EVA Air Trip Report

[echster 1]

EVA Air BKK Check-in & Lounge Experience

 

EVA begins check-in at BKK 2 hours prior to scheduled departure. I thought it was 3 hours so I was left sitting like a dummy at the counters for a little bit. Well, I’m always sitting like a dummy because I’d rather be early at the airport then get left behind. Regardless of what row EVA uses for check-in at BKK, they’ve always been aligned, from far (closest to immigration) to near (closest to the terminal entrance), First Class/Business Class/EVA Air Gold Members, Evergreen Deluxe (non-US destinations), Economy (non-US destinations), Evergreen Deluxe (US destinations), Economy (US destinations), and Groups. Now that I’ve said that, I’ll just note that I’ve always used the non-US destination lines even though I’m heading back home to the States. No one has ever said anything about this, and I assume it’s because I’ve always been first in line.

 

When you arrive at the terminal, you’ll have to have any bags going in the belly of the aircraft x-rayed. It’s not that big a deal and they’ll attach a little sticker to the outside of your bag. Promptly, at 2 hours prior to scheduled departure, the TG ground staff appears and readies to begin check-in. Machines ready, I was asked for ticket and passport. Everything was handed over and then I placed my one check-in bag on the scale. With my bag checked all the way to LAX, I then received my boarding and lounge passes and it was off to immigration. First stop is the departure tax machines so don’t forget to save 500 baht. Immigration lines were non-existent so I was through there lickity.

 

I don’t think I noted earlier that I selected my seats online at booking, so I didn’t have to try and haggle with the staff over a decent seat. I recommend this as the way to go unless you want to arrive early and try for an exit row. Anyways, just my humble opinion, but I’d prefer to skip the exit rows in Evergreen Deluxe on EVA because your PTV isn’t on a seatback. The FAs bring it to you 10-15 minutes after departure and collect them back up about 30 minutes prior to landing.

 

I was through immigration and into the large duty free area in the airport. EVA’s lounge is off to the left after immigration. As a matter of fact, it is almost in front of the gate departure area. It’s about a 30 second walk from the lounge to security. Not too shabby!

 

It seemed like there was one lounge for all passengers (First, Business, Silver and above FFs). The lounge has 2 glass doors that are darkly tinted and open automatically. A few steps through the entrance is the greeting desk. I handed over my pass and chose a seat back in the corner near a plug so I could listen and charge my mp3 player. Past the desk, as you turn right, is a place to put your carry-on if you so choose. Above the carry-on cubbyholes were the dailys, in several languages. From there, to the left, is the seating area. It is open, except for a few columns, and there are plush loungers with plenty of tables. Further to the left, behind the wall at the greeting desk, is the snack and drink area. It was basically the same as the set-up at LAX. There were finger sandwiches, plenty of snacks and fruit, and drinks that ran the gamut. For those who didn’t want to use ice cubes there were cold drinks in the mini-refrigerator. If you could look through the wall from the snack area, there is an internet terminal with a lone computer. It was kind of “out-of-sight, out-of-mindâ€. I don’t recall seeing anyone use it the 90 minutes I was in there. All in all, not that bad of a lounge, except there are no restroom facilities inside. You'll have to use those in the terminal. One note at BKK is don’t try to bring a cart into the lounge…leave them outside. Why you’d need one is hard for me to understand. If your carry-on is so damn heavy you need to push it around, it’s probably too damn big to fit in the overhead compartment. But that’s just me and a pet peeve of mine. LOL

 

It was approaching boarding time so I left the lounge for the quick walk to security. Carry-on and metal through the x-ray machine and off for Gate 34.

[ElCubozoan 0]

I'm not sure what facility you're referring to, but in all likelihood the controllers did what is known as a handoff. In your example, Controller A calls Controller B (several methods to do this) and says something like, "Handoff, VFR". Controller B then comes on and says, "go ahead." Controller A gives him the information that goes something like this, "LAX, 5 south, beacon code 1234, N1234A, Cesnna 172, 3500, going to or transitioning to (whatever)." Controller B, as Controller A tells him this, is writing it on a strip and looking at his radar. Controller B looks at LAX, then 5 miles south, while looking for 1234 on the scope. He sees 1234 and verifies his scope reads the same altitude +/- 300 feet. When all that happens, Controller B says, "radar contact." Controller A tells the pilot to, "contact x facility on x frequency." And there it is, for 99% of VFRs cruising VFR not wanting services, the MANUAL handoff. It takes about 10-15 seconds to do all that.

