The Ultimate EVA Air Review 2025: 10 Critical Facts
Is EVA Air still a top choice in 2025? Our ultimate review covers 10 critical facts on Royal Laurel class, premium economy, food, safety, and the Hello Kitty jet.
Alex Carter
Seasoned travel journalist and aviation enthusiast with over a million miles flown.
The Ultimate EVA Air Review 2025: 10 Critical Facts
Thinking about flying with Taiwan's premier airline? With its 5-star rating and reputation for excellence, EVA Air is often on the traveler's shortlist. But how does it really stack up in 2025? We're diving deep into the 10 critical facts you need to know before you book.
1. The Cabin Classes: A Deep Dive
EVA Air offers a straightforward, high-quality selection of cabins across its long-haul fleet, primarily on their Boeing 777s and 787s. You'll typically find three choices:
- Economy Class: Even in their most basic offering, EVA shines. The seats, particularly on the 787s, are ergonomically designed with adjustable headrests. The 3-3-3 configuration on the 777 feels less cramped than the 3-4-3 found on many competitors.
- Premium Economy Class: This is where EVA truly made its name, being one of the pioneers of the cabin. It's a significant step up from Economy, offering a separate, more intimate cabin, larger seats, and enhanced service. More on this below.
- Royal Laurel Class (Business Class): EVA's flagship product. It features a reverse herringbone 1-2-1 layout, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and a private, comfortable space for work or rest.
2. Royal Laurel Class: Still a King in the Sky?
In a world of ever-improving business class suites, EVA's Royal Laurel Class remains a top-tier contender. The lie-flat seats are spacious and comfortable, converting into a bed nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. But it's the details that elevate the experience:
- Amenities: Passengers receive high-end amenity kits, which have historically been collaborations with brands like Rimowa and Salvatore Ferragamo. You can also expect noise-canceling headphones and cozy pajamas on most long-haul routes.
- Dining: The multi-course meal service is exceptional, often featuring collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs. You can even pre-order your main course online to guarantee your first choice, including the famous Din Tai Fung soup dumplings.
- Privacy: The reverse herringbone layout is a masterclass in privacy. Whether you're in a window seat or the center pair, you feel like you're in your own personal cocoon.
While some newer airlines offer suites with closing doors, Royal Laurel's blend of comfort, service, and privacy keeps it highly competitive in 2025.
3. Premium Economy: The Original and Still the Best?
EVA Air essentially invented Premium Economy, and they've had decades to perfect it. In 2025, it remains one of the best in the industry. It's not just a slightly bigger Economy seat; it's a genuinely different product.
You get a dedicated and smaller cabin (usually a 2-4-2 layout), a much wider seat with a leg rest and footrest, a larger entertainment screen, and an enhanced meal service served on actual porcelain. You also get a basic amenity kit, water bottle, and slippers waiting at your seat. For an 8+ hour flight, the difference in comfort and experience is night and day.
EVA Premium Economy vs. Competitors
How does it stack up? Let's take a look at the hard product against other top Asian carriers.
| Feature | EVA Air (777/787) | Singapore Airlines (A350/777) | Cathay Pacific (777) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Pitch | 38 inches | 38 inches | 40 inches |
| Seat Width | 19.5 inches | 18.5 - 19.5 inches | 19.5 inches |
| Layout | 2-4-2 | 2-4-2 | 2-4-2 |
| Amenity Kit | Yes (branded) | Yes (branded) | Yes (branded) |
While Cathay offers a slight edge in legroom, EVA's combination of seat comfort, attentive service, and overall cabin ambiance makes it a consistent favorite for travelers looking for that sweet spot between Economy and Business.
4. The Food: From Michelin Stars to Hello Kitty Meals
Airline food gets a bad rap, but EVA Air consistently breaks the mold. The catering is a highlight of the journey, regardless of your cabin class.
- Pre-ordering is Key: For Premium Economy and Royal Laurel, you can (and should!) pre-select your meal online. This gives you access to a wider menu, including special online-exclusive dishes.
- Din Tai Fung Partnership: On select routes from Taipei, Royal Laurel passengers can savor the world-famous soup dumplings (xiao long bao) from Din Tai Fung. It's a truly unique and delicious experience at 35,000 feet.
