Airline: EVA Air
Flight: BR226
Route: Singapore (SIN) – Taipei (TPE)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-35EER
Registration: B-16739
Class of Travel: Business (EVA Air Royal Laurel Class)
Seat Number: 9A
For my last overseas trip of 2024, I decided to visit Taiwan for a brief 6-day vacation with Dillon (@radaraeromedia), choosing Taiwan's EVA Air as our airline. There are numerous airline options for traveling to Taiwan, with five other carriers offering daily direct flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. EVA Air was the ideal choice for us—neither too costly nor the cheapest—and it allowed us to earn Krisflyer miles since both EVA Air and Singapore Airlines are part of the Star Alliance network. We chose to indulge a bit by experiencing the comforts of EVA Air's Royal Laurel Class (Business Class) to see how it compares with others in the industry.
Pre-Flight
We arrived on time at Changi Airport Terminal 3. EVA Air operates from Row 8 in the departure hall, with check-in counters opening 2.5 hours before the flight. The check-in process was efficient and quick, thanks in part to the benefits of traveling in business class. For Royal Laurel Class Passengers, we are entitled to check in 2 pieces of luggages, each not exceeding 32kgs. Since EVA Air doesn't have its own lounge at Changi Airport, we were directed to Singapore Airlines' SilverKris Lounge. Having visited the SilverKris Lounge before, I won't elaborate much on it. Suffice it to say, the food was excellent as always, offering a wide variety to please your palate. After enjoying our pre-flight meal, we headed to gate A5 and boarded flight BR226 slightly later than scheduled due to the aircraft's late arrival. For this journey, the flight was operated by B-16739, a 7-year-old Boeing 777-35EER with a three-class configuration: 39 Royal Laurel Class, 56 Premium Economy, and 258 Economy class seats.
The Seat & Cabin
To my surprise, the flight was quite full, with most passengers traveling to Taiwan for the December Holiday. I chose Seat 9A on the left side of the aircraft, and Dillon was seated in 10A directly behind me. EVA Air's Royal Laurel Class offers Zodiac Cirrus seats in a reverse-herringbone 1-2-1 configuration, which can be converted into fully flat beds. Each seat has a width of 20" and includes a 15.4" retractable High-Definition Touch Screen Display, along with both AC Universal Power and USB-A sockets for charging personal devices, as well as 2 separate storage shelves for small personal items, a literature shelf to hold the safety card, Inflight Duty Free Catalogue, and Inflight WIFI flyer. The cabin's color scheme is a pleasant light sand grey, complemented by olive green accents and a hint of wood paneling. Personally, I appreciate the cabin design, as it creates a bright and relaxing environment. Although I reclined my seat, I didn't turn it into a full bed for this flight. I didn't see the need to lie completely flat for a 4-hour journey. The tray table design is quite sturdy, and is easily deployed with a simple sliding mechanism.
On the wall panel next to the storage shelf, you can find a reading light, Headphone jack, USB-A ports, charging ports and a detachable IFE controller.
To make the flight more comfortable for passengers, a soft and very huggable pillow is provided, along with blankets, soft slippers, and noise suppression headphones. I really enjoyed using the headphones, and their noise cancellation functions. Named "Thunder by EVA Air", the headphones are light, with soft padding around the ears for a comfortable fit, and delivers excellent, clear sound by reducing the cabin and engine noise of the aircraft. Once we were seated, passengers received a cold towel to freshen up before departure, which I found to be a nice touch.. For this flight, I did not watch any movies, instead choosing to listen to local Taiwanese music and keeping myself entertained with the flight map system on screen.
EVA Air's IFE system is loaded with the latest Hollywood releases, International Selections, TV series and documentaries. For music, they have a wide selection of english, chinese, taiwanese and classical hits. The touch screen itself is bright, quite responsive and easy to navigate.
During boarding and takeoff, the cabin lighting remains a standard white. However, after meal services, when passengers are expected to rest, the cabin crew dims the LED lights and transitions to a more colorful setting. What I particularly enjoy about the cabin lights is their ability to simulate a sunset and even a starry night sky. The cabin ceiling is equipped with small LED lights that mimic stars, making it one of the most stunning features I have encountered on any aircraft.
The Meal
Meal service began as we reached cruising altitude. We were first presented with a small starter bowl of dried fruit and nuts, along with drink options. I opted for the distinctly local taste of Taiwan Beer. Following that were the appetizers, featuring a delicious Seared Peppered Tuna with Nicoise Salad. There was a wide range of bread choices, from wholewheat buns to Croissants. For the main course, I chose the Baked Chilean Sea Bass, accompanied by Sweet Potato Puree. It's important to note that I'm quite selective when it comes to eating fish. I rarely eat fish, and when I do, it's usually Cod, as I dislike the aftertaste most fish dishes have. As I was just recovered from a cough and cold before the trip, the other two options of chicken or beef soup were not suitable. To my surprise, the Sea Bass was outstanding. It had no unpleasant aftertaste, and the fish was tender and flavorful. Combined with the sweet potato puree, the dish had a delightful balance of savory and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal choice. For desserts, we were served a simple plate of fruits, with options for coffee, tea, or other drinks, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. For Dillon's meal, he actually did a pre-order selection on EVA Air's website, similar to Singapore Airline's "Book the Cook" system. This allowed him to have a specially prepares Beef Steak main course that was not on the inflight menu.
The Service
EVA Air's cabin crew service ranks among the best I've encountered. Although it doesn't hold my top spot, it certainly secures second place in my top 10 list of airlines. The crew greeted us with warmth and openness, offering big smiles and engaging conversation to make us feel welcome. They responded to passenger requests promptly, consistently maintaining politeness and professionalism throughout the flight, embodying the warmth and openness of Taiwan itself. I always felt that EVA Air offered passengers a glimpse of authentic Taiwanese culture, from the crew's service to inflight announcements in the local Taiwanese dialect, and the traditional Taiwanese music played during landing. These thoughtful details make the EVA experience truly special.
The Conclusion
As noted at the beginning of this brief review, I find EVA Air's prices for return flights to Taiwan quite reasonable. Typically, I choose to fly in Premium Economy, which ranges from $700-$800 SGD, depending on the season. For a 4-hour flight, this is adequate for me. If you're willing to spend a bit more for the benefits and comfort of business class, and if accumulating miles with a Star Alliance airline appeals to you, I recommend flying with EVA Air's Royal Laurel class. However, I must mention that EVA Air's B777-300ER might seem outdated compared to what other Taiwanese carriers currently offer. If this is a consideration for you, and if earning Star Alliance miles isn't a priority, you might explore other options that better match your needs and budget. Personally, EVA Air is an ideal choice for me, and if you share my airline preferences, it could be the perfect choice for you as well.
Happy Flying Folks, and till the next one.
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