The EVA Air Infinity Lounge Is Surprisingly Bad

EVA Air’s business class is world-renowned, and consistently delivers one of the best experiences out there even by already high Asian standards. As such, I was surprised by just how mediocre the EVA Air Infinity Lounge in Taipei Taoyuan Airport was. It was so mediocre, in fact, I ended up leaving to spend the rest of my layover next door at a Priority Pass lounge that was superior in just about every way.

Sweaty, overcrowded, chaotic

I visited between 6 PM and 9 PM and the lounge was packed. That meant seating was scarce and noise levels were high, both of which made it very hard to get much done. More annoyingly, I never made it off the waitlist for a shower despite spending a full three hours in the lounge. 

The other major issue during my visit was how hot and stuffy this lounge was. I’d guess this is due to some combination of overcrowding (the more people you pack into a space, the hotter the space gets) and a general tendency in East Asian airports to under air condition.

All of this turned what I thought might be a relaxing experience into a crowded, stressful, sweaty mess.

Poor food

Another disappointment was the food and drink selection. The humdrum buffet of rice and various stir fries had almost no non-meat options beside a watery turnip soup. There were bowls of noodles on top of which guests were meant to ladle soup, but the noodles had slices of meat on them.

When I asked whether I could have noodles without the meat, I was told they didn’t have any. A small ice cream bar and a make-it-yourself milk tea were nice but didn’t redeem the sorry spread.

Windowless and depressing

The lounge lacks any exterior windows which, along with a lack of any real character or style when it comes to furniture, fixtures, or decorative elements, makes the place downright depressing. Even if the lounge wasn’t as crowded and the food was substantially better, it still wouldn’t be a place where I’d want to spend much time.

One bright spot

One bright spot is the lounge staff, who were proactive and lovely despite the constraints they had to work within. They moved through the space attentively, clearing tables and responding to guest requests. At the same time, they’re clearly limited by the amenities and resources available to them, making it hard for them to elevate the guest experience in any meaningful way.

Putting things in perspective

On an absolute scale, the Infinity Lounge isn’t a disaster—I think it’s on par with an average American Airlines Admirals Club and slightly worse than most Delta Sky Clubs—but it’s hugely underwhelming when held up against EVA Air’s very impressive onboard experience. This is a lounge experience I’d expect before flying from O’Hare to Kansas City, not before flying one of the world’s best business classes from an airline’s hub.

In other words, the lounge doesn’t even come close to living up to the standard set by the airline, and, as such, it’s a letdown for business class passengers expecting a seamless premium journey from start to finish. If you’re connecting through Taipei, the Infinity Lounge may offer some comfort, but don’t expect much. If you’re originating in Taipei, save yourself some time and skip it altogether.