There’s a brand-new way to fly between Melbourne and Auckland. That’s aboard the China Airlines Airbus A350, fitted with Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. It’s a little different from your typical trans-Tasman flight. This journey is a widebody jet that normally traverses the longer route from Australia to Taipei and beyond.
Building upon the success of its existing Brisbane-Auckland flights, China Airlines is giving Melbourne-Auckland a chance over the Australian summer. For the next couple of months, you’ll be able to zip between Australia’s coffee capital and the City of Sails in comfort and style. You don’t need to be flying from Taiwan to book the flight, either. You can travel solely between Melbourne and Auckland, one-way or return. It’s easy.
As for the name, China Airlines is the national airline of Taiwan – officially, the Republic of China. That’s not to be confused with Air China, the national airline of the People’s Republic of China (a.k.a. ‘China’). We’ll admit, it’s a little confusing. As for China Airlines, here’s what to expect in Premium Economy between Australia and New Zealand.
Check-in and boarding
Online check-in is available for this flight, so I take the opportunity to peruse the seat map. Alas, the cabin is almost as empty as when I pre-selected my seat, so I stay put. I get a digital boarding pass but still venture past the traditional check-in desk to complete the passport check. There’s a dedicated lane for China Airlines Premium Economy, so I’m through quick smart.
This trip to Auckland is a quick overnighter for me, so I have no baggage to check. If I’d needed it though, the allowance on all China Airlines Premium Economy tickets (paid and reward bookings) is 2x28kg. Cabin baggage is 1x7kg (up to 115cm total dimensions) plus one personal item, under which a briefcase is acceptable. My usual combo of a hard-shell wheeled bag plus a laptop bag isn’t questioned.
Passport control and security were surprisingly speedy at Auckland Airport today, so I was through within five minutes. Depending on your status or lounge membership, the next stop on the journey will depend on your status.
By default, a Premium Economy ticket on China Airlines doesn’t include lounge access. But there are ways around that. You can visit Auckland Airport’s Strata Lounge when flying China Airlines if you have one of the following cards:
- Emerald or Paragon status in China Airlines Dynasty Flyer.
- SkyTeam Elite Plus from another SkyTeam carrier.
- Members of Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass, in line with the inclusions of their plan.
If your access comes from status, just be sure to collect a printed invitation card at check-in to present to the lounge. I stop by prior to CI58 (under my own steam) and find the lounge busy, but not uncomfortably so. After a snack and some work, it’s time to fly.
China Airlines Premium Economy seating on the Airbus A350
Aboard China Airlines’ Airbus A350, Premium Economy seating comes in a 2-3-2 layout. I initially opt for an aisle seat in one of the outer pairs. Boarding concludes and the window seat next to me is still vacant, so I scootch over and stretch out.
First, some numbers for those keen on specs. This cabin adopts a 39-inch seat pitch and a 20-inch seat width. The seat also exists within a fixed shell. Rather than intruding on the passenger behind when you recline, the seat slides forward along a track to create a reclined position. You can also deploy a padded leg rest.
At first, I’m sceptical. It’s widely known that Cathay Pacific tried something similar in regular Economy many years back and it wasn’t well received. But in this layout on China Airlines, it works quite well. I’m six feet tall, and even with the seat ‘reclined’ all the way and the leg rest up, I still have room to move. My feet just reach the edge of the seat frame in front. But there’s no chance of playing accidental footsie with the passenger ahead of you – their leg rest acts as a barrier.
Separately, there’s a fold-down foot bar. At my height, I don’t find it practical. But those of particularly shorter stature might appreciate having something to balance themselves on.
Each seat sports its own international-style AC outlet. That’s a big plus for me, as some airlines still unfortunately adopt the ‘one between two, two been three’ ethos in Premium Economy. That said, USB charging is limited to USB-A, and it’s a very low amperage. My smartphone calculates that it’ll take 2 hrs 47 min to recharge its battery by just 35%. Given you can’t plug in during take-off and landing, you’re going to want that AC outlet for speed!
Nonetheless, the tray table is sturdy and a generous size. A separate snack shelf and cup holder keeps things close by when the full tray is folded away. Ultimately, I find China Airlines’ Premium Economy seat to be very comfortable and practical.
Food and beverage in China Airlines Airbus A350 Premium Economy
When it comes to eating and drinking, there are lots of variances between airlines in Premium Economy. Some position the service to be closer to Business Class, others replicate standard Economy, and a few sit in between. For China Airlines, dining in Premium Economy falls into that ‘in between’ category.
