China Airlines

London-Taipei-Sydney Business Class. Online seat selection is available one month before the first sector is flown and selection was honoured. Online check in can be done twenty four hours before the flight and was completed but boarding passes would not print out. Check in at the airport is at a dedicated desk and was fast end efficient. China Airlines uses the Skyteam lounge which is close to the departure gate - lounge is spacious and attractively designed and has all the facilities you can expect. On boarding coats are taken and welcome drink appears. China Airlines is not big on alcohol so that drink is Oolong tea. Aircraft LHR-TPE-SYD route have no first class and business cabin is right forward. There was no pre-dinner drinks service and the drink I ordered came on my meal tray. Meals properly served course by course and accompanied by wine wine on offer was adequate but not up to much and it was served in glasses more appropriate for serving a small sherry. The meal was tasty and interesting and there were choices for each course that was presented on good tableware with plastic cutlery. TPE-SYD sector the cutlery was stainless steel. Seats in business class are angled lie-flat ones but the footrest rise is a bit less than adequate and I noticed that several passengers used their pillow to give extra height to bring legs up to a more comfortable position. The seat controls are on the top of the armrest where they are nudged several times on a thirteen hour flight to cause sudden small random movements. I did not use the entertainment. We broke the flight at TPE for a two night stopover which was allowed within the basic fare. Arrival procedures at Terminal 1 very fast and away from the airport about thirty minutes after landing. TPE-SYD sector departs from Terminal 2. The China Airlines lounge is basic and looks like a railway carriage. Close by is another lounge that welcomes Priority Pass cardholders so those passengers may be better off trying that one instead. Arriving at Sydney was not the best. We were parked at the wrong gate where there was no one to meet the aircraft. After some delay and a debate whether the plane would be towed to the correct gate eventually the original gate was staffed and we left the aircraft 45 minutes later. We chose China Airlines because it offers competitive fares on the route and were satisfied with the service they provided.

AMS-BKK return in Dynasty. Dynasty class is excellent value in the increasingly costly world of premium cabin flying. KLM Air France British Airways and Thai Airways do this route with noticeably flatter seats wider menu choice and better AVOD but you pay accordingly. It's down to choice and the size of your wallet I guess. Well organised boarding attentive service good drink choice on time departures and arrivals. Plane is a little older than some but it's clean and well maintained. Overall a great choice for those who want a biz class service without breaking the bank.

LHR-TPE-DPS return. Paid £540 for a return flight to Bali. We were very impressed by the excellent service and friendliness from crew on each. Inflight entertainment good. Food fine and plenty of it they keep you fed regularly. We did find the flight home from Bali to Heathrow long ie. Bali to Taipei 5 hours - Taipei to LHR 14.5 hrs. We would probably use China Airlines again if the prices remain reasonable but would ideally take a shorter route if the prices were similar.

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.