our hotel shuttle we saw an EVA Air Hello Kitty shuttle — a sign of good things to come!
Hello Kitty bus at Taipei Airport
While I’ve flown EVA Air’s Hello Kitty service before, I’ve never done so when originating in Taipei. So I saw an EVA Air representative, and asked “could you please tell me where the Hello Kitty check-in is?”
She looked at me as if I had two heads, and then pointed me in the right direction.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2 check-in
At the far end of the check-in hall is the Hello Kitty check-in area. It’s just before the security checkpoint, and is sort of tough to miss.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty check-in
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty check-in
I seemed to be the only person enthusiastic about this, as others were simply using the Hello Kitty check-in area as a place to sit.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty check-in
Unfortunately I had some issues with the check-in machine. When I entered my confirmation number, it gave me an error message. I was worried that maybe my flight had been swapped to a non-Hello Kitty jet. So I went to the nearby check-in counter to inquire.
“I know this probably sounds weird, but I’m on the Hello Kitty flight to Singapore and am really excited, but had a problem checking in. Can you confirm the flight is still operated by a Hello Kitty plane?”
They made some phone calls, and confirmed that it was indeed. Whew… close call.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty check-in
One of the other cool things about the Hello Kitty check-in area is that they have most of the Hello Kitty “elements” on display, like a model plane, Hello Kitty toilet paper, etc.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty themed stuff
Taipei Taoyuan Airport Hello Kitty themed stuff
Eventually we headed to security and immigration. While the security line was really long, it moved quickly. In the end, the whole process took maybe 30 minutes.
Once through security I saw an adorable Hello Kitty house, which even had a Hello Kitty payphone.
NOT as innocent as it looks
Hello Kitty phone!
I approached the door with my camera, thinking it was yet another cute Hello Kitty display (like everything else at the airport). But as I approached, one of my friends points out “oh, you don’t want to do that.” As it turns out, this is actually a breastfeeding center — oops. I hadn’t seen the small sign, which is quite easy to miss.
Hello Kitty at Taipei Airport
After that it was time to head to the pride and joy of Taoyuan Airport — the Hello Kitty gate. Taoyuan Airport actually has several themed gates, though none quite like the Hello Kitty one, which is gate C3. That’s about a five minute walk from the security checkpoint.
Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2
Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2
As you approach the gate you’ll see a Sanrio store, selling all the latest Hello Kitty fashions. After a brief stop for some retail therapy, I headed next door to the gate.
Sanrio duty free at Taipei Airport
Sanrio duty free at Taipei Airport
Sanrio duty free at Taipei Airport
I’ll let the pictures of the Hello Kitty gate speak for themselves (because what really needs to be said?).
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
In addition to the gate, there are some Hello Kitty payphones and a Hello Kitty world clock.
Hello Kitty phones and world clocks
Then there’s a Hello Kitty playground.
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
And a Hello Kitty play area.
Hello Kitty gate at Taipei Airport
Unfortunately my flight wasn’t leaving from the Hello Kitty gate, though. There was a flight to Manila leaving from the gate, though my flight was leaving from gate B9, about a 10 minute walk away. So after a visit to the lounges (which I’ll cover in the next installment), it was time to head to the departure gate for our 9:55AM flight to Singapore.
Departure gate at Taoyuan Airport
The gate was located one level down from the main concourse, and was a huge area. When we arrived it was still quite empty.
Departure gate at Taoyuan Airport
Unfortunately this gate had an obstructed view of the plane, as there was a separate arrivals hall between the gate and the outside window. As President Trump would say… SAD!
Hello Kitty 777!!!
Departure gate to Singapore
Hello Kitty extravaganza bottom line
I appreciate when a company picks a theme and sticks to it. And boy, I don’t think there’s a company that does that better than EVA Air. Their Hello Kitty service is a one of a kind experience.
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