Quick take: While award availability can be hard to come by, Starlux’s exciting new business-class suite makes for a thrilling journey.
Pros
Bookable with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
Fabulous new planes with luxurious interiors and comfy seats
Incredible service from boarding to deplaning
Cons
Expensive cash and mileage redemption prices
The inflight entertainment system could have more options
Dimmable windows were locked or unresponsive
Once in a blue moon in the points and miles space, you strike redemption gold. I was recently the beneficiary of such a stroke of luck when the new Taiwanese airline Starlux Airlines started teaming up with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. For just a few hours in July of last year, Alaska members were able to book awards in business class on nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan, for just 60,000 Mileage Plan miles each way. Prices increased quickly and never came back down.
I lept at the opportunity to visit Taipei, which had been on my bucket list. To do it on a brand-new airline I’d never flown made the prospect even better. I’d been excited to fly Starlux after reading my colleague Zach Griff’s coverage of the airline’s inaugural U.S. flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
Starlux has some competition on the route with flights to Taipei offered by EVA Airways and China Airlines, so how did it stack up? Here’s what the experience was like.
How much does business class cost to book on Starlux? Starlux A350 at boarding gate. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Starlux business class (and economy, for that matter) doesn’t come cheap. The lowest fare I could find in business class for a round-trip ticket between LAX and TPE was just over $5,500.
Here is the range of cash and award rates for round-trip travel on this route over the next 12 months:
Class
Economy
Premium economy
Business class
Airfare (round-trip)
$918 to $1,596
$1,975 to $3,123
$5,514 to $8,806
Miles (Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan )
60,000 to 124,500 plus $38 to $48
100,000 to 195,500 plus $19 to $70
330,000 plus $48 to $104
I’d been looking for a chance to spend a hoard of Alaska miles I’d been sitting on, and with this booking, I was able to snag a round-trip ticket in business class for just 120,000 Alaska miles. Those miles are worth $1,080, according to TPG’s valuations. That was an extremely good deal considering cash prices start at more than $5,500 round-trip.
Unfortunately, those discounted mileage redemption prices are long gone. I couldn’t find business-class tickets for less than 165,000 Alaska miles each way for my flights.
The one sweet spot I did find was premium economy seats for 50,000 Alaska miles each way. The premium economy cabin on Starlux looks pretty nice.
The premium economy cabin on Starlux. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
If you are looking for an easy way to earn Mileage Plan miles, I’ve opened both of the Alaska Airlines credit cards issued by Bank of America.
The Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card has a $95 annual fee but currently offers a limited-time sign-up bonus of 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
If you have a small business, you might prefer the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card. This card has a $70 annual fee for the company and $25 per card. It offers a sign-up bonus of 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Finally, Bilt Rewards just launched a strategic partnership with Alaska Airlines. You can now transfer Bilt points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan directly at a 1:1 ratio. That makes opening a Bilt card an even better idea. I have loved using my Bilt card to pay rent and have taken advantage of several transfer bonuses in the past year.
Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US
Generally, you can check a bag and have carry-on bags without baggage fees on Starlux.
Both cash fares and mileage redemptions in business class include free seat selection, two complimentary checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds each, one full-size carry-on bag and one personal item (like a handbag or laptop bag).
Allowances
Seat selection (cost)
Cabin baggage allowance
Checked baggage allowance
Cash fares
Depends on the type of fare class, usually complimentary
One full-size cabin bag, plus one personal item
One to two 50-pound bag(s) included depending on fare class
Redemptions
Complimentary
One full-size cabin bag, plus one complimentary personal item
One to two 50-pound bag(s) included depending on ticket class
Starlux started service in 2020, but the airline is dreaming big. It’s already serving 23 destinations, mostly in Asia, but just expanded service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The airline also will launch service to Seattle in August.
Checking into and boarding business class on Starlux Billboard for Starlux at LAX. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Starlux uses row B in Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
Signage for Starlux at LAX. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
There was no line when I arrived at 6:50 p.m., but there were also very few workers. Starlux check-in desks don’t officially open until 7:30 p.m., about three and a half hours before the flight. Those counters were B47 through B54.
When I approached a man working behind the counter where Starlux would be operating, he told me I could use counters across the way at B20, B21 and B22; these were set up to take passengers who arrived as early as 6:30 p.m.
Check-in gates at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
I jumped on the opportunity to get checked in a little earlier and only waited about 10 minutes before a friendly agent checked me in and printed my boarding pass. Three agents were at those counters for special accommodations — mostly people checking in large luggage.
Starlux boarding pass. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
I had a boarding pass within five minutes and spent the next half hour taking photos and walking around the B check-in counters.
There were four counters for economy passengers: one for premium economy passengers, two for business-class passengers and one for first-class passengers. Once the main counters opened around 7:30 p.m., I counted no fewer than nine agents.
There were also 24 kiosks, though a few weren’t working, and I couldn’t use them to check in anyway. Like with the app, passengers on flights booked through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan must check in with an agent even if they have the Starlux record locater.
Starlux recently started employing TSA PreCheck, which cuts a lot of time since many transpacific flights leave Southern California and head to Asia in the evenings. The agent told me they had just joined TSA PreCheck in December.
In addition to participation in the TSA PreCheck program, here’s what you can expect for inclusions when flying with Starlux.
Priority boarding
Yes
Lounge available
Starlux guests can use the Oneworld business-class lounge in the main departure hall
Does the airline participate in TSA PreCheck?
Yes
Boarding group
Boarding Group 1 of 6
From the main departure hall airside in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal, I took an elevator up a floor and walked down a long hallway to the gorgeous Oneworld business-class lounge.
Oneworld Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
While this is branded as a Qantas, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Oneworld lounge, Starlux business-class passengers can use it as well.
This massive lounge is beautiful, with a plethora of seating areas. Showers and lots of complimentary high-end booze are also available. In fact, there was a large bar to the right as I walked in, where bartenders were ready to make mixed drinks. There were also self-pour wine stations and even a selection of candies.
There was no line, and it was calm and relaxing inside. This was a huge space with several separate seating areas and workstations.
I enjoyed browsing and grazing from the massive hot and cold food bar with what seemed like a never-ending supply of interesting food options. Among the choices were roasted pumpkin and carrot soup, red wine-braised chicken and mushrooms, jasmine rice, rigatoni pasta, steamed broccoli, several salad options and a ramen self-serve station. There was even a pancake machine.
I could have spent hours at the lounge, but I wanted to check out the gate area for my Starlux flight. It’s a good thing I left a little early, as it’s a bit of a trek. You should give yourself at least 15 minutes to get over to the remote gates numbered from 201 to 225.
Signage for gates 201 to 225 at LAX. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
The boarding area was large and modern. We were leaving from Gate 221. The giant seating area served Gate 221 and another gate next door (Gate 225).