Starlux Airlines Business Class Review: Taipei to Seattle (Is It Worth It?)

We had been wanting to try Starlux Airlines for a while. The airline has a reputation for going above and beyond in their cabin experience and based on what we saw online, the hard product looked impressive. This was our first time flying Starlux and also our first time visiting Taiwan. We flew business class from Taipei Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2 to Seattle, a 9.5 hour flight.

Short answer: the service is genuinely exceptional and some of the best we have experienced in business class. The food had one notable miss that turned into a good story. The boba at 35,000 feet was a moment.

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The Galactic Lounge (Taoyuan Airport, Terminal 2)

The Starlux Galactic Lounge spans two floors and the design is immediately striking. When you walk in, there are lockers near the entrance where you can store your luggage or bags. This is a small thing but really useful if you want to settle in and relax without dragging everything around.

Upper level: Main buffet area with salad, warm food, and desserts. Plenty of seating nearby.

Lower level: Additional seating divided into separate sections so it never feels crowded, a second buffet spread, and the shower suites. There are only two shower suites total, so put your name on the list immediately when you arrive. They take time to clean and prepare between guests.

One feature we really liked: you can order food directly to your seat by scanning the QR code at your table. No need to get up and stand at the buffet.

Standout dish: The sesame glutinous rice balls. Easily the best thing in the lounge and one of the better bites of the whole trip. If you are flying through this lounge, do not skip them.

Overall the lounge food was well above average and a genuinely good start to the experience.

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Boarding and First Impressions

The flight attendants greeted us warmly from the moment we boarded. They offered a choice of welcome perfumes (passion vertical and peach peel scents) and the small talk felt genuine rather than scripted. This set the tone for the entire flight.

Vincent was in seat 2A and I was in 3A. We both chose window seats. One note: the window seat configuration meant I could see the window but not directly. Vincent had a much better view from 2A. If direct window views matter to you, opt for the lower-numbered rows.

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The Hard Product: Seat and Amenities

Amenity Kit

The kit came in a Tese3 branded bag that opens like a wire organizer, which is genuinely smart design for storing cables and accessories after the flight. Inside:

• Eye mask: The best airplane eye mask I have tried. Thin material, breathable, large but fully adjustable. Comfortable for sleeping.
• Socks: Long, with a star pattern. Non-slip on the bottom, thin and breathable.
• Skincare pouch: Moisturizer, oil serum, and lip balm. The lip balm smelled very good.
• Comb, earplugs, and pen

Slippers

Brown, fluffy, with the Starlux logo. They also come with a large bag specifically designed to store your shoes in, preventing the smell from spreading in the cabin. Japan Airlines does something similar. A thoughtful detail that you do not often see.

Surprise Goodie Bag

This one caught us off guard. They distributed a small goodie bag that included an inflatable toy that forms the Starlux shape when blown up, a space passport booklet, Snoopy x Starlux collaboration stickers, and two decks of playing cards with Starlux-branded designs. It felt playful and added something different to the boarding experience.

Pajamas

High quality brown loungewear set with the Starlux logo on the back. It legitimately looked like something you could wear outside, not the typical stiff hotel-style pajamas. The pants were comfortable.

The Seat

The seat has a lot going for it:

• Privacy door between you and your neighbor. You genuinely cannot see each other when it is closed.
• Large storage compartment with a dedicated phone holder that closes fully. Easy access during the flight.
• Digital control panel with massage settings, lighting controls, and Zero-G positioning.
• Zero-G position: My favorite feature. Once I tried it, I understood why people rave about it. Your legs elevate and the pressure on your back releases completely. Very relaxing for a long flight.
• Mood lighting with adjustable colors in your seat area.
• Wireless charging pad in the side storage.
• Connectivity: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and international outlet all at your seat.
• Headphones: Brown and gold, Starlux branded, with memory foam cushioning. One of the most comfortable airplane headphones I have used. They fold smoothly and come in a case sealed with a tamper-evident sticker.
• Complimentary Italian mineral water in the seat storage.
• Face mask provided (Japanese brand).
• Bed: Flight attendants made up the bed for you, which is not common in business class. It typically happens in first class. The mattress pad was thick and cushioned. At 5'1" I had plenty of leg room and space to stretch fully.