On the one hand, the actual meal options usually mirror what’s available in Economy. But Premium Economy brings larger portions, metal cutlery, and crockery for the main course. There isn’t a printed menu though, and most beverages come in disposable cups.
From Auckland to Melbourne, the choices provided verbally are chicken or beef. After enjoying a great beef tenderloin on the previous day’s flight in Business Class, the chicken curry is an easy pick. It’s filling and tasty. The fruit on the side is fresh – and while small, it’s all you really need with a main course of the size.
The packaged dessert is beautifully sweet, and my ‘white wine’ is acceptable. Given the 11 pm arrival time into Melbourne, I don’t make use of the other cup for tea of coffee.
One thing I would like to see, though, is more service through the cabin during the flight. Even just offering water top-ups without having to buzz, or, more simply, a water bottle provided at the seat. It feels a little bit like you have to chase the crew or venture to the galley to stay hydrated, and that’s a very easy fix.
Entertainment and service in China Airlines Premium Economy on the Airbus A350
On the entertainment front, China Airlines Premium Economy is a little closer to Business Class. On this flight, the same headphones provided in Business Class are offered in Premium Economy. But mindful of sound quality and the volume of plastic wrap I’d be adding to landfill with every flight I take, I always bring and use my own pair.
The seatback screen responds to touch just like a tablet, which means nobody whacking the seat behind you to try and get their movie started. Content selections are reasonably broad and include many choices in English, but the titles could be organised a little better. There’s no ‘comedy’ category within movies, for instance, but perusing the A-Z list finds a number of comedic titles.
There’s also the obligatory moving map with flight information. I overlooked this on my flight over as it isn’t called ‘flight map’ or similar: the button is labelled ‘Voyager 3D’. That doesn’t mean much to your average passenger – it almost sounds like a movie title or a video game.
Service-wise, the main interactions with the crew are around the meal, but one press of the call bell is promptly answered. That’s me buzzing to ask if the cabin temperature can be decreased, because it’s become almost sauna-like after the main meal. I’m not overly dressed, either – just sitting in a comfortable t-shirt and boiling. I appreciate that the temperature is quickly adjusted and remains at that more pleasant level until landing.
I find this to be quite common of airlines based in Asia, especially after mealtime. Crews seem to dial up the heat to encourage rest. But I always find the increase makes me too hot to sleep and far less comfortable overall. You can escape a cool cabin with a blanket, but avoiding heat is much harder. With no individual air vents to control above, I should have packed my pocket USB fan as a backup, just in case. Next time.
The verdict
Whether spending cash or points, China Airlines Premium Economy offers great value when jetting between Auckland and Melbourne.
On the cash side, the price of Premium Economy is roughly double Economy. But it’s only around half of what’s charged for Business Class. Given that travellers typically pay $1,800-$1,900 and upwards for Qantas Boeing 737 Business Class on the same route, China Airlines’ fares of around AU$1,070 return in Premium Economy are well worth a look.
Like Business on the Boeing 737, passengers can expect a reclining seat and a leg rest here in mere Premium Economy. But that’s also on an aircraft equipped with calming mood lighting and more room to move: the Airbus A350. Sure, the dining experience isn’t quite the same. And lounge access isn’t included with Premium Economy either, unless you have a separate membership or frequent flyer card. But $800 is a significant saving for what is a very similar hard product experience.
If flying on points, China Airlines Premium Economy also presents a notable saving. From Auckland to Melbourne one-way, you’d spend 41,500 Qantas Points plus NZ$94 for a Qantas Business ticket on the Boeing 737. But you could save some points and have a similar experience in China Airlines Premium Economy for just 34,500 Qantas Points plus a lesser NZ$77 on the exact route. That saving in points is almost enough to cover a one-way Qantas flight between Melbourne and Sydney.
For my money – or more often, my points – China Airlines Premium Economy hits the mark. Some improvements to dining and cabin temperature would make things even better. But would I book this experience on my own holidays? Absolutely.
This is a seasonal route for now (ending in February), but if it performs well, I’m told the airline will look to bring it back later in 2025. Fingers crossed.
Also read: How to redeem Qantas Points for China Airlines flights
Featured image courtesy of China Airlines. Other photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled as a guest of Melbourne Airport and China Airlines.
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