CI 21 SEA-TPE Business Class 2024.12 - III

            CI21 SEA-TPE
A350-900
B-18905
Seat: 17K

Seat: 4.5
Meal service: 4
FA service: 4.5
Amenity kit, IFE & wifi: 4.5
Overall rating: 4.4

I was excited to try China Airlines’ business class after reading that they had significantly improved in response to the stiff competition posed by EVA and Starlux.

Though I normally don’t like reverse herringbone seats, I gave China Airlines’ seat (Collins Super Diamond) an extra 0.5 points for its very thoughtful design. There was ample storage space in every little nook of the seat, and the dragon claw reading lamp was a really well-designed and unique touch. The seat cover provided unfortunately offered little padding, but the blanket was super comfortable and cozy.

The amenity kits provided were very high-quality Moschino cases filled with toiletries by Moroccanoil—an improvement over the North Face pouches I had read about online. 

At the time of writing, China Airlines doesn’t seem to offer a signature welcome drink, unlike its Taiwanese competitors. Instead, passengers are given a choice of water or orange juice. The menu, however, does feature a signature beverage created in collaboration with WooTEA: Passion Fruit Black Tea Sparkling. I chose this fruity, refreshing drink after takeoff to accompany my meal. 

Following an appetizer of smoked salmon with fresh vegetables, soup course of goji berry and red date pork rib soup and selection of fresh bread rolls, my main course arrived: lobster and ginger onion sauce served with fried rice. For dessert, a cheese and fruit platter finished off with Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

For my pre-arrival meal, I had congee accompanied by an assortment of side dishes: bran dough with enoki mushrooms, stir-fried pork belly with kimchi, stir-fried shrimp with snow peas, fish floss, and a salty egg. The bowl of congee was comically large, especially considering I’m not particularly fond of congee. Still, the alternative—a tomato and corn omelette with grilled chicken and tomato pasta—didn’t quite seem like breakfast fare. 

All around, the meals on my flight were good, but options felt somewhat limited and the quality/taste wasn’t particularly outstanding. As with other Asian airlines, crew service was very friendly and professional. The IFE was decent and had a good selection; free full-flight wifi was offered for business class passengers. 
   

Taken on: December 8, 2024

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B-18905

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Sets appears in: • China Airlines - Reviews

Groups appears in: • Airbus • Inflight Meal more » • Airplanes • Inside the plane • China (Dynasty) Airline 中華航空公司 • AIRLINE CABIN INTERIORS • Flying Business Class • Premium Cabin Airline Meals • Airplane meal - Comida de avión - Inflight food • Commercial airplanes • planes&trains • Airlines from Taiwan « less

Camera: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, f/1.8, 1/75 sec, 6.8mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Lens:	iPhone 15 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78
Aperture:	f/1.8
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/75)
Focal Length:	6.8mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	-0.516 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Lightroom 10.0.2 (iOS)
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