Starlux announces 2 new destinations in Europe and now selling Prague-Taipei. But the booking has a major flaw

Just over two months after the inaugural, are for sale on the Starlux Airlines website. (company among 11 worldwide that can boast the 5 Skytrax Stars) the flights that theTaiwanese carrier will begin operations on its first European destination.

Which will be neither London (which would be the most logical choice, since Starlux plans to join oneworld, but may not have found convenient slots at Heathrow), nor Paris or Frankfurt, but Prague in the Czech Republic (a destination that, moreover, from autumn Vietjet will connect to Hanoi and therefore, evidently, in the Far East 'pulls').

The upcoming destinations in the old continent are also not what you would expect, as just in these hours Starlux announced that from 2027 it will also fly to Barcelona and Zurich.

But, Returning to Prague, flights will be operated three times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) with Airbus A350-900s configured in as many as four classes of service with four First Class seats (The first row of the Business cabin that was equipped with suite 1-2-1, as several companies around the world are now doing), 26 of Business Class (1-2-1), 36 of Premium Economy (2-3-2) and 240 of Economy (3-3-3).

The reservation system, which is the same for all classes, has one major drawback: it does not allow you to choose your seat on board (even in cases where that option is included in the ticket price) before proceeding to payment.

Meaning, To some extent you buy a place 'blindly' (as is also the case when booking with American Airlines), in the sense that you can't see, for example in Business or First where there aren't many available seats on board, whether the much-coveted window seat, or aisle, or whatever, will actually be available. And if you spend 3,000 for a one-way in Business or more than 6,000 for First, the minimum is for the airline to show you what you can actually buy on board, before you drop them a truckload of money...

Speaking of First, the most 'affordable' fare we found in the flight's launch month, that of August, was 6,800 euros one way (but round-trip can cost less than two ways added together).

For that amount you are entitled to sit in one of the four suites in row 1, which one exactly you will be able to choose, after paying, by re-entering the company's website with the PNR retrieving your reservation.

First has a menu of its own, compared to Business, unless (as they warn on the site) you book less than 24 hours before departure.

It entitles you to chauffeur service to the airport in Taipei, dedicated check-in counters, Fast Track and access to the Galactic First Class Lounge, free choice of seat, three checked bags weighing 23kg each, two carry-on bags totaling 14kg plus a backpack or handbag, and free wifi (not Starlink) with unlimited traffic.

The four suites equipped with doors have 170cm-high walls, 83-inch (211cm) legroom, 23-inch (58cm) seating, lie-flat chairs, wireless cell phone charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and a decidedly huge 32-inch screen for the IFE.

In Business the lowest one way fare found in August is just under 3,000 euros.

Amenities include which you are entitled to check-in with reserved counters, Fast Track, lounge access, free choice of seat on board, and free wifi with unlimited traffic, while in the hold you can ship two suitcases weighing 23kg each and in the cabin two carry-on bags totaling 14kg and one personal item.

There are three fares that can be purchased, from Business on down: Saving (the one just under 3,000 one-way), Basic and Full, with the only differences, for Business, being whether or not to request an upgrade to First, the number of miles earned (which can only be done on Starlux's own FFP, which is called 'Cosmile' or on Alaska Airlines', 'Atmos Rewards) and the penalties required if the flight date is moved or waived.

 

On board, the armchair is the Collins Aerospace Elements customized for Starlux by BMW Designworks and equipped with a door and 150cm high wall; lie-flat seats are positioned in an inverted herringbone pattern with 44-inch (112cm) row spacing, 21-inch (53cm) seating, wireless smartphone charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 24-inch IFE screen.

Premium Economy starts at about 1,000 euros one-way with the Saving fare which entitles you to 2 checked bags of 23kg each, a 7kg carry-on plus a backpack or bag to keep in the cabin, free wifi with unlimited traffic.

 

 

Pre-check-in seat selection, however, is chargeable, and if you want it free, you have to book Basic or Full fares (but it is not worth it, indeed the price). The website does not say whether PE passengers are entitled to Fast Track and/or lounge access.

 

On board, however, they have Recaro 3530 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration per row, row spacing of as much as 40 inches (102cm, one of the widest in the world), a 19-inch (48cm) seat, Bluetooth connectivity, 15.6-inch IFE screen but no wireless charging for the phone.

Finally, in Economy, you can travel between Prague and Taipei from about 550 euros one way (with the Saving fare, which does not entitle you to a free choice of seat on board as the Basic and Full fares do), but, like the other two (fares) it allows you to send as many as two suitcases weighing 23kg each to the hold and to keep a 7kg carry-on and a backpack or handbag in the cabin.

 

On board Starlux has in Economy Recaro 3710 seats in 3-3-3 configuration with a row spacing of 31 inches (79cm), an 18-inch (46cm) seat, Bluetooth connectivity and a 13.3-inch IFE screen.

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