Skip to Content

EVA Air Review: We’ll Fly Economy With Them Again!

We’re not often impressed by airline customer service in economy class.

But paying the equivalent of only $900 USD per ticket for return EVA Air flights from North America on a couple of trips to Asia turned out to be a bargain.

And it was a pleasant flying experience to boot!

Writing this EVA Air review therefore wasn’t as difficult as we thought it might be.

EVA Air Review
Flying EVA Air in Economy was a surprisingly pleasant experience for us!

EVA Air review: About the airline

The “official” name for EVA Air is EVA Airways Corporation. The airline is also sometimes called EVA Airlines.

EVA Air is based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1989.

They fly to more than 20 countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the U.K., Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Italy and Australia.

EVA Air flights from North America

Let’s start our review of EVA Air with the airline’s flights to and from North America.

EVA Air offers non-stop service to Taipei, Taiwan, from several cities in North America, including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.

They operate many flights a week from some cities. For example, there are at least seven flights a week from both L.A. and San Francisco to Taipei.

From Taipei, you can then connect to scads of cities in Asia.

Since we live in Victoria, Canada, we’ll focus on the departure cities closest to us – Seattle and Vancouver.

The city of Taipei in Taiwan is EVA Air's hub.
The city of Taipei in Taiwan is EVA Air’s hub

EVA Air Seattle to Taipei

EVA Air has several flights a week departing from Seattle.

Until recently, the planes used for the Seattle to Taipei flights were Boeing 777-300ERs.

In 2021, however, the airline started using the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for flying between Seattle and Taipei.

Seattle-Taipei schedule (as of January 15, 2023)

  • Seattle to Taipei: Departing every day of the week at 12:20 am (arriving the next day at 5:20 am)
  • Taipei to Seattle: Departing daily at 11:40 pm (arriving the same day at 6:10 pm)

EVA Air Vancouver to Taipei

On our first EVA Air flight, we flew from Vancouver via Taipei, Taiwan, to Bali.

Our second EVA Air trip was from Vancouver to Bangkok, also via Taipei. (From Bangkok, we flew on to Yangon, Myanmar.)

The EVA Air planes currently used for most Vancouver to Taipei flights are Boeing 777-300ERs.

The airline was using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for a “trial” period for a while. But they’ve since swapped back to using the 777-300ER.

However, we understand EVA Air is banking on the Dreamliner in its future plans. (And it has lots of Dreamliners on order.) So the Dreamliner could be used in future for the Vancouver to Taiwan flights.

Vancouver-Taipei schedule (as of January 15, 2023)

  • Vancouver to Taipei: Departing every day of the week at 12:50 am (arriving the next day at 5:35 am)
  • Taipei to Vancouver: Departing daily at 11:55 pm (arriving the same day at 6:25 pm)

EVA Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner review

Eva Air review
EVA Air’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The airline has configured its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to carry 304 passengers, with 26 in Royal Laurel (Business) Class and 278 in Economy Class.

What’s especially nice about these EVA Air planes is that the Economy seats are ergonomically designed and feature upgraded 12-inch HD touchscreen TV screens.

The Dreamliners also boast quieter cabins and cleaner air (with a higher concentration of oxygen, which helps you feel less tired).

EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER review

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (used for the Vancouver-Taiwan flights) has a capacity of 323 passengers across all three classes: 38 seats in Royal Laurel Class, 64 seats in Premium Economy Class and 221 in Economy Class.

Premium Economy, you say?

Yes, what’s nice about this particular aircraft is that it has a Premium Economy Class. (We review Premium Economy later on in this post.)

EVA Airways review: Check-in

It started with the ginger tea…

Both times, while waiting at the gate in Vancouver, EVA Air had a table (adorned with a large vase of fresh lilies) set up with complimentary, help-yourself, hot ginger tea and coffee.

That’s the first time we’ve ever seen this service offered.

Other airlines, take note!

Hey, we got slippers!

Eva Air amenity kit
No, we didn’t get these Ferragamo amenity kits you get in Business Class…

Okay, so we didn’t get the really nice EVA Air amenities you get in EVA Air’s Business Class.

There, you’re treated to Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits and comfy pyjamas by Taiwanese-Canadian designer, Jason Wu.

EVA Air pyjamas
And we didn’t get these comfy-looking Jason Wu pyjamas either!

