JD Murphy reviews the EVA Air Royal Laurel Class cabin and revels in multi award-winning business class service.
EVA Air flies under the radar when it comes to reputation, but airline and airport reviewers Skytrax have just certified the Taiwanese carrier as a five-star airline for the tenth consecutive year. Eva Air consistently delivers more than its modest profile suggests, and Skytrax’s is not the only award they’ve won. I flew from Heathrow to Bangkok with EVA Air in ‘Royal Laurel Class’, to see just what’s bringing in the honours.
After being fast-tracked through check-in and security and wined and dined in both Singapore Airlines and United’s lounges, first impressions on boarding were positive; there was a greeting from a smiling, masked, and smartly uniformed flight attendant who showed me to my seat, which was clean, comfortable, and larger than some other business class offerings.
The B777-300ER used by EVA Air for this long-haul route has been in service for a while, but you wouldn’t know it to see the condition of the 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seating. Not a loose thread or stain to be seen, and the whole cabin had a clean, sterile feel. The seats also had taller partitions than some other airlines’, offering good privacy, though I could still lean forward and talk to my neighbour if they leaned forward too.
Once I’d glanced at the menu a flight attendant came to take my meal orders, thirty minutes before take-off! The attendant also checked if I’d like to be woken for breakfast, and how I’d like my coffee. I made a mental note to see if she would remember ten hours later.
Left alone with a glass of sparkling wine (champagne is only served after take-off, for tax reasons), I investigated the amenities kit; toiletries bag, brush, eye mask and – a little incongruously – a leather keyring, all from Giorgio Armani. This kit won Best Onboard Amenities Kit at the 2024 World Travel Catering Expo, which speaks volumes about its quality.
There was also lip balm, rosewater balancing mist, and aloe vera hand cream, all from Jurlique, along with a standard Eva Air dental kit with toothpaste and a toothbrush. EVA Air’s Thunder headphones did a good job with noise cancelling, but were uncomfortable after a few hours. I had no complaints, however, about slipping my feet into the soft and fluffy Jason Wu slippers that completed the amenities line-up.
After a smooth and punctual take-off, the attendant served a bowl of nuts and raisins and a hot hand towel, while offering champagne. I chose the Laurent Perrier Grand Siécle N.V. over the Piper-Heidseck Rare 2013, and didn’t regret it. The measure was surprisingly large, the attendant waiting for the mousse to settle before filling the glass to the two-thirds level. I just had time to fiddle with the seating’s controls, which offered a delight of different positions, before the first course was served.
A side plate of salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and Netherend Farm butter came first, with cutlery wrapped in a thick linen napkin. Bread from the basket was in a choice of seeded, wholemeal, garlic, or sourdough, and I was offered more once I had finished. The only starter was grilled scallops with truffle and root salad. It was pleasantly substantial for a first plate, hot, and the scallops had a good consistency. Everyone in business class had been served their starters within forty minutes of the plane rotating off the runway. Efficient service indeed.
For mains, the choice was pan-seared beef fillet, bearnaise sauce, and mashed sweet potatoes, or roasted chicken with herbs, tarragon creamy sauce, gratin celeriac and potato. There was also a fish option of pan-fried seabass, black bean sauce, and udon noodles. My fillet was larger than I expected (as was the second pour of champagne, which came just as I drained my glass of the first).
The steak was done to medium-rare perfection, tender, and sitting in a smear of tangy bearnaise. Dessert was introduced with a plate of three types of melon with kiwi and pineapple, a pleasingly simple and healthy option often missing during a flight. Then came a delicious apple crumble cake with caramel sauce that was sweet and toffee-rich, served with a piece of fresh fig and mint. I’d be happy with this dish in any restaurant, to be served it in the air was a real treat.
I declined coffee after the food service, intending to take advantage of the lay-flat bed, but took some time first to review the in-flight entertainment system. This is an area of EVA Air’s provision that could do with improvement. The inflight maps couldn’t be manually controlled. There were also no external views, which is a shame as I enjoy looking at the changing landscapes as I fly, though no doubt not covering the plane in cameras helps keep costs down.
While there were several new films on offer, and the first four episodes of a new series I’d been meaning to watch (why only four on an eleven-and-a-half-hour flight?), overall the choice was limited compared to competitors.
The same couldn’t be said of the flight staff, who seemed always present with offers of water, more drinks, or laying out my bed. Eva Air should be complimented on the training they deliver, which has created a cabin crew who are thoroughly on the ball. They won the Best Cabin Service award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association in 2023, and were Skytrax’s fourth best Airline Staff in Asia in 2025. Enjoying their attentive, polite, highly efficient-without-being-rushed service, it’s easy to see why.
Before settling down to a snooze, I felt it would be rude not to try the Taiwanese whisky served on board. The Kavalan, which came in a generous serving, had a nose of salted caramel and tropical fruit, with a medium-smooth taste of candied fruits, allspice, and a slight smokiness. A fitting finale to a quality in-flight meal.
The business class bathroom was as expected, cleaned regularly, and stocked with Ideology products including botanical face mist, aroma mist, and body lotion, all of which had a pleasant scent but weren’t so overpowering that other passengers were disturbed by a floral cloud following me back to my seat.
After more hours of sleep than I’d expected, in a cabin pleasantly dimmed with atmospheric star-effect lighting in the ceiling, I was woken as pre-arranged by a crew member, squatting and whispering my name. She had indeed remembered my order of black coffee, to my delight. The coffee was strong and hot, and by the end of the second helping (served, as always, as soon as I had finished the first) I was ready for breakfast.
I’d ordered the Chinese breakfast option, so, after the customary hot towel, I was served egg fried rice, a slice of Asian omelette, mushrooms, spinach, and Dong Po pork; a sticky, sweet sauce covering a surprisingly generous portion of pork belly so tender I could cut it with a chopstick.
Another plate of fruit followed, with fig, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, and kiwi, meaning I’d technically – and smugly – hit my five-a-day before I’d even taken my Jason Wu slippers off, leaving me well fed and rested to enjoy our descent into Bangkok.
It’s quite a compliment to EVA Air to say that, even after nearly twelve hours on board, I was a little sad to leave. But then I had to find the remaining episodes of that series somewhere!
Tell me more about EVA Air Royal Laurel Class
AVA Air flights in Royal Laurel Class. start from £2,995 return from London to Bangkok
A Star Alliance member, EVA Air was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 80 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to around 60 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America.
We are flying EVA air from JFK to Bangkok on Royal Laurel Class and I appreciated your review. Looking forward to an enjoyable experience.
Thanks Ellen, let us know what you think of it when you return.