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EVA Air Hello Kitty Transpacific Royal Laurel Class 2014

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  • EVA Air Hello Kitty Transpacific Royal Laurel Class 2014

    EVA Air Hello Kitty Transpacific Royal Laurel Class 2014


    I guess Hello Kitty can be a controversial subject on various travel forums, especially for travelers flying in Business or premium economy class. I decide just to write a short report on EVA Air’s soon-to-discontinued Hello Kitty transpacific flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, as B-16703 “Sanrio Family Hand in Hand” will begin to serve the nonstop flights between Taipei and Paris three times a week. For those in business class, I think the Hello Kitty element is rather subtle, especially compared to some of the earlier trip reports on Hello Kitty flights, and even compared towards regional Hello Kitty flights. However I also have to say that I am very impressed with EVA Air’s Royal Laurel Class and its upgraded amenities and service. The service is yet to be as polished as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, but you can feel that the F/As are trying their best. The catering is impressive, especially some of the pre-booked meals and Taiwanese-inspired meals. Compared to Cathay Pacific’s business class catering, EVA Air is definitely better with fancier presentation and heartier meals, not to mention better quality. However, I find it surprising that a proper midflight snack, like noodles or sandwiches, is not offered on the Taipei to LA segment, despite being offered on the return LAX to TPE flight.

    October 12, 2014; Sunday
    BR 870 HKG-TPE lv1525 Arr1710 Boeing 777-300ER B-16703 “Sanrio Family Hand in Hand”

    I arrived at the airport a bit earlier than usual, as I decided to use a car service. EVA Air uses Aisle E at Terminal One, and the counters were fairly quiet at this noon hour. The agent was efficient and polite, but no Hello Kitty boarding pass for the onward flight from Taipei to Los Angeles. Just printed on a regular boarding pass stock!




    EVA Air shares Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, and the lounge was fairly quiet. An attendant immediately offered me a menu, and asked for my beverage and food order!



    The menu definitely had suffered some cutbacks!


    I went with a diet coke, pasta, and a fruit salad! The lounge staffs were very efficient and friendly. However the food was a bit on the small side.



    I never noticed these reclining lounge chairs before!




    Once I logged into the free wifi, I found out that the Hello Kitty 777 was on its way to Hong Kong, and I got to fly this Hello Kitty all the way from HKG to LAX! Of course, Hello Kitty amenities were not offered on the Hong Kong to Taipei flight, as it was a last minute aircraft change. Nonetheless, I decided to head over to gate 28 early, so I could take some good shots of B-16703. Both TPE and LAX were not particularly photo-friendly, and I was glad to have this chance here in HKG. Due to the ongoing single runway operation in Taoyuan, delay was a major problem and today was no exception! Our scheduled departure time was moved to 3:40pm, but since this plane would continue to LAX, I was not overly concerned.

    Gate 28


    B-16703 arriving from Taipei

  • #2


    B-16703 at gate – what a beautiful plane!






    Boarding finally began at 3:20pm and I managed to snap a few cabin shots. The F/As took my boarding pass and brought me to my seats. All the seat covers are the normal Royal Laurel Class stuffs, not the Hello Kitty branded ones. However the painting was there!





    The flight was pretty full in all cabins this afternoon.

    Royal Laurel seat


    New updated headrest

    Comment


    • #3
      There was a choice of water or orange juice, as pre-takeoff beverage. No champagne was offered, but some passengers requested tea, and were honored.


      Headsets were already placed at the seat, and the F/As came by with these packaged refreshing towels. No real towels were offered on any EVA Air flight, short or long haul!

      Newspapers were offered and Hong Kong newspapers are limited to Ming Pao, a Chinese one, and South China Morning Post, the English paper.

      Hello Kitty safety card


      Door was finally closed at 3:42pm and the flying time was about an hour and twenty-seven minutes, with a cruising attitude of 37,000feet.



      A hot light meal was offered on this short flight, and here is the wine list and menu! EVA Air has updated the service on these short regional flights, which was fairly impressive. Fresh linen was first passed out covering the table, followed by a starter tray along with beverages and wines. Then the F/As rolled down the entrée trolley, which allowed passengers to pick after seeing the entrée, sort of like CX. Then there was a tea and coffee service.

      Wine List (regional flights)
      Champagne Castelnau, Blanc de Blancs 2002

      French Red Wine
      Chateau Villa Bel-Air 2010

      South Africa Red Wine
      La Cave Pinotage 2013

      Chile White Wine
      Casas del Toqui Chardonnay Barrel Series 2013

      German White Wine
      Monchhof Riesling 2012

      Fortified Wine
      Burdon Dry Fino Sherry
      Taylor’s LBV Port

      Light Meal



      Main Course
      Braised Chicken with Taro in Coconut Cream Sauce
      Mixed Vegetables
      Steamed Rice with Chopped Pak choy
      Or
      Pan Fried Pork Fillet Steak and Button Mushroom in Creamy Brown Sauce
      Mixed Vegetables
      Roasted Potato


      The spicy chili sauce is available on request for serving with meal.