But as we settled into our seats, we discovered green disposable slippers (a really nice touch for Economy Class!), down cushions with washable cotton (not synthetic disposable) covers, and thick blankets that don’t create annoying static.

The sleep masks you get in Economy aren’t very good though.

They’re a carry-on flight essential, so you should bring your own. (We like the Nidra sleep mask – soft and lightweight, it offers really good coverage and blacks out all light.)

EVA Air Economy seats

EVA Air legroom

Boeing 777-300ER legroom

The seat pitch on the Boeing 777-300ERs is between 32 and 33 inches.

(Seat pitch is the term used to measure the distance from the back of your seat to the back of the seat in front, i.e., a technical airline term for how much legroom you get.)

Basically, this means you get 32 to 33 inches of legroom.

We liked that the seat configuration was 3-3-3 on our flights.

EVA Air Economy review: Some Economy Class cabins only have 9 seats in a row.
On our flights, we were lucky that the Economy cabins were configured with 9 seats across (not 10, like on some of EVA Air’s 777s)

Some of EVA Air’s 777 planes have extra Economy seats, however, and they’re configured 3-4-3, with four (not three) seats in the middle row. (See here for details of the different EVA Air plane configurations.)

That means a tighter fit. Too bad…

We hear that at least one North American carrier has reconfigured their 777s on their Asia routes to squeeze in over 100 additional seats in Economy, so Economy passengers are stuffed in like sardines.

And on Rouge (Air Canada’s leisure brand), the seat pitch is only 30 inches for European flights that we checked. No thank you…

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner legroom

Interestingly, the Economy Class seats on the new Dreamliners have less legroom than on the Boeing 777s. Their seat pitch is 31 to 32 inches.

And it’s surprising how much difference an extra inch can make!

But there are only nine seats in a row (not ten), configured 3-3-3.

EVA Air's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has nine seats in a row, configured 3-3-3.
The 787-9 Dreamliner has 9 seats in a row, configured 3-3-3

Best economy seats on EVA Air

When selecting your seats, check SeatGuru.

Nice loos!

We have to mention the loos in our EVA Airlines review.

They’re set far apart from the food preparation galley areas. And they’re kitted out with hand lotion as well as foaming soap (so your hands won’t dry out on the plane).

The larger loos in the economy cabin got us smiling with cute vases of flowers and baby change areas too.

As well, we noticed that the flight attendants freshened the toilets constantly and kept them spotlessly clean.

This is in contrast to flight attendants on U.S. and Canadian carriers, who won’t deal with any lavatory freshening.

We received friendly and attentive service on our EVA Air flights in Economy Class.
We received friendly and attentive service on our EVA Air flights in Economy Class

EVA Air food

Is EVA Airlines good in the food department?

The EVA Air meals in Economy Class on our flights were nutritionally balanced and fairly healthy (as airplane meals go).

For dinner – a choice of fish and noodles or teriyaki chicken and rice, with an accompanying salad, a hot bun and a plate of fresh fruit slices (plus the requisite dessert cake).

For breakfast – perhaps a cheese omelette with sausage and potatoes or pork congee, plus no-fat yogurt, a bowl of cubed melons and a hot croissant.

EVA Air inflight entertainment

Boeing 777-300ER

Economy seats on EVA Air’s Boeing 777-300ERs have touch-screen TV displays 11.1 inches in size.

The movie selection is good and includes all the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Dreamliner

Entertainment screens in Economy Class are 12-inch HD touchscreen, with USB charging capabilities.

In Royal Laurel Class (aka Business Class), you can watch the latest hits on 18-inch screens with ergonomically designed, noise-cancelling headphones.

EVA Air Premium Economy review

Want to treat yourself a bit?

If you can’t spring for lie-flat beds in Business Class (called Royal Laurel Class on EVA Air), you might want to try its Premium Economy Class.

We hear this class of service is pretty good – if you’re not in the middle row.

EVA Air Premium Economy seats
For an upgraded experience, you might want to try EVA Airlines’ Premium Economy Class

These EVA Air Premium Economy seats are available on flights using the Boeing 777-300ERs, but not on the Dreamliners.

This means you can’t fly Premium Economy between Seattle and Taipei (because these routes only use the Dreamliners).

The configuration is 2-4-2. Ergonomic seats are 19.3 inches wide and have a 38-inch seat pitch and extra-wide armrests.

