[
Fast take: Whereas award availability might be arduous to come back by, Starlux’s thrilling new business-class suite makes for an exciting journey.
Professionals
- Bookable with Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles
- Fabulous new planes with luxurious interiors and comfortable seats
- Unimaginable service from boarding to deplaning
Cons
- Costly money and mileage redemption costs
- The inflight leisure system may have extra choices
- Dimmable home windows have been locked or unresponsive
As soon as in a blue moon within the factors and miles area, you strike redemption gold. I used to be not too long ago the beneficiary of such a stroke of luck when the brand new Taiwanese airline Starlux Airways began teaming up with Alaska Airways Mileage Plan. For only a few hours in July of final 12 months, Alaska members have been in a position to guide awards in enterprise class on nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan, for simply 60,000 Mileage Plan miles every means. Costs elevated shortly and by no means got here again down.
I lept on the alternative to go to Taipei, which had been on my bucket listing. To do it on a brand-new airline I’d by no means flown made the prospect even higher. I’d been excited to fly Starlux after studying my colleague Zach Griff’s protection of the airline’s inaugural U.S. flight from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Taiwan Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (TPE).
Starlux has some competitors on the route with flights to Taipei supplied by EVA Airways and China Airways, so how did it stack up? Right here’s what the expertise was like.
How a lot does enterprise class price to guide on Starlux?
Starlux enterprise class (and financial system, for that matter) doesn’t come low-cost. The bottom fare I may discover in enterprise class for a round-trip ticket between LAX and TPE was simply over $5,500.
Right here is the vary of money and award charges for round-trip journey on this route over the following 12 months:
| Class | Economic system | Premium financial system | Enterprise class |
| Airfare (round-trip) | $918 to $1,596 | $1,975 to $3,123 | $5,514 to $8,806 |
| Miles (Alaska Airways Mileage Plan ) | 60,000 to 124,500 plus $38 to $48 | 100,000 to 195,500 plus $19 to $70 | 330,000 plus $48 to $104 |
I’d been on the lookout for an opportunity to spend a hoard of Alaska miles I’d been sitting on, and with this reserving, I used to be in a position to snag a round-trip ticket in enterprise class for simply 120,000 Alaska miles. These miles are price $1,080, in response to TPG’s valuations. That was an especially whole lot contemplating money costs begin at greater than $5,500 round-trip.
Sadly, these discounted mileage redemption costs are lengthy gone. I couldn’t discover business-class tickets for lower than 165,000 Alaska miles every means for my flights.
The one candy spot I did discover was premium financial system seats for 50,000 Alaska miles every means. The premium financial system cabin on Starlux seems fairly good.
If you’re on the lookout for a straightforward technique to earn Mileage Plan miles, I’ve opened each of the Alaska Airways bank cards issued by Financial institution of America.
The Alaska Airways Visa® bank card has a $95 annual payment however at the moment gives a limited-time sign-up bonus of 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) with this provide. To qualify, spend $3,000 or extra on purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
You probably have a small enterprise, you may want the Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise card. This card has a $70 annual payment for the corporate and $25 per card. It gives a sign-up bonus of fifty,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) after you spend $3,000 or extra on purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
Lastly, Bilt Rewards simply launched a strategic partnership with Alaska Airways. Now you can switch Bilt factors to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan immediately at a 1:1 ratio. That makes opening a Bilt card an excellent higher concept. I’ve beloved utilizing my Bilt card to pay lease and have taken benefit of a number of switch bonuses previously 12 months.
Associated: 6 causes I like my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the costliest metropolis within the US
Typically, you’ll be able to examine a bag and have carry-on luggage with out baggage charges on Starlux.
Each money fares and mileage redemptions in enterprise class embody free seat choice, two complimentary checked luggage weighing as much as 50 kilos every, one full-size carry-on bag and one private merchandise (like a purse or laptop computer bag).
| Allowances | Seat choice (price) | Cabin baggage allowance | Checked baggage allowance |
| Money fares | Is dependent upon the kind of fare class, often complimentary | One full-size cabin bag, plus one private merchandise | One to 2 50-pound bag(s) included relying on fare class |
| Redemptions | Complimentary | One full-size cabin bag, plus one complimentary private merchandise | One to 2 50-pound bag(s) included relying on ticket class |
Starlux began service in 2020, however the airline is dreaming large. It’s already serving 23 locations, principally in Asia, however simply expanded service to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO). The airline additionally will launch service to Seattle in August.
Checking into and boarding enterprise class on Starlux
Starlux makes use of row B in Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal at LAX.
