Background:
I flew on New Years Day last year from Taipei to Los Angeles, as I found a good fare on Taiwan based China Airlines from Sydney to Taipei to Los Angeles including a 3 night stopover in Taipei for $830. I was excited as I got to try Premium Economy on both the A350 and 777. A few days ago, I reviewed the Premium Economy on the A350. In short, the product on the A350 is much better in my opinion.
Flight Details:
China Airlines Flight 8
Taipei (TPE) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Scheduled Duration: 11 hours and 45 minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 777
Cabin: Premium Economy
Seat: 34H (Aisle)
The Seat:
Each seat in China Airlines 777 Premium Economy offers 38 inches of pitch and is 19 inches wide, setup in a 2-4-2 configuration. (Versus, the A350 has an extra inch of pitch and width in a 2-3-2 configuration). There’s 62 Premium Economy seats in the 777 cabin, versus just 31 on the A350, which makes the A350 more private and cozy than the 777 cabin.
The seats are shell seats, where the setback reclines back into the structure of the actual seat, so it doesn’t intrude on other passengers behind you. I really love this design, as it prevents the person in front of you reclining into your face.
Each seat had a nice side reading lamp, as well as a water bottle holder in the front of your seat. Very similar to the A350 seat, just narrower. A feature I really liked was that the seat offered a second, smaller folding tray table which was perfect for storing beverages and small snacks without having to take out the large tray table. There’s also an adjustable footrest under the seat in front of you.
In Flight Entertainment:
There were plenty of movies and games to choose from on the seat back IFE. There was also a USB charger which was very helpful. Noise canceling headsets were given, as well as a thin pair of slippers, a blanket and pillow.
Wifi was also offered on the flight. Prices were $3.25 USD for a lite messaging plan for iMessage and other messaging apps. An hour of wifi was $11.95, 3 hours for $16.95 and the whole flight for $21.95.
An amenity kit was provided and it had earplugs, lip balm, lotion, eyemask, comb and a toothbrush and toothpaste.
The Flight:
We pushed back right on time just before midnight. The captain informed us the flight would be 10 hours and 25 minutes from takeoff to landing.
A little less than an hour after takeoff, a late dinner was served. I opted for the chicken spaghetti with pesto sauce, and it was not very good. The highlight of the dinner was the Haagen Dazs Ice Cream that was provided for dessert.
After my dinner, I decided to catch some shut-eye which was very easy given the midnight departure. The cabin lights were dimmed shortly after dinner service, and midway through the flight, snacks were offered. Cabin service was good, and the flight attendants were good to check in if you needed something.
About 3 hours before landing, breakfast was served. I opted for the Noodles with pork, which was okay but not spectacular. Food is really the negative of the Premium Economy experience. (but the hot tea was great!)
We touched down at LAX at 6:30pm, but of course we were too early to get to our gate. So, we waited for a gate to open which took 40 minutes. So, we arrived 20 minutes early instead of an hour early. Typical LAX. (eye roll)
The Verdict:
Overall, I still enjoyed my China Airlines 777 Premium Economy experience, despite preferring the Premium Economy product on the A350 more. The shell seat is a great design and the cabin is nice, yet the food offering could be improved.
Have you experienced the China Airlines 777 Premium Economy product? Comment below!
Happy travels,
Ty
Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
MY 2019 CHRISTMAS/NEW YEARS TRIP REPORT:
Check out the rest of my Asia + South Pacific 2019 Winter Trip here!
Hotel Reviews:
Renaissance Hong Kong Harbor View
AVANI Metropolis Residences Auckland
Hilton Sydney Executive Level
New Years’ at the Grand Hyatt Taipei
Lounge Reviews:
Qantas First Lounge at LAX
Oneworld Los Angeles Business Class Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounge Taipei Terminal 2
Strata Lounge Auckland Airport
Cathay Pacific Business Lounge: The Pier
Cathay Pacific Business Lounge: The Wing
Airline Reviews:
How I Scored Cathay Pacific Business and First Using Alaska Miles
Cathay Pacific 777 Business Class: Los Angeles to Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific A350 Business Class: Hong Kong to Auckland
Virgin Australia Economy: Auckland to Sydney
China Airlines A350 Premium Economy: Sydney to Taipei
China Airlines 777 Premium Economy: Taipei to Los Angeles
Super helpful, thanks!