A major new player in trans-Pacific air travel has planned its latest destination in the US.
From the end of this year, Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines will launch a new non-stop service between the hub city of Taipei and San Francisco.
Service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) begins December 16.
Since shortly before the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Starlux’s newest service will mark its second US destination; the airline already serves Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Flying aboard an Airbus A350 equipped with four cabins, Starlux will begin its Bay Area service with three weekly round trips between SFO and Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) during the winter months.
The Taipei-based carrier will then expand to daily flights starting next spring.
In announcing the new route, Starlux executives alluded to demand from business travelers, noting San Francisco’s close proximity to Silicon Valley.
“With one-third of the population being of Asian descent, our new route will also meet the needs of these travelers, whether they are visiting family, on vacation or traveling for work,” CEO Glenn Chai said in a statement.
For American travelers, the new routes will appeal to those who want to fly to Taiwan as a final destination or travel on to one of the airline’s many other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
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Starlux’s partnership with Alaska Airlines also allows American travelers to redeem points and miles with the airline, despite Starlux not being part of a major global airline alliance.
Route details
Starlux will initially operate three weekly round trips between San Francisco and Taipei before expanding to daily flights.
Details of the route are as follows:
- SFO-TPE (Tue/Thu/Sat): Departs at 11:40 PM PT and arrives two days later at 5:30 AM local time
- TPE-SFO (Tue/Thu/Sat): Departs at 11:30 PM local time, arrives at 6:15 PM PT
Starlux aircraft
Like its flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Starlux will operate its San Francisco service aboard an Airbus A350 aircraft with new cabins and what the airline describes as “exquisite dining” options.
Cabins
- Four first class seats
- Twenty-six business class seats arranged in 1-2-1 configuration, each with reclining option and direct aisle access
- Thirty-six premium economy seats, including more spacious accommodations and footrests
- Two hundred and forty economy seats
In total, the aircraft can accommodate 306 customers.
Even in the coach, passengers have access to 4K high-definition screens that are compatible with Bluetooth headphones.
How much does it cost to fly with Starlux?
Starlux has already loaded its flights to San Francisco into its booking channels. You can expect to pay transpacific prices if you book through the carrier’s website.
For a seat on the first flight in December (and a round trip a week later), the cheapest economy ticket we could find was $1,861 round trip.
The same round-trip flight in business class cost a higher price of more than $7,000.
However, for US flyers, the best option for booking Starlux flights may be to go through the Alaska Airlines website as the two airlines have a new partnership. This is especially true if you want to redeem Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles that you’ve earned directly by flying or transferred through a credit card rewards program.
There was a brief period when a round-trip flight in Starlux Business Class via Alaska could be booked for 75,000 Mileage Plan miles each way. Unfortunately, it appears that availability has now dried up and the price has increased dramatically to 165,000 Mileage Plan miles each way.
In short
Starlux’s latest route should offer new premium options for travelers considering a trip to Taiwan or elsewhere in Asia, especially those interested in earning or redeeming Mileage Plan miles.
This latest route isn’t the only announcement expected from the airline. Company officials recently promised details of a new route to Seattle sometime next year, indicating further expansion into North America is on the horizon.
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