Eva Air Premium Economy

[Jonathanpattaya]

I have flown with EVA several times and the upgrade is certainly worth it.

[roamer]

Is Eva worth it...premium or economy ? i know Eva has fans here I'm sure not one of them. Flew in the Elite class (business) LHR-BKK and my experience was typical of many see here. Very sub-standard, non working tv, very cramped for business class, seat not properly reclining and indifferent food. Also flew the normal economy class and once again if you were to judge it against other non-direct carriers such as Qatar or Etihad its not even close. So I guess at the end of the day it comes down to if you want a direct flight and/or have long legs.

Still as I say it has its admirers so no doubt there will be someone popping up to defend it soon.... they probably wouldn't be doing so if they had been among the many passengers "bumped" on the most spurious of reasons last August in the wake of the Taiwan disaster....

do you mean typhoon season???

Typhoon Morokot. Caused a mudslide that killed about 600 people.

Incidentally the author Stephen Leather who frequently sets his novels in Bangkok writes about Eva in his blog. I also agree with him that it started out well but has let standards quite rapidly.

Stephen Leather

[SantiSuk]

May be slightly off-topic but at least one person above asked for opinions generally on EVA. I flew with them London to BKK 4 years ago and abandoned them because their economy seats were tiny and built for Chinese bums.

I have flown most of the other carriers (except Aeroflot, KLM, AF and Jet Airways) on both direct and indirect routes - flying about 8 return journeys a year London to BKK.

I saw that many TVers have been saying good things about EVA, so I tried them again last week. I emphasise this was an economy seat (£150 for an upgrade sounds like a great deal). My comments about the EVA flight as against my general experience of other economy flights are:

Price - good - often the cheapest direct carrier on the route though Thai Airways sometimes pips them.

Seat - average size (much better than my earlier experience). Thai seats typically have the best legroom in economy but are also the tattiest and least comfortable to sit on.

Food - poor - probably the worst I have had on this route. Nasty off white/yellow plastic cutlery too. Thai food is quite good and Emirates is the best and Emirates are the only ones to use real cutlery and napkins (on the Mid E to BKK leg only, as the UK does not allow real knives) which makes the Etihad dining experience equivalent to club class. Etihad food is not far behind Emirates, though the presentation is not so good. All the Middle East Airlines tend to outshine EVA, BA and Quantas on the food front.

Staff - good - probably the most delightful looking trolley girls I have seen (Chinese and Thai). Thai Airways is not too far behind. Emirates and some of the other Mid East airlines use polyglot crews of many nations and it shows in disinterested non-team playing crews of smart looking but ineffective staff.

Entertainment - average. Thai is absolutely dire and Emirates is absolutely brilliant. Most of the Mid east airlines are good but Emirates' library of fully self-selected movies, TV and particularly music on their double-decked leg from Mid E to BKK is a world leader.

Kit - average (Boeing 777's). Thai uses beat up old 747s (dire), BA and Quantas are ageing 747s but at least they replace the seats every few years, unlike Thai. All the middle east airlines use nice modern Airbuses and Boeings. The Emirates double deckers are great to fly in but do not get up when the plane lands - you can wait 15 minutes for all those hundreds of passengers upstairs and ahead of you to file out.

I used to worry about all these differences. Now I fly so much I usually just look at the price of all direct flights and all Middle east transfer flights and take the cheapest: but I mentally add £150 to the indirect flight prices as my personal evaluation of the hassle factor of changing flights half way. I then take the cheapest and try to get as much sleep as possible! I am never on the same airline two flights running. Despite my evaluation of Thai as being the clear wooden spoon you can get by if it's an overnight flight (the day time one coming back has to be avoided with that crappy IFE and not feeling sleepy).

If I have to name an airline on the route as the best then its not difficult - Emirates by quite a margin. The worst is probably Thai and maybe Gulf next.

[Airlines flown BA, Quantas, EVA, Thai, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Gulf]

Stop Press: Just checked into Opodo.com for my next visit and Kingfisher Airlines has come into the radar as a mega cheap (£392) carrier on this route - anyone any experience/info? Delete that - it's another one via Mumbai. Mumbai is an absolute no no no ...!!

Edited April 8, 2010 by SantiSuk

[jfchandler]

To the best of my knowledge, none of the Middle East airlines to a West Coast USA to Bangkok flight... so they're out of the picture for those making that trip...

[truered]

flying to europe, qatar have been the best value for me. always have emergency exit seats available for us tall lads, and their service is fantastic. join the membership programme for free and you get more or less 40kg allowance with hand luggage. boss airline!

