EVA Air Premium Economy NYC To Taiwan
Last Updated on June 16, 2024 by
Let me take you on my 17-hour flight from New York City to Taipei in the EVA Air Premium Economy cabin. I’ve been flying with EVA Air since I was a baby. Are you even Taiwanese if you don’t? My mom told me after she popped me out she took me on my first flight 6 months later. So, I’ve been soaring through the skies before I could even walk!
Flights to Asia have become astronomically expensive since the pandemic. At the end of 2019, I was able to book a round-trip flight for $850 before having to cancel due to the global shutdown. The best way to get a deal on flights is to be flexible on when to travel, but my cousin was graduating medical school in Japan so I didn’t have much flexibility in timing. Not only that, but my mom, who recently retired, was more than willing to splurge a bit for added comfort. To find out how much I paid for this flight, keep reading!
Premium Economy vs. Regular Economy
EVA Air offers four classes overall: Royal Laurel Class (First Class), Premium Laurel Class (Business Class), Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. The Premium Economy Class can be found on EVA Air’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Premium Economy Class
According to EVA, Premium Economy Class offers a 38-inch seat pitch and 19.5-inch wide seating with ample legroom. I sat in a bulkhead seat, which is typically not my preference as I have to stow my bag in the overhead bin. However, my mom wanted the bulkhead row, so I obliged as an obedient daughter.
The ergonomically engineered seat was definitely the main show for me, reclining at an ideal angle for quality sleep and ultimate comfort. Premium Economy passengers receive slippers, over-ear headphones, a Kipling amenity kit (a brand I’m a big fan of), and a plush microfiber-lined blanket to stay cozy at 35,000 feet.
Economy Class
As for the Economy Class experience on such a long-haul flight, EVA Air’s offering is decent. Understandably, Economy Class passengers don’t receive the same amenities as Premium Economy. They are provided with a basic blanket and complimentary in-ear headphones I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure the meals are the same between both classes. Either way, food is always delicious on Asian airlines, even in economy, so no complaints there.
Round Trip JFK-TPE Price Breakdown
There IS a noticeable difference between EVA Air’s Premium Economy and their regular economy seats. On the flight back from Taipei, I sat in regular economy, providing me with a direct comparison between the two cabin products. I do think it’s worth the splurge because I was knocked out most of the time except when the meals and snacks came out. Got to get my money’s worth!
While EVA Air is one of the best in the airline industry, I wasn’t a fan of paying an extra $60 for a preferred seat in Premium Economy, whereas the standard seat in Economy class was included in the ticket price. How does that make any sense? It’s one thing if it was a basic economy ticket, but it wasn’t. My total round trip cost came out to $1790.20 + an additional $60 for seat selection in Premium Economy.
Draw Your Luck With The Lottery
Once you arrive in Taiwan, from May 2023 until June 2025, test your luck and see if you win Taiwan’s Lucky Land International Tourism Attraction lottery for some spending money. Even though the island is the size of New Jersey and is home to ~24,000,000 people, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has been trying to promote tourism in the country post-COVID. The website is a bit clunky and makes the registration process a bit frustrating. What do you expect from a government-run site?
The prize is NT$5,000 which converts to about $150-$160 USD. It might not seem like a lot, but wouldn’t you rather have free money to spend than not? The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will be awarding 500,000 tourists during the campaign. Unfortunately, I didn’t get lucky this time, but my baby niece did!
Eligibility
Foreign travelers staying between 3-90 days and who are not part of tour groups can enter to have a chance at winning the NT$5,000 in consumption vouchers.
Lucky Draw Process
Be sure to register for the lottery within a week before arriving in Taiwan. After clearing customs and grabbing your luggage, you’ll find a dedicated section in the arrival hall to scan your QR code. If that lucky lottery screen lights up with a win, simply head to the staff stand directly behind the activation area to claim your prize.
Prize Options
The NT$5,000 prize can be redeemed either as either an E-Ticket-iPass, E-Ticket- EasyCard, or accommodation vouchers.
Always get travel insurance for international travel!
Whenever I travel internationally, I ALWAYS get supplemental travel insurance to the coverage I have from my travel credit cards. The main reason is for medical purposes because if something happens while overseas, you don’t want to be SOL or stuck with some crazy bill. It’s not expensive and gives peace of mind to know medical expenses are covered should any negative situation happen. I typically shop around insurance companies to compare prices, and went with Safety Wing’s Nomad Insurance.
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