Comments on: Trip Report: Starlux Airlines Inaugural Taipei to Los Angeles Flight

By: Porky

Porky — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 12:20:51 +0000

BTW, a little personal note: Time flys. It has been almost 30 years since KW Chang and I last met in person. I was working at BR as aircraft dispatcher in LAX. KW Chang would visit our office under the old (now demolished) boarding area of TBIT in LAX from time to time, and ride along with us (yes, I had the permit to drive inside LAX) or BR maintenance reps to the aircrafts to chat with cockpit crews, and most importantly, cabin crews ;-).

By: Porky

Porky — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 11:58:21 +0000

It’s a smart move by Starlux Airlines to utilize Huan Yu VIP Terminal at TPE/RCTP for the first class passengers. As such, Starlux Airlines can truly compete against NH, JL, SQ, premium European airlines, and the ME3 in terms of first class passenger departrue services. Sadly, flying the very crappy & over-priced airlines (with only one exception) of the entire American Continent (North + Central + South) in any class of service feel like riding in cattle cars.

During my Q4 2022 trip to Taiwan, my family & I utilized Huan Yu VIP Terminal’s arrival services (paid separately on our own — as the competing airlines did not have such amenity). The staffs were courteous; the private pickup & the “golf cart” ride & the luggage retrival were great, espeically for my 88-year-old mom; the private VIP room was clean & very confortible; the foods were excellent; and the private immigration & custom clearance was fast & easy.

Based on Sam’s trip report, I can see that Starlux Airlines is distinguishing itself from the competitors in everything other than the hardware seat products (which I will have my complaints against the entire airlines industry below), especially in terms of its staffs and onboard food & beverage services, in addition of utilizing Huan Yu VIP Terminal for first class passanger.

Can’t wait to try Starlux Airlines on my next trip to Taiwan.

Now, my complaints against the entire airlines industry in term of the hardware seat products:

I miss the old business class seats of BR — its version of B/E Aerospace (now Collins Aerospace) MiniPod. With width of 22 inches (measurement between two armrests) & pitch of 61 inches, I actually enjoyed much more 3-dimensional personal space than most of today’s cramped business class seats.

Nowaday, the staggered business class seats, the herringbone business class seats, & the reverse harringbone business class seats, have average width of 20~21 inches (screw the bulls***s shown on airlines’ own websites & seatguru.com) & average pitch of 44~45 inches (the tiny footstall shall NOT be counted as part of seat pitch).

In comparison, I might even be more comfortable in a premium economy seat with average width of 19+ inches and average pitch of 38~40 inches, especially when NH and JL also provide airport lounge access to premium ecoomy passengers (not the case for both JX & BR & CI). One cannot help but wonder what’s the point? The lots of extra money and/or mileages paid are not proportional to the tiny extra 3-dimensional personal space gained (sometimes even lost).

Besides, I can never lie flat & sleep anywhere unless I am in my own home or in a hotel room, behind locked door. However, I have no problem taking power-naps while seating.

The only current business class seats that are worth the money are NH’s The Room (its version of Safran Fusio) & B6’s Mint Studio.

As for the first class seats, only SQ’s suite on A380-800 & EK’s new suite on 777-300ER are worth the hypes.

By: vedang

vedang — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 03:53:48 +0000

Why don’t you try air Greenland and the brand new a330 neo they got

By: Thanks

Thanks — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 03:27:19 +0000

Amazing review, thanks

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 01:05:36 +0000

Enjoyed watching your video! Starlux looks like they have put some thought and elegance into their product! Thanks for posting and always tell myself that you have the best job in the world!

By: Santoria Black

Santoria Black — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:27:50 +0000

First I love your content. 2020 and 2021 were hard years. The pandemic and I had a heart attack. I was in the hospital and didn’t know if was going to make it. I was on You Tube surfing and ran across a video. You were on your third flight on Etihad on the Residence. It was inspiring because I realized that I’ve traveled but haven’t experienced in that way. I realized that I want more out of life. Since that point I made a promise that I would realize my passions and dreams more. I watch your videos and would love to have you on my national gospel radio show to talk about travel and food. Thanks for being an inspiration.

Santoria Black
Weekend Praise Party