Review of EVA Air flight Taipei → Manila in Business

INTRODUCTION

Hi everyone! I travelled on EVA Air's Business Class from Taipei to Manila, and I have to say it was a very memorable flight! EVA Air is a 5-star airline, but their service noticeably beats other 5-star rated airlines, such as Cathay Pacific. Keep reading to find out more.

EVA Air operates out of Terminal 2 of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Their check-in counters for Business Class and elite frequent-flyer members were very empty, and I completed check-in in less than five minutes.

Terminal 2 overall is more efficient than Terminal 1, as there are less people traveling here and I got through security and immigration within five minutes. But I imagine it would be a bit more crowded during peak hours or holidays, just as the case in other airports worldwide.

AT THE AIRPORT

EVA Air's Business Class passengers have access to "The Infinity" lounge located upstairs. This lounge is quite small, but the food offerings are wonderful, full of local Taiwanese delights. Here are some of the food available:

The food offerings were really interesting as they showcased the delicious Taiwanese cuisine.

The lounge looked aesthetically pleasing too. However, there was a noticeable lack of natural light.

ONBOARD

My flight BR277 departed from gate C2, a surprising on-time departure as flights to Manila are often delayed.

The flight was operated by B-16338, an Airbus A330-302, 6 years old at the date of travel. This aircraft features the modern Business Class seats, which replaced the old designs of the previous A330-300s and the A330-200s, which are still being used for short-haul routes around Asia.

The cabin looked very modern and the large screens were very crisp and bright. The flight attendants handed out hot towels and slippers for this short 1 hour and 50 minute flight. However, what struck me was that they asked each individual passenger what welcome drink they'd like to have, instead of having a selection of drinks on a tray. This means that you can get any drink you want from the menu during boarding. As a frequent flyer of Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines, EVA Air did a really good job in terms of first impressions.

The only downside however is that Business Class on EVA Air's A330s are still in a 2-2-2 configuration, meaning window seats do not have direct aisle access. But because these aircraft are only being used on flights shorter than 4 hours, I'm definitely not complaining!

We then took off from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on-time. A few minutes after takeoff, the crew started the meal service. An interesting about EVA Air is that they offer advanced meal selection, even on these shorter flights, which Cathay Pacific does not offer. I ordered a special braised pork belly dish on EVA Air's online portal, but the regular menu is as follows:

Hors D'oeuvre
Tea smoked duck, marinated shrimp with tea plum

Main course
Pan fried chicken breast stuffed with herb pine nut, cheese, and tomato salsa (847 kcal)

-or-

Steamed halibut with Tie-Guanyin Tea served with assorted vegetables and stir fried noodles (397 kcal)

My pre-ordered meal was very delicious and flavorful. The rice was beautifully cooked and pork was very tender. The appetizer was very refreshing and slightly spicy, the duck was very tender and the shrimp is cooked well too. The flight attendants also brought a bread basket around the cabin, and I later got a piece of garlic bread.