Flying Business Class On China Airlines
Taipei - Kyoto
Taoyuan Internation Airport, Taiwan, September 6, 2019
I just want to start by saying that we don’t normally fly in business class. This is our second time flying in business class – the first was from Taipei to Bali on Lion Air, and it was magical. So, this is an exciting experience for us. That said, it’s our first time flying in China Airlines’ business class, so our expectations are somewhat high. It’s also, our little one’s first business class experience, though he’s just excited to get on any airplanes.
The Lounge
Let’s start with the lounge experience. China Airlines has lounges in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Taoyuan International Airport. Our flight departed from terminal 2, so we visited the lounge there on the 3rd floor. It’s worth noting that China Airlines VIP lounge is only accesible to business class passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
Inside the lounge, there’s an even more exclusive area reserved for the top two tiers of status, the Paragon and Emerald Card Members. Unfortunately, we weren’t eligible for that section so we stayed in the Business Lounge area. However, we’re happy to find that it wasn’t crowded; in fact, it was very quite. We enjoyed the spacious are with plenty of comfortable seating and decent selection and beverages. A great start to our journey.
Entering the Business Lounge, we were impressed by the nice decor. everything was very tidy and clean, giving off a business-like atmosphere that made us feel like we were there for important business. While the lounge lacks of natural lighting becuase it didn’t have windows, the LED and ceiling lights were well-designed to create a comfortable and inviting ambiance.
The food options were presented in a mini buffet style. It offers both Chinese/Taiwanese and international cuisine. There was also the usual congee and dumplings station. I should have taken more photos of the food, but I forgot at the time – I shall do a better job next time!
I tried a lu rou fan (Taiwanese ground-beef rice) with pickled cabbage and some spaghetti with meetballs. To be honest, the food wasn’t anything special to write home about. The spaghetti was mediocre, and the lu rou fan sauce was too thick and overly sweet. My family and I ate them mainly for the experience. I also got a plate of cured meats to share. Sonia tried the Chinese-style soy souce egg, which was pretty decent, and Nathan enjoyed his Taiwanese roasted sweet potatoes. There was also a small selection of fresh fruits to chose from as well.
For beverages, there was a limited selection of wine, beer, soda, and juices. I went with the white wine on offer and, of course, a Taiwanese beer. Sonia chose a bottle of yogurt drink and a glass of orange juice, while Nathan stucked with his milk and tried 7up for the first time. It was funny to see his face, after drinking a pop.
We enjoyed trying China Airlines lounge in Taoyuan. The lounge was comfortable, the food were decent, and the staff were friendly, making it a relaxing place to unwind before our flight. If you want to make full use of the amenities, like shower and sleeping area, it’s a good idea to arrive early. However, it’s not a big deal if you skip them, as we did.
The Flight
Ah, the business class experience truly does feel different. I’ve been eagerly anticipating for the moment when you enter the airplane and you’re guided to a special area away from the crowds by the flight attendant. It smells different too. It feels like you’ve arrived at your destination before even taking off. The flight from Taipei to kyoto is a short haul, taking only about 2 hours and 40 minutes. We were flying on an older Airbus A350, so the interior and the TV feels a bit dated, but everything was very clean.
The flight attendant thoughtfully provided the little passengers with a cute sticker book, which kept Nathan entertained for quite a while. The adults were given travel kits in a small bag. Inside, we found popular amenity items like a dental hygiene kit, earbuds, eye mask, skincare prodcuts, and a pair of flip-flops.
We were also offered a bag of nuts as a snack and a welcome drink to chose from. I chose orange juice, and it was clear you’re in a different class when the orange juice was served generously in a glass cup, unlike the paper cup they use in economy class.
The armrest is well-designed and equipped with a small table to place your drink on, rather than having to pull out the entire trau table. It’s a smart design that adds to the convenience of the experience.
And just look at the ample legroom – It’s quite spacious! This generous space allows your seat to move forward as it reclines, with the back of the seat remaining fixed, so you can recline without disturbing the person behind you. The seat also has leg support when reclined and is much more padded and wider, adding to the overall comfort.
The armrest is wide enough to for both side, so there’s no arguing over who gets to use it. Even though it’s a short-haul flight, we were provided blankets and pillows for extra comfort.
My family and I could really get used to this. The downside of all this luxury is that we might be spoiled and we’ll never be able to go back to the economy class. We’ve tasted the other side, and we liked it!
The Food
Unlike the usual options in economy class, where you typically choose between chicken or beef, we were given a menu to choose from in business class. It was a pretty robust set menu, offering both Fusion and Japanese cuisine, along with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. I was impressed by the variety of spirits available, but I decided to go with sake instead.
My wife and I chose the Japanese cuisines option, which started with roasted tofu with Miso soup, accompanied by a seaweed and nameko mushroom sunemono, and serving of seasonal vegetables.
For the entrée, we opted for roasted salmon with saikyo miso glazed. The savory glaze complemented the perfectly cooked salmon beautifully, and tasted pretty good too. The dish was served with a side of steamed rice.
Overall, we were very happy with our meal. It wasn’t the usual airplane food wrapped in aluminum foil; instead, it was presented nicely in a bento box. The food tasted really good and didn’t have the typical preheated texture that airplane meals often do. It felt as though it had been freshly cooked. We really enjoyed our meal.
Unfortunately, there was no option for a kids’ meal. Nathan was only three years old at the time, so he’s wasn’t able to enjoy the meal with us. Luckily, he had some food from the lounge. As a treat, we gave the Haagen-Dazs ice cream that came with our dessert, and he devoured it like there was no tomorrow. That got him pretty happy.
The Conclusion
Flying business class on China Airlines from Taipei to Kyoto was an enjoyable and memorable experience. The service was on point, and the amenities added a touch of luxury to our journey. From the spacious seats and ample legroom to the well-prepared meals and thoughtful details like the travel kits, every aspect of the flight made us feel pampered. The quality of the food, served in a bento box, exceeded our expectations, providing a restaurant-like experience rather than typical airplane fare. Although there was no kids’ meal option, we managed with snacks from the lounge and a sweet treat for our little one.
Overall, eventhough it was only a short-haul flight, it left us impressed with China Airlines’ business class service, making our journey comfortable and enjoyable. It was a delightful experience that made the flight feel special, setting a high standard for future travels.
