I usually take EVA Air YVR - TPE - BKK for aprox $1900

Air China about half that

I just flew them from Beijing. We missed our scheduled flight with Thai Air (code share with Delta or something like that). The plane was fairly old. Food lousy (but most airline food is, in economy). But what they heck. It was OK. I like China Air better...but I will almost always go for the lowest price, unless there is only a few hundred dollars difference.

i've flown air china both domestic and international (sha - bkk and sha - fra) and can't hold anything against them. planes were new (even domestic, staff polite although they speak limited english only) - if i were you i'd try them once, you can't really lose anything (except maybe some evergreen mileage).