China Airlines business class?

[OZDUCK]

All very interesting. We will be on them in J from Singapore to Taipei in 6 weeks time.

 

[odysseus]

Enjoyed the flights with them. For me the downside was the extended layovers in Taipei and the lounges there aren't great - you're down in a dungeon for one, and the food range is limited and no real change all day. That said, if you get a good price, the bulk of the comfort improvement is about the flight(s) and that's where the value comes through.

 

[Forg]

For me the downside was the extended layovers in Taipei and the lounges there aren't great - you're down in a dungeon for one, and the food range is limited and no real change all day.

While I agree wholeheartedly on all points here (I wondered whether it was just London flights that didn’t line-up nicely at Taipei with Sydney ones), for me that dungeon has positive memories … I managed to come down with a really un-fun cold on the morning we left home, so by the time we got to that lounge the shower was absolute heaven!
And it was a good hot shower with good pressure too … does it look like I’m focusing on the shower?

 

[downgraded]

the lounges there aren't great - you're down in a dungeon for one, and the food range is limited

Sounds like a more local airline experience to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

IIRC EVA has a couple of lounges. The regular business class one is not so hot. The star gold one is supposed to be markedly better. (Similar to Lufthansa where star gold = senator lounge. And dissimilar to SQ where the star gold lounge is a level below the business offering.)

 

[Forg]

Sounds like a more local airline experience to me.

The strangest thing about the underground dungeon CI lounge in Taipei is that it’s accessed by walking up a ramp from a walkway which is already a few storeys up in the air … it’s like they’ve gone to a lot of effort to make an elevated room feel like a cave.

Our experience with that lounge was that it was clean, it was comfortable, it was quiet, the showers were popular but they were managed well, and the limited range of snacks was regularly refreshed. The lounge in the other terminal (which we used on the way home) wasn’t a dungeon, but it was also temporary as they were fitting-out a new lounge at the time (mid 2018), seats weren’t as comfy & it wasn’t as roomy.

By contrast; I think it was the Sky Team lounge in Sydney they used, flight was about 10pm and the lounge felt like they’d begrudgingly stayed open after having packed everything away. Not much left, I was in the mood for something desserty & an after-dinner type drink; nada. At the Gatwick end, the lounge they were using had borked aircon & was busy & SFA food … we spent most of that wait in the terminal by choice.
I just assume this sorta stuff is normal for not-top-tier airlines?

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

Flew in J from ICN-TPE (old A330 regional J seats) and TPE to HKG (737-800) last week. Comfortable seats for the short flights - albeit a bit dated on the two aircraft flown, good service and food was pleasant.

Didn't take a photo of the menus, but photos of the meals attached. First was a bulgogi pork, second a chicken pasta. Pre-departure drinks were provided, all meals were provided on a single tray, with a coffee/tea service following after.

View attachment IMG_E2403.jpg
View attachment IMG_E2410.jpg
CI lounge in T1 (TPE) was okay. Unfortunately due to weather and delayed incoming flight, our flight to HK was delayed and we nearly missed our flight on QF back to Oz. We had 15 mins to make the connection!

CI ground staff was already waiting and we ran across half of HKG to get to the transit area and then to the gate. We somehow made it with 1 minute to spare! Our bags didn't make it, but we got them a day later.

 

[dk4]

… but the fanciest drink they had onboard was a Johnny Walker Blue Label, which is a very mass-market blend & very Nothing Special

IMO this is a very pleasant Scotch (I do not like single malts and only drink blended). I disagree with your assessment. I think finding it in Business Class is amazing, it is normally reserved for in-flight service on intercontinental First Class (IME on other airlines which serve it).

 

[rbjhan]

CI's main lounge in TPE is the one in Terminal 1.
See here

Review: China Airlines Lounge Taipei Airport Terminal 1

A detailed review of China Airlines' flagship Dynasty Lounge at Taipei Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1. Here's what you can expect from this great lounge.

onemileatatime.com

It is much better than the dungeon at T2! But even in T2 there's another one upstairs with the other lounges...

Edit, add the review from omaat.

 

[SCM]

It's not too bad, my only major complaint was the lack of port nor any other dessert wine.

 

[odysseus]

CI's main lounge in TPE is the one in Terminal 1.
See here

Review: China Airlines Lounge Taipei Airport Terminal 1

A detailed review of China Airlines' flagship Dynasty Lounge at Taipei Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1. Here's what you can expect from this great lounge.

onemileatatime.com

It is much better than the dungeon at T2! But even in T2 there's another one upstairs with the other lounges...

Edit, add the review from omaat.

Agreed the one upstairs in T2 is preferable to the Dungeon. But I didn't know what it was like til after I went in... and CI stamp your pass when you go in - and then won't let you in any of their other lounges on that BP since it's already marked. Again, another oddity compared to other airlines as it's the only time I've experienced that. So I was stuck there.