What I did not understand was the handoff - I was curious as to what information one controller gives another and how it gets there.

 

Thanks,

[Babepecker 0]

echster,

thanks for reporting - very interesting and informative. :lol:

 

 

[echster 1]

28 October 2004

Bangkok International (BKK) – Taipei international (TPE)

EVA Air Flight 68 (BR 68)

B744 Combi

B-16406

Scheduled Departure – 1615, Actual – 1629, Airborne – 1649

Scheduled Arrival – 2050, Actual – 2052, Gate – 2058

Evergreen Deluxe Class, Seat 28A (Window)

BKK – Gate 34, TPE – Gate C6

 

Boarding in BKK is a little more hectic than most places. I’m not sure why, it just seems that way. This flight had numerous people continuing to TPE from Europe, so they were afforded the opportunity to board first and reclaim their seats. Next was the call for First/Business/EVA FF members, but it was the usual free-for-all I’ve come to expect in BKK.

 

I wasn’t in a rush and just moseyed on up to the line. We were using 2 jetways to board, and like at LAX, Evergreen Deluxe passengers went left and everyone else went right. Boarding was smooth and the Evergreen Deluxe cabin didn’t have many people onboard when I found my seat. There was plenty of overhead space for me to store my carry-on. After the door closed, the FAs walked around the Evergreen Deluxe cabin and handed out cold towels. We departed to gate 14 minutes late due to a few stragglers and late arrivals. It’s not that big of a difference as some delay time is added into destination arrival times. Now you know why you can depart up to 30 minutes late and still arrive at your destination on time and why the departure time is from the gate pushback, not the airborne time.

 

Pushback completed, the in-flight safety brief began. I hope the FAA or NTSB doesn’t read this, but after all the flying I’ve done, I don’t pay attention anymore! We soon started taxing out for Runway 21R and as we made the quick right-left onto the main taxiway, I looked down to see we would be #5 for departure. I could see a TG 747, an SQ 747, a couple B737s, and an A320. It ended up being a 20 minute wait. The A320 (whose airline I don’t recall) started take-off roll and we taxied into position and held. The hold seemed to last forever but no one was on final for our runway and I remember seeing a TG 777 landing on R21L. So, not only were we holding to allow the A320 to get some spacing ahead of us, but also to allow the B777 to taxi across the runway. Aircraft across, we soon were rolling, eventually rolling 9000 feet before V1. After takeoff, we started the long left turn towards the east. If you’re sitting on the left side of the aircraft, you can usually get a decent view of the airport as you pass by. Today, however, was different as the layer of smog over BKK was thick from 3-10000 feet. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

We were soon up to FL350 over Isaan and the sun had passed. We'd now be flying into the night. Oh yeah, it was dinnertime. This is the first time I’ve never gotten a menu on EVA when sitting in Evergreen Deluxe Class. I wrote down what I thought was served and will list it here. I do not know what the Chinese dinner was, though.

 

Supper

 

Tuna Salad

 

Roasted Pork in Tomato Sauce with Mushrooms, Grilled Peppers, and Potatoes

 

Fresh Fruit

Vanilla Espresso Cake

Coffee, Tea

 

Man, this meal was hella good for airline food. I wish I could have had another piece of that cake!

 

The in-flight entertainment was the same as the previous legs (same month) so I just jammed with my mp3 player all the way to TPE. Several times during this short flight the FAs brought around drinks. We soon were over Taiwan and the first bit of turbulence was experienced on this leg. It wasn’t too bad until we got closer to the mountains on the east side of the island. We shook just a little but I’ve been through a lot worse…like weightless worse!

 

Having crossed the island from the south, we were already on a long final to intercept the ILS and land Runway 6. Gear and flaps down, power reduced, it was a very nice touchdown and roll out. We rolled out to the end as it made for an easier taxi into our parking spot. I watch aircraft day in and day out and it never ceases to amaze me how these huge machines just seem to glide back down to Earth. Of course, I give the Captain and his crew all the credit as I’ve never seen an aircraft depart, land, or stop by itself.

 

Another leg of my trek completed and it’s back through the transfer station and security and finally the EVA Air TPE Lounge.

