China Airlines

Brisbane to Hong Kong via TPE return Business Class. Check in brilliant in Brisbane Air NZ lounge in Brisbane fantastic with plenty of food and refreshments. The seats definitely need improving on A330-300 but managed to get about 4 hours sleep. The service in the air was the best in a long time. Attentive and willing to supply drinks and or food. Meal also very good. TPE to HK was on 737. Return the same. It's great value for money in business class.

LHR-TPE-DPS return. The price was £500 for weekend daytime flights. Flights between UK and Taipei were full but you can call the airline to pre-book seats. A340 has 2-4-2 configuration so if you're travelling as a couple it is easy to relax if you book the window seats. Flights between Taipei and Bali were half full and we were given exit seats in both directions. Food was ok but don't expect Western food to be great. Entertainment system between UK and Taiwan excellent. Huge selection of current films shows CD albums and games. Check in staff ground staff and cabin crew all very helpful. Taipei airport was ok - worth noting that a new terminal is nearing completion and it looks very modern. Overall a very enjoyable experience and I would use this airline again. Prices probably will start to creep up as they become more established in the UK market.

Mixed Y/C-class VIE-TPE-ROR return. Long haul Economy class quite satisfying. Good seat nice AVOD enough space enough rounds of drinks. Quick check-in in Vienna flexible with last- minute seat changes at the gate and friendly staff. On the way back food was nothing to write home about. Even the Asian food choice. C-class flights to Koror in Palau on a 737-800 and back were a very pleasant experience with a small cabin and comfortable old-style business class seats which are okay for a 4hr flight. The flight-attendent addresses you personally with your name (or try to do so) serve you plenty of rounds of drinks (good Champagne the Geman Riesling was to much "Spätlese" to go with your main the Californian Chardonnay was a good choice) and make your stay onboard very enjoyable. The transfer in Taipei was swift and the luggage made it back to Vienna with even 1 hour transfer time. Impressed. The only downside was checking-in in Koror which was only done by a single agent for transfer passengers it was done manually (!) and you did not receive the transfer boarding pass. At least the boarding passes have been already printed out in Taipei at the transfer desk.

SYD to LHR via Taipei Business Class. China Airlines use the Qantas Business Lounge at SYD - good food choice of drinks and nice showers. China Airlines Business Class seat is comfortable for sitting but for sleeping it is way off the standard as the seats are not flat or even angled flat. The meals have deteriorated over the last few years. The wine selection is poor amenity kit is a waste of space - why do they bother. IFE is good films are not that up to date but there is a reasonable selection. Taipei Business lounge not great the T2 lounge better than T1 lounge. They use the Sky Team lounge at LHR which is very busy in the early evening but an hour or so before the 1000pm departure it is quiet pleasant. Really nice shower at LHR. Overall when compared to other Business products on this route you get what you paid for.

LHR-TPE on A340-300 and TPE-DPS on B737-800 return. Chosen because of price and the A343 had AVOD making 13-14 hour flight more bearable. Good selection of films and shows with choice of languages. I had bulkhead seat due to my height bit narrow but legroom gain made up for it despite sitting next to families with babies! Food ok two full meal service and sandwiches available between. The drinks service was minimal as reported by others ( 1 small glass of wine with dinner) but staff happy to provide drinks when asked. Staff friendly and attentive. 90 minute delay on way back in Taipei gate desk had a complimentary drinks station set up within 30 minutes shows good customer service. Taipei airport is being renovated but as had only 1-2 hours transfer time no issue free Wifi and internet terminals available makes passing time easier.

Business class from Amsterdam to Bangkok. Seats are not up to the standard of most airlines but cost is significantly less and represents value for money. Staff onboard very friendly and service good. Return journey delayed by 24 hours with no explanation connection from Amsterdam back to UK changed for no apparent reason causing a 6 hour wait (this has happened on both occasions I used the airline). Staff at desk in terminal building at Amsterdam very rude and unhelpful. Staff at China airlines in London equally rude in never replying to several communications which were simply asking if such changes are standard procedure prior to making further bookings. Pity the ground staff do not match the standards of the ones I met on the flights. Doubt very much if I will consider this airline again despite the cost savings having flown this route countless times problem free with other airlines and having so many options to select from.

Sydney-Taipei-Heathrow. This airline was cheapest by a long shot and suggested by the travel agent. Seating was adequate. Inflight entertainment pretty good as was food. The staff at check in and on board were lovely and extremely polite and helpful. Would definitely fly with again the only downside is the route - 14.5 hours from Taipei to Heathrow and the amount of time spent waiting at Taipei airport for connecting flights as Taipei airport is probably not the best place to waste 6 hours. Take a good book and a packed lunch.

BKK-AMS. The night flight from BKK was again very poor. Food was served quickly and of a poor standard - given the smallest glass of wine with the meal and then during the flight no water runs. I had to go to the galley every time I wanted anything. Big screen was poor and not working correctly. I use China Airlines as they were a cheap way to get to Thailand. I wont be using them again if possible.

AMS-BKK. China Airlines are getting worse on this route. It's still the old B747 which really needs upgrading. Your are time-warped back to the 70's when you get onboard. Fuzzy big screens should be a thing of the past. The food is okay stewards are OK if a bit miserable with the beer wine and a smile!

LAX-TPE-HKG-TPE-LAX economy. Very cheap fares. Punctual. Attentive and friendly flight attendants. The food quality was fine and consistent throughout all flights. A tip - if you fly an Asia-based airline choose the Asian dish if given a choice between the Asian and Western dish. Obviously they'll be far more skilled at preparing the Asian dish. My only complaints are the dearth of movie selections (they remain unchanged two weeks later on my return trip) and the lack of individual air nozzles. On each of my flights the entertainment system was individual.