I don't want to make it sound like the lounge outweighed the rest of the experiences as I'd certainly fly them again and was happy with the overall experience - but the lounge elements were the let down for me.

 

[rbjhan]

Agreed the one upstairs in T2 is preferable to the Dungeon. But I didn't know what it was like til after I went in... and CI stamp your pass when you go in - and then won't let you in any of their other lounges on that BP since it's already marked. Again, another oddity compared to other airlines as it's the only time I've experienced that. So I was stuck there.

I don't want to make it sound like the lounge outweighed the rest of the experiences as I'd certainly fly them again and was happy with the overall experience - but the lounge elements were the let down for me.

Oh I know what you mean. I was stuck at the dungeon the first time! And it was packed to the rafters All the midnight departures to AU & US were there!

Only until I got back home and talked to my friends did I know there's another one upstairs and even nicer one at T1. My own fault for not doing research - it was a very last minute change, originally I was flying back home (MEL) from HKG on Virgin, then they cancelled that flight and I didn't want to transit through Sydney....

I'm just putting this info out there so people don't make the same mistake.

 

[jbman]

Flying with CI in September. We have a long layover. Land one day 6am then fly out the next day late in the evening. Has anyone done this and have any tips on the Hotel and day trip we could do while we are there?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rbjhan]

Flying with CI in September. We have a long layover. Land one day 6am then fly out the next day late in the evening. Has anyone done this and have any tips on the Hotel and day trip we could do while we are there?

Thanks in advance.

Lots of hotels around the airport but only the Novotel is directly connected. Depends on your budget.
I'd stay in Novotel and take the Taoyuan express to Taipei city, lots of things to do there! And great food.
National Palace Museum is fantastic if you like history...or Taipei 101 for the view (and shops)...

Edit, I forgot, there's also a capsule hotel in T2.
My Taipei TR fyi.

Koyo Chasing in Tohoku Japan (#9) and some last minute shenanigans

Didn't book hotel breakfast since I've been wanting to try the Nagoya café breakfast for quite some time now. Basically you order a drink and it comes with free toast and egg. It was not bad.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[jbman]

Lots of hotels around the airport but only the Novotel is directly connected. Depends on your budget.
I'd stay in Novotel and take the Taoyuan express to Taipei city, lots of things to do there! And great food.
National Palace Museum is fantastic if you like history...or Taipei 101 for the view (and shops)...

Edit, I forgot, there's also a capsule hotel in T2.
My Taipei TR fyi.

Koyo Chasing in Tohoku Japan (#9) and some last minute shenanigans

Didn't book hotel breakfast since I've been wanting to try the Nagoya café breakfast for quite some time now. Basically you order a drink and it comes with free toast and egg. It was not bad.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Thank you so much I will check out the TR, most helpful

 

[Robert K]

BNE - tpe View attachment IMG_1086.jpeg

I would rein in your expectations for the food. It was fine. I don’t drink so didn’t pay attention to the alcohol.

Service is also slow. The whole dinner took about 2 hours.

The late night flights meant eating after midnight.

And if you wanted to have breakfast as well, you end up only getting like 3 hour sleep.

Many other passengers just went straight to bed and didn’t bother with the food. I probably would do the same in the future.

 

[Forg]

Service is also slow. The whole dinner took about 2 hours.

The late night flights meant eating after midnight.

And if you wanted to have breakfast as well, you end up only getting like 3 hour sleep.

We definitely didn't have this SYD-TPE in 2018 ... can't recall anything about service speed, but I had plenty of time to toss & turn fruitlessly for at least 5-6 hours then getting a movie in before I-wish-I-hadn't-ordered-the-congee.

 

[tmdl]

BNE - tpe View attachment 399442

I would rein in your expectations for the food. It was fine. I don’t drink so didn’t pay attention to the alcohol.

Service is also slow. The whole dinner took about 2 hours.

The late night flights meant eating after midnight.

And if you wanted to have breakfast as well, you end up only getting like 3 hour sleep.

Many other passengers just went straight to bed and didn’t bother with the food. I probably would do the same in the future.

Any chance you got some pictures of the wine list?

 

[stm1sydney]

If you are there for 36 hours, then definitely stay in town, many nice hotels near Taipei main station, easy transfer from the airport on the fast train. Lots to see: wet markets, night markets, the National Palace Museum (amazing), maritime museum, Taipei 101, Taipei Zoo and gondola, CKS memorial hall, night markets!

We stayed at City Suites Taipei Nanxi, short walk to Taipei Main, and close to one of the best night markets Ningxia Rd, and also DiHua Old Street.

 

[stm1sydney]

When you get into town in the morning, go straight to Yong Le Market for great sushi (from 9am).