Last summer, on our first ‘post-pandemic’ return to Taiwan from our home in Bangkok, we chose to fly with Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest – and only — boutique airline. That first trip with the brand was a revelation, and we were thrilled when the brand invited us to try out their planes another time on a recent trip home. We can now wholeheartedly say that there’s no better way to travel between Taiwan and Thailand. Hear us out:
Last December, we returned from Bangkok to Taipei with Starlux Airlines. Its Taipei-Bangkok routes operate twice a day, and the flight times are thoughtfully staggered with morning and afternoon departures (this might change, so do check the official website for the latest flight schedule). When I boarded the Starlux Airlines flight, I was amazed by the design of the entire cabin. The personal on-board screens displayed beautiful photos of Taiwan’s most iconic landmarks. The earth-toned color scheme made the cabin feel comfortable and welcoming, as if you were walking into a well-designed boutique hotel. As an overseas expat, it felt like I was coming home to Taiwan already!
For the economy class, the seat configuration is 2-4-2, which is spacious enough to accommodate even taller passengers. Despite being an economy class seat, I was able to fully extend my legs, and my husband who is 190 cm tall and has long legs could comfortably raise his legs while seated. The six-item headrest of the cabin seat can be folded up, down, left, and right, allowing passengers to rest more comfortably on the seat. Overall, the whole cabin exudes a sense of space – unlike a lot of the cramped competitors that fly this route.
The in-flight entertainment system is one of the best I’ve seen. The 13.3-inch 4K touch screen in the economy class had a big movie and TV show library, including quite a few new releases. My son, Ollie, who was traveling with us, didn’t hear a peep during the whole flight: he was deeply captivated by The Children’s World (Children’s Zone) , an in-flight entertainment system that had plenty of cartoons and games suitable for children to watch. The touch control is simple and smooth, and Ollie could choose the menu by himself without bothering me to watch my own movie. In addition, the flight attendants put headphones in the pockets of each passenger in advance, which was a nice touch.
I was also impressed with the in-flight safety film provided by Starlux Airlines. The award-winning animation film reported by the news before is well-deserved, and it’s a refreshing take on the traditional safety video. As a frequent traveler, I appreciated the effort put into creating a safety video that is both informative and entertaining – even Ollie couldn’t stop watching!
After ten days in Taiwan, we returned home to Bangkok and were kindly upgraded to Business Class. Before boarding the plane, the Galactic VIP Lounge set the tone for what was in store. As a proudly Taiwanese airline, they served signature Taiwanese dishes in the lounge, including local tea and a breakfast set by Fuhang, one of Taipei’s most popular local breakfast spots.
Once on board, we settled into the business class seats, which were arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. With only 28 seats in the business class, it was no surprise that the cabin was almost full – but there was so much space around the seats, it hardly mattered. The spacious business class seats were covered in silver Space Age-y accents, giving them a futuristic feel – they came with a personal locker for each seat (including a cosmetic mirror!), and with the lie-flat seat it felt as if I were flying in my own private movie theater.
And then there’s the food – both in economy and business, the food was excellent. Without exaggerating, it was one of the best airplane meals I’ve ever had (and I’m usually not a fan of them). As recommended, we ordered our meals in advance, and could choose between several options, including a set meal made in collaboration with Chef Lam Ming Kim of Locavore restaurant in Taipei. It was such a fun way to sample some of Taiwan’s culinary highlights. Even in Economy class the meals were great, and I especially loved the possibility of ordering cocktails (even in Economy!) created in collaboration with the award-winning TCRC bar in Tainan.
It’s clear that the airline went above and beyond to upgrade the flying experience – and, for once, I wish the flight between Bangkok and Taipei was longer. As a Taiwanese expat living in Thailand, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to fly with Starlux Airlines. They made traveling back home to Taiwan a breeze, and I am now a loyal fan of their airline. From the top-notch amenities to the delectable meals, Starlux Airlines exceeded all of my expectations. I highly recommend making them your airline of choice for your next trip.
