Review: Eva Air Business Class Boeing 787 (Hong Kong to Taipei)

Wednesday newsletters feature a hotel or flight review.

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed a holiday in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Palau. You can read my trip reports here:

Review: Regent Hong Kong Hotel
Review: Eva Air Business Class Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Hong Kong to Taipei (today)
Review: Capella Taipei Hotel
Review: China Airlines Business Class Airbus A321Neo from Taipai to Palau
Review: Cruise in Palau with Four Seasons Explorer
Review: United Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 from Palau to Tokyo

Review: Eva Air Business Class Boeing 787 (HKG-TPE)

I recently flew Eva Air Business Class from Hong Kong to Taipei aboard the airline’s Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Based in Taiwan and operating from its main hub at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Eva Air is a member of Star Alliance and has built a strong reputation for its premium onboard service, particularly on long-haul routes. The airline brands its international Business Class product as “Royal Laurel Class,” which is offered on aircraft including its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

With a flight time of only one hour and 15 minutes, Hong Kong to Taipei is the kind of journey for which I would normally never pay extra to fly Business Class. However, for the sake of this blog review, I specifically booked Royal Laurel Class so I could experience and review Eva Air’s Boeing 787 Business Class product. For your information, I paid HKD 4,227 for the one-way ticket, including all taxes and surcharges, which is approximately US$540. Overall, the flight offered an excellent introduction to Eva Air’s Royal Laurel Class and left me wishing the journey had been considerably longer.

The experience was top notch, particularly considering the short duration of the flight: the cabin crew were exceptionally friendly, a full meal was served, the inflight entertainment offering was extensive, and Business Class passengers enjoyed complimentary unlimited web browsing. Eva Air’s Boeing 787-10 features the Thompson Aero Vantage XL seat in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, with direct aisle access for every passenger. While the seat is no longer among the newest Business Class designs and lacks the closing door increasingly found on newer products, it remains spacious, private and very comfortable, converting into a fully flat bed.

Eva Air does not operate its own lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, but eligible Royal Laurel Class passengers have access to several partner lounges before departure. To make this review as comprehensive as possible, I visited all three lounges available to me — the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Kyra Lounge and United Club — to compare their facilities, food and overall atmosphere. The three lounges offer quite different experiences, and I definitely had a clear favorite, as you’ll read below.

Have you ever flown with Eva Air? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

Flight details:

Airline: Eva Air
Route: Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE)
Plane: Boeing 787-10
Aircraft registration code B-17802 (built in 2019)
Class: Business Class
Seat: 9K
Flight time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Distance: 500 miles (805 km)
Departure time: 10:30 am
Arrival time: 11:45

In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):

About Eva Air: facts and figures
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Hong Kong Airport
Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong Airport
Club United at Hong Kong Airport
Eva Air Business Class cabin
Eva Air Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
Amenities & bedding
Meals
Entertainment
Onboard internet
Other inflight experiences
Final thoughts & my verdict (score)

1. About Eva Air: Facts & Figures

Eva Air is one of Taiwan’s three major full-service international airlines, alongside China Airlines and the much younger Starlux Airlines. The privately owned carrier was founded in 1989 as part of the Evergreen Group, best known internationally for Evergreen Marine, and operated its first flight in 1991. Unlike some of its Taiwanese competitors, Eva Air’s own network is entirely international, with no domestic passenger routes, and today connects Taiwan with destinations across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. As of September 2026, Eva Air serves 66 destinations with a fleet of 89 aircraft, including its dedicated cargo operation. The airline has also been a member of Star Alliance since 2013 and has held Skytrax’s highest 5-Star Airline rating for 11 consecutive years.

