EVA Air

Flew elite class London to Bangkok. Staff friendly seats good - would have paid a lot more with other airlines and maybe only got slightly better food and entertainment.

BKK-TPE-YYZ. I was affected by the closure of Heathrow on December 18th. I waited patiently at check-in at Suvarnabhumi Airport until the crowds had thinned and approached a ground staff member to inquire on the status of my flight. She had originally booked me BKK-TPE-LAX-YVR but did not know I had an additional flight to YWG. Once I explained the situation she rescheduled me on a flight connecting through YYZ. BKK-TPE was in economy class service was very good and efficient. I am glad TPE reopened smoking lounges as it makes transit easier (as an aside for anyone who is wondering). TPE-YYZ flight went smoothly - many empty seats in Elite class and the service was exceptional with water and juice between meals.

Unfortunately we have just become a victim of the Heathrow closures. Our flight was due to leave for Bangkok at 2120 on 18/12/2010. When we got to Heathrow the situation was complete chaos with the EVA Air check-in screens just advising that check-in was suspended pending the arrival of the inbound aircraft. In the meantime the EVA Air check-in staff were 'milling about' behind the counter drinking coffee and taking photos on their respective phones of the sea of human misery which confronted them. At no point did EVA Air staff behind the counter attempt to engage with the airlines customers if only to tell them that at the moment they had nothing to tell them. Eventually (after BAA had announced the closure of Heathrow) the staff decided now would be a good time to give people information. At this time BR068 on 18/12/2010 was classified as delayed. On ringing the number given to us by the check-in staff we were advised that the flight for 18/12/2010 was classified as indefinitely delayed whilst the flight for 19/12/2010 was cancelled. This was then amended to both flights being cancelled. The small concession made by EVA Air was to open their reservations office on the Sunday. However they would only deal with passengers who had booked through Eva; the remainder of passengers had to contact their travel agents which is somewhat difficult on a Sunday. I was able to talk to someone at the Eva Air Ops desk on Sunday and was advised that the airline would do nothing to help. Conversely on desperately trawling through the Web to try and salvage our holiday I noted the following on the Qatar Airways website : Qatar Airways is ensuring that customers due to depart from London Heathrow to Doha on Qatar Airways flights during 18 and 19 December are provided flight options to rebook and depart from the UK on scheduled flights from London Heathrow Terminal 4 during 20 December 2010 offering additional seat capacity as required. I will not be booking with EVA Air ever again. Their complete disdain for the customer experience has (in my view) shamed them beyond reproach.

I've been flying EVA for the past 5 years mainly EWR/SFO to CGK. The quality is declining pretty rapidly for every year I traveled. They changed the EWR lounge to a smaller lounge in which there is no real food (cup noodles and sandwich was all they have). AVOD is terrible. Service is just okay. Food is absolutely terrible.

AMS-BKK. Service ok satisfied with their premium class. However very disappointed with the reservation system. My travel agent bought the ticket and I was not aware EVA already assigned terrible seat to me at that moment. I asked the lady at their desk to change the seat for me - it was not possible. Same thing on a way back from Bangkok - logged in 24 hours and not a single seat was shown as available. In the airport they smile in my face and tell me again that not possible to change the seat. We were a couple and EVA "dumped" us in the four seats - when I wanted to sit near the window while there was a single guy sitting on 2 seats alone on a flight back. It's totally ridiculous how they assign the seats. Very disappointing experience but EVA don't care about it.

LHR-BKK does represent good value however they have an annoying habit of blocking the best premium economy seats so that when you go to choose your seat online only middle seats are left. As an experiment I logged on at midnight last night to choose seats (when the booking window opened) and lo and behold! I rang their Customer Services in Euston to ask them why they did this and I was greeted with a snort of derision. Service is okay - just okay. Consistent in its blandness. As mentioned in other reviews alcohol is not forthcoming maybe they think that Westerners are barbarians who'll lash out if they have two glasses of wine? And the seat makes your legs go numb.

LHR to BKK Business Class. Check-in at Heathrow quick and efficient fast track provided through security. EVA uses the American Airlines Lounge in Terminal 3 which was comfortable clean and many modern computers to use. Food and beverages in this lounge above average. The inflight entertainment was fine and food served pretty acceptable by airline standards. The flight attendants were enthusiastic polite and efficient. Lavatories on Boeing 777-300ER kept clean and stocked. Check-in at Bangkok a bit chaotic and there didn't appear to be a defined Business Class check-in desk. No fast track through security provided. EVA lounge at Bangkok was large quiet and clean food and drinks were good. The Business Class seats are not by any means the most comfortable. Arrival fast track at Heathrow provided and business class luggage came off very quickly.

Singapore to Taipei return. The meals prepared were right for me. Aircraft clean and seats were neat. The staff were very friendly and safety is very good.

LHR-BKK return in Premium Laurel Class. The inflight service and food was excellent entertainment superb. The cabin crew were polite and attentive.

Bangkok-Taipei-Seattle roundtrip - elite class has only two restrooms and due to the configuration only one is easily accessible from each side of the plane. The movies on offer are poor. I have flown EVA for many years and see a decline in quality. My major objection is their insane credit card policy. After booking a flight on line and EVA accepting payment from the credit card company they demand the card be shown at check in. If someone else say a mother paying for a child's trip has the card or you cannot produce it you are denied. You must purchase a ticket for cash or by using another card. What nonsense.