Hello from Taiwan! I just took a flight on Starlux Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 first class, enjoying a 13-hour journey from Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE). I recently shared insights on how and why I booked this Starlux first class experience, as it’s the second to last first class offering globally that I’ve yet to experience (Air Côte d’Ivoire, you’re next on my radar!). This was also the second highest amount I’ve ever personally spent on a flight. Yikes.
I approached my Starlux first class journey with modest expectations, considering the hard product resembles a “business class plus” seat. I questioned whether this would hold up as a competitive option, as Starlux’s first class commercial model seems puzzling.
However, I must admit, I left the experience quite impressed, and it notably surpassed my expectations. Is it quirky, and does the hard product have some shortcomings? Yes. But the ground experience was outstanding, the inflight service was top-notch, and the food and amenities were quite commendable.
Here are some of my initial impressions, and I’ll provide a comprehensive review soon.
Starlux’s A350 first class seats are remarkably unusual
Starlux’s A350 business class is fantastic, featuring the Collins Aerospace Elements seat, which I consider one of the best in the business class category worldwide. Rather than a completely separate first class cabin with a divider, first class is situated in the front row and, at first glance, resembles more of a “business class plus.”
You know my reservations about this product, but various aspects exceeded my expectations.
Regarding space, I would say the first class seat is likely on par with British Airways’ 777 first class, so while it’s not an outstanding hard product, I don’t think it falls too short either. The seat technology is excellent, with all the charging ports one would expect and a large 32″ 4K UHD screen.
The walls surrounding the seat are quite elevated, creating a sense of isolation from the rest of the cabin. While that may sound trivial, I anticipated being disturbed by ambient light and other distractions, but that was not the case at all. It truly feels like you have your own private cocoon.
Additionally, it appears that very few passengers choose to book first class on Starlux, so I found myself with the entire cabin to myself, allowing me to lounge in one seat and sleep in another.
I was curious about how the lavatory situation worked since the forward lavatory is designated for first class passengers; I assumed others would often attempt to access it due to the absence of a curtain between the two service classes.
However, that was not the scenario. I clearly heard the crew inform business class passengers that lavatories are located behind their section. Only once did I observe someone trying to enter the forward lavatory, and they were quickly redirected to the one at the back. Thus, this turned out to be a non-issue.
Moreover, business class service is conducted from the galley located behind the cabin, resulting in minimal light or traffic in the forward galley. Regarding cabin lighting, it seemed to shift based on where I was in the service, which was somewhat amusing. For instance, the cabin lights turned off immediately after I finished my meal.
So, while I’d rate the hard product as slightly below average, it ended up being less of a drawback than I had anticipated.
Starlux’s first class soft product is quite competitive
I must say, the Starlux first class soft product was truly exceptional. I had two flight attendants, Birdy and Lori, exclusively attending to my needs, and their service was impeccable. Every time I was served something, both would come out, and it was orchestrated flawlessly. They were friendly and demonstrated great attention to detail.
Starlux first class is distinct from other first class offerings I’ve experienced in that guests are typically not provided with a menu onboard (although there is an extensive drink list). Instead, you select from various options before your flight, and they cater it specifically to your preferences. While this might not sound appealing at first, it functioned effectively, and the food quality was genuinely good.
I’ll provide more specifics in my full review, but here are some photos of my main meal…
For drinks, Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 was the champagne available, and I also thoroughly enjoyed the additional wine selection, which even included some options from Taiwan.
There were many delightful aspects of the service, including a miniature hard-shell overnight bag from