Eva Air currently operates a diverse fleet consisting of Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners, Airbus A330-300s and Airbus A321-200s, complemented by Boeing 777 freighters. The Boeing 777-300ER remains the largest type in the passenger fleet, with 32 aircraft, while the Dreamliner fleet currently comprises nine 787-9s and 13 787-10s. The fleet is set to undergo a major transformation over the coming years: Eva Air has another 12 Dreamliners on order and will introduce two new Airbus types, with 24 A350-1000s and 18 A321neos scheduled for delivery. Another interesting piece of Eva Air history is that the carrier was an early pioneer of Premium Economy, introducing a cabin between Economy and Business Class in the early 1990s, decades before the concept became commonplace across the airline industry.

2. Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge is located on Level 6 of the main departure hall, close to Gate 5, making it one of the most conveniently located lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, just a short walk from the security checkpoint. The lounge follows Singapore Airlines’ familiar understated style and is essentially arranged as one large room. Guests enter through a bar area, after which the lounge opens up into the main space, with the buffet positioned along one side and various seating areas extending throughout the length of the lounge. There are different seating options for relaxing, dining or getting some work done before a flight, while the buffet offers a decent selection of hot dishes, lighter bites and beverages. A downside of the lounge is the complete lack of exterior windows, which means there are no views of the airport apron or natural daylight and the lounge can feel somewhat enclosed. departure.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong

3. Kyra Lounge

Kyra Lounge is one of the newer independent lounges at Hong Kong International Airport. Located on Level 6 near Gate 23, the lounge features contemporary interiors with several seating areas and a bar at its center. One of its best features is the wall of large floor-to-ceiling windows, which provides plenty of natural light as well as impressive, ground-level views of the airport apron and aircraft activity. The food offering includes a buffet with a selection of Chinese and Hong Kong-inspired dishes alongside Western options, complemented by a well-stocked bar.

An interesting feature is that a separate section of the lounge is reserved for EVA Air Business Class passengers, which is a nice touch and makes the experience feel somewhat more exclusive. Guests in this section also have access to an à la carte menu in addition to the regular buffet. While Kyra Lounge is modern and pleasant, it is relatively small for the number of passengers it serves. During peak hours, it can become very busy — in fact, during my visit, the lounge felt too crowded, which considerably diminished the otherwise pleasant atmosphere. As an independent lounge, Kyra can also be accessed through programs including Priority Pass and LoungeKey, while access can be purchased separately.

4. United Club

The United Club is located on Level 7 near Gate 60 and is considerably larger than the other two lounges. The lounge reopened in 2025 and serves eligible United Airlines passengers as well as passengers travelling with a range of Star Alliance carriers. Unlike the more enclosed SilverKris and Kyra lounges, the United Club is an open lounge located one floor above the main airport concourse. This gives the space a particularly airy feel, with views both across the airport interior and towards the tarmac. The lounge itself is divided into several sections, offering plenty of seating for relaxing, dining or working, while the central section is home to the main food and beverage stations.

For me, the United Club was the clear winner of the three lounges I visited at Hong Kong International Airport. It was by far the most spacious, offered the greatest variety of food, and had plenty of available seating during my visit. I also found it the most visually appealing of the three, largely because of its open design and the sense of space created by its elevated position above the concourse. The food selection was another highlight and, in my experience, was both better and more varied than what was offered in the other two lounges. The only potential drawback is its location near Gate 60, which can mean a considerable walk when departing from one of the gates closer to the main security area. Nevertheless, of the three lounges, this was easily the one where I most enjoyed spending time before my flight.

5. Eva Air 787 Business Class Cabin

On Eva Air’s Boeing 787-10, the Business Class cabin is located at the front of the aircraft and features 34 seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger. This is a larger cabin than on Eva Air’s Boeing 787-9, which features 26 Business Class seats in the same 1-2-1 configuration. The additional capacity reflects the greater length of the 787-10, while the overall cabin concept and seating arrangement remain very similar across both Dreamliner variants.

Because of the staggered configuration, the position of the seats alternates from one row to the next. Along the windows, some seats are positioned directly beside the window, with the side console between the passenger and the aisle. These are the so-called “true” window seats and offer considerably more privacy. In the alternating rows, the seat is positioned closer to the aisle, with the console between the passenger and the window, making these seats feel more exposed to the aisle. A similar alternating arrangement is used for the center seats.

