As our flight wasn’t until the early afternoon, we were still able to enjoy a leisurely morning at the resort starting with a beautiful sunrise on the beach.
Then we enjoyed one last breakfast at the Regency Club, which meant one last trip to the pho station for me.
We spent a little more time on the beach before heading back to our room to pack.
Check out was just as big of a spectacle as when we checked in. Shortly after 10:30, two porters were dispatched to collect our massive bags and escorted us to the Regency Club. The wonderful Regency Club staff and the hotel GM all came to bid us farewell. The porters loaded our bags into the hotel car while we settled up the bill. The GM then escorted us to the hotel car, where the driver was waiting with cold towels and bottles of water. After all that pomp and circumstance, the driver eased away from the hotel and pointed the car toward the airport.
Twenty minutes later, the car came to a stop in front of Da Nang International Airport. The driver hurriedly grabbed us a luggage cart and helped us load it up before bidding us farewell.
We quickly found the EVA Air’s counters. After a short wait, a friendly agent efficiently checked us in and took our massive bags off our hands.
While check in was quick, immigration and security was not. I didn’t see a premium line, and the general queue was long and slow. I was glad I decided to leave the hotel a smidge early, as we didn’t get airside for another 45 minutes.
After a quick stop to pick up last minute souvenirs, we cashed in the EVA’s invitation to access the CIP Lounge. The CIP lounge is Da Nang’s solitary lounge. All carriers use it for their premium passengers, and it also doubles as s Priority Pass lounge.
Third party lounges are typically very hit or miss. The Da Nang CIP Lounge is definitely a hit. It’s large, clean, and modern, with a nice selection of drinks and food.
There were quite a few of pods along one of the walls, that look perfect for a little snooze.
The best part of the lounge is blissfully cold air conditioning. While Da Nang International Airport is brand spanking new, air conditioning is either inadequate or non-existent. It wasn’t obvious when we arrived, but It was painfully obvious while we were in line for immigration.
We set up shop in a set of comfy chair by the window with an iced tea for Mrs. D4L and a cold BIA Saigon lager for me.
As our EVA flight departed from the gate right below the CIP Lounge, we hung out until just before the boarding began before we went to the gate, where an Airbus 321-100 clad in EVA’s attractive livery was being readied to take us to Taipei.
EVA Air 384
Da Nang(DAD) – Taipei (TPE)
Depart: 1:00PM
Arrive: 4:45PM
Aircraft: Airbus A321-100
Seat: 1H (Business Class)
After exchanging pleasantries with the smiling flight attendants, we turned right toward the very familiar Business Class cabin of EVA’s A321, which has just 8 recliner seats in a two row 2-2 configuration.
I selected seats 1H and 1K on the right side for us. The seats were well padded and comfortable. A thick pillow and duvet were already at each seat, which is nice but there was no storage space to stash them when not using them.
Moments after we sat down, service kicked off with the purser greeting us warmly and followed by hot towels and a choice of iced water or juice. Menus and drink lists were presented a couple of minutes later.
The flight was nearly full so boarding took awhile. But the cabin crew got everyone settled and the plane buttoned up. We pushed back on time, and then followed a follow me car to the active runway.
We took off to the north and enjoyed beautiful views of Da Nang and the coastline while climbing out.
For a flight with just under 4 hours of flying time, EVA sure offers an impressive lunch.
Additional entree options were available for pre-order.
The drink list was equally as impressive.
Once in the air, the purser came by to take drink orders and confirm our pre-ordered lunch.
Lunch was served shortly after. I pre-ordered the filet with mushroom in black pepper sauce for Mrs. D4L, which she enjoyed.
And I got the braised pork belly, which was phenomenal. It’s one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in the air in recent memory.
We both ordered champagne. EVA pours the very tasty 2006 Champagne Castelnau Millesime Brut on regional routes.
Of course, I got the always delicious garlic bread with my meal.
Trays were cleared away promptly. Refills as well as coffee, tea, and hot towels were offered afterwards.
Our humble A321-100 was speeding 34,000 feet above the South China Sea and 90 minutes from Taipei as lunch wrapped up.
The one weak spot in EVA’s impressive onboard product is the entertainment system, especially on regional routes. Content seemed to lacking compared to the likes of Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, but still decent enough. I eventually found a documentary on history of (American) Thanksgiving dishes, which was actually interesting.
We landed smoothly in very gloomy and drizzly Taipei on time. Plane spotting was solid while taxiing to the gate.