There was no line after I arrived at 6:50 p.m., however there have been additionally only a few staff. Starlux check-in desks don’t formally open till 7:30 p.m., about three and a half hours earlier than the flight. These counters have been B47 by means of B54.
After I approached a person working behind the counter the place Starlux can be working, he instructed me I may use counters throughout the best way at B20, B21 and B22; these have been set as much as take passengers who arrived as early as 6:30 p.m.
I jumped on the chance to get checked in a bit earlier and solely waited about 10 minutes earlier than a pleasant agent checked me in and printed my boarding cross. Three brokers have been at these counters for particular lodging — principally folks checking in massive baggage.
I had a boarding cross inside 5 minutes and spent the following half hour taking images and strolling across the B check-in counters.
There have been 4 counters for financial system passengers: one for premium financial system passengers, two for business-class passengers and one for first-class passengers. As soon as the principle counters opened round 7:30 p.m., I counted no fewer than 9 brokers.
There have been additionally 24 kiosks, although a couple of weren’t working, and I couldn’t use them to examine in anyway. Like with the app, passengers on flights booked by means of Alaska Airways Mileage Plan should examine in with an agent even when they’ve the Starlux file locater.
Starlux not too long ago began using TSA PreCheck, which cuts numerous time since many transpacific flights go away Southern California and head to Asia within the evenings. The agent instructed me they’d simply joined TSA PreCheck in December.
Along with participation within the TSA PreCheck program, right here’s what you’ll be able to anticipate for inclusions when flying with Starlux.
| Precedence boarding | Sure |
| Lounge accessible | Starlux company can use the Oneworld business-class lounge in the principle departure corridor |
| Does the airline take part in TSA PreCheck? | Sure |
| Boarding group | Boarding Group 1 of 6 |
From the principle departure corridor airside in LAX’s Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal, I took an elevator up a ground and walked down an extended hallway to the attractive Oneworld business-class lounge.
Whereas that is branded as a Qantas, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Oneworld lounge, Starlux business-class passengers can use it as nicely.
This large lounge is gorgeous, with a plethora of seating areas. Showers and many complimentary high-end booze are additionally accessible. In truth, there was a big bar to the correct as I walked in, the place bartenders have been able to make blended drinks. There have been additionally self-pour wine stations and even a number of candies.
There was no line, and it was calm and stress-free inside. This was an enormous area with a number of separate seating areas and workstations.
I loved shopping and grazing from the huge cold and warm meals bar with what appeared like a unending provide of fascinating meals choices. Among the many selections have been roasted pumpkin and carrot soup, purple wine-braised hen and mushrooms, jasmine rice, rigatoni pasta, steamed broccoli, a number of salad choices and a ramen self-serve station. There was even a pancake machine.
I may have spent hours on the lounge, however I wished to take a look at the gate space for my Starlux flight. It’s a great factor I left a bit early, because it’s a little bit of a trek. It is best to give your self a minimum of quarter-hour to recover from to the distant gates numbered from 201 to 225.
The boarding space was massive and fashionable. We have been leaving from Gate 221. The enormous seating space served Gate 221 and one other gate subsequent door (Gate 225).
There have been tons of of seats, dozens of which have been empty, so it by no means felt cramped. Two massive tables, every with seating for eight, had loads of retailers, and there have been free charging plugs at many of the seats within the boarding space.
The one damaging in regards to the gate was that it was arduous to see the aircraft from it.
There are technically eight boarding teams for Starlux, although they solely have six numbered spots. Starlux brokers put out cardboard indicators within the boarding space for every group. I’d by no means seen that system earlier than, however it appeared to work nicely. You’ll solely be capable of do that with massive boarding gates like these on this terminal.
Brokers introduced passengers with wheelchairs to a reserved space first, together with two first-class passengers. Boarding started promptly round 10:20 p.m. as these in wheelchairs have been escorted by means of the boarding gates.
First-class passengers bought escorted preboarding at 10:35 p.m. as folks in wheelchairs have been additionally helped on board. Group 1 was subsequent for business-class passengers, adopted by Group 2 for premium financial system and teams 3, 4 and 5 for the financial system cabin. Boarding was environment friendly, and the cabin was secured by 11 p.m.
There was loads of time left earlier than our departure at 11:10 p.m.
How comfy was enterprise class on Starlux?
I discovered the Starlux business-class cabin to be visually beautiful, with a contemporary and classy cabin outfitted with refined branding touches like stars and hints of metallic gold. The gorgeous mural of flowers and vases on the galley wall was an particularly good contact. When the cabin was dim, refined lights sparkled within the mural.
