Tried & Tested

Eva Air A330 business class

30 Apr 2012

BACKGROUND At the end of last year, Taiwanese carrier Eva Air painted three of its A330-300s into Hello Kitty jets, called Magic, Apple and Global. These aircraft feature the face of the popular feline cartoon star on everything from soap bottles to cushion cases.

CHECK-IN I only realised I was booked on one of these planes upon arrival at the specially designed check-in counter at Terminal 2 of Taoyuan Airport. I was early and there was no queue, so by 1610 I was already armed with my Hello Kitty-printed boarding pass and heading airside for my 1810 flight. I later found out there was a Hello Kitty self-check-in area, decked out in pink with all the catty trimmings, with cartoon-themed electronic kiosks. Many people stopped by for pictures.

THE LOUNGE This Eva facility, located near my gate, C6, is shared by 11 affiliate airlines and holders of certain premium credit cards. It is spacious, with many types of seating, from canteen-style or armed sofas to long couches and circular banquette booths. The décor is old-fashioned, with the ceiling painted in a “blue sky” theme, but it is nonetheless very comfortable – and a good break from Hello Kitty-land. Other amenities offered include a computer room with three Asus machines and a printer, a decent range of newspapers and magazines and shower facilities that looked well maintained. In the pantry area a salad bar stood alongside a dozen Asian and Western hot dishes such as dim sum, teriyaki and seafood paella – the food tasted reasonably nice. All the usual drink offerings were there, with the liquors neatly arranged on a swivelling dispenser. At 1725, an announcement stated that boarding had been delayed, as the incoming flight was late.

BOARDING At around 1800 the flight was finally ready for boarding. I made my way to the gate, to be greeted by a Hello Kitty-themed waiting area, with big backlit circular portraits of the mega-star kitten. I headed straight past it for the stairs leading down to the boarding area. But on top of the steps, something else stopped me: a Hello Kitty passport counter. As I mused over it, a friendly Eva staff member offered me a Hello Kitty passport to stamp with the faux immigration chop.

THE SEAT The aircraft had a two-cabin setup, with Premium Laurel (business) taking the first five rows in a 2-2-2 configuration. I was assigned G7, the second row in business (there are no rows 1-5) and D7, the seat on my left, was also taken. As the cabin was not full, the cabin crew asked if I would like to change seats for more space, so I chose K7 by the window. The seat itself is angled lie-flat, with a diagrammed control panel on the right to help you adjust to various positions. On the left are the in-flight entertainment handset, a universal socket, two USB ports and AV ports. On such a short flight (one hour 40 minutes) I didn’t get to enjoy many of the seat functions, but it was very comfortable.

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE The cabin is well laid out and the whole space feels very pleasant, but I would avoid the first row and last row to lessen the noise from the galleys.

THE FLIGHT Before takeoff, a welcome video starring Hello Kitty, her boyfriend Daniel and, presumably, their child was playing in a loop and causing a thought-loop in my head. I also couldn’t stop staring at the Hello Kitty family portrait on the wall above the front row. All the cushion covers and head cloths show a close-up of Hello Kitty’s face, which also appears on the cabin crew’s aprons, the napkin rings and toiletry bottles. 

The plane started taxiing out at about 1825 and we took off shortly before 1840. Meal service began about 15 minutes later, soon after the seatbelt light was switched off. As it was a short flight, there was only a main course, served on the tray together with a fruit bowl and a strudel. Service was warm and graceful throughout. I chose the Asian option of braised pork tendon and meatball with crab roe in superior sauce, served with vegetables and steamed rice. It was mediocre, but the Dr Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, fruity and sharp with a sweet honey undertone, was a good match. The in-flight entertainment was extensive, with 15 categories of music, 10 types of TV programmes and many movie choices, including 23 new releases such as The Iron Lady and The Descendants. The selection was big enough for a long-haul flight.

ARRIVAL The plane touched down at 2010, 20 minutes behind schedule. But with Hong Kong Airport’s super efficiency, I went through the shuttle train ride, immigration and luggage collection in 20 minutes and was on the Airport Express by 2040.

Reggie Ho 

Verdict

Maybe it’s not for everyone, but a Hello Kitty flight would definitely take your mind off things, as she would be all you could think about.


PLANE TYPE A330-300

CONFIGURATION 2-2-2

PITCH 62in/157.5cm

WIDTH 19.5in/49.5cm

RECLINE Angled lie-flat, 8 degrees to the floor

PRICE Internet rates for an open-return (three months) ticket for mid-June start from NT$13,780 (US$467)

CONTACT www.evaair.com

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