At the end of 2022, as entry restrictions across Asia were slowly easing, I decided to plan a trip to and around Asia. The journey was put together with a mix of airlines, alliances, and hotel programs, as well as a combination of paid and award tickets, cash and points nights. Apart from a cumulative delay of just under 4 hours across 13 flights, a damaged suitcase mid-trip, and lost luggage on the final leg, everything went according to plan — I was largely spared from major cancellations and schedule changes.
The flight routing was planned as follows:
ZRH-NRT KIX-TPE-MNL-POM-LAE MAG-LAE-POM-SIN-KUL-SGN-SIN-CDG-ZRH
The airlines and cabin classes I chose were:
ZRH-NRT (LX F)
KIX-TPE (CI C)
TPE-MNL (BR C)
MNL-POM (PR C)
POM-LAE / MAG-LAE-POM (PX Y)
POM-SIN (PX C)
SIN-KUL-SGN (MH Y)
SGN-SIN-CDG (SQ C)
CDG-ZRH (LX C)
This map was created using http://www.gcmap.com/.
The trip gave me the chance to discover and revisit a wide range of airlines and cabin products.
Booking
This short review covers the brief flight from Osaka to Taipei. I booked the flight directly through the China Airlines website. I had originally planned to book Economy, but a small price difference tempted me to go straight for Business Class. A reclining seat always feels like a treat, even if the flight is only around three hours.
Check-In
Since I arrived at the airport early enough, I wanted to drop off my luggage without any fuss. Check-in at the Priority counter was quick and very attentive. My boarding pass and lounge voucher were printed after I presented all the COVID-related documents required for my destination.
Security & Passport Control
Security went smoothly and quickly despite the absence of a priority lane. Departing Japan was also fairly swift.
After passport control, I had plenty of time to visit the lounge, which I reviewed separately here.
Shortly before boarding, I left the lounge and made my way to the gate. Boarding began on time and was conducted almost ceremoniously — Business Class passengers and status customers first, of course.
Cabin
Boarding the aircraft, I was greeted by name at the door — something I had never experienced before. The cabin on the Airbus A330 featured the regional Business Class configuration: a 2-2-2 layout, which those of us familiar with Lufthansa’s long-haul product will recognise immediately. I was lucky enough to have no seat neighbour, which made the experience genuinely pleasant.
The entertainment system offered a generous selection of films, series, and music. The headphones were of outstanding quality and were presented in elegant packaging — something I hadn’t even encountered in my First Class experiences.
The seats were finished in a pleasant, understated colour scheme and offered comfortable seating quality.
Dining
I pre-ordered my meal via the website before the flight, opting for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes.
The drinks selection was good, and I was able to genuinely enjoy this flight.
Unfortunately there was no amenity kit, as this was a short evening flight and none had been loaded.
Verdict
Next time, I don’t just want a short hop with China Airlines — I’d love to experience them on a long-haul route.
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