Trip Report EVA B777 Elite Class

[stevemcm 1]

Well I'm finally back at home and as promised will expand on my earlier comments on EVA Air's Elite class on the Boeing 777 300ER now used on the LHR-BKK-TPE route. I have flown this route with EVA over 50 times in the past all on the Boeing 747, this report is based on 2 journeys made since the introduction of the Boeing 777 these were on 3rd. November 2005 returning on 30th. November 2005.

 

The new seats are more comfortable than the old ones and I can't say I noticed a decrease in either width or pitch, the aisle is definitely narrower than on the B744.

 

In flight entertainment is better with some sort of AVOD system, I am not interested in the IFE (I rarely open the headphone bag) and only played briefly with the system on the outward journey, it seemed rather flaky and crashed several times. Interestingly the headphones are labelled as "Noise cancelling Headphones" and have a 3 pin connector rendering the 2 pin adaptor provided with my own NC headphones useless. The sound produced by these phones is much better than the old ones but any active noise cancelling was not detectable by me. My own Phillips headphones were far better in this respect and they are nowhere near as good as the now unobtainable "Noisebuster Extremes" or the Magellan "Planequiets" which I have also used.

 

In the Elite cabin there are only 2 toilets, one on each side of the aircraft. It quickly became apparent that this number was insufficient and whenever I looked (when not dozing) there was at least 1 person waiting for each toilet. There is no way of crossing from one aisle to the other within the Elite section; you had to go through the curtain into economy to do this, for people at the front of the Elite section the option of going through the curtain into Premium Laurel to cross was instantly prevented by flight attendants who jealously guarded this barrier. They weren't too keen on people going into economy either but on my return trip the port side toilet was U/S so people on this side had to do this.

 

There is no emergency exit door in the elite cabin, so unless you are sitting in a window seat there is nowhere to look out of the aircraft. There is also no room whatsoever to stand and stretch without blocking the aisle which is too narrow to permit 2 people to pass.

 

The nearest galley is a long way aft in the economy section so wandering down to help yourself to a glass of water or juice is not really on. As a result people were pressing the attendant call buttons when they wanted a drink, the flight attendants were becoming fed up and this was made obvious to the passengers.

 

Maybe Evergreen passengers on the B744 were lucky, after all most airlines reserve the nose section for first class, however Elite on the B777 compares very unfavourably with Evergreen on the B744.

 

While I have not flown economy on the B777, my brother has and tells me that it is much better than before. There is little noticeable difference in comfort apart from narrower seats & if you are lucky and have a vacant seat next to you (he did) you can lift the armrest and get more space. IFE is improved and the food is identical to Elite. Due to Galley locations it is served before Elite, as a result I had no choice of main course, the chicken dish having run out. Also I found that the meal service was rushed, particularly the one towards the end of the flight. The food on EVA in both economy and elite is far inferior to what it used to be in the (fairly recent) past and service is poorer with a noticeable reluctance by the crew to serve alcoholic drinks. Understandable in view of the behaviour of some passengers, however they are usually drunk before boarding & sober passengers who fancy a drink suffer as a result. Before you put me down as an alky, I never drink before or during flight, the previous comment was included due to criticisms made by other passengers.

 

If you really need the extra legroom and are prepared to remain in your seat for all the flight then you may still appreciate Elite class; as for me it is no longer worth the cost. I cannot afford to fly Premium Laurel, nice though it looks, so I will go back to flying economy. I will still use EVA, I like the non-stop flight, LHR is convenient and as I have a silver card (gold card now 1/2/2006) I appreciate the ability to check in at the Business class desk, use the "London Lounge" (The one in BKK is crap) & have the extra weight allowance. It is a close thing though, I have been considering using better airlines such as SQ via SIN, CX via HKG or MH via KUL and then buying a cheap flight with the likes of Air Asia or Tiger Airways as the second leg of a journey to BKK.

 

As for others - Up to you!

 

stevoh.

Edited August 19, 2006 by stevemcm

[Gus 97]

Cheers for that Steve.

I fly home tomorrow

From what I saw on the outbound flight Evergreen/Elite is a little worse on the 777 and the Zoo a little better on the new 777.

Maybe I will go for economy over Elite next flight.

[echster 1]

With concern of NC headphones and the 3-prong adapters, I still use my NC headphones on EVA and they have 2 prongs. By 3-prong, I take it you're referring to the "upside down triangle". I simply plug my 2 prongs into the top 2 of the 3-prong adapter. Works a charm!