In a press launch describing the “Enchanting Sophistication” cabin inside, Starlux stated the design suggests “sitting on a throne in a powerful palace, with heat woven materials and splendid textures, embellished with a royal rose golden shade.”
I’m undecided it felt like a throne, however the seat was actually comfy. I selected seat 6K on the aisle, which had a single window. Nobody was sitting throughout the aisle from me within the middle seat.
One factor to concentrate on is that most of the seats’ home windows have partially obstructed views. Solely seats 5K and 5A had a full unobstructed window. The cabin additionally had electronically dimmable home windows. Nevertheless, I discovered the sliding controllers have been locked for many of the flight, they usually have been unresponsive after I did have some management over them.
Starlux is the primary airline to put in Collins Aerospace’s new Parts suite, which is nicely designed and made for a snug flight.
Starlux’s Airbus A350 has seven rows of enterprise class within the entrance of the aircraft, consisting of 26 seats organized in a reverse herringbone 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat has direct aisle entry and privateness sliding doorways.
A row of 4 first-class seats takes up the very entrance of the cabin, with excessive partitions giving it some separation from the remainder of the cabin.
This Airbus A350-900 had the next format and seat dimensions in enterprise class.
| Variety of seats | 26 |
| Cabin format | 1-2-1 |
| Seat recline | Totally flat, 77 inches |
| Seat width | 21 inches |
| Display dimension | 24 inches |
I beloved seat 6K. It was nicely padded and extensive sufficient that I by no means felt cramped. The footwell narrowed on the toes, however not like some business-class seats I’ve been in, it didn’t really feel too tight whereas I slept. I measured it at 14 inches at its narrowest.
The armrest goes up and down but in addition slides ahead to make the seat even bigger when totally flat.
After I was able to sleep, a flight attendant shortly transformed the seat right into a 77-inch-long mattress replete with a mattress pad for further padding.
The seat additionally went into what Starlux calls “Zero-G” mode primarily based on what the airline says is “NASA’s impartial physique posture specs.” It’s kind of a lounging place that Starlux sells as serving to scale back stress on joints and ease fatigue.
The bi-fold tray desk was pulled out from beneath the inflight leisure system and could possibly be prolonged or partially retracted. At 16 inches extensive and 18.5 inches lengthy at its largest, it felt like the proper dimension for meal service and for my 15-inch MacBook Professional after I wanted to work.
The dimmable aspect lamps at each seat have been an aesthetic contact. They have been managed by a 4.7-inch touchscreen panel on the armrest that additionally allowed for altering the seat place.
There was additionally a shallow storage compartment that I may open. It was a great spot for me to retailer my passport, however it wasn’t deep sufficient to retailer a lot else.
An important storage closet at my seat held quite a bit through the flight. It even had a charging pad, although I couldn’t get my cellphone to cost.
Inside, there was a headphone hook, a retractable trackpad distant, a USB port and a 220-volt plug. The cubby lit up when opened and even had a big mirror.
A small open cubby offered extra storage alongside the aspect of the seat not removed from the footwell; there was additionally a small pocket for the inflight duty-free journal and plane description.
The Starlux seat additionally had a sliding door for added privateness. I wanted a flight attendant to indicate me open and shut it because it had a considerably hidden button that you just wanted to unlatch to open the door.
Starlux calls it a 48.5-inch partition. Personally, I discover the sliding door pattern to be foolish. Until you’re in a first-class suite with very, very tall doorways, the privateness benefit appears overblown.
A lot of the seats have been good, however you’ll wish to take a window seat in rows A or Ok if you’re a solo traveler.
| Finest seats for solo vacationers | Any A or Ok seat |
| Finest seats for {couples} | D and G pairs (besides row 8) |
| Seats to keep away from | Row 8 seats 8D and 8G |
There are not any particular person air nozzles on Starlux A350s, so the cabin can get heat.
There have been two business-class restrooms, one on all sides of the business-class cabin close to the galley on the again. There was one other toilet close to the cockpit that was principally off-limits for business-class passengers.
Each bathrooms have been at all times saved clear all through the flight.
Inside the toilet, I discovered dental floss, mouthwash and towelettes for purchasers to make use of, however there was additionally face mist and lotion by the French skincare model Huygens.
Some of the fascinating issues in regards to the loos was the Starlux-branded bathroom paper with the phrase “star wonderers” printed on the tissue together with an area character. It was quirky however cute.
There have been a number of different good touches, like shows of synthetic flowers and a room deodorizer.
My favourite a part of utilizing the services was that mild, soothing music started to play when the toilet door closed.
