EVA Air Royal Laurel (Business) Class Review: 787 Taipei to Seoul

Sometimes the best travel decisions come from doing just a little extra homework.

When booking flights between Seoul and Taipei, I noticed something interesting: booking economy on the way to Taipei and business class back to Seoul on EVA Air only added $200 more for both me and my daughter. For such a short flight many would say that business class wasn’t necessary but for me, it felt like an easy decision.

Pre-flight champs on EVA Air’s 787-9 Dreamliner

After looking up the aircraft types, I realized the flight from Seoul to Taipei was scheduled with an older business class seat that didn’t feel worth upgrading. The return flight, however, was operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring EVA Air’s Royal Laurel Business Class, a product I’ve seen rave reviews on.

So we flew economy one way and business class on the return, and it turned out to be a fantastic decision.

Flight Overview

• Airline: EVA Air

• Cabin: Royal Laurel Business Class

• Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner

• Seat Configuration: 1-2-1 staggered layout

• Route: Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) → Incheon International Airport (ICN)

• Flight Time: ~2 hours 30 minutes

• Lounge Access: EVA Air Infinity Lounge

• Traveling With: My 10-year-old daughter

The Seats

Royal Laurel Business Class cabin featuring a 1-2-1 staggered seat layout.

Royal Laurel Business Class on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features a 1-2-1 staggered seat configuration, meaning every passenger has direct aisle access. This layout balances privacy, seat width, and storage space while still fitting efficiently within the aircraft cabin. Each seat is designed as a semi-enclosed pod, offering a comfortable level of privacy without feeling overly closed in.

The cabin design itself is calm and understated. With soothing tones of light and dark greys, the overall look feels modern and relaxing without being overly flashy. I also noticed that the color scheme was consistent between economy and business class, which helped the aircraft feel cohesive throughout the cabins.

Something I particularly appreciated was that EVA Air didn’t go heavy on their bright green brand color. Keeping to an overall neutral palette makes the space feel more refined and less busy.

Seat features include:

• 1-2-1 staggered configuration

• Direct aisle access

• Fully lie-flat bed

• Large personal entertainment screen

• Multiple storage compartments

• Adjustable lighting

• Seat massage function

A massage in an airplane seat? Yes please!

Even though this flight was relatively short, the seat itself felt like a true long-haul business class product, and typically this flight will continue on to the States from Seoul.

Privacy panels near the headrest help create additional separation from the aisle.

Because of the staggered layout, some seats sit closer to the window, while others are positioned slightly closer to the aisle. Normally, aisle-adjacent seats can feel more exposed, but EVA Air has added privacy side panels near the headrest. These panels help shield passengers from the aisle and create a more private feeling space.

An odd numbered seat on this flight gives you more of a barrier between the aisle and your actual seat.

Even in seats that sit closer to the aisle, the added panels make the cabin feel surprisingly private. However, if you want greater privacy, choose an odd numbered seat.

My daughter and I are both window-seat lovers, so when selecting seats I booked two window seats one behind the other. She’s 10, independent, and a very capable traveler, but I intentionally sat right behind her so I could still keep an eye on her if she needed anything.

Fun fact about her: she always gawks when she sees me purchase business class tickets because she doesn’t think they’re worth the cost. One day, she’ll feel differently!

Amenities

The velvet-lined Royal Laurel Business Class blanket.

One thing that did surprise me slightly was the absence of an amenity kit. Given the short flight time it makes sense, but I’ll admit I would have enjoyed one anyway — mostly because I love collecting airline amenity kits. Sometimes the traveler in me just likes “things.”

One unexpected highlight of the flight was actually something simple: the blanket. It was velvet-lined on one side and incredibly soft, the kind of blanket that makes you comfortable the moment you sit down.

I’ll admit something here: I seriously considered stuffing it into my purse and taking it home because it was that cozy. For the record, I didn’t… but the temptation was real.

Thoughtful Accessibility Detail in the Safety Video

EVA Air’s inflight safety video includes a sign language interpreter alongside the safety instructions.

One detail I found particularly interesting during the safety video was a small window showing an interpreter performing sign language alongside the safety instructions. It was a thoughtful accessibility feature that I don’t often notice on other flights, and it was nice to see EVA Air making the safety briefing more inclusive for everyone onboard.

Dining and Service

Business class meal service on the Taipei to Seoul route.

Even on this relatively short regional flight between Taipei and Seoul, EVA Air still offers meal service in Royal Laurel Business Class.

Because we had already eaten earlier in the EVA Air Infinity Lounge at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, we didn’t plan to fully take advantage of the onboard meal service. However, I did decide to try the meal, while my daughter opted for fruit only.

For her, a drink and a few small bites were more than enough after our time in the lounge. One of the things I appreciated was that the cabin crew handled this very naturally — there was no pressure for her to order a full meal, and they were happy to simply bring her what she wanted.

I did try the onboard meal myself, and even on a relatively short flight the presentation and quality felt consistent with what you’d expect in Royal Laurel Business Class. Service was smooth and efficient, and the crew kept the experience relaxed and comfortable throughout the flight.

I ended my meal with a matcha before we began our descent into Seoul.

Is It Worth It?

Royal Laurel Business Class on the EVA Air Boeing 787-10 is an excellent product, even on a short regional route. The 1-2-1 staggered seat layout, thoughtful privacy features, and comfortable bedding make the experience feel more like a long-haul business class flight.

Add in lounge access and great service, and this turned out to be one of the better short-haul business class experiences I’ve had. When given the opportunity, I will absolutely choose to fly EVA Air again.