Review: China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver

1 year ago 180

After heading to Taipei from Tokyo, I had the accidental to alert China Airlines A350 concern class from Taipei to Vancouver.

As a well-regarded planetary airline, China Airlines has agelong been connected my database of concern people products to try, particularly since I’ve had truthful galore bully experiences successful the past with chap Taipei-based hose EVA Air.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Booking

For booking grant flights with China Airlines, you person the enactment to usage Delta SkyMiles oregon Air France KLM Flying Blue miles, acknowledgment to the airline’s SkyTeam membership.

Fortunately, the hose often releases grant seats to these spouse programs, and this is precisely however I booked my flight.

A one-way formation from Taipei to Vancouver outgo maine 84,000 Air France KLM Flying Blue miles, positive astir $110 (CAD) successful taxes and fees.

Fortunately, Flying Blue miles are rather casual to travel crossed successful North America, arsenic the programme is simply a transportation spouse with American Express Membership Rewards successful Canada, arsenic good arsenic American Express US Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards successful the US.

Furthermore, you tin besides gain Flying Blue miles straight connected the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard successful Canada, oregon the Bank of America Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard successful the US.

Award availability besides tends to beryllium reasonably consistent, including aggregate seats. Since transpacific grant seats successful concern people are comparatively hard to travel crossed these days, beryllium definite to support China Airlines successful caput arsenic a precise suitable alternative.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Ground Experience

Prior to my flight, I had the pleasance of spending immoderate clip successful the China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei (Terminal 2)

China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei – Check-in desks

The crushed acquisition present is precise competitive, some successful presumption of the lounge’s design, arsenic good arsenic the nutrient connected offer.

During my visit, I was peculiarly impressed by the calligraphy décor that graced the lounge’s walls. 

China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei – Staircase
China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei (Terminal 2) – Seating area

In presumption of food, the item is undoubtedly the made-to-order noodle station. I helped myself to a delicious vessel of Taiwanese-style braised beef noodle soup, which was delightful.

China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei – Noodle station
China Airlines Business Class Lounge Taipei – Taiwanese-style braised beef noodle soup

If you’re connected an outbound formation from Taipei with China Airlines, beryllium definite to wage the lounge a visit, arsenic you’re surely successful for a treat.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Cabin

China Airlines precocious introduced the Airbus A350-900 to its fleet. This is so a noteworthy addition, arsenic it has go the airline’s astir technologically precocious jetliner with an extra-wide cabin.

There are 32 reverse herringbone seats dispersed crossed 8 rows successful a 1-2-1 configuration onboard China Airlines A350 concern class.

As I stepped into the concern people cabin, I took the accidental to instrumentality successful my surroundings.

The affluent blend of metallic-grey, gold, and pick sets a luxurious code for the interior. This, coupled with the prime of elegant fabrics and standout lighting, enhances the wide aesthetic.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Cabin
China Airlines A350 concern people – Cabin
China Airlines A350 concern people – Cabin

Furthermore, the deficiency of overhead bins successful the centre enhances the feeling of spaciousness of the cabin.

For those travelling solo, the model seats are an fantabulous prime for maximum privacy. However, if you’re journeying with a companion, the mediate seats are perfect for conversing and enjoying each other’s company.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Window seats
China Airlines A350 concern people – Middle seats

On this peculiar journey, I recovered myself successful Seat 17A. It’s a model spot connected the near side, located towards the backmost of the plane, which offers a large position of the full cabin.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Seat 17A
China Airlines A350 concern people – Seat 17A

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Seat

After spending a fewer moments observing the cabin, I made my mode backmost to the backmost and recovered my seat. I was met with a tranquil shadiness of pinkish temper lighting arsenic soon arsenic I boarded.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Seat

This concern people compartment features Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats, with embellished wood-like accents that lend to the cabin’s posh design.

Immediately successful beforehand of maine was the 18-inch, highly responsive amusement screen, which tin either beryllium controlled by interaction oregon by the amusement controller.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Entertainment screen

Beneath the amusement surface lies a robust tray array with a wood veneer finish. By utilizing the latch below, you tin propulsion the array toward you, past unfold it to its afloat size.

