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Airline: EVA Airways (BR)
Flight Number: BR196
Route: TPE-NRT
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Registration: B-17813
Delivered: August 2023
Flight Duration: 3 Hours 10 Minutes
Distance: 1,356 Miles
Overall Impression:
For this 3-hour flight from Taipei to Tokyo Narita, we had the chance to try business class with EVA Air aboard their Boeing 787-10. While EVA Air is best known for its long-haul consistency, it’s always interesting to see how that experience translates to a shorter regional route.
With a fully lie-flat seat, well-regarded catering, and a reputation for attentive service, this flight offered a compact but insightful look at what EVA Air’s Royal Laurel Class has to offer.
What I liked:
The Seats – EVA Air’ Boeing 787-10 on this Taipei to Tokyo Narita flight features 34 Royal Laurel Class seats based on the Thompson Vantage XL platform, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. It’s a modern and well-regarded product that offers direct aisle access for all passengers.
For a 3-hour regional flight, the seat felt more than adequate. It’s spacious, well-designed, and comfortable for both lounging and dining, with intuitive controls and practical storage throughout. While there are no privacy doors, the seat still feels sufficiently private thanks to the divider design.
I was seated in 10K in the last row of the cabin. While not a “true” window seat, it still offered a comfortable experience and I had no issues getting some rest during the flight. For those seeking maximum privacy, the “true” window seats—typically found in rows 2, 5, 7, and 9—are the best choice, as they’re positioned closer to the window.
The catering – Catering out of Taipei was a standout. The meal began shortly after takeoff with a beverage service, setting the tone for what turned out to be an excellent dining experience.
The starter featured goose liver mousse with raspberry coulis and pickled onions marinated in red wine vinaigrette, accompanied by warm bread. While goose liver isn’t usually my go-to, this dish was rich, well-balanced, and paired nicely with a glass of champagne.
For the main course, I pre-ordered EVA Air’s Kanpai Classic top-grade Japanese A5 Wagyu yakiniku with steamed rice—and it absolutely lived up to expectations. The beef was incredibly tender, flavorful, and easily one of the best inflight dishes I’ve had.
Dessert was kept simple with fresh fruit and ice cream, providing a satisfying end to the meal. Followed by a hot towel.
The in-flight service – Service from EVA Air was a pleasant surprise. The crew member assigned to my seat greeted me warmly, asked how I preferred to be addressed, and consistently used my name throughout the flight.
Pre-departure drinks and hot towels were offered promptly, and beverage refills were proactively provided during the meal. Despite a slight language barrier at times, the service felt genuine, attentive, and well above average for a regional flight.
The Amenities – For an intra-Asia route, EVA Air provides a thoughtful set of essentials, including noise-canceling headphones, a comfortable pillow and duvet, and slippers. The lavatories were stocked with Taiwanese-brand Ideology toiletries, which added a nice local touch. While no amenity kits were offered, they weren’t really necessary given the short flight time.
The IFE – The inflight entertainment system was solid overall. The screen was large and bright, the interface was easy to navigate, and the content selection included a good mix of Asian and Western movies, shows, and audio options. The 3D moving map was also a fun feature to follow along with the flight.
What I didn’t like:
No Personal Air Nozzles – A minor but noticeable drawback. The lack of individual air vents means you can’t fully control your personal comfort. Fortunately, the cabin temperature was kept cool throughout the flight, which helped offset the issue.
It was OK, I guess…
The EVA Infinity Lounge in TPE – The EVA Infinity Lounge is a fairly straightforward lounge experience. The business class section is on the smaller side, but during our visit, it wasn’t crowded and we had no trouble finding seating.
There’s a full self-service buffet with a mix of Chinese and Western options, along with a selection of beverages. While nothing particularly stands out, it gets the job done for a short layover.
Free Wi-Fi – EVA Air is currently offering complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi for all passengers through June 30, 2026. Speeds were sufficient for basic browsing and social media, though currently does not support streaming media compared to newer systems like Viasat or Starlink. Still, for a free service, it’s a welcome addition.
Bottom Line:
This flight with EVA Air shows just how strong their business class product is—even on a short regional route. The Vantage XL seat is comfortable and well-designed, the catering is a clear highlight (especially the outstanding Wagyu dish), and the service is warm and attentive throughout.
While minor drawbacks like the lack of air vents and a fairly standard lounge experience exist, they don’t take away from what is ultimately a very polished and enjoyable flight. For a 3-hour journey, this is about as premium as it gets.
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