In late April 2023, Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will begin flying between Taipei and Los Angeles using its Airbus A350s. The airline has now revealed its second route to feature first class.
In this post:
Starlux will fly A350 from Taipei to Singapore
As of June 1, 2023, Starlux will fly the A350-900 daily between Taipei (TPE) and Singapore (SIN). Specifically, the service will operate with the following schedule:
JX731 Taipei to Singapore departing 8:10AM arriving 12:40PM
JX732 Singapore to Taipei departing 2:00PM arriving 6:50PM
The A350-900 will replace the A330-900neo that’s currently operating the route. Starlux’s A350-900s feature a total of 306 seats, including four first class seats, 26 business class seats, 36 premium economy seats, and 240 economy seats.
Not only will this aircraft swap lead to a capacity increase, but it will also result in better products across cabins. Perhaps most interesting of all, it means that Starlux will start selling first class between Taipei and Singapore, which is the first time the airline will sell first class on an intra-Asia route. While Starlux has operated the A350 on intra-Asia flights in the past, the airline never sold first class on these routes.
It’s also worth noting that the schedule for this route makes for fairly convenient connections to Los Angeles, as that service operates with the following schedule:
JX2 Taipei to Los Angeles departing 11:40PM arriving 8:30PM
JX1 Los Angeles to Taipei departing 12:50AM arriving 5:40AM (+1 day)
While there’s a lengthy layover on the eastbound sector, I could still see Starlux being popular in this market, if the price is right (which is a big “if,” as I’ll explain below…).
What’s Starlux’s short haul first class pricing like?
As a huge fan of Starlux Airlines, I’ve been trying to make plans to fly the carrier’s A350-900 in first and business class. However, as I’ve written about, the airline has very steep premium pricing. I can appreciate the airline offers a quality experience, but Starlux also faces quite a few challenges, like having a smaller route network, not having any partner airlines, etc.
When I saw that the airline will offer first class to Singapore I was excited, since I figured this would maybe be an attractive way to try Starlux’s first class.
I was hoping the pricing would be decent. I mean, you can book Emirates’ A380 first class roundtrip from Bangkok to Hong Kong for under $1,000. Admittedly that’s a bit different, since it’s a fifth freedom route, and it’s also a bit shorter.
So, how much is Starlux charging for its first class from Taipei to Singapore? Roundtrip first class fares are over $5,000 Ouch.
Just to give the most direct comparison possible, Singapore Airlines charges less than that for A380 Suites from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Never mind that Starlux doesn’t have a dedicated first class lounge, and for that matter the first class cabin isn’t even separated from business class.
I still feel like something’s gotta give with Starlux’s first class pricing, as I’m not sure what the strategy is.
Bottom line
Starlux Airlines will soon start flying its A350 to Singapore, and the airline will even sell first class on the route. This will only be Starlux’s second route to feature first class, as it’s otherwise available on the new Los Angeles service.
I was hoping that this short haul route would be an opportunity to try Starlux’s first class at a reasonable cost, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Oh well.
What do you make of Starlux bringing first class to Singapore?
This will be great for the large Southern Min population in both countries!
Enjoy it now because the PRC is going to roll over Taiwan, who will get no help from the Alzheimer’s patient in Wilmington nor the incompetents he has running the DOD. Whatever survives of Taiwan will never be the same.
Demented Donnie Dotard! Save us! Save us! You are Jesus! Well…the grifter Jesus! Well…the soon-to-be-imprisoned grifter Jesus!
LOL!!!!!!!1!!!
Just wait and see how it goes down. And we’ll have “dotards” like you to thank for it.
Starlux reminds me of Virgin America; many, many fanboys like you because of the premium halo that makes fanboys drool, couldn't make it translate to the kind of profits they promised to investors because they were entering a very competitive space and the market for ultra-premium services isn't as big as they think it is, eventually sold out for a good price and got assimilated by a competitor. Given the BR connection wouldn't shock me...
Starlux reminds me of Virgin America; many, many fanboys like you because of the premium halo that makes fanboys drool, couldn't make it translate to the kind of profits they promised to investors because they were entering a very competitive space and the market for ultra-premium services isn't as big as they think it is, eventually sold out for a good price and got assimilated by a competitor. Given the BR connection wouldn't shock me to see a merger 5-10 years down the road.
Apples and oranges. I thought Virgin America failed because they were trying to be a premium airline while charging low prices. That was just never going to be profitable. They failed to carve out a niche in terms of pricing or network. Every route they flew had competition and they were clearly the weakest competitor. They lacked the size, resources, and experience of more established airlines. There was really no reason to choose them over...
