China Airlines Business Class (CL57) 23:25 23 July 2019 Taipei-Melb

[Limewood]

Just did SYD/TPE/SYD on China Airlines in J, the decor of the A350 very modern, seat very comfortable to sit and sleep in, service excellent, food awful, sent some back and so ........d off ate no more, the announcements over PA once in the air were very difficult to hear (both flights) so had to ask cabin crew what was said. The lounge in TPE is a joke, no elevators just steep stairs for us seniors, and food again awful, had a beer and we then left.

 

[Melburnian1]

Just did SYD/TPE/SYD on China Airlines in J, the decor of the A350 very modern, seat very comfortable to sit and sleep in, service excellent, food awful, sent some back and so ........d off ate no more, the announcements over PA once in the air were very difficult to hear (both flights) so had to ask cabin crew what was said. The lounge in TPE is a joke, no elevators just steep stairs for us seniors, and food again awful, had a beer and we then left.

Limewood, subjective, but could you please elaborate on why the food was 'awful?'

 

[Limewood]

The menu description looked OK but when it arrived, it was bland and tasteless, I could go on, but its not for us we'll take the QF, CX, QR, EK lounges any day.

 

[NinnyPoo]

The menu description looked OK but when it arrived, it was bland and tasteless, I could go on, but its not for us we'll take the QF, CX, QR, EK lounges any day.

I thought the plane food was fine. Similar standard to QF or EK, but not as good as QR or SQ.

As for the lounge in Taipei, to me it is comparable to the SQ Gold lounge (i.e. not the PPS Business lounge). It is not the greatest, but it is better than being on a seat by the gate. Secondly the airfares are at least 2000 AUD cheaper than the above airlines. I can cope with an average lounge. Taipei airport is also relatively calm and not too busy the times I have been.

I also found English to be fine. though having lived in HK for some years you learn to detect different English accents.

 

[Limewood]

I'd rate the TPE lounge a , airport not busy, clean and OK, agree fares in J are excellent, the flight crew spoke and understood english, however, 10 days in Taipei we encountered less than 20 who spoke english and even some of those were struggling.

 

[woodyren]

Just booked a Qantas J reward SYD-TPE China Airlines for myself and Mrs Woodyren next August.

Availability every day that I checked. We need to get to Vancouver so will now send 5 nights in Taipei and hopefully next week I can snap up JAL to Vancouver via Tokyo.

 

[yoyo]

We are interested in MEL to YVR via TPE as they are selling business class seats in January for $3911. However, there is an overnight required in Taipei both ways. Does anyone know if China Air provides a hotel?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We are interested in MEL to YVR via TPE as they are selling business class seats in January for $3911. However, there is an overnight required in Taipei both ways. Does anyone know if China Air provides a hotel?

They provide hotels for day use - which I think will be your case (the MEL-TPE arrives early morning and you depart again late the same night). You have a choice - there's either the Novotel, right at the airport, which they give you for 6 hours, and additional hours are at €10 per hour (or something like that according to my friend who flew them last month). Alternatively there's another hotel which is a 20 minute shuttle away from the airport (a free shuttle) which you are given for the full day (no additional hourly charge). The last shuttle back from the second hotel is 8pm, so you have to be ready and checked-out of the hotel by like 7.45pm. Your lfight then leaves TPE at 11.30pm or so. So you have about three hours wait at the airport.

You should call China Ailrines to check your eligibility.