[growler 0]

Compared to Evergreen DelUxe I found Elite Class dissapointing. As stevemcm said the aisles are narrower and the standing area at the back of Evergreen Deluxe badly missed. I had no problem with going into economy and down to the back for a stroll. Much easier to get a drink and water the horses back there if required. I agree that it is nice to have a look out from time to time to see what it is like below. It is a geography lesson in many senses.

 

I had already booked with them in February before my recent trip but given I am 6'3" the advantage of the extra leg room still appeals. I always reserve an aisle seat so I avoid those big damn boxes on the floor in window seats. If you were guaranteed many empty seats I would say economy would be fine.

[Gus 97]

Steve

Good report on the new 777.

If you have flown over 50 times with EVA, why not use your miles for upgrades to PL rather than have free flights?

I had a look around the aircraft again on Thursday and next trip I may just go for an aisle seat in the zoo.

I have now been spoilt by the return trip in PL which I found excellent. OK the headphones are not brilliant and the Sky map kept crashing in my seat.

Outbound the movies kept freezing plus no sky map, inbound the movies etc were OK.

The London lounge is miles ahaed of the Evergreen lounge at BKK, no showers, no toilets, a bit of food, some drinks and seats laid out like a Pox Doctors surgery.

 

The first word from the flight deck came after 12 hours, the pilot said for those of you on the left hand side of the aircraft you can have a good view of the English channel

Me? I always look out of the window for a SAM whilst we overfly Afghanistan

[stevemcm 1]

Gus,

 

Upgrades are a waste of miles, I only use miles to upgrade if they are about to expire before I have enough for a free ticket.

 

Check the figures below for a LHR - BKK return.

 

Upgrade from Economy to Evergreen/Elite 40,000 miles

Upgrade from Evergreen/Elite to Business/Premium Laurel 60,000 miles

 

Free Economy Return Ticket 100,000 miles

Free Evergreen/Elite Return Ticket 110,000 miles

Free Business/Premium Laurel Return Ticket 135,000 miles

 

As you can see the best value relative to the cash price is to go for a Premium Laurel free ticket. This is why even though I have enough miles for a free Elite ticket, I will pay for my next trip which will give me a free Premium Laurel ticket for the trip after next.

 

stevoh.

[Gus 97]

steve

Yes that free PL does look the best option for using your miles. I'll never save that many though

I took some photos of my meals on the return journey and managed to leave my digital camera on the aircraft

I phoned EVA at LHR and they had the camera and are returning it to me, great service.

 

A full TR will be posted later this week.

[bob99 0]

Hi

I have travelled many times Evergreen Delux to BKK.and been very happy with the flight

Have they stopped this service completely from Heathrow ie 747

[stevemcm 1]

bob99

 

Yes the new Boeing 777-300 ER started service on the LHR-BKK-TPE route on the 15th. September 2005.

 

EVA intend to replace all the passenger 747s with this type of aircraft, at present only 2 B777s have been delivered. London has the dubious distinction of being the first to receive the aircraft. Next will be the other European destinations and finally the North American routes.

 

The thought of a long trans pacific flight in one of these fills me with dread.

 

Advantages to the airline of this a/c is range & cost, mainly fuel economy, advantages to pax are NIL. For once I agree with an article by Jeremy Clarkson who was complaining that BA had changed to a B777 on a route to the US which he regularly flies. He called the a/c "sluggish and uncomfortable" saying he would consider changing to Virgin Atlantic who still use 4 engined a/c.

 

stevoh.

Edited December 12, 2005 by stevemcm

[upena 2]

will be on China air - poor man's first class - exit row all the way to LOS and back to Hawaii....3 and a wake up

[Samsonite 181]

saying he would consider changing to Virgin Atlantic who still use 4 engined a/c.

 

stevoh.

The number of engines has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with it. The type of seat, width of the seat and pitch (distance from the seat in front of you) is determined by the airline. The aircraft manufacturer delivers the plane to the airline with only the heads (toilets) and galleys (kitchens) installed. The rest is up to each individual airline.

I've always been a big fan of the B747-400, but the most comfortable plane I've flown on is the B777-200, and that, has a lot to do, as I said, with what seats the airline chose to installed and in what configuration.

Anything else is purely subjective.

[stevemcm 1]

Samsonite,

 

The quote you show is itself a quote from an article by Jeremy Clarkson and not my own.

 

Of course I know that seating is the airlines own decision.

 

stevoh.

[LostInAmsterdam 0]

Hi Everyone,

Great thread lots of very usefull information about the service offered by Eva. I have never flown with them but I am back from 3 months in BKK. So I would like to go back once a month to see my girlfriend. As well know EVA are the cheapest option but I have been put off as they are not part of an alliance and the flight back to the UK is not a night flight.

