Let’s get one thing straight: STARLUX isn’t a budget airline. Far from it. This Taiwanese carrier is all about luxury, aiming to give its home-based competitors, EVA Air and China Airlines, a run for their money. It’s so good, in fact, it’s already been certified as a 5-Star Airline for its strong service and product.
Based at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport, STARLUX currently serves extensive destinations throughout Asia including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Macau, plus Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle in the US. If you’re looking for a premium travel experience with great service, this is an airline to watch.
Cabin classes, seats and legroom
STARLUX offers Business Class and Economy Class on all its planes, with Premium Economy and First Class cabins on the carrier’s flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Business and first class
The STARLUX Business Class experience varies depending on which aircraft serves your route. On the Airbus A350-900 (flying all US destinations plus premium Asian routes like Singapore and Tokyo), you’ll get an individual suite with a door in 1-2-1 configuration, and all suites convert to flat beds.
To me, this is where STARLUX stands out from its Taiwanese competitors. Both EVA Air and China Airlines feature older, less exclusive business class seats, while STARLUX offers 4K screens that are larger and higher resolution than industry standard.
The A350s also have a single row of “First Class” suites. They’re roomier and have taller doors for more privacy, but they aren’t in a separate cabin. Keep in mind they can often be priced approximately three times higher than a business class ticket.
Regional business class
On shorter, regional flights, STARLUX uses its Airbus A330-900neo and A321neo planes. These feature more standard business class cabins and a quicker service.
The A330 business class has staggered seats in a 1-2-1 setup, which is pretty standard and similar to what you’d find on competitor planes. Business class on the smaller A321neo also features lie-flat beds, which is a nice perk for short routes like Taipei to Okinawa or Taipei to Macau.
Premium economy
Flying to or from the US? The Premium Economy cabin on the Airbus A350 is a great middle ground. You get wider “shell” seats with a generous recline in a 2-4-2 configuration, a bigger screen, and enhanced meal options and beverage selections distinct from Economy.
Extra legroom economy
STARLUX marks seats with additional space as “Extra Legroom” and charges more to book them in advance, with eligibility for free selection depending on your fare product or COSMILE membership tier. Here’s a little tip: sometimes these seats are still available on the day of your flight. It never hurts to ask the check-in or gate agent if you can snag one for free.
Economy
Even in economy, STARLUX tries to live up to its luxury name. The cabin has the same stylish design as the premium sections, and in my experience, the service is more attentive than what you’ll get on most US or European airlines. The meals are pretty decent too, especially if you go for the Asian-style options.
Onboard experience
Here’s what you can expect once you’re in the air on a STARLUX flight.
Wi-Fi and entertainment
STARLUX promises “Galactic Wi-Fi” on every flight across its fleet. While I’ve found it can be a bit spotty on the long haul across the Pacific, it’s still a solid offering. The airline offers volume-based data plans for Economy passengers, while First, Business, and Premium Economy passengers receive complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi for the entire flight, though I recommend caching any important work offline just in case.
As far as seatback entertainment, I find that STARLUX offers more English-language options than most other East Asian airlines, including new releases, classic movies and multiple TV series episodes. Given the fleet is relatively new (the airline has earned the “Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award”), all screens are high-res and larger than industry standard, plus the A350 seats feature Bluetooth connectivity for your Airpods and other personal audio devices.
Food, drinks and amenities
Where I found myself most impressed was the food and service. Flight attendants offer warm, personalized service that never feels over the top, and they all speak excellent English (a rare commodity on Asian airlines, even in Business class). I highly recommend the local Taiwanese option, as STARLUX collaborates with celebrity chefs in Taipei for excellent onboard dining, and the selection of hot teas is impressive, particularly the locally-harvested Taiwanese oolong.
In Business and First Class, you’ll get a THREE-branded amenity kit containing skincare essentials, though they’re not quite as fancy as what some competitors offer. The crew also provides pajamas and turn-down service. In all classes, you’ll find pillows and blankets at your seat, with Economy passengers receiving eco-blankets. Slippers, dental kits, and eye shades are available upon request.
Pre-flight experience
Baggage policy and fees
Like most other East Asian airlines, STARLUX has generous baggage offerings in all classes of service. Most travelers on “Basic” and “Full” Economy fares, as well as all Premium Economy, Business, and First Class passengers, get at least two checked bags at 50 lbs (23 kg) each, though passengers on “Saving” fares receive two bags on long-haul routes but are limited to one bag on short-haul routes.
There are a couple of exceptions. First Class passengers get three bags for free (up to 70 lbs/32kg each). On the flip side, if you book the “Limited” economy fare (the lowest fare class), you’re limited to one checked bag. If your bags are over 50 lbs, you’ll have to pay extra charges that are published on the STARLUX website based on your route.
Check-in
You can check in at the airport, where you’ll find dedicated counters for First Class and Business Class passengers. You’ll also find a bag drop for those who’ve checked in online.
Personally, I rarely use the airport check-in because the STARLUX website works so well for checking in ahead of time. You can check in online between 48 hours and one hour before departure (24 hours for flights to/from the US).
Lounges
At its home base in Taipei, STARLUX has two “Galactic Lounges” - one in Terminal 1 on the fourth Floor of the Departure Hall, and a newer lounge in Terminal 2 near Gate D7. The design is straight out of a sci-fi movie, with futuristic decor and staff uniforms that give off some serious Star Trek vibes. It’s a fun concept, for sure.
But I’ll be honest, the food and drink options are a bit limited for an airline that calls itself a luxury brand. The lounges offer a self-service buffet with hot and cold options, plus an à la carte menu for made-to-order dishes that you order via a digital QR code system. I’m hoping that as STARLUX continues to grow, it’ll up its lounge game.
Loyalty programs, miles and credit cards
STARLUX has its own loyalty program, but it has some limitations for travelers outside of Taiwan.
Cosmile
STARLUX has its own loyalty program called COSMILE. Honestly, unless you’re based in Taiwan, it’s probably not going to be your go-to. You can earn and redeem miles on STARLUX flights based on the Ticketed Point Mileage and your fare class, but the real value comes from its partnership with Alaska Airlines.
Although STARLUX operates independently of major airline alliances, it partners with Alaska Airlines, letting you credit STARLUX flights to Alaska MileagePlan. More valuable in my opinion is using Alaska miles to book STARLUX flights, which is particularly lucrative if you plan to travel in Business Class.
Credit cards
Like other Taiwanese airlines, STARLUX only offers co-branded credit cards to residents of Taiwan through its partnership with E.Sun Bank. For now, the best way to use credit card points for STARLUX flights is to get an Alaska Airlines credit card and use the miles you earn to redeem for award travel on STARLUX flights.
What’s next for STARLUX?
STARLUX is the ambitious new kid on the block, launching as a luxury carrier when everyone else was going low-cost. Talk about bad timing, though - the airline launched just as global travel faced unprecedented disruptions, which definitely slowed its roll.
But the airline has big plans for the future, including expansion to North America and Europe. It currently serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, with a new non-stop service to Phoenix launching soon. While STARLUX isn’t a member of the oneworld alliance, its partnership with Alaska Airlines (a oneworld member) allows for reciprocal mileage earning across their networks.
As someone who loves watching the airline world, I can’t wait to see where STARLUX goes from here. Even if its current routes don’t fit your travel plans, this is definitely an airline to keep on your radar.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