Along with an upgraded food service, other onboard Premium Economy perks include noise-canceling head phones, Erno Laszlo or THANN amenity kits, large down pillows and soft quilts.

If you can swing it, check out Premium Economy on EVA Air.

Price? Can you use points?

EVA Air is a Taiwanese international airline.

For our flight to Bali (with a connection in Taipei), we had a choice of China Airlines (less expensive), Cathay Pacific (more expensive) and EVA Air.

On EVA Air, we could have flown for about $100 USD less than what we actually paid.

But we chose to pay more to earn more Aeroplan points on Air Canada, which is a Star Alliance partner of EVA Air’s.

The hope was we’d get enough Aeroplan points to earn back our Elite status on Air Canada – any perk is a blessing when flying these days!

So, yes, you can use Star Alliance partner points to book EVA Air flights.

EVA Air Economy basic vs. standard tickets

When you buy an EVA Economy class ticket, you can get a discount, basic, standard or up ticket. (These are the booking ticket types.)

When you buy a Premium Economy Class ticket, you can get a basic, standard or up ticket (no discount tickets though).

They each have different fare rules.

For example, a basic Economy ticket doesn’t include free seat selection. For a long-haul flight, a regular seat costs $40 to book in advance.

On the other hand, a standard Economy ticket includes free seat selection for a regular seat. (But you have to pay extra for a “preferred” Economy seat closer to the front.)

See under “Charges” on EVA Air’s Fare Family web page for more information on this.

EVA Air baggage allowance

Father and children carrying bags at the airport
EVA Air’s checked baggage allowance limits for Economy passengers are better than those of many other major airlines

EVA Air checked baggage

The number of free bags you can check in on EVA Air depends on your ticket and whether you’re flying internationally or within Asia.

For example, if you’re flying long-haul to or from the U.S. or Canada and you have a standard or basic Economy ticket, you’re allowed two free checked bags (maximum weight 50 lbs. each) per person.

This is better than many other major airlines. Typically, Economy passengers are only allowed one free checked bag.

See EVA Air’s checked baggage allowance limits for more information.

EVA Air carry-on

As an Economy passenger, you can take two pieces of carry-on items.

You’re allowed a small rollaway (called “hand-carry baggage” by EVA Air) no bigger than 9 x 14 x 22 inches in size. And it can’t weigh any more than 15 lbs. This bag can be put in the overhead bin.

You’re also allowed a personal item like a purse, briefcase or small backpack, which can fit under the seat.

For details, see EVA Airline’s carry-on luggage allowance.

EVA Air rating and flight safety record

Is EVA Air safe?

For 2023, EVA Air again made the list of 20 safest airlines to fly in the world, according to AirlineRatings.com.

As for other EVA Air reviews, we’re not the only travelers who like EVA Air.

The 2022 Skytrax World Airline Awards also rated EVA Air one of the 20 best airlines in the world (in the #18 spot). This, however, is a big drop from its #7 rating in 2021.

China Airlines vs. EVA Air?

Both airlines are based out of Taipei in Taiwan.

But China Airlines has a 4-star airline rating, according to Skytrax.

EVA Air, on the other hand, has a 5-star airline rating for its onboard product and service (e.g., cabin and seat cleanliness, food and beverages, entertainment and attention to cabin safety).

We had a choice – and we picked EVA Airlines.

EVA Air Covid-19 rules

See the airline’s Covid-19 information center for guidelines, the EVA Air mask policy and any restrictions.

EVA Air ticket cancellation, changes and refunds

If you get second thoughts about going on a trip and wish to cancel your ticket, EVA Air will give you a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of buying your ticket.

If you want to change your ticket and rebook more than 24 hours after purchase, there may be penalty and fare differences charged.

EVA Air Economy review: Bottom line?

So, is EVA Air a good airline?

EVA Air won our loyalty, and we’d definitely fly with them again.

Have you flown EVA Air?

What was your experience? Do you agree with our EVA Air Economy Class review? Do you prefer flying on Asian airlines rather than North American carriers?

You can share your thoughts in the Comments below – and read about the experiences of other EVA Air passengers in this section too.

Read more of our airline reviews!

Qatar is another great airline to fly: See what it’s like to fly Economy Class on Qatar.

Are you interested in flying with Emirates? Check out our review of Emirates in Economy Class, and then decide.

