Tried: EVA Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Premium Economy Munich – Taipei

BT Online editor Hans-Werner Rodrian tested the new Premium Economy Class, which EVA Air now offers four times a week from Munich to Taipei. Munich and Milan are the first two destinations served by EVA Air with the new Premium Economy class. From Amsterdam and Paris, the old Premium Economy class will still be offered via Bangkok.

background

EVA Air was the inventor of Premium Economy, offering this class since 1992. The fourth generation has just launched, and EVA Air is confident it has once again taken pole position. Is that true?

Boarding

Online check-in works well, if a bit slow. If you want to browse the options available, such as meal plans and Wi-Fi, you'll want to allow yourself some time. It's important to choose your preferred main course at this point. There are eight options here instead of the three you'll have later on the plane. And this is the only place where you're guaranteed a vegetarian option.

The check-in counters on Level 4, Counters 401-406, could be better signposted; they are located at the back of the large Lufthansa counter row. However, if you know your way around, you can reach the counter directly from the outside in just a few meters.

EVA Air's Premium Eco only has a separate counter in Taipei; in Munich, you stand in the long queue with everyone else.

EVA Air's Premium Eco fare includes two 23 kg pieces of luggage, a real plus.

We quickly head to security, where in Munich you can easily leave liquids or laptops in your bags.

Premium Eco does not allow lounge access, unless, of course, you have the appropriate Star Alliance status.

EVA Air flies from Munich's Terminal 2. Gate H23 is a very convenient gate; you don't have to go over to the satellite and you stay close to the shops and cafes. Premium Economy passengers are called in Zone 4, making boarding quick and stress-free.

Seat and cabin

Premium Economy on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has its own cabin, four rows short, between Business and Economy. The seating arrangement is 2-3-2, meaning the middle row has one seat less than the "old" Premium Economy. EVA Air offers 42 inches of seat pitch, four more than in the old Premium Economy and the pride of the airline. This puts EVA Air back on par with Norway and Japan Airlines, the previous leaders. The seats are 19.5 inches wide, offering significantly more space than in Economy.

Upon entering the cabin, one thing strikes you: plenty of space. The window seats offer even greater height to the luggage compartments than in Business Class. The impression of spaciousness is further enhanced once you're seated. The shape of the headrest is particularly clever: it also provides a side view barrier from your neighbors, thus providing plenty of privacy.

Comfort: The seats are well padded, with a headrest positioned far forward and a generous recline angle (about 20 centimeters). The headrests, armrests, and footrests are leather-upholstered. The footrest is practical for sitting, but not ideal for sleeping. I raised it all the way and stretched my feet underneath to utilize the entire available length of the footwell.

A highlight of the new seats is the "Cradle Motion Recline" system from manufacturer Safran Seats: Even in the fully reclined position, the space for the passenger sitting behind is maintained. Here's how it works: Instead of the backrest tilting backward in the traditional way and thus protruding into the space behind the passenger, with Cradle Motion Recline, the seat surface moves forward and slightly upward, and the backrest moves backward only very slightly.

Privacy: The cabin is smaller and significantly quieter than economy, with private toilets that are regularly and well maintained.

In addition to the seat, there are various lighting variations and, compared to the previous Premium Eco from EVA Air, there is finally enough storage space, e.g. a separate compartment to the right of the seat for the laptop in addition to the front pocket with an attached pocket for the cell phone.

Power supply: There is a USB-A port and a 110-volt AC outlet with the three-prong NEMA 1-15 outlet, which is also common in the USA, at each seat.

Amenity Kit: The bag is very comprehensive – including slippers, sleep mask, earplugs, toothbrush, hand cream and more, designed by the British company Hunter.

Blanket & pillow: The blanket is high-quality, one side is quilted and the other is cuddly soft, overall it's almost business-class quality.

Entertainment: The new seats feature a 15.6-inch touchscreen with a wide selection of features, including noise-canceling headphones. The system seems a bit gimmicky, but it's easy to get the hang of it.

A clever detail is the cell phone holder on the tray table, integrated directly into the fold-out table. The holder is designed so that your smartphone or tablet can be safely and conveniently placed on the tray table during the flight, allowing you to view news or movies without having to improvise.

Wi-Fi is available for a fee, but surprisingly fast—especially considering EVA Air relies on the aging Panasonic system. For $40, you can even watch soccer. Further improvements are planned for members of the Infinity MileageLands loyalty program starting in July 2025.

Flight

Things are already off to a good start: After takeoff in Munich, you'll receive a hot towel, sparkling wine, and salted nuts. The amenity kit includes slippers so you can leave your shoes aside during the 13-hour flight.

Overall, the EVA Air crew is highly praised for their professional approach to service. I didn't notice much of that in the first few hours, possibly because I was sitting in the back right seat at the very end of the service. And after that, thankfully, I was able to sleep.

Food: It's high-quality, with pre-order options and special menus from celebrity chefs (for an additional charge). The portions are definitely sufficient and larger than in economy. The drinks selection is good, although the wine was served in a paper cup. The cutlery was metal.

Starter: Salad with grilled chicken breast and tonnato sauce, the chicken breast was juicy.

Main course: Braised ribs with sweetcorn mousseline OR Grilled shrimp, parmigiana sauce, polenta OR Hakka-style pork and squid with fried rice and egg. The selection is limited at the back right, so it's worth making your selection at check-in. The Hakka main course was very good, though.

Dessert: I skipped the Black Forest cake because the fruit was good.

Breakfast: Breakfast was served 60 minutes before landing. I had scrambled eggs, ham, a hash brown, a small croissant, butter, jam, yogurt, fruit juice, and coffee or tea. The meal was presented with high quality.

My neighbor reported that nuts were served twice between dinner and breakfast. There were also apparently regular water and soft drinks. I didn't notice any of this because I was fortunate enough to be able to sleep for almost eight and a half hours.

Due to the numerous detours (Ukraine, Russia, Iran), the flight time was around 12:30 hours from Germany. In the opposite direction it was one hour longer.

Arrival

The landing was on time, offering a spectacular view of Taipei and the mountain range beyond to the right. We were off the plane quickly after landing and out of the airport after 40 minutes. It should be noted that the airline had given us priority labels as journalists (which our booking class doesn't really allow for). But the other suitcases arrived immediately afterward.

Conclusion

Comfort: Flying in EVA Air's new Premium Economy class is significantly more comfortable than in Economy, especially for taller passengers. Sleeping is possible, but it's nothing like Business Class.

Booking is worthwhile for anyone looking for more comfort and service on long-haul flights than in economy, but not wanting to pay the price of business class. The seats are spacious, the food is high-quality, and the amenity kit is extensive – only the online check-in and Wi-Fi still have room for improvement.

+ point

Value for money: At about €1,700, it's twice the price of economy class but only about half the price of business class. A very good choice for long flights when business class is too expensive.

- Point

Criticisms: No priority boarding, no lounge, no free internet, the check-in website could be faster.

Data

Seat length: EVA Air's new Premium Economy Class offers a seat pitch of 42 inches (approx. 107 cm), which is one of the most generous pitches in this class worldwide

Seat width: The seat width in Premium Economy is approximately 19.5 inches (approx. 49.5 cm)

Price: The prices for the Premium Economy Class flight Munich-Taipei-Munich in the current summer half-year are between 1,670 and 1,755 euros per person