April 26, 2004 -- Our column on Delta and Taiwan's China Airlines is still causing a stir, so we thought we'd mix things up a bit with a deal from Taiwan's other international carrier, EVA Air (known to many as Evergreen.)
EVA is a privately-run airline that hasn't had a fatal accident since it started flying in 1991. From Taipei, they fly to LA, Seattle, New York and Vancouver in North America, and shuttle passengers on to Bangkok, Fukuoka, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Penang, Seoul, and Singapore in Asia.
They codeshare, too; if you're flying "American Airlines" or "Air Canada" to Taiwan, you're flying on EVA Air. That's still misleading, but at least they have a solid safety record.
EVA's current best deal is a $698 fare from LA to Saigon, available through April 30 for flights through May 20. But if you're heading to Asia soon, make it a habit to check their home page at www.evaair.com and click on the button marked "Promotions."
This month, for instance, they had a $430 special from LA to Taiwan -- and, more importantly, a $630 roundtrip fare in their "deluxe economy" class, known as Evergreen Deluxe.
EVA's standard economy gets you 33 inches of leg-room (www.airlinequality.com/Product/seats_global.htm), according to airline research firm Skytrax. That's actually more than celebrated airlines like Singapore and Cathay Pacific. But EVA's aging in-flight entertainment systems will make economy class passengers want to bring a book, and Skytrax reviewers say that service in the economy section isn't terrific. (www.airlinequality.com/Forum/eva.htm)
(Take the Skytrax reviewers with a grain of salt -- these guys are hard-core business travelers, used to the comforts of sitting up front.)
Their deluxe economy section, on the other hand, has 38 inches of legroom, much better in-flight service, and seat-back video screens with a selection of six movies -- all at a price that, if you buy smart, may be as low as other airlines' coach fares.
If you're flying elsewhere in Asia, there are other airlines that have better overall reputations for service, such as Cathay Pacific, Japan Air Lines and Singapore. But EVA is safe and has a very compelling deluxe-economy product. EVA looks like the best way to Taiwan, and a strong contender in a competitive Asian airline market.
Have you flown EVA previously? Describe your experience on our Air Travel Message Boards today.