Executive travel: China Airlines business class is more affordable

While China Airlines' new business class product - set to launch in September - will be a step forward in cabin comfort, it shouldn’t detract from what the carrier already has to offer as The National flies from Dubai to to Taipei via Guangzhou.

China Airlines business class on a 747. Courtesy China Airlines

China Airlines’ brand new 777 product introduces a flatbed business class, completely renovated economy product and a brand new premium economy cabin to the carrier. The next-generation offering – set to take to the skies in September – will offer international premium comfort equalling that of its rivals. That’s not to say, however, that the current business product should be overlooked.

Flying from Dubai to Taipei (via Guangzhou) in business class with China Airlines and Skyteam partner China Southern, starts at about Dh10,700 making China Airlines a more affordable product for business travellers. While on flights across the pacific, the airline offers a first class product with fully flat beds, for the rest of its routes, it’s business class only. On China Airlines’ 747 business class, expect a lie-flat bed, which until recently was industry standard.

While the bed, with its 60” seat pitch and cocooned seat back, is perfectly comfortable and private, it is the cabin service and catering that steals the show on long haul flights. From check-in to arrival, passengers are greeted by a genuinely friendly and helpful crew.

The seat reclines to an almost lie-flat bed, and, with its variety of lumbar support options, makes for a comfortable sleep. Even on a 13-hour flight, I managed to steal at least eight hours solid sleep. As for in-flight entertainment (IFE), it is on demand, offering a variety of recent blockbusters on your very own 15” HD screen.

For food, there is either Western or Chinese dining options starting with elegant amuse bouches. The starter, a marinated seafood salad was fresh and perfectly chilled, main courses including fried red snapper, were fragrant and light, but I opted for the roasted chicken with Calvados. The desert, a chocolate cake, was rich and comforting.

Later on, midnight snacks were available as was constant care from the crew, who offered drinks to those still engrossed in their IFE. Breakfast was served two hours before landing, and while the western option of a chicken and vegetable tortilla was amazing to taste, for a real treat, try out the Asian options such as the Chinese noodle soup, by far the airline’s speciality.

On the ground, China Airlines’ lounges in Taipei are of a high quality, offering showers, Wi-Fi, noodle bars and a wide selection of drinks and reading material. These lounges will undergo renovation to tie in with the carrier’s new look over the coming months.

China Airlines offers a business class which is affordable, comfortable and more importantly, friendly.

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