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Flying a wide-body jet on a short regional route is always a treat, but what happens when that jet is a nearly 20-year-old Airbus A330-300? As Taiwan’s largest carrier, China Airlines is known for its stellar service, but a bit under the radar. After a great long-haul flight on their modern A350, this flight was the final leg of my journey from Amsterdam, booked as part of my EuroBonus Millionaire challenge. The big question was: could China Airlines’ famous hospitality overcome a dated cabin and aging in-flight entertainment? Let’s dive in and see if this short-haul Business Class experience is worth it.
In This Article
How I Booked This Flight
I managed to get a one-way revenue ticket for USD 1385, which was refundable for a fee of USD 200 and rebookable for another fee. The entire itinerary was from Amsterdam to Seoul (ICN) via Taipei (TPE). Even though it was slightly inefficient for the EuroBonus Millionaire challenge, as I would end up flying China Airlines twice, the connection wasn’t too bad, and the price was unbeatable. As I was booked into fare class D, it also meant I would earn quite a lot of level points for my EuroBonus status. This report is the second leg of that itinerary.
Pro Tip: Look for Promotional Fares
While award space can be tricky to find, always check cash prices on Google Flights. China Airlines sometimes offers promotional fares, like the one I found, that can provide excellent value and a hefty mileage accrual for your status program, even if it’s not a direct award booking.
China Airlines A330-300 Business Class: Taipei (TPE) to Seoul (ICN)
Transit in TPE
We landed quite early from Amsterdam, slightly after 6 am. After a few minutes taxiing, we arrived at the gate and deplaned. My seat was close to the gate, making it very convenient for me. It was my first time at TPE, so once I arrived at the terminal, I kept walking, following the signs for connecting flights. It’s very clearly marked; however, there’s a point where you reach a bottleneck with a small entrance and a long queue to go through security and boarding pass control (although no passport control is required). I spent about 15 minutes here. It was progressing slowly and a bit chaotically because there wasn’t much space, and only two machines were working. My connection was a bit tight (~1 hour), but luckily, there were no serious delays.
Heads Up: Tight Connections at TPE
Connecting at Taipei (TPE) can involve a significant bottleneck at the transit security checkpoint. During peak times, the queue can be long and slow-moving. If you have a tight connection (around 1 hour, like I did), be prepared to move quickly and be aware that delays at security could put your connection at risk.
Once cleared, I headed to the gate. It took me about 10 minutes to reach the right aisle, where screens indicated the subsequent flights. The area was large, and you had to go down escalators to reach the gate. It looked nice and there were beautiful decorations around.
Boarding
As I reached the gate, I had a look at my (aging) plane, which was getting ready for the flight, and started queuing close to the SkyPriority lane. I made it on time and had roughly 10 minutes to spare before boarding.
A few minutes later, the staff started calling SkyPriority and Business Class passengers to board first.
Cabin & Seat
As I walked into the plane, it was clear that the cabin was dated. It was a lot of touches from the 1990s: ashtrays, a ‘swipe your credit card’ phone, bulky plastic everywhere, etc. It didn’t feel as fresh and clean as my previous flight on the A350, which was spotless.
Key Takeaways: The A330 Cabin & Seat
- A Step Back in Time: The A330 cabin is clearly dated, with bulky plastic, 1990s-era features like credit card phones, and an overall worn feel compared to modern aircraft.
- Comfortable for a Short Hop: Despite its age, the 2-2-2 configuration offers a recliner-style seat that is significantly more comfortable than what you’d find on a narrow-body jet for a 2-hour flight.
- Service Shines Through: The welcoming and attentive cabin crew make up for the aging hard product, offering excellent service from the moment you board.
The crew was very friendly, though, welcoming us with a smile and taking us to our seats. The boarding process was slow and took some time to accommodate everyone, which is understandable given the size of the plane. The drawback was that as they used the front gate, all passengers went through the Business Class cabin.
At the seat, there were headphones, a pillow, and a blanket. Shortly after I sat down, I was offered a glass of juice or water.
The flight attendants passed around, handing out hot towels and the menus. Interestingly, the menu was of extremely high quality, and later I realized that those were meant to be returned after choosing the meal options.
Menu
The menu was beautiful, although hard to read. It was quite hard to find the one page in English. The flight was relatively early, but they were serving a full hot meal with two main course options: chicken or beef.
Takeoff
It took us ~15 minutes to taxi and take off. Right after takeoff, I started with a cup of coffee and filling out my arrival card.
Breakfast
After my coffee, we were served the full meal all at once. It was tasty, and I was glad to see all the different bread options, fruits, and salads. For a 2-hour flight, this was more than enough and really high quality. After the main meal, I had a small ice-cream.
Arrival
Seoul skies were clear that day, with a bright sun and almost no wind, but extremely cold (-8 C). It was my first time in South Korea, and I had the entire day ahead, so I was more than excited.
Once we touched down, we taxied for a long time until we reached the gate. There was a significant SkyTeam presence, including Delta, Air France, KLM, and Aeroméxico. When I got off the plane, everything was straightforward and clearly marked. I went through passport control (~30 min) and was ready to go to the hotel and start my day.
Video Review
Final Verdict
My experience with China Airlines was surprisingly good. First, the long-haul leg on the A350-900 blew my mind with an outstanding service, great comfort, and top-notch style. Now, this short hop on an A330 had everything to make you feel comfortable. The crew was friendly, the food was great, and it did an excellent job for a 2-hour flight. While the aircraft cabin was dated, it was far more comfortable than flying on a single-aisle plane. Now what remains to be seen is what will happen when the airline starts replacing these planes with newer ones, most likely for smaller A32x.
China Airlines A330 TPE-ICN: Pros & Cons
- The Good: Outstanding and friendly crew, a surprisingly high-quality and substantial meal for a 2-hour flight, and the comfort of a wide-body jet on a short-haul route.
- The Bad: The cabin and seat are very dated, with old IFE screens and a worn aesthetic. The transit experience at TPE can be chaotic.
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