In late 2022, as entry restrictions across Asia were slowly easing, I decided to plan a trip to and around Asia. The journey was put together using a mix of airlines, alliances, hotel programs, paid fares, and award tickets — both paid nights and points stays. Aside from a cumulative delay of just under four hours across 13 flights, luggage damage mid-trip, and a lost bag on the final leg, everything went according to plan. Major flight cancellations and schedule changes largely passed me by.
The flight route was planned as follows:
ZRH-NRT KIX-TPE-MNL-POM-LAE MAG-LAE-POM-SIN-KUL-SGN-SIN-CDG-ZRH
I chose the following airlines and cabin classes:
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/.
This gave me the opportunity to discover and rediscover a range of airlines and cabin products.
Booking
This short review covers the brief flight from Taipei to Manila. I booked the flight directly through the Eva Air website. Originally I intended to fly economy, but a price difference of just under CHF 150 tempted me to go straight for business class on this 5-star airline. Even for a flight of barely two hours, a lie-flat seat is always a treat.
Check-In
On the morning of departure I still needed to take a Covid test — I hadn’t realised how difficult it was to get an appointment in Taipei on a weekend. Since I had arrived at the airport early enough, I wanted to drop off my luggage promptly. Eva Air operates several check-in islands: one row is dedicated to business class guests, another for status passengers, and the remaining counters serve economy class. My boarding pass was printed after I presented all the Covid-related documentation required for my destination.
Security & Passport Control
Security went smoothly and quickly despite the absence of a priority lane. Departing Taiwan through passport control was also fairly swift.
After clearing passport control, I had plenty of time to visit the lounge, which I have reviewed separately.
Shortly before boarding I left the lounge and made my way to the gate. Spotting an Airbus A330 in Hello Kitty livery parked nearby, I briefly hoped I might get to fly on it — but Flightradar and a closer look quickly dispelled that idea.
Boarding began on time and was handled almost ceremoniously, with business class guests and status passengers boarding first, as expected.
Cabin
The cabin on the Airbus A330 was fitted with the regional business class configuration — a 2-2-2 layout, familiar to anyone who has flown Lufthansa long-haul. I was lucky enough not to have a seatmate, which made the experience genuinely comfortable.
The entertainment system offered a generous selection of films, series, and music. The headphones were of outstanding quality and came presented in elegant packaging — something I hadn’t even come across in first class experiences.
The seats are finished in a sophisticated dark tone and offer a comfortable sitting position.
Dining
I had pre-ordered my meal in advance through the Eva Air website, opting for the chicken with noodles.
The drink selection was good, and I genuinely enjoyed this flight.
There was no amenity kit, as this was a short daytime flight and none were loaded accordingly.
Verdict
Next time, I don’t want just a quick hop with Eva Air — I’d love to experience them on a long-haul route.
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