Just found out that we might need to go to Taiwan in March or April. Usually, when we fly to Asia, we have plenty of miles and just fly business on SQ. However, our miles accounts are pretty well decimated at this point AND we need to bring our three preschoolers along. So, what airlines have the most up to date planes for this route? We are flying from MSP so our choices are pretty much NWA over to Tokyo or flying to ORD or SFO or LAX and flying direct to HK and then on to Taipei. True? We would like to see family in HK so it wouldn't be awful if we were routed that way. As we are bringing the kids, I really want an airline with in seat entertainment to help pass the time (will obviously bring lots of dvds, toys, etc. but bateries only last so long so in-seat stuff would be a huge bonus). Also, any advice on consolidators? Just did a kayak search and the cheapest flights are all in the $1200 range. Might be the best there is but would love to trim a couple hundred off those as we need to be 5.

Thanks for any advice.
Taitai

Why not simply wait, taitai, until after the New Year. Many springtime airfares come online in the first weeks of the new year.

Check out EVA Airlines. Their Evergreen Deluxe class is very good and reasonably priced. Service is also quite good. They have multiple daily flights from LAX.

My favourite routing is Cathay to HK. Very frequent services (probably 8 flights daily or more), very short flight, and super-efficient HK connection.

While MSP-NRT-TPE on NW would theoretically work better (one-stop, instead of two-stop), pls note you'll have to stay overnight on BOTH legs.

I think that United has a nonstop from SFO to TPE.

I would second the idea of EVA, and you might look at their premium economy product (I think that's the Evergreen cabin but I get confused by their codes.) They also fly out of Seattle, which I think would be the shortest routing from MSP.