The opposite restroom is within the ahead galley, and it’s bigger than the 2 in enterprise class, although I positively bought the sense that the crew solely wished that utilized by first-class passengers.
Associated: Flying Starlux’s spectacular new enterprise class on the inaugural to Taipei
Facilities in Starlux enterprise class
Starlux enterprise class was chock-full of up-to-date facilities.
Every seat had a thick gold pillow and a cover blanket ready on the seat, in addition to slippers in their very own sealed bag. Mattress pads have been saved within the overhead bins however have been made accessible to passengers when it was time to sleep.
Pajamas have been additionally offered for this in a single day flight. Starlux is without doubt one of the few airways nonetheless handing out pajamas to their business-class passengers. They have been cute, camel coloured and offered a pleasant possibility for sleepwear, although they barely match. Regardless of being a bit tight for me — the most important dimension accessible was a big — I wore them anyway. They have been handed out together with a moisturizing masks.
All business-class passengers have been supplied with noise-canceling headphones branded as Starlux. I discovered them comfy sufficient to put on for hours at a time, they usually did an honest job of blocking out noise within the cabin. Sound high quality was additionally good, although not so good as some Bose techniques I’ve utilized in different business-class cabins.
The hard-cased amenity package was by the Italian baggage model Bric’s.
The amenity package contained an eye fixed masks and earplugs, in addition to skinny socks, a miniature toothbrush and toothpaste, and a comb. Moisturizer, lip balm and a face mist have been by Huygens.
The wonderful 4k-resolution inflight leisure display measured 24 inches. I counted 26 Hollywood new releases, in addition to some classics like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
Greater than 145 motion pictures have been accessible in complete, together with “Barbie,” “A Man Known as Otto” and many Chinese language movies.
I particularly beloved the protection video, the place you actually bought a way of the “area journey” theme that Starlux loves a lot.
Check out among the nonetheless from this extremely entertaining security video.
I beloved following our flight’s progress on the FlightPath3D shifting map.
Wi-Fi was free for business-class passengers for the size of the flight. I had no bother logging into the Wi-Fi, however the speeds weren’t nice. I used to be additionally booted off the web a few instances.
How was the meals in Starlux enterprise class?
The foods and drinks choices on Starlux have been very good.
As soon as on board, business-class passengers have been served a welcome beverage of contemporary cucumber and mint juice together with a cool towel.
Ryan got here by to introduce himself and introduced the juice for me.
Somewhat later, one other flight attendant named Ivy got here by to say hiya and take my dinner and breakfast order. The menu was fairly spectacular.
Starlux additionally permits passengers to preorder meals on-line. Nevertheless, since I couldn’t pull up my reservation forward of the flight, I couldn’t make the most of that possibility.
Printed menus have been at each business-class seat, however a flight attendant took the time to stroll me by means of the choices for each dinner and breakfast. It was a stunning service contact that I haven’t discovered on many worldwide business-class flights.
The primary choices have been:
- Grilled prime beef tenderloin with a potato puree and grilled greens
- Baked salmon with a cheese and barley risotto
- Braised abalone and hen with oyster sauce and egg fried rice
- Cheese grits with charred carrots and blended greens
The starter choices have been:
- Grilled sous vide octopus with a tricolor potato salad
- Spinach cream soup
For the prelanding meal, the choices have been:
- Chinese language meal: Congee with vegetable pork frittata, poached hen and conventional aspect dishes
- Western meal: Traditional English breakfast
- Western meal: Braised beef brief rib hash
- Western meal: French toast with a blended berry compote
Proper after we took off, flight attendants got here by to supply one other welcome drink. They have been pouring Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs Champagne, which retails for about $100 a bottle. I selected to have a signature Starlux drink — the Sci-fi Cosmos 2.0. I had the nonalcoholic model, which was too sugary for me, however I beloved the idea. I guess if it had the gin it was meant to be blended with, the drink would have been scrumptious.
Different booze accessible included Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Bacardi rum, Gray Goose vodka and Asahi and Heineken beer. A Taiwanese white wine from Weighstone Winery in Musann was accessible, as was a Shiraz cabernet sauvignon from Australia’s Penfolds Koonunga Hills.
The primary course got here on a single tray about an hour into the flight. It consisted of octopus salad and a scorching spinach soup served with water and a bit of heat items of bread.
I’m not an enormous seafood fan, however the octopus was scrumptious with a young, spicy taste; the potato salad end was contemporary and tangy. The celery soup was completely scrumptious, with a hearty, wholesome style. The one miss for me was the bread, which tasted a bit dried out.
