Another transpacific flight out of LAX checked off! After almost a year, I’ve finally flown the other half of China Airlines’s long-haul fleet on one of their most historic routes. Since 1971, China Airlines has served the largest city on the West Coast, initially with the 707-320B, then the 747-200, 747SP, 747-400, and currently the 777-300ER, augmented by the A350-900. It’s on this second-to-last aircraft that we’re flying on today, having flown on the A350 between L.A. and Taipei in November of last year.
Server: Solo
Airline: China Airlines
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Origin: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Destination: Taoyuan International Airport, Dayuan, Taiwan (TPE)
Flight Number: CI7
Route: RCTP-KLAX
Seat: 21K (Business)
Time En Route: 13 Hours 47 Minutes
Waiting to board our aircraft at Gate 153 at LAX. After experiencing both EVA Air and Starlux’s business class both this year and last, it’s time to try out China Airlines’s.
Getting a push out of the TBIT/T4 alleyway, past a bunch of American Airlines aircraft. So far, the business class hard product seems to be top-notch, with plenty of pillows and blankets for this long-haul across the Pacific.
Takeoff for Taipei! We’ve got an excellent view below us of the 2 other aircraft at our section of the TBIT, a Singapore Airlines A350-900 pushing back as SQ37, a Philippine Airlines 777-300ER boarding to go to Manila as PR103, and a XiamenAir 787-9 that would normally be going to Xiamen shortly after we’ve taken off, but is spending the night here due to a delayed arrival.
Looking across the South Bay as we head north, with the lights of the departure ends of the runways at LAX visible.
In cruise near Santa Maria
After a couple hours of watching movies and indulging in an early-morning dinner service, it’s time to get some sleep. The lie-flat seat has been tempting us since we first sat down.
Waking up at dawn as we pass Miyako Island in the Ryukus on our initial descent into Taiwan
Touching down with the sunrise in Taipei
Single-engine taxi across the access roads into Taiwan-Taoyuan Airport on our way to Terminal 1
Deplaned at Gate D5. The service was great, for what little of the flight we were actually awake. Would definitely recommend, both for the service and for how dang comfortable the seats are, which makes it really hard to stay up.