Our top travel tips and resources

Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)

Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.

Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.

Pssst! If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!


Like our Eva Airways review? Then pin it! Thanks!

Review of flying Economy on Eva Air
Eva Air Economy review

We paid full fares for our economy tickets both times we flew round-trip with EVA Air and didn’t receive any special discounts. Nor has the airline paid us to write this EVA Airlines review or influenced us in any way here. This post consists simply of our own independent unbiased thoughts and views. Images (except 1, 2 and 10) are courtesy EVA Air.


About the authors

Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.

Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!

Kama Ringwood

Sunday 26th of February 2023

Hello and thanks for all the information.

My friend and I are heading from Victoria to Taiwan in October, yay!! I’m a bit concerned about having to wear a mask on the flight as I just read that masks are required in transit. Any thoughts?

Janice and George

Monday 27th of February 2023

Don't worry. It's not that uncomfortable to wear a mask on the plane. We're kinda (sort of) used to it now. (We even still wear our masks on flights and in busy airports when not required!)

Obviously, you can remove your mask to eat and drink :-).

Yvonne

Friday 24th of February 2023

Such a helpful and detailed review. Thank you!

I have flown on Cathay to Bali before and their premium economy seats were more like a cradle rather than a footrest coming out. It was perfect for my chronic backache not sitting on my tailbone. I want to go back to Bali before I'm no longer able to do the long-haul trips and of course, money is an issue. So I'm wondering how would you compare Eva's premier economy seat and value vs Cathay. Do you know if Cathay still has those cradle seats?

Thanks so much for your input!

- Yvonne

Yvonne

Thursday 2nd of March 2023

@Janice and George, Thank you for your response!

Janice and George

Friday 24th of February 2023

We can't speak from personal experience.

But we understand Cathay Pacific's Premium Economy seats offer up to 40 inches of seat pitch plus calf and footrests on the Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350s. We'd expect that to be pretty comfortable! These seats get good reviews.

But EVA Air's Premium Economy seats also get good reviews.

Perhaps compare the routing/layover time and how long the trip is for each airline. If one is better than the other, that may help you decide :-).

Enjoy your Bali trip!

Harry

Monday 6th of February 2023

I have flown EVA many times and usually like them very much. However, I booked with them online in Oct. and made a small mistake - not using my middle name in the booking. I called their customer service line possibly 10 times and got the answer: "We are experiencing a high call volume. Please try again later." Then they hung up.

This was within the 24 hour cancellation time, but cutting it close. At one point, after waiting on hold again for 30 minutes, they did actually answer.

And the answer was: We can't do anything to help you here. Just cancel online and re-book. This answer was not reassuring at all. Why can't they fix this over the phone?

I did cancel and rebook, and they did refund me for the initial booking. So good on them.

But why was the onus on me? Why can't they do this through customer service? Also, why does their customer service say they have too many calls and hang up?

I liked them in the past but this makes me nervous to book with them again. When I need help, I need to know they will be there, and they were not this time.

Nice people, good aircraft, terrible customer service. EVA Air, do better.

Janice and George

Thursday 16th of February 2023

All airlines have had a rough time the past three years. Some airlines have rebounded faster and are doing a better job at re-staffing, getting the number of flights up to pre-Covid levels, not canceling flights, etc.

We share your frustration though - we've had to deal with lots of wasted hours on the telephone "on hold" with other airlines for other issues. At least you got your booking fixed, so that's the good news :-).

Lisa

Saturday 28th of January 2023

What is the difference between Standard and Up in the different seat classes?

David Upham

Wednesday 12th of April 2023

@Janice and George, There are also differences in charges for cancellation or changes in the booking. Up is generally free for any changes made.

Janice and George

Friday 24th of February 2023

There's no difference in the actual seat. A "Standard" Economy Class seat is the same as an "Up" Economy Class seat. The difference lies in their different booking class codes and the different charges for seat selection, etc.

April Santos

Monday 23rd of January 2023

Hi there, I am planning to travel in the Philippines in May with my son. However is it better to buy the seats in advance or wait till 48 hrs before departure time? I’m afraid that my son will sit in a different seat if there are no available seats together. By February, the seat fare will increase to $50 from $40 long haul and short haul $20 from $15. Thank You 😊

Janice and George

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Airline prices can be all over the map these days. But you usually get the best airline ticket prices when you book in advance.