CI104 TAIPEI YAOYUAN - TOKYO NARITA (2024.9.28)
INTRODUCTION
Hello, welcome to my second flight report.
During the 10.1 national day public holiday, I have been to Tokyo for vacation.
This time, I'm going to continue my journey to Tokyo with China Airlines CI104.
FLIGHT INFO
AIRLINE: CHINA AIRLINES
FLIGHT: CI104 TAIPEI TAOYUAN - TOKYO NARITA
REGISTRATION NO: B-18916
AIRCRAFT MODEL: A350-900XWB
ESTIMATED DEPARTURE TIME: 12:40 (GMT+8)
ACTUAL DEPARTURE TIME: 12:56 (GMT+8)
DEPARTURE GATE AT TAIPEI: D8, TERMINAL 2
ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME: 16:55 (GMT+9)
ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIME: 16:56 (GMT+9)
ARRIVAL GATE AT TOKYO: 65, TERMINAL 2
FLIGHT TIME: 2 hours 40 minutes
TRANSIT IN TPE
After got off from fligth CI922 at gate A7 on Terminal 1, I've 2 hours transit time on Taipei.
However, if you are taking China Airlines and need to make a interchange at Taoyuan Airport, you have to be careful as CI has flights depart from both Terminal 1 and Termina 2.
Take my journey as an example, flights to Hong Kong depart from Terminal 1, and flights to Japan depart from Terminal 2.
Luckily, the airside between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is possible, and signs were made clear, this made my transit process not too complicated.
View from airside of Terminal 2, Taoyuan Airport
Jin Air B777-200ER, Reg No: HL7743
Asiana Airlines A380-800, Reg No: HL7634
TPE AIRSIDE
There’re variety facilities inside the departure level of Taoyuan Airport, restaurants , souvenir shops anywhere. During the two hour layover, I found a restaurant which famous for Xiaolong Dumping.
Gate D9 of Taoyuan Airport, theme for Ali Mountain.
Another thing which is interesting was the boarding gate at Terminal 2, each gate has different theme to promote Taiwan.
Some decorate as Hello Kitty, some decorate like sky lantern. Even some make a train from Ali Mountain.
My flight today, China Airlines A350-900XWB, Reg No: B-18916
BOARDING
The schedule boarding time of flight CI104 was 12:00(GMT+8), and I went to gate D8 for boarding on time. Once I arrived at the gate, my plane still not yet come. Finally, it came at about 12:00(GMT+8).
Due to the pre boarding procedures, the boarding time has been delayed. On 12:40(GMT+8), the boarding started finally.
The boarding procedures were followed by passengers with children under 2 years old, or requiring special assistance. Then, Premium Business-Class passengers, Paragon Card passengers, Emerald Card passengers, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, Gold Card passengers, Corporate Flyer Service certificate holders, CTBC China Airlines Co-Branded Card holders, SkyTeam Elite members, economy class zone 2 passengers, economy class zone 1 passengers and economy class zone 3 passengers.
As my seat was on the premium economy class section, I boarded the plane followed by zone 3.
There are only 2 class service between Tokyo and Taipei, no premium economy class service. China Airlines will take those premium economy class as extra comfort seats which takes extra charges.
The boarding process was so efficient, it only took about 10 minutes and the cabin doors closed at about 12:50(GMT+8).
Loading of Premium-Business class was about 30% and the economy class loading was about 95%.
View from my seat
CABIN SEAT
Sit pitch of premium economy class was about 39 inches.
There’s a 12.1 inch personal TV on the middle of the seat, a USB power hub under the screen.
The flights pushed back at 12:56(GMT+8), 16 minutes behind schedule time, and take off at 13:10(GMT+8).
AVOD SYSTEM
As a long haul aircraft product, the 12.1 inch personal TV screen contains a AVOD system, lots of movies, TV programs, musics, games can be chooses. The flight information page also shows the flight map, the flight info. Also, you can see the catering menu throug the AVOD system.
The resolution of the screen was high, and it was easy to control the AVOD system.
Inflight menu on AVOD
Meals onboard
CATERING
After take off, the cabin crew started the lunch service.
There are two choices on the meal service.
