Introduction | Starlux airlines

In the rapidly evolving landscape of transpacific luxury travel, STARLUX Airlines has emerged as the "Emirates of Taiwan," and as of 2026, its A350-900 Business Class service from San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE) is a factual masterclass in boutique aviation. This route represents the airline’s flagship long-haul experience, utilizing a brand-new fleet that prioritizes "Enchanting Sophistication." From the moment you step into the cabin, the signature "Home in the Air" fragrance—a blend of wood, leather, and iris—signals that you have entered a space meticulously designed for the modern elite.

The SFO-TPE/TPE-SFO leg is particularly notable for its timing and the level of personalized care provided by a crew that operates with the precision of a high-end concierge. Unlike larger legacy carriers, STARLUX maintains a smaller, more focused network, allowing them to deliver a "galactic" themed experience that feels fresh, ambitious, and deeply rooted in Taiwanese hospitality. It is factually one of the quietest and most technologically advanced rides across the Pacific, making it a premier choice for travelers who value both style and substance.

STARLUX continues to refine its soft product to stay ahead of regional rivals. The airline's founder, K.W. Chang, a former EVA Air chairman and certified pilot, has infused the company with a culture of operational excellence. Flying with STARLUX isn't just a flight; it’s a high-altitude residence that manages to feel like a private club, complete with Michelin-pedigree dining and a cabin aesthetic that blends "Pure Tea" tones with rose gold accents.

First Class Seating | Starlux Airlines

Starlux Airlines has first class on its Airbus A350s, though it’s not as exclusive as one would think. First class is immediately in front of business class, as it’s simply the first row of seats in the cabin. There’s no separation between the cabins, as there are no curtains or bulkheads. This makes it quite interesting as you’re basically in the same section as business class.

The First Class experience on the STARLUX A350-1000 represents the pinnacle of the airline’s "Galactic" luxury, featuring a boutique four-seat cabin in a 1-2-1 configuration. These suites are a significant evolution of the Business Class product, boasting 60-inch high privacy doors—nearly a foot taller than those in Business—and a massive 32-inch 4K screen that offers a cinema-like entertainment experience. The seat itself is a marvel of ergonomics, finished in rich quilted leather with rose gold accents, and includes an integrated personal wardrobe, a private minibar, and a dedicated luggage locker, ensuring every essential is within arm's reach while maintaining a clean, residential aesthetic.

Beyond the physical space, the benefits of First Class are centered on total body restoration and exclusive service. The seat features a NASA-inspired Zero G mode, which tilts the body into a posture that lowers blood pressure and minimizes travel fatigue, supplemented by a three-level lumbar air massage. The soft product is equally elite, featuring a curated "concierge" service that includes chauffeur transfers in Taipei and access to the ultra-exclusive PS private terminal if you’re flying out of LAX. From the caviar service and Loro Piana blankets to the La Mer amenity kits, every detail is factually designed to provide a seamless, high-altitude sanctuary that justifies its status as the new flagship of the fleet.

Perhaps next time….we will review this more in-depth.

Business Class Seat | Starlux Airlines

At midnight, we boarded through the second set of doors, where we were greeted by the friendly crew, and pointed left into business class. Business class seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration, and Starlux is the launch customer for the new Collins Aerospace Elements product. This is the newest reverse herringbone seat out there, and it’s honestly exceptional, better than previous generation products.

In the center section of the aircraft, there are seven pairs of business class seats, for a total of 14 seats. If you’re traveling with someone, you may prefer these seats, so that you can more easily enjoy the flight with your companion. Do note that if you’re traveling alone, there’s a privacy partition that can be extended between seats, so that you still have full privacy. Along the windows, there are six rows of seats on each side, for a total of 12 seats. One of the greatest advancements with this reverse herringbone seat is that the footwell is significantly larger than in previous generation reverse herringbone seats. This makes a world of difference when trying to get comfortable to sleep. As is increasingly becoming the norm nowadays, each seat has a 48″ door, for added privacy. I found this to be easy to use.

Let’s deep dive into the seat a bit more: each seat has quite a large counter to the side of it, with an elegant lamp that has multiple dimming functions. There’s a button on the counter that you can push to expose a fairly shallow storage compartment, where you could place items like your passport and phone. Furthermore, a large enclosed storage compartment contains a mirror, a hook for headphones, the entertainment controller, and the headphone jack.

On top of that, this compartment has four charging options, including an AC power outlet, a USB-A outlet, a USB-C outlet, and wireless charging. On the other side of the seat is the absolutely massive 24″ 4K screen. This has to be one of the best entertainment screens you’ll find on any airline in business class. In fact, it’s so big when in the relaxing mode that i found myself having to adjust my seat a bit to not get overwhelmed by the light emitting from the TV.

Starlux Airlines is one of the first airlines to get the A350 with the slightly wider interior cabin. This also includes the introduction of dimmable windows, which is a feature that was previously common on the 787. So rather than using a shade you have to pull up and down, you instead just push a button. I assume this would be quite useful during a daytime flight, though ours was pretty much darkness to darkness…

I was also presented with very nice BRIC’s amenity kits, containing products from Huygens. This included eyeshades, earplugs, a dental kit, socks, a hair brush, lip balm, lotion, and a facial mist. We were offered pajamas as well - it’s always a treat to get pajamas in business class, and these were among the highest quality pajamas I’ve ever been offered on a plane, as the materials felt great. We were also given some slippers, along with a shoe bag. Lastly, a facial mask was given out, which was a nice touch.