Visually, the cabin is elegant and understated, with a contemporary design built around warm, neutral tones. Cream, beige and brown shades dominate the interior, complemented by subtle touches of EVA Air’s signature green. Combined with the Dreamliner’s large windows, high ceiling and spacious overhead bins, the cabin feels modern, airy and refined.

Eva Air Business Class Boeing 787 — Eva Air Business Class cabin on the Boeing 787

6. Eva Air 787 Business Class Seat (+ Best & Worst Seats)

EVA Air’s Boeing 787-10 Royal Laurel Class seat offers a generous amount of personal space and is particularly well suited to long-haul travel. The seat itself measures approximately 20 inches (51 cm) in width, while the seat pitch is around 42 inches (107 cm). The high surrounding shell creates a good degree of privacy, especially when choosing one of the “true” window seats where the seat is positioned directly beside the window and the side console separates the passenger from the aisle. Although the seat does not feature a closing door, there is a privacy screen along the aisle side of the seat which can be manually slid forward, providing some additional separation from the aisle and neighbouring passengers. Combined with the angled position of the seat and surrounding shell, this creates a fairly private personal space.

Directly in front of the passenger is a large 18-inch (46 cm) high-definition entertainment screen. The screen is fixed in position, which means it can be used throughout most stages of the flight without having to be folded away. Underneath the screen is the footwell, which forms the end of the sleeping surface when the seat is converted into a bed. The footwell provides a useful place to rest your feet while seated and extends the available sleeping space when the seat is fully reclined. As is common with staggered Business Class configurations, however, the space around the feet is narrower than the main part of the seat.

A large side console sits next to the seat and is useful for keeping smaller personal belongings within easy reach during the flight. In front of the console is a large side table, offering a convenient surface for placing a phone, glasses, drinks or other small personal items during the flight. Along the outer edge of this table are the electronic seat controls, the power outlets and the handset for the inflight entertainment system, all positioned within easy reach while seated. The seat controls allow the passenger to move between preset upright, lounging and fully flat positions, as well as make more precise adjustments to find a comfortable position for dining, working or relaxing. Just in front of the console, integrated into the shelf along the side of the seat, is an adjustable reading light, providing focused illumination without having to use the brighter overhead light.

At the touch of a button, the seat converts into a fully flat bed measuring 76 inches (193 cm) in length. The sleeping surface is reasonably wide around the upper body before narrowing towards the footwell. This is where the staggered configuration again makes a difference: the surrounding shell, side console and extendable privacy screen provide a considerable sense of privacy, particularly at the true window seats.

What are the best Business Class seats on Eva Air’s Boeing 787-10?

The best Business Class seats are undoubtedly the “true” window seats in rows 2, 5, 7 and 9 (seats A and K). At these seats, the passenger sits directly beside the window, while the large side console is positioned between the seat and the aisle. This provides considerably more privacy and creates a more secluded, cocoon-like feeling than the window seats in the alternating rows, which are positioned directly beside the aisle.
Couples may prefer the paired D and G seats in the center of the cabin, although EVA Air’s layout does not feature particularly intimate “honeymoon” seats.

What are the worst Business Class seats on Eva Air’s Boeing 787-10?

There are no truly bad seats in Eva Air’s Royal Laurel cabin, since all passengers get the same fully flat seat and direct aisle access. The main differences come down to privacy, window position and proximity to the galleys and lavatories.
I would avoid the final row (row 10) if possible because of its proximity to the lavatories immediately behind the Business Class cabin. You may experience more passenger traffic, light and noise here, particularly when people are waiting to use the lavatories.
09A and 09K are actually excellent true window seats in terms of privacy, but their location close to the rear lavatories makes them less attractive than similar seats farther forward. If privacy is your priority they are still a good choice, but I would select 02A/K, 05A/K or 07A/K first.
Solo travellers looking for maximum privacy are better off choosing one of the window seats instead of the center seats. The latter seats are perfectly comfortable, but you will be sitting relatively close to another passenger, albeit with a privacy divider between you.

