Review: Starlux Business Class Airbus A330 [TPE - FUK]
Starlux Airlines Business class on their A330 from Taipei to Fukuoka offers a ‘stellar’ regional business class experience. Inflight service, food, and hard product excel, however Taipei groundside – specifically the lounge spaces (and not exclusive to starlux) – have room for improvement.
Overall Rating:
Starlux is a relatively new airline venture with an interesting backstory – the brief of it is that the son of the founder of EVA air was ousted from the that company by his half siblings, and as a sort of ‘revenge’ started Starlux in 2018, with first flights in 2020.
I first flew them two years ago, longhaul LAX to TPE on their A350 and was very impressed. Ive also flown their narrowbody A321 which was my first lie flat experience on a single aisle airplane.
Rewards tickets on trans pacific routes are difficult to find at a reasonable exchange, but are readily available in the intra-asian market which suited my use this time.
In This Post:
How I Booked Starlux Business Class
Starlux A330 Business Class Pre Flight
–Starlux A330 Business Class Lounge
–Starlux A330 Business Class Boarding
Starlux A330 Business Class In Flight
–Starlux A330 Business Class Cabin
–Starlux A330 Business Class Seat
–Starlux A330 Business Class In Flight Entertainment
–Starlux A330 Business Class Lavatories
-Starlux A330 Business Class Meals
-Starlux A330 Business Class In Flight Service
Bottom Line
Photo Gallery
How I Booked Airlines Business Class
This flight was booked using Alaska Airlines miles through Alaska Airlines Milage Plan – now Atmos. It cost me 15,000 miles and 16USD, which is pretty good value at 5.6 cents per point, with regular tickets for this going for around 850.
I found this particular availability using Seats.aero.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Lounge
Starlux operates two lounges at Tayouan International Airport in Taiwan. The larger Galactic Lounge in Terminal 2, which I visited recently when flying Starlux’s A321 business class product, and a smaller of the same name in Terminal 1.
Today I’ll be at the smaller Galactic Lounge in Terminal 1.
Galactic Lounge | Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1
This lounge is located outside of immigration, to the right and up the elevator/stairs to the 4th floor. It is located about halfway down a long hallway along with the other various lounges serving Terminal 1, including two Plaza Premium priority pass lounges.
Upon presenting my boarding pass, I was directed to an open seat and given a table service menu. This is the first time I have experienced something like this in a business class lounge and it is a nice touch. But this means this review might be a bit out of order.
A lounge attendant was then quickly around to take my order. Tonkatsu miso ramen was ordered and quickly brought to my table. What fun. It was very good actually, and a great little preview for my upcoming diet in Japan.
Anyways – back to the lounge itself. It is quite small, but throughout my time there never felt too ‘full’ as passengers came and went.
This morning at 9:30 there were 5 people in a space that seats maybe 20-30.
I do like the color palate and lighting that starlux chose for this lounge better than the industrial feeling of the larger T2.
In addition to the main seating area, tucked around the side there is another ‘room’ of sorts.
The food area is relatively small, but has a quality selection of items including a couple of hot dishes.
Deserts, breads, a bar, and an ice cream fridge.
Hot food items – somewhat limited, but all very tasty, a theme with Starlux is their quality catering options.
An espresso machine compliments.
A stocked fridge with premium drinks and a basket of apples for some reason.
Center area has salad, fruits, and what was labeled a ‘nacho station’ which seems to be chips and ketchup? I passed on this offering.
While the menu is taken away after the first order, it is not a problem to order again from the set menu – which I obliged.
Overall an ‘ok’ lounge. Buoyed by excellent service and great food.
The biggest issue, aside from the smaller space, is the lack of a dedicated restroom. You have to exit and use a restroom down the hall, which is a little disappointing, however understandable given the limited space.
Overall, a ’30 minute lounge’ – have your menu food item which is very good, and then head to the plane. If you have more than about an hour, head for the Terminal 2 lounge for the larger space and shower rooms. It is not a great lounge, but better from a space standpoint than T1. Note you cannot use both lounges on the same ticket – it is a one lounge use only (per lounge staff).
There is a new terminal being built at the airport, I am optimistically hoping Starlux is able to utilize that and create a world class lounge to match (foreshadowing) what I feel they can do in the air.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Boarding
Boarding is at gate B7, about an 8 minute walk from the lounge. Lounge staff are around about 15 minutes before boarding starts to personally remind that boarding will begin soon. What service.
Boarding began on time, with business to the front bridge.
Welcome drink of a passion fruit something or other, and a hot towel were quickly brought after taking my seat. Along with a quick explanation of seat control fuctions.
Towel was hot, so already fixing my minor gripes of my prior Starlux experience 🙂
Starlux still has this confusing, but welcomingly playful, peanuts/snoopy co-branding.
Flight attendant was then around to say ‘hi’ and take meal and drink orders. Asking also how I prefer to be addressed.
Doors close and pushback about 5 minutes late.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Cabin
I really like the colors Starlux uses – spacey and modern, dark but not too dark. Really classy I think.
One drawback (imo) here is the use of the center overhead bins – unlike the 787s that I have typically flown regionally in Asia, the center bins do make the cabin feel a bit more (relatively anyways) cramped.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Seat
I am in seat 4K today. For window side, even numbers have the console towards the aisle, and seat closer to the window for a bit more privacy.
At the risk of repeating myself, I do enjoy the color selections that starlux uses.
Pillow and blanket await me in the seat. It is comfortable – plush and wide. The window armrest does not go down for bed mode, but it is un-obtrusive.
Console has wireless charging, outlets and USB, IFE control, and seat adjustments including lumbar support. Not quite as extensive as some (especially their A350) but perfectly adequate.
I would like to see an additional slide out privacy screen, but thats a bit nit picky.
Inside the compartment lurk the headphones. No water or amenity kit today on this short hop to Fukuoka.
Footwell is spacious but not cavernous. Relatively wide though, and plenty deep. Above the footrest you can see the dining table (bottom) that clips in just below the screen.
The table pops out, and folds down. Can be pushed forward enough to squeeze into the aisle pretty well if needed.
Full lie flat of course, wide enough and comfortable as a bed though I did not use it today.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class In Flight Entertainment
Good sized modern screen with touch capability. Nice and responsive, with good picture quality. Though to be expected of a new/modern product.
I do get a kick out of their safety video.
Starlux branded headphones are comfortable enough, but these IFE screens have bluetooth integrated for personal headphones which I love. Looking forward to other airlines continuing to add bluetooth integration.
Good selection of HBO max offerings, and a great selection and variety of western films – old and new.
Only problem here is the exorbitant amount of ads shown before I can actually watch a film or use the screen. I lost count after a Land Rover, camera, hair gel, whisky and own brand ads. I get it, ads are part of life now but I would think those up front would be a little more exempt as the cash cows of the airline industry.
Free WiFi is offered for business class. Speeds are ok at 11 Mbps. Maybe a Starlink partnership in the future?
A new to me feature is picture in picture – have I missed this on other airlines?
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Lavatories
The middle section lavatory is quite small, but clean and well stocked.
Face mist, lotion, and fragrance are available. Along with mouthwash and floss picks.
Starlux Airlines A330 Business Class Meals
When my order was taken during boarding, I was informed there was a Japanese or International menu options today. Without much reading, I will of course be choosing the Japanese.
While I do love an extensive menu, this one is a bit overkill with 64 pages and 1600 kinds of teas.
Meal Service
The table is set quickly after takeoff, with Champagne brought after.
Captain was on the intercom to note strong turbulence was expected, and hot beverage service will be paused. Will be curious to see how food service for business resumes (spoilers – uneffected)
Meal was all brought at the same time on the same tray which I don’t necessarily prefer, but it may be standard for this particular service and I don’t really mind.
Very well presented. Starters were light, delicate, and delicious.
Main was also flavorful, the chicken tender and juicy.
The only miss was the soup which was a little watery and lacking flavor. Good, but missing ‘something’
And finally a fruit plate that isn’t 95% cantaloupe and honeydew.
All in all a solid meal on a short haul flight. Again impressed by Starlux catering.
Starlux Airlines Business Class In Flight Service
The crew on this flight was again exceptional. Frequently up and down aisles, visibly checking on passengers. Quick to clear rubbish as needed and empty trays.
Timing on all fronts was excellent, from boarding, to meal service and post meal cleanup.
Bottom Line
At the moment, the only thing really lacking for Starlux is a solid ground space. Frankly all of the lounges at Taoyuan are a little lackluster for what I feel is an otherwise solid and competitive Asian hub. So as a new airline Starlux is already a bit behind in the count.
Other than that, stylish planes, good routes, fantastic service, exceptional food, standout hard products and crews that can go toe-to-toe with the best continue to keep Starlux, for me, a top 3 airline.
Looking forward to what the future holds for them (hopefully swanky new lounge spaces in Terminal 3).
[…] side armrest does not go down. Kind of reminds me of the Starlux A330 seat, perhaps this is an earlier […]