The tray’s exterior boasts a metallic sheen, which erstwhile folded out, reveals a patterned surface.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Tray table
China Airlines A350 concern people – Tray table

Directly beneath the spot is simply a snug footwell, a emblematic diagnostic for seats with a reverse herringbone layout, but it doesn’t enforce immoderate important limitations.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Footwell

To the near is the spot console, which has a humble magnitude of aboveground abstraction and a bid of retention compartments.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Surface space

The centre of the console opens up to uncover a heavy retention abstraction with a powerfulness outlet, USB-A port, and the in-flight amusement remote, which tin beryllium withdrawn from its place.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Storage space
China Airlines A350 concern people – Entertainment controller, powerfulness outlet, and USB port

At the backmost of the console, you tin find a shallow retention compartment.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Storage space

Nestled astatine your enarthrosis is the lit pocket, and a chic lamp successful the corner, which adds a interaction of luxury.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Literature pocket
China Airlines A350 concern people – Lamp

On your contiguous right, there’s an adjustable armrest, with a flap that reveals adjacent much retention abstraction that’s ample capable for a h2o vessel oregon idiosyncratic item.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Lowered armrest
China Airlines A350 concern people – Raised armrest
China Airlines A350 concern people – Armrest retention space

On the seat’s left-hand side, there’s different retention nook with a chill bluish glowing light, adding an ambient glow.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Storage space

Overall, China Airlines A350 concern people seats surely deed the people successful presumption of comfortableness and elegance. I besides peculiarly appreciated the extended retention options.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Amenities

Once I took my seat, a subordinate of the formation unit introduced themselves and addressed maine successful Mandarin. I was offered a prime of pre-departure beverage of h2o oregon juice, and chose the latter.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Pre-departure drink

A further item of the China Airlines A350 concern people acquisition was the uniquely designed amenity kit. In an intriguing collaboration with The North Face, the hose offers drawstring-style amenity kits bearing the outdoor brand’s signature.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Amenity kit
China Airlines A350 concern people – Amenity kit

Inside is simply a thoughtful premix of essentials: an oculus mask, dental kit, hairbrush, and some manus lotion and articulator balm courtesy of the Norwegian skincare brand, Sprekenhus. I commend China Airlines for this innovative partnership, and would beryllium thrilled to spot much airlines adopting specified applicable amenity kits.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Amenity kit contents

It’s worthy noting that nary pajamas oregon loungewear were offered connected this flight. This was a tad disappointing, particularly for idiosyncratic who enjoys collecting hose pajamas.

Another constituent of contention was the paper presentation. It was printed connected a laminated expanse of paper, which felt a spot bland compared to the remainder of the concern people experience.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Menu

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Meal Service

As we settled into our cruising altitude, the formation unit started serving the main meal.

I chose to power my foodstuff for a bubbly solid of Champagne, and was pleasantly amazed by the availability of Piper-Heidsieck 2012 Champagne onboard.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Piper-Heidsieck 2012 Champagne
China Airlines A350 concern people – Champagne & snack

Meal work kicked disconnected with a seafood platter decked retired with immoderate caller aboriginal outpouring touches. As a large seafood fan, I recovered that this appetizer so deed the spot.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Seafood platter appetizer
China Airlines A350 concern people – Seafood platter appetizer

Next up was the plot salad, which was tasty, but thing to constitute location about.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Garden salad

However, what truly caught my attraction was the achromatic ail chickenhearted simmer soup. It felt similar a motion to the airline’s taste background, and it was a unique, flavourful, and a amusive small dish.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Black ail chickenhearted simmer soup

For the main course, I enjoyed a pan-fried Taiwan perch with an olive condiment topping, swimming successful a clam and mussel sauce, with a broadside of creamy porcini sauce.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Main course
China Airlines A350 concern people – Main course

The crockery sounds similar a dream, but it coiled up being a spot of a letdown. The presumption was a tad off, and portion the perch had immoderate bully umami vibes, it wasn’t the showstopper I was hoping for. As for the pasta, it was a spot connected the sticky broadside for my liking.

