EVA Airways Business Class: Still impressive, but not cutting edge

EVA Airways’ crew delivered a strong and consistently polished level of service. Some interactions feel a little robotic and impersonal, but this does not take away from the excellent level of service on board and genuine smiles.

Passengers’ names are used when the crew interact and pre ordered meal choices are read out before departure. Throughout the meal service, all crew displayed excellent knowledge of the menu and placed items down with care.

Catering is definitely one of EVA Airways’ strengths, although it does vary quite a bit depending on the station. The London and Bangkok catering stood out as particularly good, while the Vancouver sector was noticeably weaker in comparison.

One slightly odd moment came on the return flight to London, where breakfast was served ahead of a 19:25 arrival. It felt a bit out of sync with the time of day, and a lighter evening-style meal would arguably have made more sense than pancakes with bacon.

Passengers can pre-select meals via Manage Booking up to 24 hours before departure. While the choice isn’t as broad as airlines like Singapore Airlines, it still puts EVA ahead of many international carriers by offering that level of customisation.

After departure, service begins in a fairly polished way. The table is set, a beverage of choice is offered, and a small bowl of nuts is served. We tried the signature Evergreen cocktail, a simple but pleasant mix of melon liqueur and Sprite or soda water depending on preference.

Meal service itself runs smoothly, with attentive crew who keep things moving without feeling rushed. Passengers are also asked whether they’d like to be woken for each meal or left to rest, which is a thoughtful touch. Used trays and items are cleared promptly and never left sitting for long.

Bread is a consistent highlight across services, presented in a linen-lined basket with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The selection is generous, including garlic bread, sourdough, roll options and pumpkin seed bread among others, while breakfast services also feature croissants and danishes.

On daytime return flights to London, the catering includes a full sequence of soup, salad and cheese course. This isn’t offered on late-night departures, but overall the quantity of food remains more than sufficient.

Outside of meal times, passengers can also snack from the galley, with options including items like a beef burger, dandan noodles and cookies.

EVA Airways’ amenity kit is one of the better offerings you’ll find in Asia. Designed in collaboration with Maison Kitsuné of Paris, it feels stylish and thoughtfully put together, with a mix of practical and premium items including facial mist, lip balm, hand lotion, an eye mask, dental kit, hair comb, a reusable bag and even a branded belt. Overall, it’s a kit that genuinely feels a step above standard airline offerings.

The washrooms are consistently clean and well maintained throughout the flight, which helps reinforce that premium feel. EVA also stocks Ideology-branded amenities in the lavatories, including hand soap, moisturiser, face mist and aroma mist, which are replenished regularly.

On overnight flights, pyjamas are provided in a range of sizes, which is a welcome touch that many airlines have started to phase out in recent years.

Bedding is another strong point. A large, comfortable pillow is already placed at the seat on boarding, with additional pillows available on request. The duvet is feather-filled and very comfortable, although slightly on the small side. Before sleep, the crew proactively offers a turndown service, adding a mattress topper to the seat. While this does help improve comfort, it doesn’t completely mask the firmness of the underlying seat.

The inflight entertainment system is well designed and easy to navigate, offering a mix of movies, TV shows and games. The overall library isn’t the largest, but it does include recent blockbuster titles such as Wuthering Heights, Marty Supreme and Wicked For Good, which helps keep things current and engaging during long flights.

EVA Airways operates its Royal Laurel business class with 39 seats in a 1-2-1 layout, giving every passenger direct aisle access. Each seat offers 43 inches of pitch and 20 inches of width and converts into a fully flat bed. Controls are straightforward and include adjustable lumbar support, which is easy to use.

In practice, comfort is a bit of a mixed bag. While the seat works well in upright and reclined positions, the bed feels quite firm, with a noticeable ridge running through the middle even when the lumbar support is turned off.

Each seat includes an adjustable headrest and an aisle-side armrest that can be moved for added space. There are no sliding doors, which means privacy is limited and the seat can feel quite exposed compared to newer-generation business class products.

Storage is actually one of the stronger aspects of the design, with a large shelf above the side table and a dedicated shoe stowage area in the footwell.

In terms of tech and functionality, each seat comes with a touch remote, USB-A ports and a universal power outlet. The tray table is large and slides out smoothly from the side console, although once extended it doesn’t offer any horizontal adjustment. The inflight entertainment screen is touch-enabled and can be raised from the seat console at the press of a button.

Compared to newer business class suites with sliding doors, Bluetooth connectivity and more modern finishes, EVA Airways’ seat does feel like it is starting to fall behind. The cabin design itself is quite muted, with a largely grey palette that doesn’t fully reflect the airline’s distinctive green branding.

EVA Airways’ business class seat feels somewhat dated in an era where sliding privacy doors and more advanced suites are becoming the norm, and the lie-flat bed itself doesn’t quite match the comfort offered by some competing carriers. That said, the onboard experience is lifted significantly by strong service and generally good catering, which help balance out the seat’s shortcomings.

There has been no official announcement regarding when the airline plans to retrofit or upgrade its Boeing 777 business class cabins.

Where EVA Airways really stands out is in the details that are sometimes overlooked by other airlines. From a high-quality amenity kit and thoughtful meal pre-order options to comfortable bedding and consistent onboard touches, the airline still delivers a very pleasant and well-rounded long-haul experience.