      Fruit



      Sweet
      (Chocolate Bread Budding with Raisin cream)


      Coffee Tea


      Honestly the pork entrée was on the disappointing side, but the bread selection was excellent with a choice of garlic bread, wheat or Foccacia rolls, which were delicious. The fruit bowl features guava, apple, kiwi, and pineapple, and the sweet of the day was a Chocolate bread pudding with raisin cream.

      Comment


      • #4




        Descent began at 4:51pm, but we spent some time circling around Taipei, before finally landed on R/W23R at 5:33pm. Then we sat at the tarmac for about fifteen minutes waiting for gate. We parked at gate C4 at 5:52pm with many connection passengers heading to JFK, LAX, and SFO.

        Transit information


        October 12, 2014; Sunday
        BR 12 TPE-LAX Lv1840 Arr1525 Boeing 777-300ER B-16703 “Sanrio Family Hand in Hand”
        I did not go to the lounge, as I was never a fan and was not hungry. I decided to hang out around terminal two and spent my time visiting bookstores.

        Our gate was C4 today, not the Hello Kitty decorated gate at C3



        Hello Kitty theme



        B-16703 in the dark


        Many wheelchair passengers


        Boarding began at 6:51pm – ten minutes behind our scheduled departure time


        Royal Laurel seat – only different is the addition Hello Kitty themed pillow and the new thick Royal Laurel blanket/duvet

        Comment


        • #5





          Pre-takeoff beverage – OJ or water, refreshing towel, and Fiji bottled water



          Hello Kitty themed menu – Fall/Autumn Edition


          No more Dom Perignon – Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2004 is now served! Still a $150 bottle!


          Door was closed at 7:14pm, but we did not push back till 7:35pm. Traffic was very heavy at Taoyuan airport and many planes were held at the gate. The taxi to R/W23R was extremely slow, and here was a list of planes taking off and arrival before our turn!
          BR 77W B-16719 BR 32 to JFK → TG A330 HS-TBA arriving from ICN → CI 744 B-18203 to Pudong → Air Macau A321 B-MBA arriving from MFM → CX 744 B-HUG to HKG as CX 473 → Jetstar A320 9V-JSV arrving from Kansai → China Eastern A330 B-6507 to Pudong → EVA Air A321 B-16212 arriving → Peach A320 JA811P to Kansai → BR 77W B-16717 arriving from BKK → Korean Air Boeing 737 HL8247 to ICN → Hong Kong Airlines A330 B-LNO arriving from Hong Kong

          We finally departed from R/W23R at 8:05pm. Flying time was eleven hours and twenty-eight minutes. Our routing was pretty much over the Pacific Ocean till we reached Monterrey. We slowly climbed from 29,000feet to 37,000feet. It was pretty choppy throughout the night.



          After we reached 10,000feet, the F/As immediately sing into action with the amenity kit and pajama trolley. The F/A even offered to cut open the plastic for the amenity kits.

          New Rimowa amenity kit


          Pajama

          Comment


          • #6
            Afterward, there was the familiar linen service, followed by beverage and a bowl of Japanese crackers.



            Hello Kitty autumn themed products




            Here is the wine list:
            Champagne
            Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2004


            French Red Wine
            Chateau Lilian Ladouys AOC St Estephe 2000

            Spanish Red Wine
            Veraton 2011

            French White Wine
            Chateau Chantegrive Cuvee Caroline Graves 2012

            German White Wine
            Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2012

            Fortified Wine
            Burdon Dry Fino Sherry
            Taylor’s LBV Port

            After a few beverage refills, dinner was served. Unlike late night flights, a full dinner service was offered, and each course was served individually. No tray was used. There were a few Hello Kitty elements, but not too overwhelming.

            Here is the menu transcript:
            Royal Laurel Dining
            Hors D’Oeuvre
            Goose Liver Terrine
            Grape Champagne Jelly
            Red Wine Baby Pear




            Hello Kitty Foie Gras Terrine – my personal first


            Hello Kitty napkin ring


            New salt and pepper shakers – too similar to CX

            Comment


            • #7
              Assorted Bread and Echire Butter
              I really enjoyed EVA Air’s bread selection! These mini French baguettes were delicious. Other bread selection includes garlic bread, soft twist rolls, and whole wheat rolls.


              Creamy Apple and White Turnip Soup
              I always love soup at 31,000feet.



              Fine Meslun with Vegetable Salad


              Main Course
              Prime Beef Fillet Steak with Balsamic Brown Sauce
              Mixed Vegetables Gratin Red Skin Potato
              Or
              Pan Fried Cod Fillet with Superior Crab roe Egg White Sauce
              Mixed Vegetables Egg Yolk Noodle
              Or
              Braised Pork Spare Ribs Wu Shi Style
              Mixed Vegetables Egg Fried Rice

              The spicy chili sauce is available on request for serving with meal.

