Ever wanted to fly Business Class but don’t fancy coughing up the funds for it? EVA Air‘s new Premium Economy cabin might just be the next best thing.
Nothing new there, you’re thinking. Airlines upgrade their cabins all the time. But here’s the kicker – EVA Air’s new Premium Economy seat comes with a 42″ pitch, the biggest in the industry for that cabin type. As EVA Air like to think of it, they’ve designed this new cabin with less of an ‘upgraded economy’ idea in mind, and more of a ‘business-class-like’ experience instead. And it really does feel closer to Business Class than Economy – have a look.
EVA Air’s new Premium Economy comes with 28 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration – that’s two seats either side of the aisle, and three in the middle. This all gives the cabin a bit of a roomier feel. Then there’s their new ‘cradle motion’ recline mechanism – basically, it lets the seat cushion slide forward and upward at the same time, which is meant to create a comfy recline equivalent to 8 inches, all while still preserving space for the passenger behind you. Less squabbles about whether to recline or not to recline = winners all around, if you ask us.
The entertainment screens in EVA Air’s new Premium Economy have had an upgrade too. They’re now 15.6 inches – that’s an industry-leading size, by the way. Oo-er. They come with a multi-function entertainment system controller as well, so you’re not having to scroll endlessly while your arm goes numb from being lifted up for ages. The seats have been fitted with 110V AC and USB combo power outlets – always a nifty thing to have.
Also fresh in for EVA Air’s new Premium Economy cabin is some enhanced privacy designs added – little touches like side privacy panels on the headrest, which are also good for preventing you from dozing off on your neighbour. Hey, it happens. And if you’ve brought War & Peace with you, you’ve got some handy built-in reading lights so you can tick off Tolstoy.
With headrests, armrests and footrests (all the rests!) upholstered in a premium leather, it’s got that lovely luxe feeling to it. Plus, you don’t have to negotiate space between your feet and the bag you’ve brought on board – there’s a fair amount of storage space in the seats. They’ve even included dedicated bottle holders!
EVA Air’s new Premium Economy amenity kits
It’s not just the cabin getting an upgrade, the goodies everyone looks forward to are too. They have a new collaboration with our very own British brand HUNTER. Fly in Premium Economy on long-haul routes to the U.S., Canada, and Europe departing from Taipei and you’ll nab an olive-green amenity kit, while on return flights you’ll get an oatmeal brown version. They’ve got a very HUNTER-esque and outdoors-y design, and come with HUNTER-brand lotion and lip balm.
Which routes will it serve?
To start, it’ll only be available on the Taipei to Jakarta route. But the plan is to have it available on routes from Taipei to cities like Munich, Milan, and Vienna – plus San Francisco in the States – in the future.
EVA AIR FAQs
What country is EVA Air from?
EVA Air is from Taiwan. They’re a Taiwanese airline based in Taoyuan International Airport, near Taipei. It was founded in 1989 as a subsidiary of the Evergreen Group, which also operates Evergreen Marine, one of the world’s largest shipping companies. They also happened to be the first airline to bring in Premium Economy as a concept, way back in the 90s!
Do you get free alcohol on EVA Air?
Yep, EVA Air offers free alcohol on most of its international flights, but what you get depends on the class of service you’re flying, as well as your route – for example, some flights offer Taiwanese specialty drinks, like Kavalan Whisky or local rice wine.
In their Business class cabins, you’ll get fine wines, champagne, whiskey, cocktails, and sake, whilst in Premium Economy you’ll get free beer, wine, and spirits. In Economy, you’ll get free beer and wine, with spirits available on some routes.
What is EVA Air’s baggage allowance?
EVA Air follows two different baggage policies depending on the route – by piece and by weight.
By piece (Most international routes, including the U.S., Canada, and Europe)
- Business Class → 2 pieces, 32kg each
- Premium Economy Class → 2 pieces, 28kg each
- Economy Class
- Standard Fare → 2 pieces, 23kg each
- Lite Fare → 1 piece, 23kg
By weight (Asia and select routes)
- Business Class → 40kg total
- Premium Economy Class → 35kg total
- Economy Class → 30kg total
- Lite Economy Fare → 20kg total
Carry-on baggage allowance
- Business Class → 2 pieces, 7kg each
- Premium Economy & Economy Class → 1 piece, 7kg
- All classes can also bring a personal item (handbag, laptop bag, etc.).
Where does EVA Air fly to?
They fly across Asia, North America, Europe, and even Oceania. To give you a rough idea – their core network serves Asia, where they fly to destinations right across Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.
They have a smaller network that serves North America, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Plus they fly across Europe too – London, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Munich and more. If you’re headed to Australia, they fly to Brisbane.
Check out more of their destinations here.
