One of my goals with travel is finding ways to experience business class without completely destroying my bank account. For this trip to Vietnam, I flew EVA Air business class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE), then onward to Hanoi (HAN).

This was my first long-haul business class experience across the Pacific, and overall, EVA Air delivered a really solid experience.

Booking the Flights With Points

The entire EVA Air business class itinerary cost me 75,000 EVA MileageLands points plus about $200 in taxes and fuel surcharges.

I transferred the points from my Citi Premier card. If I had redeemed those points as cash through Citi, they would have only been worth around $750. Instead, I used them for flights that would have cost roughly $3,580 out of pocket.

That’s the kind of redemption that makes playing the points game worth it.

EVA Air Business Class Review

First Impressions

EVA Air’s business class definitely isn’t the newest or flashiest product flying across the Pacific right now. Compared to airlines like ANA (All Nippon Airways) or JAL (Japan Airlines), the cabin feels a bit older. One day I still want to try ANA’s famous “The Room” business class seat because that honestly looks incredible.

But even with an older product, EVA still delivered where it mattered most: comfort, service, and food.

LAX to Taipei (Long Haul Experience)

The Hard Product

The seat itself was comfortable, especially for a 14-hour flight. Once fully reclined into a lie-flat bed, it was a massive upgrade over trying to survive long haul in economy.

One thing that stood out immediately was the entertainment screen. It definitely felt dated. I’d estimate it was around 16 to 18 inches, and the touchscreen responsiveness was pretty rough at times. Some touches just didn’t register, which got slightly annoying when browsing movies.

The charging setup also reminded me this aircraft is from a different era. EVA is still using USB-A ports while most newer business class products are finally moving toward USB-C.

That said, once the cabin lights dimmed, the atmosphere became surprisingly relaxing. EVA has small ceiling lights that mimic stars in the night sky, which gave the cabin a calm and cozy vibe while everyone settled in to sleep.

And honestly, once you’re fully flat with a blanket and pillow at 35,000 feet, it’s hard to complain too much.

This is where EVA Air really shines.

The flight attendants were incredibly friendly and attentive throughout the journey. For a Taiwanese airline, the English communication was excellent and everything felt smooth and professional.

As soon as I got to my seat, I was offered champagne, water, or orange juice. Since I rarely drink, I figured business class was the perfect excuse to say yes to champagne.

Another highlight was the amenities kit. EVA partnered with the Japanese lifestyle brand Maison Kitsuné, which honestly made the kit feel way more stylish than expected.

Inside were:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Eye mask
• Foldable brush
• Cord holder
• Facial mist and skincare items

The pouch itself was compact and clean looking. Definitely nice enough to keep or gift later.

EVA also provided pajamas for the flight, which was a nice touch for a 14-hour journey. Changing into something comfortable made sleeping feel much more natural instead of trying to rest in jeans for half a day.

The Food

Airline food usually gets roasted online, but EVA’s business class catering was genuinely impressive.

First Meal Service

The meal started with warm mixed nuts after the tablecloth was set.

The appetizer was a jellied octopus dish served with mustard and pickled peppers. Not something I would normally order on the ground, but surprisingly refreshing and flavorful.

Next came a rich lobster bisque that honestly tasted restaurant quality.

Then came the salad, which was... fine. Nothing offensive, but definitely the least memorable part of the meal.

For the main course, I pre-ordered the:

Pan-Seared Wagyu Beef Ribeye with Port Wine Sauce and Duck Fat Potato Pavé

This was easily the highlight of the meal.

The ribeye was tender, flavorful, and cooked surprisingly well for airplane food. The duck fat potatoes were soft, rich, and basically melted in my mouth.

Dessert was a mango tart that finished everything off nicely without feeling overly heavy.

Mid-Flight Snack

At one point during the flight, I ordered a bowl of ramen because apparently business class activates a second stomach.

Absolutely worth it.

There’s just something about eating ramen while cruising over the Pacific Ocean that feels elite.

Pre-Landing Meal

Before landing, EVA served another full meal:

Stir-Fried Beef Fillet Fried Rice with Egg White and Asparagus

Alongside:

• Bitter melon stuffed with egg
• Mountain yam
• Black fungus
• Braised pig ears

To finish, there was a fresh fruit plate with dragon fruit, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and other assorted fruit.

At this point I genuinely don’t understand how airlines manage to feed people this much food on one flight.

Not complaining though.

Taipei to Hanoi (Regional Flight)

The second flight from Taipei to Hanoi was much shorter at around 3 hours, but EVA still used the same business class seat product.

Even though the hard product felt older on the long-haul flight, it honestly worked perfectly fine for a shorter regional route like this.

The highlight of this leg was definitely the meal.

I had:

Chef Ching-Biao Huang’s Steamed Halibut with Chopped Chili Paste and Multigrain Rice

The fish was light, fresh, and flavorful without being overly heavy before landing. The chopped chili paste added a nice kick, and the multigrain rice balanced everything out well.

For a relatively short flight, the presentation and quality still felt premium.

Final Thoughts

Even though EVA Air’s business class cabin is starting to show its age, the overall experience was excellent.

The seat may not compete with the newest ultra-modern suites from ANA, Singapore Airlines, or Qatar, but EVA makes up for it with:

• Great service
• Comfortable lie-flat seats
• Strong food offerings
• Thoughtful amenities
• A relaxing cabin atmosphere

Most importantly, this trip reminded me why learning airline points and miles can completely change how you travel.

Turning 75,000 transferable credit card points into a $3,580 business class experience felt like an incredible value, and it made the long journey to Vietnam actually enjoyable instead of something to endure.

If you’ve ever looked at business class flights and thought they were completely out of reach, there are actually a lot of ways to maximize credit card points and travel rewards strategically without overspending or going into debt.

Since credit card points and travel strategy tie closely into personal finance, I’ve started helping others understand how to better use the points they’re already earning through everyday spending. If you want help building a travel points strategy or understanding how to maximize your own rewards ecosystem, feel free to set up a meeting with me HERE.