Taiwan is a very under-rated touristic destination in my opinion, and I really enjoyed the time I spent there. Although, I enjoyed the destination a lot and got to see some parts I haven’t visited before, such as Sun Moon lake or Kaoshuing, the reason for me to go back there was to take advantage of this Malaysia Airlines business class sale as I eventually need to requalify for my British Airways gold status at some point. The cheapest option available on this ticket was to fly back to BKK, but I did not really want to go back to Bangkok to have to fly somewhere else the next day and lose an extra day traveling. After playing a bit with ITA Matrix, I discovered that flights to Malaysia on the way back were only a mere 50 Euros more than the cheapest round trip BKK-TPE. I hesitated between two places to visit in Malaysia between Penang and Langkawi and after reading an interesting piece from Gilbert Ott on God save the points about Penang island, I decided to get there on my way back from Taiwan…
Getting back to Taipei airport was easy using the express train from the central station and I reached the terminal around 12:45. The check-in counters of MH were very crowded, but I managed to have all my baggage checked-in using the business class counters in only 5 minutes. Boarding passes were issued for both flights, together with an invitation for the China Airlines lounge. Considering Cathay Pacific (and IIRC Japan Airlines also) have a lounge in TPE, and are both OneWorld members like MH, I don’t really understand why they are using the lounge of a competitor, although MH is code-sharing with CI on this route. Interestingly, the agent asked me to wait at the end of the check-in row, where the X-ray machine was located for my luggage to be screened before getting airside.
MH check-in in TPE. Glad to have priority access !
You need to wait for your hold luggage to be screened before proceeding to security
Security clearance was quite fast (there were no priority lines though) but my bag had to go through secondary screening, and later 2 additional screenings as they were looking for something they could not find. After unpacking my entire carry-on luggage in a quite un-orderly fashion, the security agent decided the let me go through after 20 minutes looking at the contents. I wanted to assist in this matter, but he was not really able to explain to me what he was looking for ! On a side note, I have been traveling with this carry-on luggage for this entire adventure, and its contents have been the same for every flight taken. This was the first (and so far only) time that it was such an adventure to clear security with it, although I understand that the contents are quite « compressed » inside it and with some few electronic devices inside (drone, power bank, external drive), it could be challenging to distinguish on the X-ray something inoffensive from something more hazardous.
Anyway, after 20 minutes waiting post security, and seeing other people trying to go through the check point with quite unusual stuff (I even saw a soldering gun and a small gas burner used for cooking !), I cleared exit immigration using one of the electronic gates. (You don’t really have the option anymore in TPE to go through a manned kiosk for immigration. Since i wanted my « souvenir » exit passport stamp, I asked one of the immigration agents walking by if I could get one and he gladly did so !
Automated immigration gates in TPE departure
Malaysia airlines uses as written before the China Airlines lounge in Taipei. I visited earlier in the year the « nice » CI lounge in terminal 2, but I did not hear many good things about that one in terminal 1 but I still decided to give it a try. After providing my lounge invitation, I took a sit in the lounge and the amenities were pretty basic, especially compared to the very good Cathay pacific lounge next door. No restrooms were available inside the lounge. I stayed about 10 minutes in there before heading to the CX lounge.
China airlines TPE T1 entrance
Inside the CI lounge
Lots of reading available...
Small buffet...
A quick bite before going next door !
To my surprise, and despite having a business class ticket and an Emerald status, the CX lounge receptionist wanted to see the lounge invitation I got earlier, during check-in. I told her that I already gave it to the China airlines lounge, so I don’t have it anymore, when she asked me « why I wanted to visit two lounges ? » After 5 minutes of discussion and reminding her the oneworld rules (MH is like CX, a one world member and I had « double the right » of accessing this lounge since I had a business class ticket and emerald status, any of those two reasons being enough to access this lounge), she finally did let me in after making copies of my boarding pass. Lots of drama for not much of an issue in my opinion !
CX TPE lounge entrance
This Cathay lounge was one of the first ones renovated following the CX lounge color scheme and I had the opportunity to visit it 4 years ago when I visited Taiwan. At the entrance are located the restrooms and a small kitchen area where some salads and desserts can be found. Right next to it is located the bureau, which consists into a few iMacs and desks.
Self service buffet area
I love those sweets
The office corner
At the centre of the lounge is the typical CX noodle bar, with cooked to order items available and a big seating area.
The restaurant area
Noddle bar in the restaurant
Noodle bar menu
Finally, behind the noodle bar is located the main part of the lounge with a large table and plenty of comfortable seating options. Refreshments are available in self-service and a staffed bar is located at the end of this room.
The main lounge area
Lots of comfortable seating...
And at it's end, the bar !
Bar selection
I ordered a few non-alcoholic cocktails (one mango cooler followed by a berrylicious) and one cathay delight, together with a wonton soup and some salad from the first buffet.
Bon appetit !
My lunch was finished with some cookies and some very good Taiwanese pastries (mochi-type and some pineapple cake)
Us, French, always like to finish our meals with a sweet touch !
Power plugs and USB ports were available in the lounge area, inside the drawers of the side-seat tables, which is usual for CX.
Once again, I am a big fan of the design and the offerings provided by Cathay pacific lounges worldwide. Their lounge product is solid and consistent across their network.
I left the lounge around 14:40 and arrived at the departure gate B5 around 14:50.
