Starlux flies real first class on short hops to Tokyo — but is it worth $2,500?

Taipei-based Starlux Airlines is one of the very few carriers anywhere that operates a genuine first class cabin on flights within Asia. Because its A350s arrive from North America early in the morning and don't head back across the Pacific until late at night, the airline uses them for daytime 'turns' to destinations like Tokyo Narita — with the same first class seats you'd find on a 12-hour flight to Los Angeles.

A recent flight on the A350-1000 from Taipei to Narita (barely three hours in the air) showed what that actually gets you. The good news: the seat is identical to the long haul product, you can pre-order your meal in advance, and the wine and drinks list is the same as on transpacific flights — no watering things down for the short sector. Service and food scored well too.

The catch is everything around it. Short haul Starlux first class comes without bedding beyond a basic pillow and blanket, no amenity kit, no pajamas, and none of the little gifts that make the long haul version feel special. There's also no caviar service within Asia. In practice, it's closer to 'business class plus' than real first class.

Where Starlux genuinely outclasses everyone is on the ground. In Taipei, first class passengers are escorted to the gate so smoothly that boarding begins the moment they arrive. At Narita, an escort walks you from the aircraft door to the Narita Express train, through a VIP immigration line that even frequent Japan travellers may not know exists. Then there's the checked bag treatment: luggage travels in a large branded crate, comes off the plane first, and is waiting beside the belt before you've cleared immigration.

On price: Starlux charges roughly $2,500 one-way for short haul first class, versus around $9,000 for long haul. The verdict from someone who has now flown both? The long haul experience — with its high-quality amenities — is truly special, while the short hop is pleasant but forgettable. If you're going to splurge, do it across the Pacific or not at all.

An odd footnote: the author was the only first class passenger on both flights, attended by two crew, and reports the cabin is often empty. Starlux's first class strategy remains a puzzle — but for now, it's a rare chance to fly a real first class seat on a flight shorter than New York to Miami.

For points collectors, note that Starlux now sells its own miles, which can be a far better deal than paying cash fares for the long haul product. Review source: One Mile at a Time.