On the Ground: Upon arriving at Los Angeles International Airport for my flight to Singapore, I waited about five minutes in line at the China Airlines business-class counter. The attendant was helpful and handled my bags with care. I needed a lock for one of my bags, and he gladly tethered it with a plastic tie. He provided thorough instruction on where to go and how to get to the China Airlines lounge. I was off to a good start for my 15-day tour of Asia.

The China Airlines lounge, located at the Korean Air lounge at LAX, was clean and offered plenty of seating, food and drinks along with plug-ins at almost every seating arrangement. I hung out in the lounge for a bit before boarding the flight.

Pre-Flight: Boarding the aircraft and getting settled was a breeze. The new business-class cabin on China Airlines’ NextGen Boeing 777-300ER is exquisite, showing modern engineering at its finest in a 1-2-1 layout. The futuristic vision of the brand is evident in the classy design of the cabin, sporting dark blue cloud patterns, muted gold tones and persimmon wood-grain décor, the first-ever use of wood textures in the aviation industry.

Once passengers settled in, attendants offered hot towels and an array of refreshments: water, orange juice or apple juice. I poked around my quarters to discover all the offerings and was pleasantly surprised at how advanced and comfortable the seats were.

In-Flight: I kicked off the flight with a beautiful glass of Bordeaux from France and immediately put on the most comfortable slippers. I was cozy and ready for takeoff. The 180-degree, full-flat memory foam cushion beds with a direct-access design made for a good night’s sleep. I slept for nine to 10 hours of the flight — obviously the best-case scenario when taking an overnight flight. When I woke up, I explored the in-flight entertainment, including a state-of-the-art, 18-inch touch screen (largest of any Taiwanese airline featuring AVOD) and upgraded technology all around.

Breakfast was served before we landed in Taipei, and it was delightful. I chose the spinach frittata, which came with fruit, pastries, yogurt, veggies and more. I also have to comment on the bathrooms on board; they were immaculate! In my experience, many airlines are not able to maintain a spotless lavatory during a long-haul flight, but China Airlines succeeded.

The Experience: My time on board China Airlines was pleasant and satisfying. The new business-class design is user-friendly and meets all passenger needs on a long-haul flight. I did not have an issue figuring out how to operate anything — the layout and design make sense.

All of the flight attendants were friendly and attentive, fulfilling all my requests, addressing me by my name and even remembering how I take my coffee. I was treated to a coffee made with fresh cream, which surpassed my expectations on a plane. Overall, I was impressed with the service and thoughtful generosity. I hope I can experience China Airlines’ 777 business class again.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Friendly and helpful agents[/item]
[item check=yes]Priority tagged baggage[/item]
[item check=yes]Airport lounge[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-lounge food[/item]
[item check=yes]Priority boarding[/item]
[item check=yes]Helpful and courteous flight attendants[/item]
[item check=yes]Pre-flight beverage service[/item]
[item check=yes]Pre-flight newspapers and magazines[/item]
[item check=yes]Extensive on-demand entertainment[/item]
[item check=yes]Amenity kits[/item]
[item check=yes]Slippers[/item]
[item check=yes]Lie-flat seat/bed[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[item check=yes]In-flight menu with three entrée choices[/item]
[item check=yes]Top-shelf wines and liquors[/item]
[/checklist]