First Impressions Though LAX was swarming with passengers, I was able to walk right up to the China Airlines Dynasty Class check-in, where a helpful attendant asked for my passport and swiftly checked me in. As I prefer to sit in the upper deck on long-haul flights for that added feeling of isolation and quiet when it’s time to bed down, I asked if it was possible to switch my seat from the lower deck. She took my ticket back and changed it, no questions asked. The whole experience took no more than 10 minutes.
    Getting through security, however, wasn’t nearly as efficient. Regardless, I was left with a reasonable amount of time to enjoy the business-class lounge. There wasn’t much left in the way of snacks by the time I made it up there—with my flight scheduled to leave at 11 p.m., most of the meal-like offerings had already been shuttered away. I was able to grab some wayward pieces of sushi, bottled water and some fruit to tide me over until the flight.
    The lounge usually has a serene feel to it. Not so on this night—it was packed to the rafters. Nearly every inch of space was coated with people, including all the computer terminals. Thankfully, I had my laptop and was able to carve out a place on the floor to plug in and do one final e-mail check, courtesy of the free Wi-Fi, before boarding.

Boarding Boarding was scheduled for 10:30 p.m., but was pushed back by 15 to 20 minutes. Once onboard—a Boeing 747 with a combination of first class, Dynasty Class (which has 49 seats) and economy class—I was greeted warmly by one of two flight attendants. She then escorted me up the stairs to my seat and showed me that I could use the side locker to stow my belongings in addition to the overhead compartment. Once settled, I was given the option of Champagne, juice or water, and offered newspapers and magazines ranging from brainy to gossipy. Inflight kits featured earplugs, dental kits, slippers, facial cream and other assorted goodies. I had so many things to do, see, pick and choose, that I barely noticed we were leaving slightly behind schedule.

Seat Comfort Seating in the upper deck was in a 2-2 configuration. Though China Air’s Dynasty Class seats weren’t the least comfortable I’ve ever slept or sat in, there’s room for improvement. The seat pitch is 60 inches with a 140-degree incline, but I couldn’t get the footrest to work properly, so my feet dangled off the edge of the leg extension as I slept. The seat felt somewhat cramped and bony in parts, but the latter was easily remedied by using my pillow to pad against some of the stiffer areas, especially when I shifted in my sleep. There was plenty of legroom—and stretch room, when I needed to readjust—while I was both seated upright and reclining slightly while I read. Personal work lights ensured enough brightness to see what I was doing without disturbing sleeping passengers. Each seat had an individual entertainment system with a monitor that pulled out from the armrest. Movies were not on-demand.

The Flight With orders taken shortly after takeoff, dinner was a swift affair, designed to get us fed and allow for as much sleeping time as possible. Though I didn’t partake of the alcoholic offerings, the menu offered an impressive selection of reds, whites and liqueurs. I was somewhat limited in my dinner choices because of food allergies, but was pleased to find three options—beef, shrimp and vegetarian dishes—that were easily adaptable to my needs. I started with a salad in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing, followed up with the Szechwan shrimp and vegetables, skipping the rice and roll, and opting for fruit in place of the chocolate cake dessert.
    Fully satiated, I finished watching “The Dark Knight”—one of eight looping movies on the entertainment system—and tucked in for bed. I was able to sleep through the whole flight, save for some minor turbulence.
    Breakfast was orderly and tasty, featuring three options. I went with the veggie omelet and passed on the hash browns, having Chinese tea and fruit as my accompaniment.

Arrival Despite our late departure, we landed 20 minutes early, for a 5:20 a.m. arrival time.

Verdict Though there’s room for improvement in the seats, the crew made up for any misgivings I might have had, with their friendly, attentive service and understanding of my personal and professional needs—notable in an industry where service often seems to take a back seat to efficiency. But China Airlines provided both, making for a pleasant long-haul experience.