Taiwan’s self-described “luxury” airline will make its third U.S. gateway later this year.
Starlux Airlines will launch three times weekly flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) from its hub at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) starting August 16.
The Taipei-based airline will operate an Airbus A350-900 on the route, which features four first-class suites, 26 business class pods, 36 premium economy recliners and 240 economy seats.
This new 6,075 miles is on sale now, with round-trip tickets from the US starting at around $950 for economy, $2,200 for premium economy, $6,000 for business class and a whopping $10,000 for first class.
Additionally – and perhaps most exciting – Starlux has released the availability of savings prizes for this new route. While availability can change at any time, there appears to be one business class award seat available on some flights for 75,000 miles (and $46), bookable through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program.
If you can snag one of these award seats, you’re likely in for a phenomenal flying experience. Starlux’s A350s feature Collins Aerospace’s new Elements suite (designed in collaboration with BMW Designworks), a product that builds on some incredibly popular predecessors to raise the bar for business-class seating.
The carrier’s catering, personal onboard service and amenities further enhance the premium experience.
Starlux was the launch company for the Elements suite, and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways also introduced the seat on its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries.
Starlux also offers a unique four-seat first-class cabin at the pointy end of the A350, but there’s no great way to redeem miles for this experience. With round-trip fares starting at $10,000, I can’t imagine these seats selling too quickly.
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While Starlux offers one of the world’s best business-class experiences – believe me, I’ve tried – the Seattle-Taipei market is hotly contested, even among some other world-class airlines. By the time Starlux starts flights, Taiwan’s two other major airlines, China Airlines and EVA Airways, will already be operating this route.
Additionally, Delta Air Lines will begin daily flights from Seattle to Taipei starting in June.
With such fierce competition, it’s possible we’ll see aggressive rate wars (and possibly more price availability) in the coming weeks and months.
Outside of Taipei, Starlux flies to more than 20 popular destinations in Asia, giving Seattle travelers plenty of one-stop options. The airline also has a codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, allowing travelers to book flights outside of Seattle to cities like Denver and Houston.
Starlux started flying to the US last April with flights to Los Angeles. The carrier then expanded to San Francisco in December.
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