[echster 1]

28 October 2004

Taipei international (TPE) – Los Angeles International (LAX)

EVA Air Flight 16 (BR 16)

B744 Combi

B-16406

Scheduled Departure – 2355, Actual – 2350, Airborne – 0006

Scheduled Arrival – 2045, Actual – 1942, Gate – 1952

Evergreen Deluxe Class, Seat 30A (Window)

TPE – Gate C6, LAX – Gate 103

 

I left the EVA Air Lounge fairly late. So late in fact, that I was one of the last persons onboard the aircraft. My previous experience with the EVA Lounge in TPE was early morning. This time, it was late night. There is no difference in the lounge from morning to night EXCEPT for the food. There were still the same exact selections, but there were offerings of fried rice, a noodle dish, and soups. I didn’t try the soups but the rest was edible.

 

I boarded the aircraft, the same as from BKK to TPE, again using 2 different doors for Evergreen Deluxe (left) and everyone else (right) and still found plenty of room for my carry-on in the overhead above my seat. Evergreen Deluxe Class was 100% filled for this leg. I guess I was the last Evergreen Deluxe pax to board as the door was soon shut and sealed. The FAs then came through the cabin and passed out cold towels and our US immigration/customs paperwork. As we pushed back, early for the first time this trip, the FAs came through and collected the towels. Once again, the same safety brief was played but I was jamming with my mp3 player.

 

We pushed back differently this time, turning north instead of south, so I looked across the cabin and out the windows to see the lights to Runway 6 were out. We started taxiing and I realized we’d be departing Runway 5 when I saw persons removing rubber from Runway 6. Yes, folks, runways have to be shutdown periodically for maintenance, mostly at night. This maintenance is done from once a month to once a quarter to once a year, depending on how busy the airport is. LAX’s Runway 25L was closed for this reason the night I began my trip. The maintenance runs from removing rubber deposits on the runway, changing light bulbs that may be dim or burned out, to even patching cracks in the concrete and re-painting lines.

 

We taxied to the north part of the ramp and then westbound behind the C Gates and Terminal 1 for Runway 5. Needless to say, when we reached the main taxiway for Runway 5, we had to taxi all the way down to the south end. This resulted in the 16 minutes from pushback to being airborne. Once again, no RDMs at TPE but I’m sure we used most of the runway because we were still a little low as we passed the departure end. This was a result of being fully loaded with pax, bags, and fuel.

 

Soon after reaching our initial cruising altitude of FL310, the FAs came around to pass out drinks and dinner. Tonight’s menu was:

 

Supper

 

Char Siew with Potato Mustard Salad

 

Crispy Fried Fish Fillet with BBQ Butter

Or

Braised Chicken with Coconut

 

Seasonal Fruit

Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream

 

Coffee, Tea

 

This meal was just OK. I chose the braised chicken and what a mistake it was. It was not nearly as good as the fish dinner. I didn’t find the char siew or fruit edible, but maybe it was my American palate. Next time I’ll know! The ice cream is brought around at a later time, but before the FAs pick up the trays. It is hella frozen so save your metal spoons because the little wooden scoop Haagen Dazs usually comes with isn’t worth a damn.

 

After the trays are picked up, the lights were dimmed and the entertainment turned on. Well, the movies weren’t worth a lick so the entertainment consisted of my trusty mp3 player. The FAs came by and asked us to put down our window shades because the 12.5 hour flight would be mostly spent in sunlight. No problem there. Most people were sleeping by time the FAs brought around drinks and cups of ramen. I was so ready for the ramen because I didn’t eat much of the dinner! I did manage to step over my seatmate without waking him and had a chance to walk around the aircraft. I knew Evergreen Deluxe was full, but so were all the other sections! I know cost is a factor for some folks, but why you wouldn’t spend the extra bucks to fly Evergreen Deluxe vice coach is beyond me. It really is great value.

 

About half-way through the flight, I got up again for drinks. Drinks are readily available in the galley. All you need to do is get up and go back to get them. It’s the same for cups of ramen for those who are hungry. About 2 hours from landing at LAX, the lights came on in the cabin and the FAs brought hot towels. I put up my window shade because it was now dark outside. After hot towels, it was time for a refreshment prior to landing.

