Starlux unveils new route between San Francisco and Taipei
A major new player in transpacific air travel has its newest U.S. destination planned.
Starting late this year, Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines will launch new nonstop service between its hub city of Taipei and San Francisco.
The service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will begin on Dec. 16.
Around since shortly before the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Starlux's latest service will mark its second U.S. destination; the carrier already serves Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Flying aboard an Airbus A350 equipped with four cabins, Starlux will begin its Bay Area service with three weekly round-trip flights between SFO and Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) through the winter months.
Then, beginning next spring, the Taipei-based carrier will expand to daily service.
In announcing the new route, Starlux executives alluded to the demand it could see from business travelers, noting San Francisco’s proximity to Silicon Valley.
“With one-third of its population of Asian descent, our new route will cater to these travelers’ needs too, whether they are visiting family, vacationing, or traveling for work,” CEO Glenn Chai said in a statement.
For U.S. travelers, the new route figures to be of interest to those looking to fly to Taiwan as their final destination or continue on to one of the carrier’s many other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Thanks to Starlux's partnership with Alaska Airlines, U.S. travelers also have opportunities to redeem points and miles with the carrier, despite Starlux not being a part of a major global airline alliance.
Route details
Starlux will operate three weekly round-trip flights between San Francisco and Taipei early on before expanding to daily service.
Details of the route are as follows:
- SFO-TPE (Tue/Thu/Sat): Departs at 11:40 p.m. PT, arrives at 5:30 a.m. local time two days later
- TPE-SFO (Tue/Thu/Sat): Departs 11:30 p.m. local time, arrives at 6:15 p.m. PT
Starlux aircraft
Like its flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Starlux will operate its San Francisco service aboard an Airbus A350 aircraft featuring new cabins and what the carrier describes as “exquisite dining” options.
Cabins
- Four first-class seats
- Twenty-six business-class seats arranged in 1-2-1 configuration, each with lie-flat capability and direct aisle access
- Thirty-six premium economy seats, including more spacious accommodations and footrests
- Two hundred and forty economy seats
In all, the aircraft seats 306 customers.
Even in coach, passengers will have access to 4K high-definition screens that are enabled for Bluetooth headphones.
How much does it cost to fly Starlux?
Starlux has already loaded its San Francisco flights into its booking channels. You can expect to pay transpacific prices when booking through the carrier's website.
For a seat on the inaugural flight in December (and a return a week later), the cheapest economy ticket we could find came to $1,861 round trip.
The same round-trip flight in business class came to a heftier price of more than $7,000.
However, for U.S. flyers, the best option for booking Starlux flights may involve going through Alaska Airlines’ website since the two airlines have a new partnership. This is particularly true if you’re hoping to redeem Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles earned directly through flying or transferred from a credit card rewards program.
There was a brief window when a round-trip flight in Starlux business class could be booked through Alaska for 75,000 Mileage Plan miles each way. Unfortunately, it appears that availability has now dried up and the pricing has jumped dramatically to 165,000 Mileage Plan miles each way.
Bottom line
Starlux’s latest route should provide new premium options for travelers considering a trip to Taiwan or elsewhere in Asia, especially those interested in earning or redeeming Mileage Plan miles.
This newest route isn't the only announcement expected from the carrier. Company officials recently promised details of a new route to Seattle sometime next year, signaling further expansion into North America is on the horizon.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.