[SantiSuk]

To the best of my knowledge, none of the Middle East airlines to a West Coast USA to Bangkok flight... so they're out of the picture for those making that trip...

True - but you guys have other equivalent options like Cathay Pacific (always a decent airline when I used to fly business) and the Japs, Gaulis and dare I say it Chinese don't you? Now I would much prefer to stop over in Hong Kong, Seoul or Tokyo than in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain et al. (boring, boring boring). I would almost certainly break my flight for a day or two if I had an Asian stopover in prospect. I'm surprised the Philippines carrier hasn't cleaned up with a BKK to Manila to LAX option! On second thoughts perhaps their planes are as reliable as their inter-island ferries

[SantiSuk]

flying to europe, qatar have been the best value for me. always have emergency exit seats available for us tall lads, and their service is fantastic. join the membership programme for free and you get more or less 40kg allowance with hand luggage. boss airline!

hel_l's teeth - can you carry 40kg? No wonder you need an extra legroom seat!

Yes - Qatar are a pretty good airline. There's not a lot to choose between Etihad, Emirates and Qatar, though Emirates makes it for me on food presentation and IFE. Their rock artiste archive is great and I like catching up on the newer band selection too.

I forgot to say re EVA that they only make one alcohol pass per meal. However like most airlines I think they would respond to repeated use of the hostess call button with more or less civility, depending on your luck of the draw. Thai have the most irritating rinky-dink wine glasses that you couldn't drown a fly in.

Virtually all the airlines on the route now have the facility to pre-select your seat. Thai has just added that facility. I agree you should try to get in early and get those precious bulkhead seats on the sides - but take ear plugs as the bulk-head seats to your right or left (ie in the middle) accommodate the bawling rug rats

Edited April 8, 2010 by SantiSuk

[jfchandler]

Someone commented above about the "Chinese" sized seats on EVA...

Well, let me tell you, at least in economy, the seat on carriers like JAL are even worse... I tried them one time on the LA to BKK route on a 747, and literally could not fit in the seat width-wise -- even though I can fit in all the American carriers, Thai and EVA economy seats just fine. That and even the seat belt wasn't long enough to buckle across my waist, and I'm not fat...

I ended up traveling most of the flight on a flight attendant's jump seat at the rear of the plane, which I kind of appropriated since it wasn't being used, was eventually going to be kicked out by an unhelpful JAL flight attendant, and only after explaining my plight, was granted a reprieve, supposedly by the captain. I could spend the rest of the flight in the flight attendant's seat (which had no side panels), but I had to return to my own seat for landing...

Appreciated the consideration. But I'll never fly JAL economy again.

[roamer]

Stop Press: Just checked into Opodo.com for my next visit and Kingfisher Airlines has come into the radar as a mega cheap (£392) carrier on this route - anyone any experience/info? Delete that - it's another one via Mumbai. Mumbai is an absolute no no no ...!!

I thought about that before booking Kingfisher and checked out the reviews. Not only are they rated 5* but they have obviously thought about the Mumbai thing and have staff on hand to escort you through. They've made their name on customer service...complete with a "contact me" link from the CEO on the website. For my dates & 3 tickets it added up to about a £700 saving over Qatar or Emirates who are often my preferred choice, it was even £500 cheaper than Jet, not that that was especially relevant as I would almost rather go by camel and yak than Jet Airways. Its a new route for Kingfisher hence the price.

[SantiSuk]

Someone commented above about the "Chinese" sized seats on EVA...

Well, let me tell you, at least in economy, the seat on carriers like JAL are even worse... I tried them one time on the LA to BKK route on a 747, and literally could not fit in the seat width-wise -- even though I can fit in all the American carriers, Thai and EVA economy seats just fine. That and even the seat belt wasn't long enough to buckle across my waist, and I'm not fat...

I ended up traveling most of the flight on a flight attendant's jump seat at the rear of the plane, which I kind of appropriated since it wasn't being used, was eventually going to be kicked out by an unhelpful JAL flight attendant, and only after explaining my plight, was granted a reprieve, supposedly by the captain. I could spend the rest of the flight in the flight attendant's seat (which had no side panels), but I had to return to my own seat for landing...

Appreciated the consideration. But I'll never fly JAL economy again.

For avoidance of doubt, EVA no longer have Chinese bum seats - they're now just average to cr_p like most international economy seats [it was my post that stimulated your comment]. As is well documented elsewhere in TV seat size and legroom in economy is about the only thing that Thai Airways has in its favour.

