Business Traveler, February 2015

Visit businesstravelerusa com 50 n February 2015 n Tried and Tested China Airlines Business Class Los Angeles LAX Taipei TPE CHECK IN While China Airlines has long had service between Los Angeles and Taipei it only introduced its new 777 300 aircraft to this route on Dec 1 2014 with this new daily service At LAX checking in for Business Class on this non stop flight was seamless There was no wait on the Business Class priority line and I was personally escorted by a hostess though a security line with no delay at all BOARDING When I arrived at the gate I boarded the flight immediately and was escorted directly to my seat in the Business Class cabin As soon as I was seated a flight attendant offered me a hot towel the first of three on this trip and a choice of orange juice champagne or water She quickly returned with my requested reading material The New York Times and The Economist The crew was upbeat and almost jovial Small amenity kits were distributed before take off at each seat THE SEAT The Business Class cabin is set up in a one two one configuration with six rows for a total of 24 business seats There was an additional Business Class cabin with another 24 seats in a similar configuration directly behind the First Class cabin The seat had a 78 inch pitch and was an ample 22 inches wide Each seat had its own inflight entertainment system offering a wide variety of television programs movies video games and music options The Business Class seat on the China Airlines 777 300ER lays out 180 degrees into a fully flat bed extending to a length of 6 feet The seats are aligned such that all passengers in Business Class enjoy access directly to the aisle THE FLIGHT Spending almost 14 hour in the air makes for a long journey no matter how you cut it However the vigilant flight attendants were determined to make it as agreeable as possible They began a relaxed meal service by serving a glass of champagne and yet another hot towel service The dinner menu included a choice of four entrees I chose the pan fried sea bass filet after a deliciously smoked salmon appetizer After a movie I reclined my seat into a comfortable bed and settled in for a restful sleep For breakfast we were offered a choice of Western or Chinese cuisine I chose Western and was not disappointed with the smoked salmon and spinach scrambled eggs crepe Before the flight was over we were given a third hot towel service which I found very refreshing ARRIVAL We pulled into Taipeis Taoyuan Airport 10 minutes early Custom lines were short for special Business Class passengers I arrived by taxi to my downtown hotel in about 30 minutes VERDICT The long 14 hour trans Pacific flight was made most enjoyable by the fully flat bed the attentive service of the flight attendants and the excellent meals BT TESTED BY Jim McGinley PLANE TYPE 777ER 300ER SEAT CONFIGURATION 1 2 1 SEAT PITCH 78 inches 1981cm SEAT WIDTH 22 inches 559cm SEAT RECLINE Fully lie flat PRICE Internet rates for a round trip business class ticket between Los Angeles International and Taipei Taoyuan in January started at 4946 CONTACT chinaairlines com Business Class Economy Class Premium Economy Class Toilet Kitchen