              For entrée, I had one of the special Internet pre-booked selections, which was a Shrimp and Scallop with cream sauce, along with Charcoal noodles. It was delicious.



              Cheese Fruit


              There was a full cheese board – Brie, Blue, Adam, and Cheddar with dried fruit, carrot, celery, and nuts.


              The fruit basket was filled with local delicacies – grapes, papaya, dragon fruit, guava, apple, plums and bananas.


              Sweet
              Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream
              Or
              Pearl Chocolate Yogurt Mousse on Glazed Pineapple Tart




              Coffee Tea

              Comment


              • #8
                Seat in preset recline position


                Seat in full flat position with new bedding




                Feature of the Royal Laurel seats
                Entertainment console/headset/usb Drive/power outlet/Personal Light


                Seat Control Panel


                Side Storage bin – bottled waters and small items


                Footrest


                After dinner, there was a snack bar setup in the back with extra bottled waters, and a basket of snacks including Buckwheat laver, cheddar cheese crackers, otsumami, fresh dried pineapple, Lay’s Chips, Milano cookies, Walker’s shortbread cookies, and Nature Valley’s Granola bars. As I mentioned in the introduction, there was no proper mid-flight snack service like noodles, sandwiches, burger, and instant noodles. I found it strange, but for all Taipei to West Coast flights, EVA Air does not offer a real mid-flight snack. Only on the return flights or flights beyond fourteen hours, a proper mid-flight snack is offered.

                Duty free was offered twice and just a warning, many Hello Kitty products were not available without pre-ordering. There are discounts if you purchase more than one product.

                Entertainment – the system was fine with full touchscreen functions, but the problem is the lack of contents. The movie selection is fine, but the television selection is just plain sad. I expect a Taiwanese carrier will have a nice array of Taiwanese variety shows like “Kung Xi is Coming.” The television section is just plain sad. Compared to Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, this selection is just plain sad, and even CX and SQ have more Taiwanese television shows on its system.

                I slept pretty well throughout the flight, despite intermittent turbulence. The F/As were fairly attentive and they all offered me beverages when they saw me leaving the bathroom. There was an elderly lady that required assistant throughout the night, and the F/As were not bothered by her frequent use of call buttons.

                Breakfast service began around 5:22am Taipei time/2:22pm LA time. Juices and refreshing towels were first offered.

                Breakfast
                Wake Up Drink
                Vigor Dong Shih 100% Nature Carrot Juice
                Orange Juice


                Apple Juice
                Tomato Juice

                Coffee Tea


                Taiwanese Plain Porridge
                Traditional Delicatessens
                Wok Fried Shredded Chicken with Green Sprout
                Braised Shiitake Mushroom with Egg Tofu

                Fruit
                Or
                Western Breakfast
                Fruit
                Assorted Bread and Echire Butter
                Museli Yogurt
                Main Course
                Asparagus Omelette with Pan Fried Chicken Patty
                Or

                Royal Laurel Special


                Traditional Delicatessens

                Comment


                • #9


                  Noodle Soup with Stewed Pork Cutlet



                  Fruit



                  Breakfast service was completed within an hour, and sometimes I wondered why Asian airlines were in such a rush to start the breakfast service so early. They could easily wait for another 15 or even 30 minutes.

                  View of California coast



                  Descent soon began at 4:02pm local time.

                  We landed on R/W24R at 4:33pm, and parked at gate 148 at 4:42pm.
                  We got one of the good gates at TBIT and the walk to immigration was minimal.
                  Global entry was a breeze and the agent was friendly and in a good mood.
                  Priority tagged bags first came out at 4:59pm, and mine were among the first batch.

                  In conclusion, EVA Air has definitely stepped up its game with Royal Laurel Class/Business Class, with a new suite style seat, accompanied by excellent amenity kit, nice champagne, pajama, and improved catering. I think there are still areas that they need to work on, such as the entertainment system. Anyway, it is definitely a competitive product, and no wonder China Airlines has to step up its game with the new Boeing 777-300ERs. This is possibly not an overly interesting trip report, but I hope you will enjoy it nonetheless!

                  Carfield

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to flying them soon

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thanks for posting, Carfield!

                      The J hard product looks very good!

                      I can't help thinking that the Hello Kitty theme is one of those "love it or hate it" affairs. I don't know what your typical business traveller would think when confronted with a foie gras terrine with a picture of Hello Kitty on it...

                      But EVA's catering does look very impressive, and for me, I would book a flight and put up with all the Hello Kitty nonsense just to try that bowl of noodle soup with stewed pork cutlet...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Good read. Thanks!

                        Reread this after discovering that, with the demise of SQ21/22, BR is now the fastest way to New York from SIN

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Previously fly TPE-HKG and it was the Premium Laurel.

                          Next month flying TPE-FUk and it is Premium Laurel as well.

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