Perhaps the biggest selling point for me is the Zero-G mode on the seat. The airline says is "NASA's neutral body posture specifications." It's sort of a lounging position that Starlux sells as helping reduce pressure on joints and ease fatigue. For me, it instantly knocked me out and sent me straight into deep sleep. I will say, I probably had one of the best sleeps on an aircraft due to that position. In addition, .while I was initially worried about the lack of individual air nozzles, the cabin was kept surprisingly cool for an Asian carrier, as they often tend to keep their cabins warmer than average. I was able to sleep almost 2/3s of the way through, and woke up with a ton of energy.

Without a doubt, this is the best reverse herringbone business class seat out there. From the amount of space offered to the technology and comfort, Starlux Business Class is the premier cabin for those looking for the latest and greatest in this type of business class format.

Food & Beverage | Starlux Airlines

Printed menus were at every business-class seat, and our flight attendant took the time to walk me through the options for both dinner and breakfast. It was a lovely service touch that I haven't found on many international business-class flights. We were also offered pre-departure drinks immediately. The airline doesn’t offer pre-departure drinks of choice, but rather offers a signature drink on each flight. On this flight it was a honey, peppermint, cucumber, and passionfruit juice, served with a warm towel. I downed that drink immediately.

The beverage program is perhaps the most creative in the sky, featuring a dedicated cocktail menu developed by renowned Taiwanese mixologists. These "Galactic" cocktails, such as the "Sci-Fi Cosmos" (a gin-based drink with blue curaçao), are as visually stunning as they are delicious. When paired with a glass of Bollinger Champagne and a curated cheese plate featuring varieties like Cave Aged Gruyère and Manchego, the dining experience feels less like airplane food and more like a private tasting in an exclusive Taipei lounge.

For dinner, I chose the Wild Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Roll as my spouse chose the Cod dish. I thought the dish was great, though I was hoping for something more local and Taiwanese focused. Then again, it could be the catering from the US side. I’ve heard the catering coming back from Taiwan is way better. The mid-flight beef noodle soup on the other hand was absolutely amazing. This was probably one of the best snack dishes I’ve had during my years of travel. Flavorful soup with tender meat and noodles made for some of the best moments on this flight.

For the mid-flight "Light Meal" and breakfast, the options are equally impressive. You can indulge in a Taiwanese Congee set with a variety of traditional side dishes, or opt for a western breakfast like Croissant Bread Pudding. Factually, the "Anytime" snack menu is a hidden gem of the flight, featuring a gourmet smash burger that many travelers cite as the best burger in the sky, alongside STARLUX’s signature Boba Milk Tea, which is prepared fresh on board to bring a true taste of Taiwan to the clouds.

For breakfast, about two hours prior to our arrival, the cabin lights were turned on and the flight attendants prepared for our breakfast service. I went with the Asian option, which was a frittata with stir-fried seafood and asparagus, and a side minced pork congee. The congee was delicious and made for a great end regarding the food service here at Starlux Airlines.

Amenities

Every Business Class passenger is provided with bespoke pajamas and a high-end amenity kit designed in partnership with the Japanese brand THREE, featuring natural herbal skincare products like their overnight oil serum and lip balm. The airline also factually provides noise-cancelling headphones and plush slippers that are significantly higher quality than the standard industry offering, designed for repeated use throughout the long journey.

The cabin service is a standout element, characterized by a refined etiquette where wine is poured with a linen napkin and interactions are personalized to the guest's sleep schedule. STARLUX has also introduced complimentary, high-speed Wi-Fi for all Business Class passengers, which as of 2026, has seen significant reliability improvements. The washrooms even feature space-themed toilet paper and Huygens luxury toiletries, ensuring that the premium experience extends to every corner of the aircraft.

Conclusion | Starlux Airlines

The STARLUX A350-900 Business Class has successfully redefined what it means to be a "luxury boutique" carrier in 2026. While it faces stiff competition from established giants, its combination of cutting-edge hardware—specifically the Zero-G seat and sliding doors—and a soulful, Michelin-inspired soft product makes it the superior choice for the SFO-TPE route. It is a flight that doesn't just transport you; it treats you to a curated cultural experience before you even touch down in Taiwan.

For the traveler who wants the privacy of a suite, the comfort of a NASA-inspired bed, and the culinary depth of a Michelin kitchen, STARLUX is factually the gold standard. As the airline continues to expand its A350-1000 fleet, this "Galactic" experience is only set to become more prevalent, solidifying its place as one of the most exciting and consistent premium products in global aviation today.

Curated for Class Final Score | 36/40

Flying with Starlux Airlines is an extraordinary choreograph of soft + hard product, factually distinguished by its futuristic "Galactic" ambiance suites that feature sliding privacy doors and a restorative NASA-inspired Zero-G recline. With its impeccable, Michelin-pedigree dining and a level of cabin service that blends high-tech precision with warm, personalized hospitality, it stands as one of the absolute best ways to cross the Pacific in 2026.

Ambiance: 9/10

Seating: 9/10

Food & Beverage: 8.5/10

Cabin Service: 9.5/10

Flight Review: Starlux A350-900 Business Class Review, SFO to TPE