In April 2023, Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines finally launched flights to the United States, as the airline added a route to Los Angeles. The airline has now put tickets on sale for its second route to the United States.
In this post:
Starlux Airlines will fly to San Francisco
Starlux Airlines will start flying between Taipei (TPE) and San Francisco (SFO) as of December 2023. The flight will operate with the following schedule:
JX12 Taipei to San Francisco departing 11:30PM arriving 6:15PM
JX11 San Francisco to Taipei departing 11:40PM arriving 5:30AM (+2 days)
The flight will initially operate 3x weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), and then will operate daily as of March 31, 2024. The 6,469-mile flight is blocked at 13hr50min westbound and 10hr45min eastbound.
Starlux will use an Airbus A350-900 for all of its routes to the United States. Starlux has 18 Airbus A350-900s on order, and has already taken delivery of three of these jets. Starlux’s A350-900s feature 306 seats, spread across four cabins, including:
- Four first class seats
- 26 business class seats
- 36 premium economy seats
- 240 economy class seats
Starlux is the first airline in Taiwan to offer first class. A350s feature four first class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. First class suites feature 60-inch doors and privacy partitions, 32-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio, zero-gravity seat settings, and personal wardrobes for storing luggage.
Starlux A350s feature 26 business class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. Business class seats feature 48-inch doors and privacy partitions, 24-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio, and zero-gravity seat settings.
Starlux A350s feature 36 premium economy seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration. Premium economy seats feature leg rests and footrest bars, and 15.6-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio.
Starlux A350s feature 240 economy seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration. Economy seats feature 13-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio.
Tickets for this route are now on sale
Starlux Airlines has just put tickets on sale for its route between Taipei and San Francisco, so you can book this directly on Starlux Airlines’ website, or through your preferred online travel agency.
Keep in mind that Starlux Airlines and Alaska Airlines have a partnership, which even offers reciprocal mileage redemption opportunities. When this partnership first launched, we saw amazing award pricing between the United States and Taipei, as you could book business class for just 60,000 miles one-way.
Unfortunately about a day later, that introductory pricing disappeared, and for a long time, business class started at just 165,000 miles one-way, which is very steep.
However, with the new route between Taipei and San Francisco now being on sale, I’m seeing many dates where business class is bookable for just 75,000 miles one-way. Most space seems to be bookable at this price for travel next spring and summer. If this fits into your travel plans, this is an awesome opportunity. I can’t imagine it’ll last long, so I’d recommend booking ASAP.
Starlux Airlines faces stiff competition
I’m a huge fan of Starlux Airlines’ commitment to offering a great passenger experience, though I can’t help but wonder how successful Starlux will be. Starlux is essentially duplicating routes operated by Taiwan’s two other global airlines — China Airlines and EVA Air — as both airlines also fly to Los Angeles and San Francisco. I can’t think of anywhere other than Taipei where you have three global airlines that share the same sole hub.
While Starlux has a great product, the airline also has some disadvantages. Starlux’s route network is much smaller than those of competitors, Starlux isn’t part of one of the global alliances (yet), and Starlux also has steep pricing.
I suppose the airline shouldn’t be struggling too much right now, given the limited capacity in Asia, due to mainland Chinese carriers not being able to operate many international routes. But still, in the long run it seems like Starlux might have an uphill battle.
Bottom line
Starlux Airlines will add flights to San Francisco as of December 2023, with flights initially operating 3x weekly, before operating daily as of March 2024. Seattle is expected to be Starlux’s next destination, with service launching at some point in 2024. It’s nice to see Starlux expanding service to the United States, and I’m looking forward to flying with the airline soon.
What do you make of Starlux Airlines’ plans to launch SFO service?
I support STARLUX 100%
Yes the Taiwan field is crowded. However China Airlines isn't much of a competition. I would discount them. They will get the frugal passengers but Starlux is after premium spenders, that care about service. EVA should be worried.
Join OneWorld already!!!
I feel like this airline that 99% of people have never heard of gets a lot of love on this website.
Like the new note feature to mark updates!
Pricing is now 165k one way business. I do not find ANY promotional pricing.
@ David -- Check out TPE-SFO in April. I just pulled up space and still see the 75K pricing.
Nope all gone. The Lucky Effect
@ David -- You don't see it for April 18 from TPE-SFO, just as an example?
Oh Sorry Ben i was looking for the outbound to start the journey. Thank you!
STARLUX would be an ideal candidate to be invited to join ONEWORLD. With a partnership already established with Alaska Airlines, joining OW as a full member or even as a Connect partner they could tap into the larger US Market with additional feed from AA and AA does not currently serve Taipei. STARLUX could easily expand to SEA/DFW/MIA.
How hard would CX block that, I wonder?
HARD. But I still think it should happen.
With this, there will be up to 7 daily flights on the SFO-TPE (2xUA, 3xBR, 1xCI, now 1xJX).
There is speculation that in the next couple months Taiwan may resume issuing transit passes for PRC passport holders going to/from mainland. That will put pressure on those BR and CI awards that have been a bit more abundant than most Asian carriers. JX does not fly to any mainland cities as yet, so irrelevant to them.
Join OneWorld already!!! They need feed to support these routes.
It's actually surprising that Starlux still doesn't fly to Seoul yet they're considering to launch direct flights to so many other cities.
due to the limit on flights between TPE and ICN, unless any airlines, aka their competitor, is willing to gave up, they won't be flying to Seoul in near future.
I am still not a fan of the night time schedule so even if cheap Alaska award is available, I am still a "No". Since Starlux does not even invest much on connection flights, I don't understand why they can't do a normal daytime flight. Anyway, I wish them luck but for now, I am still not tempted to fly its long haul flights yet!
