This is the flight we were saving for last. After flying Starlux premium economy from Phoenix to Taipei on the way out, we flew Starlux business class from Taipei to Phoenix on the way home, a brand-new nonstop route that means everything to us as Arizona-based travelers.
This was my second time flying Starlux business class (we previously flew Taipei to Seattle), and I still love it. Below is the full experience: the seat, the service, the food, the famous bread, and whether it is worth it.
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Why Taipei to Phoenix Nonstop Matters
This is a new route, and we were so excited to fly it because we are based in Arizona. Normally getting to or from Asia means connecting through LAX, SFO, or Seattle first. Starlux flying TPE to PHX nonstop removes all of that. We flew out of Terminal 2 at Taipei Taoyuan Airport, and the whole thing felt like a small luxury just by being direct.
We also flew Starlux premium economy on the way out (Phoenix to Taipei) and previously flew Taipei to Seattle, so by now we had a good sense of the airline across cabins.
Starlux A350 boarding at Taipei Taoyuan Terminal 2 for the flight to Phoenix
Before the Flight: Check-In and the Galactic Lounge
Check-in for luggage opened about three and a half hours before departure. After dropping our bags, we headed to the Galactic Lounge in Terminal 2.
Starlux business class check-in at Taipei Taoyuan Terminal 2
The lounge is a small but comfortable size, with lockers for your luggage and bags and showers down the stairs on the lower level. We ate really well there, ordering off their online menu, and the food and drinks were both delicious. A fresh shower before a 12 plus hour flight was exactly what we needed.
Read the full Galactic Lounge review
We have a complete walkthrough of the Starlux Galactic Lounge: showers, the made-to-order menu, both buffet floors, and the boba you must try.
The Seat and Compartment (My Favorite Part)
For this flight we chose the middle seats, 5D and 5G. On our previous Taipei to Phoenix flight we sat at the window, so we switched it up.
The seat layout is the number one thing I love about Starlux business. The compartment is huge: I could fit my fanny pack and even my big iPad in there and still close it, and there is room to tuck a blanket away too. You can close the door for full privacy, which turns the seat into your own little space, and it goes fully flat for sleeping.
Starlux business class seat, cabin, and seat location
The huge storage compartment is the other thing I love. There is a side table, a spot to stash your phone, and a deep compartment that swallowed my sling bag and a big iPad with room to spare.
Starlux business class storage compartment, side table, and privacy door
The one tradeoff is the fixed partition between the two middle seats. It does not lower, so when the seats are fully flat it is harder to share food across to each other.
Starlux business class middle-seat partition
There is also a massage feature in the seat. I will be honest: it does not really massage much, so do not get too excited about it. It is a nice-to-have, not a highlight.
Welcome Touches and the Amenity Kit
They started with a steaming hot towel that smelled like a nice cologne, which I used to sanitize my hands. Then came a welcome drink, where you choose between champagne or juice. I had the watermelon juice and it was fresh and lovely.
Starlux business class hot towel and watermelon welcome drink
The seat comes with a pillow and a very fluffy blanket that is 100% recycled, plus sealed slippers (brown, same as last time) and Paul Smith pajamas (navy this time, brown last time). I love that the slippers and pajamas come sealed so you can tell they are fresh.
Starlux business class pillow, blanket, slippers, and Paul Smith pajamas
The amenity bag itself is great. It is a By THREE suede pouch, and inside there is chapstick, moisturizer, lip oil, a dental kit, a big and very comfortable eye mask (the best eye mask, honestly), long socks, a comb, and earplugs. The bag has sections and a zipper, so it works really well as a future makeup bag or cable organizer. The slipper bag doubles as a place to store your shoes.
Starlux business class By THREE amenity kit contents
The Food
The food in Starlux business is a bit hit and miss, but the highs are high. I leaned toward seafood dishes because Vincent was choosing other things, and we had planned to share, though one dish ("honeymoon sea") was not very shareable so we ended up ordering more separately.
Appetizer and Cocktails
We started with an amuse-bouche, then a sashimi appetizer (the fish was good, though not at the level of a real sushi restaurant). Vincent ordered a Citrus Mist cocktail that came out a little smoky, and I had an Amber Harmony cocktail with a visible black tea bag that smelled great. And of course, flying out of Taiwan, you have to drink the signature boba tea, which is gold and super soft.
Starlux business class amuse-bouche, sashimi appetizer, cocktails, and boba tea
Mains and the Wagyu
For the main, the standout was the Wagyu steak, which was incredibly soft and so good, served with an onion sauce. That one I would order again. Dessert was a plate of fresh fruit and ice cream to finish.
Starlux business class Wagyu steak main and dessert
Breakfast (and That Bread)
I have to say it again: Starlux has the best bread. Every time I fly them I try it, and it is always so good, so make sure to order it (and maybe ask for a second). The breakfast bread roll even came heated, which was a really nice touch, and there was a lychee honey I had never seen before that tasted exactly like lychee.
I did not realize there was a second breakfast course, a big French toast looking dish with egg that turned out to be savory rather than sweet. It was a big, satisfying breakfast, finished with a dessert and a fresh green juice. They also came around with another warm hot towel before service.
Starlux business class breakfast: hot towel, appetizers, lychee honey, the main, dessert, and green juice
In between meals they also came around with snacks. I got some chips and jelly, which were a nice little extra on a long flight.
Sleeping and Bed Mode
When it was time to rest, the flight attendant came by and made the bed for me, which most airlines simply do not do in business class. The seat goes fully flat with plenty of legroom, and with the privacy door closed it felt like my own little cabin. I wore my hydrating face mask (the cabin is dry on a long-haul) and slept well.
Starlux business class bed mode, legroom, and face mask
The Service (First-Class Level)
This is what sets Starlux apart. We have flown Singapore, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Delta, and several other business and first class products, and Starlux feels like you are flying business class with first-class service.
A few things stood out:
- They always remember your last name, and they even ask how to pronounce it at the start.
- The flight attendants' English is excellent, with very little accent, so communicating was easy.
- They make your bed for you, which most airlines do not do.
- Even through some genuinely rough turbulence (a weather thing, not anyone's fault), the crew stayed calm, kept smiling, and kept the service going.
It is a consistently high bar. Even the premium economy service we had on the way out was amazing.
Is Starlux Business Class Worth It?
This was my second time in Starlux business and I still love it. For Arizona travelers, the nonstop Taipei to Phoenix route alone is a huge win, and the onboard experience backs it up.
What we loved:
- Nonstop TPE to PHX (no LAX, SFO, or Seattle connection)
- The best business class seat layout and a huge, closeable storage compartment
- Full privacy door and a fully flat bed
- First-class-level service: they remember your name and make your bed
- The Wagyu, the signature Taiwanese tea, and that incredible bread
- A genuinely useful amenity bag and welcome touches
- Galactic Lounge access with showers before the long flight
What to keep in mind:
- The food is hit and miss, so choose carefully (the Wagyu and bread are safe bets)
- The in-seat massage feature does not do much, do not expect a real massage
- Fully flat seats make sharing food across the aisle harder
We flew Starlux premium economy and business class, both amazing, and we would happily fly them again. First class maybe not, honestly, because the business class service already feels like first class. If you are flying out of Taiwan, grab boba before you board, take advantage of the lounge, and enjoy the bread.
