Information on China Airlines Flights

China Airlines (CI) is the flag carrier of Taiwan. From its main hub at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), it serves several dozen destinations in Europe, North America and Oceania, as well as throughout East and Southeast Asia. The airline also flies a limited number of routes from Taipei’s smaller Songshan Airport (TSA). As a former resident of Taiwan, I’ve got many tips to share with anyone who’s considering flying China Airlines.

Cabin class, seats & legroom

All China Airlines planes feature business class and economy class cabins. Depending on which aircraft you fly, you may also have the option of sitting in premium economy.

Business class

China Airlines operates several business class products, depending on the aircraft serving your route. Its flagship product is known as Premium Business Class, which you can find on the A350-900 and 777-300 ER planes serving long-haul destinations in Europe, North America and Oceania.

These are reverse-herringbone lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, which means that all have direct aisle access and all face away from the aisle. What separates China Airlines’ Premium Business Class, in my opinion, is the dark, dramatic finishes within the cabin. I especially love the individual lamps at each table, which are extremely stylish.

China Airlines has also chosen to use the Premium Business Class brand on the cabins of the A321neo planes entering its fleet, though you should know that this is a different product, albeit with the same sleek finishes. Namely, seats are in a 2-2 configuration, though they are also lie-flat beds.

No matter which plane you’re on or which seat you select, you’ll enjoy an exquisite dining experience onboard China Airlines business class. This includes two multi-course meals, one served right after take-off and the other a bit before landing. I usually choose the local Taiwanese option, especially at breakfast, when it spotlights delicious congee rice porridge.

China Airlines’ business class wine list is also impressive, particularly if any of the crew onboard are especially knowledgeable on pairings. I was lucky enough to have a trained sommelier on a flight from Taipei to Sydney a few years ago, and it made all the difference, even at 35,000 feet!

Regional business class

Business class on the Airbus A330 and Boeing 737-800 planes serving regional routes in East and Southeast Asia is more basic than what you find on longer haul aircraft. On the A330, you’ll find so-called “angled-flat” beds in a 2-2-2 configuration. On the 737, you’ll find recliner seats that are similar to what you’d expect in domestic first class in the US.

Meals in regional business class tend to be a bit simpler than those on longer haul flights, namely in that they’re served on a single tray, rather than as multiple courses from a cart. However, catering still tends to be better than it would be on flights of similar length in North America or Europe.

Premium Economy

China Airlines offers a premium economy cabin on its long-haul aircraft, i.e. the A350-900 and the Boeing 777-300ER. Arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration on the 777 and 2-3-2 on the A350, these recliner seats are similar in size and functionality to a first-class seat on a domestic US flight.

Food is closer to business class than it is to economy and is served on real china with real silverware. Premium economy passengers also enjoy an expanded beverage menu, which includes select wines and spirits from the business class galley.

Extra Comfort Seats and Preferred Seats

Although China Airlines has not monetized its economy cabin to the extent of many Western airlines, you will need to pay extra to pre-assign certain seats. Specifically, the bulkhead and exit row seats (which are branded as “Extra Comfort”) and the so-called “Preferred” seats in the first several rows of the cabin.

Economy

China Airlines’ economy cabin features a standard 32” of pitch, in configurations that range from 3-4-3 on the 777, to 3-3-3 on the A350, to 2-4-2 on the A330. Passengers can enjoy beer, wine and select spirits with their meal, for which they can choose between a Western or Asian option.

Basic economy

China Airlines doesn’t sell “basic economy” fares in the punitive way that US and European carriers do. However, passengers who purchase a “Discount” fare will need to pay an extra fee to select even a standard seat.

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with China Airlines.

Baggage policy and fees

Compared to airlines in the US and Europe, China Airlines offers a generous baggage policy. All passengers will get at least one checked bag of up to 50 lbs or 23 kg, with passengers who travel in business class or who purchase full-fare economy tickets entitled to two bags.

More importantly for me, as someone who doesn’t often check bags, is China Airlines’ carry-on policy. The airline is far less strict about policing the size and weight of carry-on bags than its Western counterparts, even for passengers who purchase a Discount economy fare.

Check-in

I usually use online or mobile check-in when I fly China Airlines, though full-service check-in is available at TPE, TSA and most outstations. I typically only use airport check-in if I’m flying business class and want to feel swanky, or in the rare instances where I check bags.

Lounges

China Airlines’ Dynasty Lounge is far from competitive in this day and age. Although there is a noodle station, the self-service bar and largely buffet-style dining feel antiquated and uncompetitive. However, if you have access to the lounge (which has locations such as TPE and TSA, plus certain outstations like SFO), it is worth checking out.

All ticketed passengers in business class and premium economy on China Airlines and its SkyTeam partners like Delta and Air France can access the lounge. Economy passengers who hold elite status with China Airlines or SkyTeam can also enter the lounge.

Onboard experience

Here’s what you can expect onboard a China Airlines flight.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

Wi-Fi is available on both of China Airlines’ long-haul aircraft (the A350 and the Boeing 777-300ER), as well as the A321neo. I’ve personally never found the service to be fast or reliable compared to Wi-Fi on US airlines, though that may change as time passes.

All China Airlines seats feature individual entertainment screens, with those in business class (and especially Premium Business Class on the A350 and 777) being larger and more higher-resolution than those in premium economy or economy. As is the case with most East Asian airlines, English-language movies and TV shows tend to be extremely limited in number.

Amenities

China Airlines offers amenity kits to all passengers traveling in long-haul Premium Business Class, but not in business class on shorter flights. As is the case with other Taiwanese airlines, these kits often bear the names of luxury lifestyle brands. Premium Economy passengers receive a more basic amenity kit.

Loyalty programs, miles & credit cards

China Airlines’ loyalty program is known as Dynasty Flyer. However, both the program and its associated credit cards are mostly only useful to travelers based in Taiwan.

China Airlines Dynasty Flyer

China Airlines frequent flyers earn miles for travel on China Airlines, as well as on SkyTeam partners like KLM and China Eastern. Unlike US and European airlines, earnings are based on mileage flown, rather than spending. Cheaper fares will earn a fraction of miles flown, while business class fares often enjoy a multiplier.

You can redeem China Airlines miles for travel on both China Airlines and its SkyTeam partners, though I find rates to be uncompetitive. Likewise, the Dynasty Flyer booking portal features a somewhat antiquated design and less-than-intuitive functionality.

Credit cards

China Airlines offers several co-branded credit cards to residents of Taiwan, but none to overseas residents. Dynasty Flyer also isn’t a transfer partner for major points currencies like AMEX Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, making it nearly impossible to earn these points through credit cards.

My favorite way to book China Airlines flights using points is a “backdoor.” Namely, using Delta SkyMiles, which are oddly much more valuable for partner flights than they are for Delta flights. You can earn SkyMiles by flying, by spending on Delta co-branded credit cards, or by transferring from AMEX Membership rewards.

Mandarin Airlines

You may notice that China Airlines does not operate any domestic flights within Taiwan. This is because China Airlines’ wholly-owned subsidiary Mandarin Airlines (AE) operates these flights.

Note that if you do plan to fly domestically within Taiwan, you will always need to do so from Songshan Airport (TSA), which is located within central Taipei, rather than the more distant TPE in neighboring Taoyuan County.

The China Airlines naming controversy

Many foreigners feel confused by China Airlines’ name, in particular, because it’s so similar to Air China (CA), a mainland Chinese airline hubbed in Beijing. The name stems from Taiwan’s official name, which is the Republic of China and doesn’t have anything to do with the Chinese mainland.