To circular things off, I was presented with a effect and food plate, followed by immoderate crystal cream. It was a classical extremity to the meal, and beauteous decent overall.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Fruit & food plate
China Airlines A350 concern people – Ice cream

Wrapping it each up, if I were to comparison the repast work with what’s offered connected EVA Air, I’d accidental that China Airlines has immoderate unsocial nutrient choices, but they’re not rather playing successful the aforesaid league erstwhile it comes to quality.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Bed

After the repast service, I was looking guardant to immoderate rest, truthful I visited the restroom to freshen up earlier bed.

Although the restroom is compact, it’s well-kept, featuring a modern descend plan and patterned walls. Luxury Pure Altitude amenities are besides provided.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Restroom
China Airlines A350 concern people – Restroom amenities

The galley was stocked with an array of refreshments, with the Taiwanese-style oat beverage portion being a standout. I decided to effort it, and earlier I knew it, I’d helped myself to a fewer servings.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Snack bar
China Airlines A350 concern people – Snack bar
China Airlines A350 concern people – Snack bar

I was pleasantly amazed erstwhile the unit offered a turndown service, which is thing not galore airlines supply successful concern people nowadays. Given our near-midnight departure, I was speedy to settee successful and slumber close aft my meal.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Bed
China Airlines A350 concern people – Bed
China Airlines A350 concern people – Bed

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Second Meal Service

I managed to emergence successful clip for the adjacent meal, and decided connected the Chinese options, opening with plain congee and a enactment of sides. This was a overmuch improved show by China Airlines, but then, it’s seldom that 1 goes incorrect with congee.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Second repast spread
China Airlines A350 concern people – Congee
China Airlines A350 concern people – Congee accompaniments

Keeping with my contented erstwhile connected flights with Asian airlines, I besides picked an point disconnected the snack menu. The Assorted Formosa Taiwan-style braised crockery didn’t disappoint, and ended the repast work connected a affirmative note.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Assorted Formosa Taiwan-style braised dish
China Airlines A350 concern people – Assorted Formosa Taiwan-style braised dish

China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver – Entertainment

Panasonic ex3 is China Airlines’s in-flight amusement system. The amusement enactment is neither the widest scope nor the astir limited.

There are capable choices for a long-haul flight, with a enactment of blockbuster films, unrecorded programs, TV shows, music, and games.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Movie selection
China Airlines A350 concern people – Movie selection
China Airlines A350 concern people – TV selection

Although China Airlines A350 concern people lacks a unrecorded tail-mounted camera, the real-time aerial amusement provides an engaging mode to way your journey.

China Airlines A350 concern people – Airshow en way to Vancouver
China Airlines A350 concern people – Airshow en way to Vancouver

China Airlines collaborates with Boingo for onboard Wi-Fi, truthful I connected to the in-flight Wi-Fi utilizing my Boingo account. It’s worthy noting that astir World Elite Mastercards assistance cardholders entree to Wi-Fi connected Boingo-serviced flights.

Without complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi, determination are 2 Wi-Fi packages, priced arsenic follows:

  • Three hours: $16.95 (USD)
  • 24 hours: $21.95 (USD)

It’s worthy noting that the work connected the formation was stellar.

The unit were continually attentive to my needs, checking to spot if I’d similar my portion replenished oregon if I wanted to effort thing antithetic from the menu. The turndown work was besides a plus.

Conclusion

My takeaway from China Airlines concern people is mostly positive, albeit with immoderate reservations. In my experience, it doesn’t rather lucifer EVA Air, but China Airlines decidedly nailed definite aspects of the in-flight experience.

For instance, the hard merchandise isn’t lone comfortable, but besides boasts a thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing design.

Moreover, the work I received was thing abbreviated of fantabulous – the unit were consistently attentive passim the flight, ensuring that my each request was catered to.

That said, the inconsistency successful the nutrient connected connection was a flimsy drawback, and there’s surely immoderate country for betterment here.

When considering the acquisition arsenic a whole, I wouldn’t hesitate to publication with China Airlines again successful the future.

The station Review: China Airlines A350 Business Class Taipei to Vancouver appeared archetypal connected Prince of Travel by Ricky Zhang.

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