With its slightly older style business class cabin, China Airlines may not have been the first choice of carrier in the past.
However the airline has fought back with an impressive and industry-leading product.
The Premium Business Class cabin is currently being rolled out on the carrier’s new 777-300ER fleet. Officially commencing service from Taipei to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Frankfurt from next month, it means around the world trips to Asia and the US just got a lot more comfortable.
The airline has already been trialling the new products on its short-haul routes around Asia and it was one of these I managed to hop aboard for.
Because they are only a few months old, the aircraft still have that new plane smell.
The cabin is smart, chic, masculine and earthy. Mood lighting, dark carpets, charcoal grey seats and deep colours flood the cabin, offset by bright and bold wood grain walls and finishes.
The herringbone seats are the same hard product as found on Qantas, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways and there is good reason for this; these tried and tested “Super Diamond” seats, from B/E Aerospace are some of the most spacious, private and advanced products you can find in the skies. Large TVs, Wi-Fi, all-aisle access and excessive storage make for a relaxing and comfortable long-haul journey.
On this three-hour test flight from Taipei to Hanoi, we were shown everything a long-haul passenger can experience, including the new “Sky Lounge”, a dedicated galley designed as a social space for people to read, relax and enjoy Nespresso and Taiwanese teas and snacks. The food service is also vastly improved, with dedicated at-seat service, a wide selection of beverages, aperitifs and delicious Taiwanese options as well as traditional western-style meals.
On overnight flights to the US, expect a full dinner service, followed by Chinese or western breakfast, as well as being able to dip into the snacks on offer in the Sky Lounge.
The new-look China Airlines is both modern and functional, and showcases how a new seat product can elevate a good carrier to one of the best in the skies.
Q&A
Jonny Clark reveals more about the new business class cabin from China Airlines:
Which routes will the 777-300ER fly?
To start with China Airlines will fly the new 777-300ER on its flights to America, with Los Angeles and New York receiving the aircraft first.
Who designed the experience?
China Airlines has looked inward to design its customer experience, hiring the Taiwanese national Ray Chen to redesign the entire cabin.
What about the lounges?
For those travelling through Taipei, the transfer process couldn’t be less painful. You can be from aircraft to lounge in less than five minutes. The carrier has two lounges, one going through a major transformation to offer greater space, comfort and design, but both still offering a comfortable and quiet haven to wait for your connecting flight, each with their very own noodle bar and buffet-style dining.
How much is it?
Business class flights to Taipei from Dubai start at Dh12,600, connecting with China Southern. However, those wanting to experience return direct flights from Taipei to Los Angeles on the new 777 Premium Business Class must pay around Dh15,000.
Will the rest of the fleet be upgraded?
There are plans to phase out the ageing A340s from their fleet that offer the oldest business class product, and the rest of the cabins will be refreshed to match the product on offer in the new 777 fleet.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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