But since I want to go to BKK every month the only deciding factor has to be the price of the ticket. Normall I would go BA or TG but since monthly travel is about ot happen I really can justify the extra cost of both BA and TG.

 

Thanks In Advance

 

LIA

[Samsonite 181]

Samsonite,

 

The quote you show is itself a quote from an article by Jeremy Clarkson and not my own.

 

Of course I know that seating is the airlines own decision.

 

stevoh.

It just goes to show that just because he has his name in print, whoever in the hell he is, it doesn't mean he knows what he is talking about. Getting to be a bigger and bigger problem with "journalist" these days. Some newspaper gives them a byline and suddenly they are an "expert."

[BongoBill9999 0]

.....and suddenly they are an "expert."

Defined as follows:-

x = an unknown quantity

spurt = a drip under pressure

[irishman 0]

Stevemcm,

 

While it is a waste of miles to use 10,000 miles for the leg from Taipei tp BKK, I only upgrade on the long flight from SFO to Taipei. Costs the same 10,000 miles and you essentially make that back with the flight. So I fly Evergreen Deluxe on the long stretches and just pay for the economy rate. About half the time, I will get a free upgrade on the short legs anyway.

 

Cheers

[Samsonite 181]

Defined as follows:-

x = an unknown quantity

spurt = a drip under pressure

Excellent.

Thanks.

[dotcom_OD 0]

I flew Eva Elite November from SFO and back in December. THis being my first trip on Eva, I was pleased that the seats were much better than Cathay Pacific. The food was passable, albeit typical plane food. Service, very mechanical, nothing to write home about.

 

I am not a fan of the Taipei stopover to Bangkok and much prefer HongKong on Cathay. I am considering Thai air on my next trip. Now if Thai would consider a direct flight from SFO, that would be ideal~!!!

[Gus 97]

If someone is flying EVA economy on the LHR-BKK service soon can you check something out please.

I had a brief walk around the 777 economy cabin and it looked to me that the Exit row window seats didn't have a big liferaft blocking you feet position as on the 747.

I looked across at seat 45 A I think and it looked like you could strech your feet out.

I think the exit row window seats are 45A&K and 60 A&K, all info welcome.

[bob99 0]

HI I HAVE READ THE REPORTS ON THE EVERGREEN REPLACEMENT SERVICE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER AIR LINES FLYING TO BKK THAT OFFER AN UPGRADE SIMILAR TO THE OLD EVERGREEN DELUX AS I GET THE IMPRESSION THE NEW SERVICE IS NOT AS GOOD

BOB99

[CheshireTom 1,377]

If you are out in the sticks simply fly EVA via AMS rather than LHR or use China Airlines Dynasty fares through Amsterdam.

 

Other than that SAS and Thai both have premium economy fares through Scandanavia. Thai also operates its new A340-500 on the Milan (Linante) route and offers premium economy.

 

If all else fails, there is always BA .........

 

Tom

[Matty 0]

If someone is flying EVA economy on the LHR-BKK service soon can you check something out please.

I had a brief walk around the 777 economy cabin and it looked to me that the Exit row window seats didn't have a big liferaft blocking you feet position as on the 747.

I looked across at seat 45 A I think and it looked like you could strech your feet out.

I think the exit row window seats are 45A&K and 60 A&K, all info welcome.

Gus your right.

 

I can confirm that there is no big lifrraft block on the 777 unlike the 747.

 

I sat in that seat back in october and was very happy .

 

Matty

[Gus 97]

Cheers Matty

One or two comments have been made about the lack of toilets in Elite so i have just had a butchers at the 777 seating plan.

PL has 42 seats with 3 toilets, Elite 63/2 and economy 211/5, the ratios work out PL14/1,E32/1 and econ 42/1.

Sometimes I had to wait in PL so I cannot imagine some of the waits further back.

[Matty 0]

Cheers Gus your right there is a lack of hong nams on 777 compared with the old 747 ,people were constanley queing for a ching chong

 

 

Top tip

 

I never eat tha airline food and thats tha time to go as everone else is sitting down eating -never a Q

 

Matty

[bazza 0]

Great to see so many different opinions that are so far apart. My opinion is that the new 777-300 is great I hate the 11 hour flight with a passion but in flight entertainmaint makes the flight seem to pass that much quicker food is pretty crap as on most airlines I find the trolley dollies are nice if you smile and say please and thank you.

Anyway off to Heathrow tomorrow