 

Refreshment

 

Curried Vegetable Salad and Pepperfish

 

Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodle with Beef

Or

Butter Farfalle with Thai Spiced Salmon Topping

 

Seasonal Fruit

Jasmin Tea Mousse Cake

Coffee, Tea

 

You really couldn’t go wrong with either main dish. This was so much better than the dinner they served departing TPE. About 45 minutes later, as SFO International was passing just out my window, the FAs came by and picked up the trays. I had a chance to look out at the San Francisco Bay and could make out OAK International, as well. It was a cool site to be able to look down from 37,000 feet and make out aircraft landing at both airports! Really, you’re just looking at the aircraft’s position lights, but you can see them from that high.

 

We pretty much followed the coast down towards LAX and came inland to pick up the SADDE 6 arrival into LAX. The SADDE 6 arrival basically takes you west of Bakersfield at 11,000 feet heading southeast to SADDE intersection and then east to Santa Monica (SMO) at 5,000 feet. Passing SMO, the pilot picks up the SMO 068 radial and then gets radar vectors from ATC for the approach into LAX. We hung our first right for the base leg at the Staples Center and later another right to intercept the glideslope for the ILS approach to Runway 24L. We touched down on the north complex at LAX an hour early.

 

Taxiing off the runway, we headed down the back alley taxiway for our gate. We ended up having to hold for 5-6 minutes as 3 aircraft had to go by us. When all the aircraft were clear, we taxied into the TBIT and the pilots began shutting down the engines. For those not familiar with LAX, the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) gates are really tight. So tight that aircraft arriving need to shut down and be tugged into their gate because their jet wash could damage the aircraft parked to the rear. Finally at the gate only one jetway was brought to the aircraft. So, pax de-planed First, Business, Evergreen Deluxe, and Coach.

 

It didn’t take too long and the lines at Immigration were short. I ended up getting through before our bags came out of the carriage. My bag secured, I passed through Customs with no questions. For those connecting from LAX to another destination. You still need to pick-up your bags at LAX. When you pass Customs, you’ll go right and drop off your bags if they’ve been tagged to your destination. If not, still go right and head for your terminal to check-in again. I went left and was out to the Street Exit and waiting for the bus to Lot C, another journey complete.

[handle 0]

Nice reports echster

 

 

It will be my 4th trip on EVA (2 on NW, never going back). I do hate Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Leaving that HELL hole of a terminal makes me appreciate other airports.

 

On the last trip in Sept. the day before the departure LAX got evacuated because a flashlight exploded in Tom Bradley.

 

On the return trip, made it all the way to LAX no problems. Boarded for the second to the last leg of the trip.

Just as we were getting ready to pull back, the Regional Air Control Center went down (lost the power grid). Spent 3 hours waiting for a 1 hour flight to Las Vegas. Missed my connecting fight home, it got canceled. Heard about 400 flights were affected that day.

 

 

The showers in the Evergreen Club at Taipei are nasty and there can be a wait to use them. You can pick up a small towel, soap and shampoo pack at the counter when you check into the lounge, just ask. I go to the Evergreen day hotel and pay 10USD to use their nice clean showers.

 

 

2005/1/19 - 2005/2/6

908.50 USD including taxes LAX to BKK Evergreen Deluxe on the long legs, A330 Economy Class on the shorts.

176.70 for Southwest to LAX

 

Nothing should happen this trip. All flights will leave on time. Weather will be fine. Control Center will have the backup plan enabled. X

[echster 1]

I do hate Tom Bradley International Terminal. Leaving that HELL hole of a terminal makes me appreciate other airports.

 

On the return trip, made it all the way to LAX no problems. Boarded for the second to the last leg of the trip. Just as we were getting ready to pull back, the Regional Air Control Center went down (lost the power grid). Spent 3 hours waiting for a 1 hour flight to Las Vegas. Missed my connecting fight home, it got canceled. Heard about 400 flights were affected that day.

 

The showers in the Evergreen Club at Taipei are nasty and there can be a wait to use them. You can pick up a small towel, soap and shampoo pack at the counter when you check into the lounge, just ask. I go to the Evergreen Day Hotel and pay 10USD to use their nice clean showers.

Yep, gotta agree. LAX is the worst major international airport I have ever been to. What a shithole!

