If you’ve never been to Taiwan, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of Taiwan’s newest airline STARLUX. Founded in 2018 by the son of the Evergreen Group’s founder (the parent company of EVA Air), STARLUX has deep roots in the country’s aviation legacy. Many of its staff are former EVA Air employees, which is reassuring given that EVA consistently ranks among the world’s top 20 airlines. I had the prevliege of expereincing their business class offering and I have to say, it is one of the best.

Route Specifications

• 🛫 Starting Airport – Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
• 🛬 Destination Airport – San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• 🔢 Flight Number – STARLUX Airlines 12
• ✈️ Aircraft Type – Airbus A350-900
• 📅 Month Travelled – June 2024

Preboarding Experience

The preboarding experience for STARLUX is pretty typical. STARLUX has its check-in section at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (桃園國際機場) and seperate lines for the various different classes. The business line was quick and efficient. As part of the pre-boarding experience, you can access STARLUX’s Galaxy Lounge as well. I wrote a separate review on the lounge in Terminal 2, which you can check here: STARLUX Galaxy Lounge Review: A Stellar Airport Experience.

Seats

The STARLUX Airbus A350-900s are only a few years old, so the seats and onboard facilities still feel cutting-edge. Unlike some older business class offerings from other airlines, these seats feature privacy partitions on all sides, providing complete seclusion from other passengers. This level of privacy has become standard in most business class cabins as of 2025, so it’s reassuring to see STARLUX keeping pace despite these aircraft not being brand new.

Beyond the fully flat-bed configuration, the seat offers several additional settings. One notable option is a zero-gravity mode, which elevates your feet above your heart. This position is designed to simulate weightlessness and reduce physical stress, which can be especially beneficial for travelers who experience discomfort on long-haul flights.

Another interesting feature is the built-in massage function. The seat delivers light back massages throughout the flight, though in my experience, the sensation is quite subtle and easy to miss. While it’s a thoughtful touch, it doesn’t significantly enhance the overall experience.

Technology

The business-class seats on the STARLUX A350-900 feature a 24-inch 4K touchscreen display. The screen is sharp, vibrant, and highly responsive. Watching movies on it is a pleasure.

Near the armrest, there’s a secondary touchscreen that allows you to adjust the seat into various configurations with ease.

A Qi wireless charger is built into a small cabinet, allowing you to simply place your phone inside to charge. This was the first time I’ve seen a wireless charger on a plane, but I found its usefulness to be limited. The vibrations of the aircraft and occasional turbulence can make keeping the phone properly aligned a challenge. In most cases, a traditional wired connection offers a more reliable charging experience.

Each screen also supports Bluetooth connectivity for your ANC headphones or earbuds. In my experience, the connection was stable, and the pairing process was straightforward. Just place both the screen and your headphones in pairing mode, and your device should appear on the screen for easy connection.

STARLUX also provides wired active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones for the duration of the flight. They’re decent, but you’ll likely get better sound quality and noise cancellation with premium models from brands like Bose or Sony.

Amenities

STARLUX offers a generous selection of amenities in business class. In addition to the standard blanket, pillow, and slippers, passengers also receive a set of pajamas. The pajamas are soft, comfortable, and warm enough to be appreciated by anyone sensitive to cooler cabin temperatures.

The business class restroom on STARLUX is also well-appointed. It’s stocked with a variety of toiletries, and a scent diffuser is placed in the lavatory to keep the space smelling fresh throughout the flight.

Food & Drinks

Let’s start with the drink selection on STARLUX Airlines—beginning with the alcoholic offerings. STARLUX provides an impressively extensive range, including a variety of wines, whiskies, beers, spirits, liqueurs, cocktails, and even mocktails. The wine list spans regions from France to New Zealand, while the whiskey selection features both American and Japanese options. Beer choices include selections from Germany, Japan, and Taiwan, reflecting a truly global lineup. The mocktail menu leans toward fruity and refreshing blends, offering a nice alternative for those avoiding alcohol.

The non-alcoholic beverage selection is equally impressive. For coffee lovers, STARLUX serves illy as well as St1, a premium coffee brand from Taiwan. Unique among airlines, STARLUX even offers bubble tea onboard. Tea drinkers can choose from a range of locally sourced Taiwanese teas, such as Sun Moon Lake Assam Black Tea. For those who prefer more traditional English teas, the airline serves Whittard-branded blends. Cold-pressed juices round out a diverse and well-curated drink menu.

The culinary experience on STARLUX is crafted by Chef Lam Ming Kin, who runs Longtail, a ⭐Michelin one-star contemporary French restaurant in Taipei. He specializes in Western cuisine, and his influence is evident throughout the menu.

To start, I had the olive oil–marinated shrimp with Thai-style curry purée, which was quite good. The roasted tomato cream soup was decent, offering a warm and mildly savory touch.

For the main course, I chose the grilled halibut served with Korean-style béarnaise, along with a ginger and scallion sesame sauce, accompanied by garlic rice. Unfortunately, I found the halibut to be somewhat fishy. The biggest issue for me was that the various flavor components didn’t quite harmonize—the ginger and scallion sauce didn’t do much to mask the fishiness. That said, seafood on planes is always a bit of a gamble, and this could simply come down to personal taste.

Dessert was a traditional papaya white fungus sweet soup, a classic in many Asian cuisines. While it may be unfamiliar to some non-Asian travelers, I found it comforting. The dish also came with a sweet fruit selection, including watermelon, honeydew, and pineapple.

Overall, the culinary experience was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The appetizer and dessert were enjoyable, but the main dish didn’t quite hit the mark. That said, the wide selection of food and beverages, combined with thoughtful presentation, still places STARLUX among the top contenders in business class dining.

Service

The flight attendants were friendly, attentive, and on par with the best in the industry. I initially asked whether I could keep the provided pajamas, and although they first said no, they later made an exception and allowed me to take them home. This thoughtful gesture that left a positive impression.

Overall Impression

After flying international business class with United, Singapore Airlines, WestJet, and STARLUX, I’d rank STARLUX either first or a very close second. The modern cabin design, combined with the extensive food and drink offerings, made for a truly enjoyable experience. If you’re lucky, you can redeem a one-way business class ticket from the West Coast (SFO, LAX, or SEA) to Taipei (TPE) through Alaska Airlines for just 65,000 miles. At that redemption rate, this is absolutely a product worth trying.