- Themed Meals: Flying on a Hello Kitty jet? Expect your meals to be just as cute, with food items shaped like the iconic character. Even the cutlery and napkins are on-theme!
5. In-Flight Entertainment & Wi-Fi in 2025
EVA's "Star Gallery" IFE system is modern and responsive, with high-definition screens across all cabins. The content library is extensive, featuring Hollywood blockbusters, international films, TV box sets, and a great selection of music. The moving map is also one of the best in the business.
As for connectivity, EVA offers Panasonic-powered Wi-Fi on its 777 and 787 fleet. In 2025, the plans are reasonably priced, with different packages based on data usage or duration. While it's not the fastest in the sky, it's perfectly adequate for messaging, email, and light social media browsing. Don't expect to stream Netflix, though.
6. The Hello Kitty Jet Phenomenon
You can't review EVA Air without mentioning the Hello Kitty jets. Far from being a simple decal on a plane, this is a full-blown immersive experience. From the check-in counters and boarding passes to the headrest covers, pillows, safety cards, and even the toilet paper in the lavatories—everything is Sanrio-themed.
Is it a gimmick? A little, yes. But it's also incredibly charming and executed with such attention to detail that you can't help but smile. It turns a routine flight into a memorable event, especially for families or fans of the character. Just be sure to check EVA's website, as the specific routes these jets fly can change.
7. Safety & Service: The 5-Star Promise
This is arguably the most critical fact. EVA Air is consistently ranked by AirlineRatings.com as one of the world's safest airlines. They have maintained a flawless safety record with zero passenger fatalities since their founding in 1989. This impeccable record is the foundation of their brand.
Complementing this is their Skytrax 5-Star rating, an honor held by only a handful of airlines worldwide. This award reflects the quality of both their product and their staff. The cabin crew are professional, polite, and incredibly efficient. They strike a perfect balance between being attentive without being intrusive, a hallmark of top-tier Asian carriers.
8. Lounges & Ground Experience at TPE
EVA Air's hub at Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is home to their excellent flagship lounges. For Royal Laurel and Star Alliance Gold members, the experience starts on the ground.
- The Infinity: A futuristic lounge with a sleek design, starry ceiling, and a good selection of food and drinks.
- The Star: The dedicated lounge for Star Alliance Gold members, offering a comfortable space to relax.
- The Garden: A tranquil, premium space reserved for EVA's top-tier Diamond card members.
The food offerings are a highlight, with hot meals including Taiwanese beef noodle soup, dim sum, and Movenpick ice cream. The ground experience at TPE is efficient, clean, and a seamless extension of the quality you find on board.
9. Fleet Modernization: The 787 Dreamliner Effect
EVA has invested heavily in a modern, fuel-efficient fleet, centered around the Boeing 777-300ER and the newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Flying on a 787 is a noticeably better experience for passengers.
Thanks to its composite-material construction, the cabin can be pressurized to a lower altitude (6,000 feet vs. the standard 8,000). It also maintains higher humidity levels. The result? You feel less dehydrated, less fatigued, and generally better after a long-haul flight. The 787's engines are also significantly quieter, and the electronically dimmable windows are a cool feature. Prioritizing a route served by a Dreamliner can make a real difference to your journey.
10. Infinity MileageLands: Is It Worth Your Loyalty?
EVA's frequent flyer program, Infinity MileageLands, is a solid program, especially for those who frequently travel between Asia and North America. As a member of the Star Alliance, you can earn and redeem miles on a vast network of partner airlines like United, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa.
However, for the casual traveler, it has some quirks. Miles have a 36-month rolling expiry, which is less generous than programs that have moved to activity-based expiry. Award redemption rates are reasonable but not spectacular. It's a valuable program if you fly EVA or its partners regularly, but might not be the best primary program if your travel is more varied across different alliances.
The Verdict: Should You Fly EVA Air in 2025?
After weighing all the facts, the answer is a resounding yes. EVA Air continues to deliver a superior, consistent, and incredibly safe travel experience. It excels in the areas that matter most: cabin comfort, professional service, and operational excellence.
While it may not have the flashiest new business class suite or the fastest Wi-Fi, it provides a product that is polished, reliable, and exceptionally comfortable. Their Premium Economy cabin remains a benchmark for the industry, and Royal Laurel Class is a fantastic way to cross an ocean. If your travels take you to or through Asia, EVA Air should be at the very top of your consideration list.