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Entertainment

The screen is large and very responsive. No lag. Options include:

• Movies (with subtitle and audio language filters)
• HBO Max (including The Last of Us and many other shows)
• TV shows from Korean, Japanese, and American libraries
• Music
• Games (Angry Birds, basketball, Chinese chess, and others)
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Wi-Fi
• A "request" panel where you can signal the crew for a meal, shopping, or do not disturb without having to press the call button

Seven language options in the system. Dubbing and subtitle combinations available for most content.

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Food and Drinks

The inflight menu was curated by Lamine Khin, the chef and owner of Kith and Kin, a one Michelin star restaurant. The ambition was clear from the menu design.

Welcome Drink

The Sci-Fi Cosmo was their signature cocktail: gin, lactic acid drink, blue butterfly syrup, and tonic water. It came out vibrant blue. Slightly sweet, a little lemony, refreshing. A good first sip.

Starter

The fruit garden walnut salad was visually beautiful. Colorful plating, salmon pieces, avocado, and thick fruit sections with a balsamic and vinegar dressing. Very fresh and not fishy at all.

The creamy white asparagus soup with garlic crouton was outstanding. Smooth, well seasoned, with fish roe and seaweed on top that added a jelly-like texture. One of the better airplane soups we have had. Bread was served with quality butter.

Main Course

Here is where things got interesting.

The beef steak I ordered was overcooked. Very tough, dry, and almost no seasoning. The potato that came with it was equally bland. It was genuinely difficult to eat.

I flagged it with the flight attendant and they switched it immediately without any hesitation. The replacement was a halibut with pasta. Completely different experience: soft fish, well prepared, much more flavorful.

Vincent had ordered the short rib. Pressure cooked, very tender, much better choice. The food across the board tends to run a little on the mild side in seasoning, which is why they provide extra salt. But the short rib did not need it.

What to order: Skip the steak. Go with the fish or short rib.

Dessert

The Italian sea salt milk gelato from Nino's was excellent. They served it with rice and grain toppings that added texture and made it better than the gelato alone. Highly recommend this one.

The black glutinous rice with almond tea is a traditional Chinese dessert. Some people love it. It has a distinct fermented-adjacent flavor that is an acquired taste. Try a small amount first.

Snoopy-branded hand wipes came with the dessert course. A small touch but consistent with the overall attention to detail on this airline.

Breakfast

The wake-up juice was apple pineapple and was a good way to come around after sleeping.

Then they served boba. On a plane. Natural bamboo filter straw. The boba pearls were chewy and the milk tea was genuinely good, better than many boba shops on the ground. This was a moment.

Breakfast itself was Taiwanese style: pork belly roll, vegetables, egg omelette, pork floss, green beans, salted duck egg, and bean curd sauce. Not a typical Western hotel-style breakfast, but everything was well prepared and I finished the whole plate. Fruit dessert followed.

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Lavatory

Three lavatories shared between business and first class. The one at the front of the cabin was clean and well maintained throughout the flight. Relaxing background music, a scented diffuser, and a small decorative plant inside. Dental floss, mouthwash, and moist towelettes available.

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Overall Verdict

Starlux business class on the Taipei to Seattle route felt genuinely like a step above standard business class. The flight attendants made the experience. They were warm, attentive, proactive about fixing the steak situation without being asked twice, and the overall service level was closer to what you expect in first class.

What we loved:

• Service quality across the board
• The Galactic Lounge (especially the sesame rice balls)
• Boba at 35,000 feet
• Zero-G seat position
• Headphones (best on any airline we have flown)
• Privacy door
• Amenity kit quality

What to keep in mind:

• Skip the steak, order fish or short rib
• Book the shower suite at the lounge the moment you arrive
• Food can be mildly seasoned overall, which is a preference thing but worth knowing

We would fly Starlux again without hesitation.