This economy class feels unusually spacious (unless I’m imagining it)

The airline: China Airlines

• The route Melbourne to Taipei Taoyuan, flight CI58
• Frequency Four times weekly
• Aircraft Airbus A350-900
• Class Economy; seat 42A (window)
• Flight time Eight hours 20 minutes (50 minutes ahead of schedule)

The name may confuse some people, but China Airlines is the national carrier of Taiwan.Credit: iStock

Checking in

It’s an eager crowd at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. Almost four hours before departure and the queue already snakes beyond the barriers. I’ve come in transit, with my bag already checked through, creating the strangely naked feeling of taking an international flight with no bag. The check-in agent is unfazed, even humming as she works in a cheery send-off. (Note that China Airlines writes your first and middle names as one single name on tickets, so don’t stress that it appears different to the name in your passport.)

Baggage

Discount fares permit economy passengers one piece of check-in luggage up to 23 kilograms. Basic, standard and flex fares allow two pieces at 23 kilograms each. One item of hand luggage is allowed, weighing up to seven kilograms.

Loyalty scheme

China Airlines’ Dynasty Flyer Program is part of the SkyTeam alliance.

The seat

China Airlines’ economy seats feel surprisingly spacious.

Row 42 is part of a three-row block, immediately behind premium economy, that’s classified as “preferred” seats, primarily because they allow the pleasure of a quick exit on landing. Is it worth the extra $80? Probably not. Seats are in a 3-3-3 alignment, and each seat is 18 inches (46 centimetres) wide with a pitch of 32 inches (81 centimetres). It feels surprisingly spacious, with a good 10 centimetres between the seat in front and my knees, and no jousting of elbows with my neighbour. For a time, I wonder if it’s really as spacious as I’m imagining, or is it the plane’s wood-trim partitions creating a sense of space? The former, I decide, as I comfortably cruise through the night into Asia.

Entertainment + tech

The wide seatback screen offers four movie channels, from new releases to family and favourites. Movies on the favourites channel are of the flavour of Father of the Bride, Indiana Jones and a multitude of Marvels. TV selections include a dedicated manga channel, and there’s a good selection of CDs, including blues and jazz, Japanese, classical, opera and a Solid Gold Hits that looks like it was curated by your Uncle Wayne – Bon Jovi, Air Supply, ABBA. The screen also features an e-reader, though it wouldn’t load on my flight and eventually crashed my system. Onboard Wi-Fi ranges from a 15MB Lite package ($US3.25/$5) to a 24-hour package (US$21.95/$34.50), with the neat touch of being able to reconnect a purchase from a previous flight.

Service

What I want from a 12.35am departure is a quick turnaround of the first meal. It’s all going to plan when the dinner tray wheels out 30 minutes after takeoff, only to be foiled by turbulence. Eventually dinner arrives, and we’re then left to sleep through the rest of the flight before a gentle breakfast wake-up.

China Airlines – connecting into Asia, Europe and North America from Taipei.Credit: Getty Images

Food

The dinner meal is a choice between steamed black-bean fish fillet and – curiously – Hungarian pork goulash with mashed potatoes. While it’s not the most Hungarian of goulashes, I think you can deduce much about a flight’s food through its mashed spuds, and these are good. Together, the two meals (including breakfast of stir-fried chicken and shrimp noodles) are among the better economy feeds I’ve had in recent times. The drinks selection even has the enticements of a passionfruit lemon cocktail, a highball and an oolong blackcurrant cocktail.

Sustainability

China Airlines has been using sustainable aviation fuels on new A350-900 planes since 2017, touting an 8 per cent reduction in emissions. The airline has set a net-zero carbon target of 2050. *

One more thing

If you’re transiting through Taipei (China Airlines flights connect to the likes of London, Rome and Vancouver) and have a layover of more than seven hours, Taipei Taoyuan airport offers a free half-day tour of Taipei.

The price

From $1125 return for economy.**

The verdict

I’m a poor sleeper in the air but with the prompt service and seat comfort, I nab hours rather than minutes of sleep, which is my primary need on a flight through the night.

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.

The writer travelled courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Administration.