The menu today are as follows:
· Black rice bread with butter
· Smoked chicken with edamame egg yolk salad
· Pork and taro in ginger sauce with steamed rice
or
Shrimp and Tuna in basil and tomato sauce with shell pasta
· Fresh fruit with apple and orange
· China Airlines x WooTEA x CHIIKAWA crossover, Matcha dacquoise
Beverage served afterwards, I chose passion fruit sparkling drink, the signature drink by CI in season.
The main cause I chose Pork and taro in ginger sauce with steamed rice. I realised that somebody said that pork rice was a disaster. I must say the pork was not tender, but if you eat the rice with the taro juice, it was amazing.
This Taipei loaded catering was not that bad. The black rice bread was very soft and not that dry, it’s one of the best bread roll I’ve got after the pandemic flying.
Another impressed me was the dessert, matcha dacquoise, which I never tried before. It is not easy to have this classic dessert of the French court in the 17th century inside the aircraft catering, even it is the economy class dining!
DUTY FREE SERVICE AND DECENT
After finishing the catering service, the cabin crew proceeds the duty free service.
The flight touched down at Tokyo Narita Airport on 16:41(GMT+9) and arrived at gate 65 on 16:56(GMT+9)
IMMIGRATION AND BAGGAGE CLAIM
There’re some walking distance from gate 65 of Terminal 2, Narita Airport to the immigration. Luckily, the queue was not so long since I arrived the queue.
The baggage was sent out in efficient. However, since I was checked in my baggage at Hong Kong, I needed to wait some time for my baggage.
Overall, I can get on the train to downtown within 45 minutes, it didn’t take so long time.
Flight may of my flight from Flightradar24
Thanks for sharing this FR. It’s interesting that CI doesn’t market W product on regional routes unlike JX/BR. What do they charge for the seat upgrade? CI's long-haul W hard-product on a regional flight is almost as good as what CX offers in J on their regional-configuration planes. CI has very sleek cabins in their A359s with all of the soft wood tones throughout, the carpet is definitely one of the most unique. Taiwanese carriers definitely excel in the catering department, surprised you didn’t opt to try to pre-order the Michelin Green Star meals they offer ex-TPE.
Dear NGO85, thank you for your words.
CI104/105 is hybrid schedule with B77W, A359, A330 and A321, if CI market W product, I think they would prefer to put on specific flight number or even specific route.
I paid about HKD685 (about USD87.82) for seat upgrade to premium economy. This price is same as the first row or extra legroom seat on economy.
If just talking about the hardware product between CI W seat and CX regional J seat, I do think CI would be better than CX in some detail point. However, the seat width should be CX wider.
The decoration on CI’s A359 is very good and unique, I must say it’s better than CX’s A359.
Are you talking about their vegetarian oriental meal? To be honest, my mother was flying together with me, and she ordered this meal, it was amazing!
The meal included…
• Soft roll
• Cold dishes with celery and vegetarian chicken, serve with sesame oil
• Lion mushroom with Babao Toon flavour rice
• coconut milk purple rice pudding
• Fresh fruit with apple and orange
All courses are delicious, ingredients of that meal are not usually used onboard, especially the lion mushroom.
Thanks for another nice report! I'm also surprised CI don't sell Premium Economy on this route. The bright side is it's great that you got to select a Premium Economy seat with an Economy ticket. The meal service is also already very good in Economy so I suppose it makes sense not to sell Premium Economy on shorter routes since aside from the wider seat, there wouldn't really be much difference in the product otherwise.
Since the actual hard product (seat) is a Premium Economy seat, I've updated your report to reflect Premium Economy even if the service was technically Economy, the seat is what most people are interested in when searching the website for reviews so this will help with searches.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kevin, thanks for your comment here.
I think CI don't sell Premium Economy on this route because they're using a hybird schedule with B77W, A350, A330 and A321, only A350 and B77W have Premium Economy onboard. I think I'm the lucky one to had a chance for select a Premium Economy seat with an Economy ticket.
I respect the decision that you changed my report as Premium Economy. As I'm new to here, please let me know if I've any error here.
Thanks a lot.
Ah yes, it makes sense if they have a bunch of different subfleets on the route not to commercialise Premium Economy as that could lead to some major disappointment in case of a last minute aircraft swap. It’s like that in most routes operated by widebodies in the U.S. Premium Economy isn’t sold so the PE cabin is available for an extra fee as extra legroom seats or for free for higher level frequent flyers. Thanks again for sharing!