[SantiSuk]

Stop Press: Just checked into Opodo.com for my next visit and Kingfisher Airlines has come into the radar as a mega cheap (£392) carrier on this route - anyone any experience/info? Delete that - it's another one via Mumbai. Mumbai is an absolute no no no ...!!

I thought about that before booking Kingfisher and checked out the reviews. Not only are they rated 5* but they have obviously thought about the Mumbai thing and have staff on hand to escort you through. They've made their name on customer service...complete with a "contact me" link from the CEO on the website. For my dates & 3 tickets it added up to about a £700 saving over Qatar or Emirates who are often my preferred choice, it was even £500 cheaper than Jet, not that that was especially relevant as I would almost rather go by camel and yak than Jet Airways. Its a new route for Kingfisher hence the price.

I'm tempted. Looks like its only a 3 hour stopover in Mumbai. I suspect a few TVers would like to see a review or two on this route. Seriously cheap.

[roamer]

Stop Press: Just checked into Opodo.com for my next visit and Kingfisher Airlines has come into the radar as a mega cheap (£392) carrier on this route - anyone any experience/info? Delete that - it's another one via Mumbai. Mumbai is an absolute no no no ...!!

I thought about that before booking Kingfisher and checked out the reviews. Not only are they rated 5* but they have obviously thought about the Mumbai thing and have staff on hand to escort you through. They've made their name on customer service...complete with a "contact me" link from the CEO on the website. For my dates & 3 tickets it added up to about a £700 saving over Qatar or Emirates who are often my preferred choice, it was even £500 cheaper than Jet, not that that was especially relevant as I would almost rather go by camel and yak than Jet Airways. Its a new route for Kingfisher hence the price.

I'm tempted. Looks like its only a 3 hour stopover in Mumbai. I suspect a few TVers would like to see a review or two on this route. Seriously cheap.

I'd be interested too as I'm not off till August ! The reviews I checked out were on airline equality site. Go on take the plunge !

[jfchandler]

PH air doesn't have the world's best safety record as an airline... EVA, in contrast, has a pretty unblemished safety record... Somehow, 17 hours over the Pacific in a PH Air jumbo jet doesn't give me a great feeling.... leaving aside the question of the food that might be served....

[smokie36]

I'm tempted. Looks like its only a 3 hour stopover in Mumbai. I suspect a few TVers would like to see a review or two on this route. Seriously cheap.

I'm seriously tempted to fly them early June in business. The reviews on skytrax look good. Depends on the prices with Qatar tho but Etihad have priced themselves out now sadly.

As you say I would love to see a review here on any class.

[khunjake]

The TG flight BKK<->LAX in Premium is still pretty good even though the prices are almost 2x what they were compared to 3 years ago when they started that non-stop. I have taken that flight at least 10x over the years and remember paying anywhere from $1100 to $1700 RT until about a year ago. Now it more like $2000 and much tougher to find open seats in that class. Thai uses the Airbuss A340-500 so the inflight service compared to anyother Thai equipment is way better. SQ also used to have PE class on SIN<->LAX but now only business class flights on that leg unfortunatley. That was a great flight as well but more pricey of course.

[seedy]

I have flown EVA for the last four years YVR - TPE - BKK. Always Evergreen Deluxe - tho' the name changed last year (to what I can't remember). About 13 hours first leg, 3-1/2 last leg. They only serve 2 meals, so food to me is a non-issue. The 2-4-2 seating is great. The best part is that the plane leaves at 0200, so I board and go to sleep. Arrive TPE aprox 0600, have a coffee and a steamed bun or two, then off to BKK. After flying this way, I would never go economy again.

[mrdome]

17 hours i find 7hrs hard going

Weird, if it's not at least 8 hrs it barely counts as a flight for me (and I'm only 65% kidding).

[billybong38]

Ive flown with eva to bangkok from london for about 6yrs and never had a problem always on time flights never any problem with the crews.

travelled in all classes normally premium economy but has got a lot more expensive over the years. they are starting a 7day schedule out of london

If you ever travel on the 747 in economy ask for the upstairs section you get more seat and leg room

At the moment £507 for economy £827 for elite

[STEALTH K3]

At the moment £507 for economy £827 for elite

To fly when

Another tip I did at BKK was to check in online that jumped me to the start of the que when check out opened and when I got there I was way at the back the other people s face was a picture

Edited April 13, 2010 by STEALTH K3

[tw25rw]

At the moment £507 for economy £827 for elite

That's about the same as when I flew them last about 3 years ago..

[billybong38]

QUOTE (billybong38 @ 2010-04-13 20:18:08)

At the moment £507 for economy £827 for elite

flying late august,return october