Apples and oranges. I thought Virgin America failed because they were trying to be a premium airline while charging low prices. That was just never going to be profitable. They failed to carve out a niche in terms of pricing or network. Every route they flew had competition and they were clearly the weakest competitor. They lacked the size, resources, and experience of more established airlines. There was really no reason to choose them over United/American/Alaska (for the business traveler who values things like frequency, nonstops, or lie-flat seats) or Southwest/Spirit (for the low-cost traveler) except for their stylish cushy seats, mood lighting, and screens. And even those were never updated and allowed to deteriorate to the point that other airlines had surpassed them. Also I read somewhere that during their existence, their FA's were really overworked yet they were the lowest paid in the industry. They just didn't make very smart decisions like JetBlue did. On the other hand, Starlux is trying to be a premium airline that charges high prices, much like all the full-service carriers you see around the world. I see them becoming the Virgin Atlantic of Taiwan, although if they want to survive they should find a partner or alliance, just like Virgin Atlantic has Delta and now Skyteam. Taiwan might actually be able to pull off 3 full-service airlines. It is a growing market with very high travel propensity. With the death of HK next door, Starlux might be able to carve out enough of a segment of the market to stay alive.
lucky, a suggestion from a long time reader. "as a huge fan of starlux airlines", you may want to temper the enthusiasm. there are quite a few negative passenger experiences and increasing. cancelled flights, last minute and no-notice equipment change (quite a few based on what i read), unpolished/greenish services,.... there are still a lot of starlux fan boys/girls who would defend starlux no matter what and being quite vicious toward any unfavorable yet legit...
lucky, a suggestion from a long time reader. "as a huge fan of starlux airlines", you may want to temper the enthusiasm. there are quite a few negative passenger experiences and increasing. cancelled flights, last minute and no-notice equipment change (quite a few based on what i read), unpolished/greenish services,.... there are still a lot of starlux fan boys/girls who would defend starlux no matter what and being quite vicious toward any unfavorable yet legit criticism. haven't flown starlux yet. was really forward to but the alarming frequency of operation snafu and unreliability would keep me away for a while.
No way! Your absolutely right. Starlux must think that their product is gold. I’m not sure why though. Starlux is too new (again). No lounges or partners. I can’t wait to read a review on this airline. Maybe we are missing something about their product.
SHOP AROUND!!!!
Singapore Airlines (SQ) charges exorbitant prices for premium fares on routes like SIN-CAN, despite not always achieving high load factors (LF) on those flights. For example, SQ charges $1200 USD for a round trip J class ticket, while China Southern Airlines (CZ) charges only $600 USD for the same route. Despite this, there have been instances where the load factor on an SQ A330 flight was 0/0/255+ (meaning that no one had booked a seat...
Singapore Airlines (SQ) charges exorbitant prices for premium fares on routes like SIN-CAN, despite not always achieving high load factors (LF) on those flights. For example, SQ charges $1200 USD for a round trip J class ticket, while China Southern Airlines (CZ) charges only $600 USD for the same route. Despite this, there have been instances where the load factor on an SQ A330 flight was 0/0/255+ (meaning that no one had booked a seat in business class yet economy class was overbooked), solely to maintain the image of SQ as a premium airline.
This has been my suspicion about these fares: that Starlux is now launching a new phase of their marketing campaign, now that travel is "back," with the goal of branding themselves as THE lux carrier in Asia; you don't get people to think your brand and product are exclusive and high end (which some people really seem to value more than the actual product being sold) if you price it in a way that makes it seem attainable to many...
It appears that many airlines in Asia, such as JL, CZ, and GA, are adopting a similar pricing strategy of charging exorbitant prices for non-stop services in premium cabins, particularly for intra-Asia flights. Instead of targeting customers who are willing to pay a premium for non-stop flights, these airlines are now focusing on attracting ultra-rich customers for non-stop and engaging in massive dumping exercises for transfer itineraries to steal customers from others.
It appears that many airlines in Asia, such as JL, CZ, and GA, are adopting a similar pricing strategy of charging exorbitant prices for non-stop services in premium cabins, particularly for intra-Asia flights. Instead of targeting customers who are willing to pay a premium for non-stop flights, these airlines are now focusing on attracting ultra-rich customers for non-stop and engaging in massive dumping exercises for transfer itineraries to steal customers from others.