I ordered the meat tenderloin as my major course, and the steak got here shortly after the flight attendants cleared the appetizers. The steak regarded a bit undercooked at first look — a rarity within the air — however it was very good and the most effective steak I’ve had throughout a flight. It was filled with taste.
The mashed potatoes served with it have been additionally tasty, with only a trace of smoke. There was a stunning gravy base on the dish, too, which was refined and added a bit salt to the combo. Lastly, contemporary steamed carrots and zucchini rounded out the meal.
Desert was a candy congee soup labeled as peach gum and white fungus, with a small plate of contemporary fruit and a small Amedei chocolate from Tuscany, Italy. I wasn’t a fan of the congee, which the flight attendant stated was a well-liked dish amongst Taiwanese girls because it’s supposed to assist the pores and skin.
I polished it off with Whittard’s “Sleepy” tea with a mix of camomile and lavender flavors. Meal service ended with a flight attendant bringing a cool washcloth. What a pleasant contact.
After a couple of hours of sleep, I took a peek within the business-class galley (the place I boarded the aircraft); there have been snacks arrange within the galley, together with luggage of blended nuts, premade sandwiches, miniature Snickers bars, Biscoff cookies and Nature Valley granola bars. The flight attendants supplied me a sandwich or noodles, neither of which appeared on the printed menu.
After a couple of extra hours of sleep, I made a decision noodles would hit the spot. They instructed me it might take about quarter-hour, however within the meantime, they introduced me a Coke Zero and a few snacks to tide me over. It was one other beautiful service shock.
About two and a half hours earlier than arrival, flight attendants got here by with one other cool towel and supplied a breakfast wake-up peach juice. It was scrumptious. Not lengthy after, I obtained a cappuccino. It was so good that I requested for a second and a 3rd. There’s nothing like combating jet lag with caffeine.
Two hours earlier than touchdown, a breakfast course of salad with charred zucchini and artichokes, roasted candy pepper and tomato was served. That got here on a tray alongside Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts inside and a aspect of Taiwanese lychee honey to combine into the yogurt. There was additionally a number of breads that tasted a lot brisker at breakfast. My favourite was an apple Danish pastry.
The appetizers have been adopted a couple of minutes later with a major course of what the crew known as a braised brief rib hash served with a poached egg. It tasted extra like steak and potatoes on sourdough toast. It was a really hearty meal, particularly since I’d had noodles only a few hours in the past.
The flight attendant additionally confirmed me the Asian breakfast of congee and let me snap a photograph. As if that wasn’t sufficient, she additionally introduced out extra espresso for me and one other fruit plate.
General, I used to be left very impressed, each with the meals choices and with the unimaginable service I obtained throughout mealtimes and in between. I by no means had an opportunity to get hungry or thirsty, and flight attendants have been continually accessible. In truth, a number of instances, they proactively supplied me treats and even full meals.
Would you suggest Starlux enterprise class?
I had a blast testing a reasonably new airline and its luxurious business-class product. I had equally good service and tender merchandise on the return from Taipei to Los Angeles. Each of my flights glided by too shortly. I used to be thrilled with my journey on Starlux and would fortunately fly it once more. I’d like to check out that first-class seat sometime.
I additionally bought to take a look at the airline’s brand-new Galactic lounge that simply opened in Taipei in February and expertise its cool “Star Trek”-like inside and inflight movies.
Service was wonderful — among the many finest I’ve skilled in enterprise class. In truth, I’d rank it up there with Japan Airways’ first-class service I had on a flight from Tokyo to New York, which was beforehand my high-water mark.
Flight attendants have been pleasant and fascinating, and the one time I rang a name button, an attendant was at my seat inside 30 seconds. Flight attendants have been excited to talk with me and even kneeled to handle me at face degree throughout our interactions. Delivering high quality service is clearly a major focus, and my flights supplied immense proof of that spirit.
The one space I’d wish to see improved is the redemption. Proper now, first-class seats are usually not accessible for companion bookings and business-class availability, whereas not missing, is simply too costly. I scored an unimaginable deal contemplating I can’t discover flights now for lower than 165,000 miles one-way. Money costs are additionally uniformly excessive, and it might be nice to see a bit extra pricing flexibility in all lessons of service.
I actually suggest you search for a possibility to check out this up-and-coming airline. I’m excited to see the place Starlux goes from right here.
Associated studying:
- The very best time to guide flights for the most affordable airfare
- Finest airline bank cards
- What precisely are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life methods you need to use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The very best bank cards for reserving flights
- The very best bank cards to achieve elite standing