As a gateway to Hollywood as well as the USA, you might even rub shoulders with the rich and famous at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LAX is also the fourth-busiest airport in the world and can be found around 15 miles from the buzzing heart of the city. Flights Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE) with China Airlines all take off from TBIT or the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Flights from Los Angeles to Taipei land at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) which serves Taipei and northern Taiwan and is the world's tenth-busiest passenger airport. It is located just under 19 miles from downtown Taipei. The airport has two terminals both of which are used by China Airlines.
It is just under 6,800 miles to get from Los Angeles to Taipei and takes around 14 hours 30 minutes on direct flights and 20 hours 30 minutes if travelers have to make a connection along the way. These transfers are made at San Francisco or Vancouver.
The number of flights departing on a daily basis varies throughout the week and across the year. There is at least one direct flight and a further four to eight departures of flights Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE) with China Airlines from Monday through to Sunday.
Serving Asia, Europe, South Pacific, and North America, China Airlines is the national carrier of Taiwan and has its headquarters at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei. China Airlines was founded in 1959 with just two aircraft and has grown to carry over 19 million passengers a year. It became part of the SkyTeam Alliance in 2010. Its passenger fleet is made up mainly of Airbus A330-300, Boeing 737-800, and Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
The present slogan of China Airlines is 'Journey with a caring smile' which complements the new crew uniform which was designed by Hong Kong couturier William Chang and introduced into service in 2015. China Airlines offers three cabin classes, Economy, Premium Economy, and Business. Flight departures are usually in the evening, getting you into Taipei the following morning.
The checked baggage allowance on the LAX-TPE route is one piece weighing up to 50lb in Economy Class, two pieces of the same weight in Premium Economy, and two pieces weighing no more than 70lb in Business Class. If you're traveling Economy, you can carry on one piece of hand luggage while Business Class travelers have an onboard allowance of two bags.
While there's no dedicated China Airlines lounge at LAX, if you have China Airlines Gold or above membership, you can relax in any of the airport's VIP lounges - the perfect way to prepare for your flight. At Taipei Airport or if you have some layover time in San Francisco you can make full use of China Airlines Dynasty Lounges. Enjoy complimentary drinks, meals, and free WiFi. Refresh yourself with a shower while at Taipei Airport and there are even architect-designed sleeping quarters and tea bars.
Tuck into both Eastern and Western menus on flights from Los Angeles to Taipei with China Airlines. In Business Class, both meals and drinks are complimentary. Other inflight services include Fantasy Sky, China Airlines entertainment system and on some aircraft WiFi. This needs to be pre-booked. Travelers that regularly fly this route will start collecting air-miles with Dynasty Flyer. With the elite tiers of Gold, Emerald, and Paragon, enjoy access to VIP lounges, a bigger baggage allowance, and possible cabin upgrades.
Getting from downtown Los Angeles to the airport is a breeze with plenty of taxis and local buses as well as three dedicated airport shuttle buses - the Commuter Express, Metro, and FlyAway services. Once passengers land at Taipei, there are excellent transport choices available for the next leg of the journey. Jump on Taoyuan Airport MRT trains or pick up an airport shuttle bus, a service that runs 24/7. Travelers can also pre-book door-to-door airport shuttles. Car parking and car rental services are available at all airport terminals.
Visitors from the United States will feel right at home, as vehicles drive on the right-hand side in Taiwan. For car rentals, you must have a valid driver's license as well as an International Driving Permit (IDP), a passport, and a valid credit card. Watch your speed, there are lots of active speed cameras on the roads.
A valid passport is required to enter Taiwan, but visas are not needed for tourist visits of less than 90 days.
The official language of Taipei is Mandarin Chinese, although the local dialects of Hokkien and Hakka can still be heard. You should have no problem in finding your way around or being understood as many people speak English. Time in Taipei is 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles and on arrival, you may notice some differences in the weather - especially in the summer. While the climate is as hot as in LA, there is much more rain so travelers should be prepared. 70% of the city's annual rain falls during the May to September monsoon season. Travelers will need to exchange their American dollars (USD) for New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) with an exchange rate of one USD to 29 NTD (November 2019).
While there are no major differences in etiquette between Los Angeles and Taipei, the locals will treat you with great politeness and will expect the same in return. When being introduced to someone, smile or shake hands but remember to exchange business cards by holding with both hands. Bargaining is not expected in stores and markets.
National Palace Museum
Visit the National Palace Museum, home to the world's largest collection of Chinese art. The museum has over 700,000 ancient Chinese artefacts and priceless artworks, one of the biggest collections in the world.
Visit Taipei 101
Ride the world's fastest elevator to the top of Taipei 101. Shaped like a stalk of bamboo it's one of the world's tallest buildings. You can even enjoy a Starbucks at the top!
Visit the thermal springs in Beitou
Spend a few hours soaking in the hot thermal springs at Beitou. This green sulphur hot spring is an amazing natural location and attracts plenty of tourists all year-round.
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