A nice SkyTeam alternative to EVA: while the food and amenities weren't quite as good as EVA's, the comfortable cabin temperature and soft lighting meant a much better night's sleep…
PROS
- cabin was at a reasonable temp (below 25C the whole time)
- espresso (and staff willing to make it for you)
- reasonably-priced wi-fi
CONS
- super crowded lounge
- no pajamas
- no air personal vents
HOW I DID IT
85,000 Delta points + $33 per person, one way
JETLAG MATH
Once
I did the math and realized that jetlag fasting would require skipping
two meals in Taipei (and city meals, not crummy airport ones!) I stopped right there.
I’d rather have jetlag when I get home than miss out on any chance to eat more of the city’s amazing food.
That said, the flight leaves at 17:30, which means you’d wake up early the day of the flight and eat “dinner” at 8am, and then fast until the first meal is served on the plane (a.k.a. “breakfast” in the New York time zone).
Airport and Lounge
Despite the great airport metro service, we opted to take an Uber to the airport. The swampy summer weather had already arrived and with a mound of luggage to carry, that would have meant starting a 20 hour journey bathed in sweat. No thank you. (For future reference, the lounge had showers, so we actually could have cleaned up before the flight). The Uber was around US$30 and was fairly speedy given it was a Sunday afternoon.
There was no queue for the check-in counter, but given exit immigration and the absence of priority security here (as in most of Asia), it still took a solid 40 minutes to make it from the airport front door to the lounge. We’ve been in another of China Airlines’ lounges
a few years ago and it was gorgeous.
The one we were in for this flight (T2 near gate D4), not so much. For starters, this one has no
Washlet like the other one did. Secondly it was packed and there was no place to sit. Thirdly, most of the food was terrible. I eventually realized that at the far end of the counter, there was a made-to-order noodle bar that was pretty decent.
 |
| No wait for check-in |
 |
| Lounge |
 |
| Lounge |
 |
| Lounge seating |
 |
| Hot buffet |
 |
| Noodle options |
Boarding and Seat
The faux bamboo paneling and the mood lighting work really well - it feels warm and inviting and a bit like a tiki bar. A blanket, pillow, slippers, and headphones were waiting for us at our seats. We were greeted, seated, and immediately offered drinks, snack mix, and a
hot towel. I asked for some of the Pol Roger champagne to start.
The seat has a nice design - lots of storage space, roomy footwell, two reading lights, and a very intuitive seat control panel. The in-flight entertainment had a great selection of movies and games – important for a 15+ hour flight.
 |
| Orderly boarding |
 |
| Excellent view of our 777 in the waiting area |
 |
| Split jetway |
 |
| Business Class cabin |
 |
| Seat |
 |
| Storage area and lamp |
 |
| Slippers and headphones inside |
 |
| Center seats are good for chatting with a travel partner |
 |
| There's an amenity kit hiding in the armrest! |
 |
| amenity kit |
 |
| No Washlet, but it's a loo with a view |
In-flight service
The first meal service began not long after takeoff. I had the beef for dinner and it was decent but unremarkable. The mushroom soup and the Pol Roger champagne were the definitely highlights of the meal.
After dinner and a couple of movies i was ready for bed. I asked the flight attendant for some eyeshades and she told me “we only have extras of the same ones that are in your amenity kit...” – "Umm, what amenity kit?" I had no idea that there’s yet another storage compartment in the armrest where the kit and a bottle of water were hiding! She’d already handed me the spare eyeshades so i decided to leave the kit unopened so they can reuse it.
I'm really grateful they bucked the trend with most Asian airlines and didn't crank the heat up above 28C (80F) during the sleeping hours. The bed was comfortable and private and I got a solid 9 hours of sleep.
Breakfast service began a few hours before landing but they were out of the congee breakfast option by the time the FA got to
me so i had the western option. The fruit and the quiche were good, but
the “muesli” was absolutely inedible.
Prior to landing the purser personally thanked every passenger for their business and that she looked forward to seeing us again.
 |
| pre-departure Pol Roger champagne and snacks |
 |
| Salmon amouse-bouche to start |
 |
| Abalone and scallop |
 |
| Matsutake mushroom soup |
 |
| Beef cheek main course |
 |
| Fruit, cheese, and port for dessert |
 |
| Midnight snack bar |
 |
| Western breakfast - quiche |
 |
| Espresso! |
 |
| In-flight entertainment |
 |
| Wi-fi pricing |
Final Thoughts
I’d definitely take this flight again. EVA has better food, but i really found the lighting and colors and general “mood” onboard China Airlines' 777 super relaxing. At only 85,000 Delta miles it’s a great option for the 15 hour slog to/from New York. The only other service to North America from Taipei is United to San Francisco and Air Canada to Vancouver. While this flight is long, it actually feels "just right", so I don't think I'd opt for a stopover, honestly.
Menus
Click to enlarge
 |
| Menu |
 |
| Menu |
 |
| Menu |
Comments
Post a Comment