We love the nighttime departures the Tawain three airlines use from the US, a big selling point for us that makes them first choices over other airlines for our Asia trips. We get the whole day to work in the US, evening connect flight if we need to like our upcoming Starlux out of LAX, get on the flight, go to sleep, arrive Asia early morning, and even with a connection get in midday. Starlux...
We love the nighttime departures the Tawain three airlines use from the US, a big selling point for us that makes them first choices over other airlines for our Asia trips. We get the whole day to work in the US, evening connect flight if we need to like our upcoming Starlux out of LAX, get on the flight, go to sleep, arrive Asia early morning, and even with a connection get in midday. Starlux will get us to Singapore an ideal for us 1:30 pm. Compare to thosewhat you call 'nornal' mid-morning US departures that lose the day in the US, hard to sleep on them, arrive Asia in the evening to limited onward connections, and hard to get to sleep that first night.
Though the current Starlux schedule getting back to LAX, I personally would prefer getting in two hours earlier, 7 pm rather than 9 pm, in order to make connections out of LAX, hoping slightly earlier timing for upcoming SFO and SEA.
Glad there are both options among airlines so you can enjoy the daytime flights and we can enjoy the nighttime flights.
With those awful departure times, in both directions, my highest concern would be the comfort of the Business class bed, and the quality of the breakfast served (like a B&B I suppose).
I would love to experience the famed full service on a day/evening flight, but night-time flights (with lights out/go to sleep ASAP please) don't allow that to happen.
Those departure times are a great selling point for some, like us.
Does this new SFO-TPE line (and SEA-TPE line) mean that JX will pull their A350s from the NRT-TPE route? Hope not.
they should, unless they want the NRT incident to happen again
Starlux will deploy a350 to TPE/NRT on JX800/801 during 2023 winter schedule.
While business class is priced more or less reasonable - around 1000USD R/T - they charge 4,500USD R/T for first for 3 hrs flight - who will splurge such amount fo such a short flight?
JX just announced they'll start a new first class service from Oct. 1st to NRT. Expect to stay A350s on the same route for a while.
I just flew both EVA and China Airlines LAX-TPE-ICN and back, and both products were excellent with great redemption rates through LifeMiles and FlyingBlue.
My hope is that Starlux joins OneWorld and picks up the volume that unfortunately Cathay might never return to. Unless they do, I don't see how they can compete.
How did you redeem Lifemiles or FlyingBlue for an EVA ticket? I didn't realize either program partners with EVA.
EVA is part of Star, so you use LM for it. CI is SkyTeam, thus FlyingBlue.
He flew EVA using LifeMiles, which is a StarAlliance carrier. He flew China Airlines using AirFrance/KLM Flying Blue points, which is also unremarkable. China Airlines is in Skyteam.
Pretty sure this makes TPE the only airport in the world to currently serve as the home-base for THREE (aspiring) global-connecting airlines.
Cray.
I like the class configurations. Premium economy should give you a bit of extra seat width, not just legroom. I hope this airline expands to more destinations in the future! Godspeed, Starlux
Im pretty sure you are paid by starlux
I'm pretty sure you are paid by EVA
I bet you are paid by China Airlines
It's true through, Lucky loves to shill for unremarkable airlines. Especially Lufthansa! At least Starlux is somewhat interesting. Lufthansa is a terrible airline, yet Lucky posts about them incessantly. He's definitely being paid.
Ben expresses opinion. You, on the other hand, state as fact something you can't possibly know.
I'd bet that the odds Starlux will be around in 5 years are low.
@Lucky We know that the travel bloggers love Starlux and think it is the most incredible new airline at the moment even with its limited destinations. TPG praised Starlux as well. Yet, just like the article over at TPG, you are still posting the wrong information about its first class offering. As many others have previously stated Taiwan-based StarLux was, is, and never will be the first to offer first. CI and BR had first...
@Lucky We know that the travel bloggers love Starlux and think it is the most incredible new airline at the moment even with its limited destinations. TPG praised Starlux as well. Yet, just like the article over at TPG, you are still posting the wrong information about its first class offering. As many others have previously stated Taiwan-based StarLux was, is, and never will be the first to offer first. CI and BR had first class many years ago but it has been discontinued. Correct information on airline research is important.
Eva air and China airlines used to offer first class on 747.
Can't wait to fly this route and then connect to nowhere!
I hear there's this thing called the Internet these days that lets you be your own travel agent. Shh, don’t tell anyone!
Good connections on Starlux to Vietnam, including DAD. Only half-tolerable competitor is BR
United also flies SFO-TPE, so Starlux will be the 4th carrier on what has traditionally been a relatively low yield route (outside of silicon valley business trafic). TPE also isn't quite on the same level as a hub as SIN or HKG. They won't have any problem filling the plane as there's nearly infinite demand from California to Southeast Asia and China, but will indeed be a tough route once normal service levels return to Asia.
SFO-TPE now bookable on Alaska for 130k miles
Not true - where did you see this?
These are connecting through LAX on AS. The SFO-TPE direct is not available yet.
I flew starlex recently from Bangkok to Los Angeles and I really like the service. however I thought their redemptions on Alaska Airlines would be reasonable but they all seem to be 235k miles.. ridiculous number of miles when you look into the fact that you can get Qatar airways to India from any of the gateway cities like LAX SFO or SEA for about 85k miles (yes they don't come up too often but they do exist). Most of the time Qatar wants 200k Alaska miles
Flew Qatar biz from SFO to NBO RT through Doha using AA miles recently 70K each way (2021).
Best deal ever!