Review: EVA Air Business Class Boeing 777 [MNL - TPE]
FROM:
Manila [MNL]
TO:
Teipei [TPE]
CABIN:
“Royal Laurel” Business
SEATMAP:
Boeing 777-300ER
DATE:
May 2024
EVA Air Business class on their 777 from Manila to Teipei to Seattle offers a solid regional business class experience.
While the seat and hard product is a bit dated, exceptional service really elevates the experience to create a quality business class offering.
Overall Rating:
This flight was the first leg of a Manila to Seattle trip I had booked for returning home. The Teipei to Seattle leg will be on their Boeing 787, with their updated business class hard product, so I was looking forward to experiencing that leg.
All in all this experience was a solid regional product – landside services were a bit lacking (due to the inherent nature of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) however in flight more than made up for it. EVA Air on their 777 is a solid way to get around regionally.
In This Post:
How I Booked Eva Air Business Class
EVA Air 777 Business Class Pre Flight
-EVA Air 777 Business Class Lounge
-EVA Air 777 Business Class Boarding
EVA Air 777 Business Class In Flight
-EVA Air 777 Business Class Seat
-EVA Air 777 Business Class In Flight Entertainment
-EVA Air 777 Business Class Meals
-EVA Air 777 Business Class In Flight Service
Bottom Line
Photo Gallery
How I Booked EVA Air Business Class
This flight was the first leg of a Manila to Seattle ticket I booked through Air Canada Aeroplan using 75,000 Aeroplan points and 89 Canadian dollars. It cost me an additional 5000 points to add a 2 day stopover in Taipei City.
Aeroplan is probably my favorite transfer partner for Capital One, Chase, and American Express points. All at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
I found this particular availability using Seats.aero.
EVA Air 777 Business Class Lounge
Eva Air “Royal Laurel” passengers have access to the PAGGS Premium Lounge in NAIA Terminal 1, and with my Venture X card I also had access to the other Priority Pass lounge in the terminal – the Marhaba Lounge, and wanted to check that out too. A little pre-airport research indicated neither of these lounges were particularly good, however of course I needed to see for myself.
On the hunt for the Marhaba, I found a sign indicating it might be up an elevator. I headed there only to find that this was in fact the Mahbuay Lounge – for Philippine Airlines. On the outside, this looked great and unexpected at a Philippine airport, however I was of course unable to get in. Perhaps another time. Heading back down I did locate the Marhaba Lounge, but was unimpressed – small, a bit hot, and lacking in food options. So we will ignore it for now.
PAGGS Premium Lounge | Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Perhaps in the future Eva Air will invest in a dedicated lounge space at NAIA, but for now we settle for the PAGGS Premium Lounge. Accessible with a variety of lounge memberships, as well as a ‘pay-per-entry’ of 1500PHP or 25USD for three hour access. About as crowded as the Marhaba, albeit with more space and a more premium feel. The PAGGS lounge has a bar with wine, hard liquor and espresso drinks. As well as an assortment of hot food. Staff were friendly and attentive, quick to clear dirty plates. All in all an ok lounge, certainly better than waiting in the terminal area.
There is a main seating area with views of the runway. An elevated smaller, and lower main section.
Bar area not actively staffed, but are quick to come over if you need something.
Decent food selection with a halo-halo station.
EVA Air 777 Business Class Boarding
Boarding began on time at 12:10p, with a scheduled 12:50p departure. The cabin in this Boeing 777-300 was laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, and I had nabbed window seat 3K in the forward cabin. When it comes to seats, rows 2, 3, and 5 will be the best as 1 is close to the galley and is lacking any real bulkhead advantage, 6 near the lavatories and main galley, and 8-11 in the rear towards economy and behind the main business class galley which is were all the ‘action’ takes place. All seats of course have direct aisle access.
EVA Air 777 Business Class Seat
This Boeing 777-300 was outfitted with Eva Air’s older reverse herringbone style seat. While comfortable, I felt this product was lacking when compared to other Asian airlines, and especially compared to their own product on the Boeing 787 which I’ll be flying in a few days from Taipei to Seattle.
The cabin itself is bright and clean, with an inoffensive – if not a bit bland – color palate.
Seat itself is well designed, if dated. It is comfortable with good lumbar support, plenty of legroom (5’11) and storage. While I didn’t use it as a bed on this short flight, it does go fully flat, and all signs point to a comfortable sleep. There is USB charging and a 110 volt plug.
The TV flips out and the arm rest can hide down inside the seat to make getting in and out while the spacious dinner table is open nice and easy.
The given headphones were comfortable, however with poor noise canceling features. This is why I always bring my own Sonys.
A good number of seat adjustment options
EVA Air 777 Business Class In Flight Entertainment
The in flight entertainment screen was probably the most dated portion of this seat – a small screen with less than ideal viewing angles. Fortunately this was only a 2 hour flight so I simply left it on my favorite channel, the flight tracker
The media selection was pretty mediocre. A select few new Hollywood releases; Napoleon, Aquaman, Wish. A handful of HBO shows. And to my pleasant surprise, an entire genre dedicated Tom Cruise films. The remote was a PSP style, and the screen was a touchscreen.
EVA Air 777 Business Class Meals
Upon taking my seat, I was almost immediately offered water, juice and sparkling wine, followed shortly by a cold towel. Menus were passed out and the lunch order taken before leaving the gate. All passengers are also given an arrival card for Taipei. There was no amenity kit offered on this flight.
Wines and other drinks, and a small lunch menu for this two hour flight.
Lunch
My flight had a lunch menu. The Salmon Roulade appetizer was delicious, 10/10. The main however was just so so. The potato was nice, but the steak was overcooked. Still tender and saved by a nice flavorful sauce. The garlic bread from the basket was lovely.
Salmon Roulade, fresh fruit, and a main of Beef Steak with a Port Wine Sauce, served with Gratin Dauphinois.
Post meal drinks of tea and coffee were offered. I ordered a Bloody Mary, which was a 7/10. No veg, but well spiced. I was also offered a hot towel.
EVA Air 777 Business Class In Flight Service
The service on this flight was impeccable. Flight attendants were attentive, polite, and efficient. Meal service was timely, with dishes brought out and cleared in a timely manner, lavatories constantly kept clean, as well as regular non-invasive check ups to ensure passengers have everything they need.
Even among the already high standard of many Asian carriers, I felt this crew stood out as exceptional
Bottom Line
While the hard product is certainly showing its age on this Boeing 777, the two hour sample of the soft product I was able to experience set a great expectation for their Laurel Class in general. Service was great, crew were lovely, and I find myself looking forward to my upcoming 11 hours on Eva Air’s 787 to Seattle
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