Click here for a seat map of the Eva Air Boeing 787-10.

7. Amenities & Bedding

Given the short duration of the flight from Hong Kong to Taipei, the usual range of Business Class amenities offered on EVA Air’s long-haul flights was not provided. There was no amenity kit or other additional comfort items waiting at the seat. Nevertheless, each passenger was provided with a duvet, which was more than sufficient for such a short journey, as well as a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for use with the inflight entertainment system.

8. Meals

Despite the very short flight from Hong Kong to Taipei, Eva Air offered a full meal service in Business Class — something many airlines in Europe or the United States would not provide on a flight of this length. The entire meal was served on one tray, which made sense given the limited flying time. I started with smoked salmon accompanied by cauliflower rice and red quinoa salad. For the main course, I chose the grilled spiced chicken thigh, served with creamy mushroom sauce and mushroom risotto. Dessert consisted of a red bean panna cotta, while a selection of bread was also offered. The wine list was surprisingly extensive and impressive for such a short flight, although I personally never drink alcohol when flying. Overall, it was an impressive amount of food for a flight of just a bit moire than one hour and a good example of the high level of inflight service offered by Eva Air.

9. Entertainment

Eva Air’s Boeing 787 features the airline’s STAR GALLERY inflight entertainment system, displayed on a large 18-inch (46 cm) high-definition touchscreen in Business Class. The system offers a broad selection of movies, TV programs, music and games, including both international and Asian content, and the interface is relatively intuitive and responsive. The screen can be controlled either directly by touch or via the handheld controller located beside the seat, while noise-cancelling headphones are provided to Business Class passengers. A moving map allows passengers to follow the progress of the flight, although on the short hop from Hong Kong to Taipei there is obviously little time to explore the extensive entertainment library.

10. Onboard Internet

Eva Air offers inflight Wi-Fi on its Boeing 787 aircraft, with Business Class passengers enjoying complimentary unlimited web browsing throughout the flight. The service can be used for browsing websites, checking emails and sending messages through apps such as WhatsApp and LINE. However, video streaming, voice calls, VPN connections and video conferencing are not supported. Since the Wi-Fi connection relies on satellite communication, speeds can vary depending on factors such as the number of passengers connected, the aircraft’s location and weather conditions. On such a short flight from Hong Kong to Taipei there was obviously limited time to make extensive use of the service, but complimentary Wi-Fi is nevertheless an excellent Business Class perk.

11. Other Inflight Experiences

# Crew: The Eva Air cabin crew were exceptionally friendly and welcoming throughout the flight. They even allowed me to board a few minutes before the other passengers so I could take some photos and videos for my blog without disturbing anyone. What also stood out was how genuinely proud they seemed to be of their airline, which added a very personal touch to the service.

# Lavatory: Eva Air’s Boeing 787-10 has three lavatories available for the 34 Royal Laurel Business Class passengers. The lavatories are modern, well maintained and stocked with toiletries from Australian brand Ideology, including hand soap, body lotion and facial mist. This generous passenger-to-lavatory ratio also means that waiting times are generally minimal.

12. Final Thoughts & My Verdict

My short journey from Hong Kong to Taipei showed why Eva Air enjoys such a strong reputation among frequent flyers. Nothing about the experience felt particularly flashy or over-the-top; instead, Royal Laurel Class impressed with its combination of understated comfort, polished service and remarkable attention to detail. The 787 Business Class product may not be cutting-edge anymore, but it still feels refined and highly competitive, while the warmth and professionalism of the crew were perhaps the most memorable aspect of the flight. If this 75-minute journey is representative of the airline’s long-haul experience, I would be very keen to fly EVA Air again — preferably next time on a flight long enough to properly enjoy everything Royal Laurel Class has to offer.

Here is my score for Eva Air’s Business Class product on the Boeing 787-10: