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Taiwan-based airline EVA Air is giving its premium economy cabin a facelift, and bringing the mid-tier cabin to a new part of its fleet for the first time.
The Taipei-based Star Alliance carrier on Monday unveiled its latest-generation premium economy seats, which will debut in the coming weeks.
Launching on the carrier’s newest Boeing 787-9, this will be the first time premium economy has appeared on one of EVA’s Dreamliners.
Upgrades clearing less? Airlines T SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
EVA’s new premium economy cabin design
Featuring an expansive 42 inches of seat pitch — which means ample legroom — EVA’s updated premium cabin will launch on flights between Taipei and Jakarta starting on March 1, the carrier said Monday.
In the not-too-distant future, though, the carrier will debut the newly-designed cabin on a handful of additional routes, including certain flights between Taiwan and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
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Seats
EVA unveiled its new premium economy design at event in Taiwan Monday, suggesting the new cabin is more reminiscent of a “business class-like experience” than its current “upgraded economy” feel.
Like many premium economy cabins on international widebody jets, EVA’s new premium seats are generally reminiscent of the spacious recliners you’ll find in a domestic first-class cabin — though EVA has equipped its new seats with some added bells and whistles.
EVA AIR
The seats will use a “cradle motion” recline, which sees the seat cushion slide forward and upward. The setup is designed to give travelers more ability to lay back in the seat, while avoiding intruding on the legroom of the passenger one row back.
Arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, passengers will find charcoal gray cloth coverings on the seat cushions, with sleek, dark (brown and black) leather headrests, armrest and footrests — and privacy wings on the headrests, as well.
Other ‘hard product’ improvements
EVA has also updated the inflight entertainment systems with 15.6-pinch screens, along with USB and AC power outlets, and improved storage for personal electronic devices — on the tray table — and a water bottle.
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EVA AIR
Which routes will get the new cabin?
While those amenities may sound appealing, there is one caveat to know: the new premium economy cabin is not going to be on many EVA jets, at least from the outset.
Starting March 1, the carrier will debut the updated mid-plane cabin on its Boeing 787-9 on flights between its home Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, Indonesia.EVA hopes to eventually deploy future 787-9s sporting the cabin on its Munich, Milan and Vienna routes, Sun said Monday. The The And, the carrier has plans for 18 Airbus A350-1000s scheduled for delivery beginning in 2027.
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SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
On top of growing and improving its premium economy offerings, the airline is also plotting new business class suite concept for its A350-1000s and some Boeing 777-300ERs, company officials shared in August.
Booking EVA flights using points and miles
To book EVA Air flights using points and miles, you can transfer flexible credit card rewards to the EVA Air Infinity MileageLands program from multiple card issuer programs. You can transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to the program at a 1:1 ratio, You can also transfer Capital One miles to EVA at a reduced 4:3 ratio.
Another option: Find award space through one of EVA’s Star Alliance partners.