 

I was working the day LA Center lost all their radios. If you didn't know, the problem was human error and the idiots who run the FAA. Human error because the maintenance guy (who was in training) basically didn't dump a computer's memory after 30 days like he was supposed to. It was the FAA's fault because they knew the system would shut down automatically if this maintenance wasn't done. Not only would it shut down, but it shuts down without warning! Gotta love those fucking bureaucrats, eh? LMFAO

 

I never thought about the Day Hotel. Will have to keep that in mind next trip. Where in the terminal is it?

[handle 0]

The Evergreen Transit Hotel is on the same level as the Evergreen Club. As you come out of the club turn to your left and go about 50-75 meters. You make right turn then a guick turn to your left. You'll see a nice set of lounge chairs and the counter. You can't see it from the club as it is around the corner. Really is easy to miss.

 

 

That reminds me of the Cheyenne Mountain incident in 1979 when a technician accidentally fed an attack simulation tape into the main computers, prompting the command center's display screens to depict Soviet missiles homing in on Strategic Air Command bomber bases; the alert was so convincing that the president's command jet reportedly took off without any instructions from Jimmy Carter.

[Skytrooper 0]

Based on the positive comments posted on this board, I just completed a trip to LOS using EVA Evergreen Deluxe. At 6'1", the extra leg space compared to Economy was worth the additional premium. I flew from LA to Taipei to Bangkok then back and all four flights were on a 747-400. I was amazed at how much cargo was unloaded from the 747 at LAX. On the first long leg, my section had several crying infants and the Chinese woman in the window seat adjacent to mine had a weak bladder so she was off to the latrine every 45-60 minutes. On the second shorter flight to BKK, a woman had a small dog in a mesh bag that barked incessantly.

 

I arrived at the Bangkok airport 2.5 hours before my scheduled departure only to discover my 12:35 PM flight had been delayed to 4 PM. There was a long check-in line as many people had to change flights to other airlines to avoid missing connections. The delay ("aircraft rotation" was the excuse offered) caused me to have to take a later flight from Taipei which put me into LA 5 hours late.

 

While I enjoyed the extra space in Evergreen Deluxe, especially on the return flights when the section had many open seats, I wasn't impressed by the food. The first dinner (shrimp) was OK, but the other five meals were mediocre. Even for airline food, EVA's chicken and the one fried fish meal I had were poor. The best part of two meals were small cups of Haagen-Dazs ice cream. The slender Chinese flight attendants on EVA are certainly easier on the eyes than the matrons employed by Northwest.

[Babepecker 0]

Based on the positive comments posted on this board, I just completed a trip to LOS using EVA Evergreen Deluxe. At 6'1", the extra leg space compared to Economy was worth the additional premium. I flew from LA to Taipei to Bangkok then back and all four flights were on a 747-400. I was amazed at how much cargo was unloaded from the 747 at LAX. On the first long leg, my section had several crying infants and the Chinese woman in the window seat adjacent to mine had a weak bladder so she was off to the latrine every 45-60 minutes. On the second shorter flight to BKK, a woman had a small dog in a mesh bag that barked incessantly.

 

I arrived at the Bangkok airport 2.5 hours before my scheduled departure only to discover my 12:35 PM flight had been delayed to 4 PM. There was a long check-in line as many people had to change flights to other airlines to avoid missing connections. The delay ("aircraft rotation" was the excuse offered) caused me to have to take a later flight from Taipei which put me into LA 5 hours late.

 

While I enjoyed the extra space in Evergreen Deluxe, especially on the return flights when the section had many open seats, I wasn't impressed by the food. The first dinner (shrimp) was OK, but the other five meals were mediocre. Even for airline food, EVA's chicken and the one fried fish meal I had were poor. The best part of two meals were small cups of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

Skytrooper,

I am glad that you were able to make it to Thailand, despite everything.

 

 

 

Some of the Skytrooper's rich history on this forum (accessible only for the Members) - introduction:

 

topic=10946&st=120entry127192

 

topic=11213&st=0entry127136

 

topic=10946&st=90entry126626

 

 

and a really interesting 1, regarding his (in)ability to travel to Thailand:

 

topic=10946&st=0entry123977

 

 

Let's see whether those stay unaltered...

 

 

[Skytrooper 0]

Babepecker,

 

I made my previous post in the open forum as a service for people considering EVA Evergreen Deluxe. Did your mother raise you to be an informer or is that just your natural inclination? I will be sure and not post a trip report. It would be refreshing if you'd reserve your venom against me for the Member's Only forums.