No. 1 Singapore Airlines
For the 17th year in a row—ever since T+L inaugurated the World’s Best Awards—Singapore Airlines
has been readers’ overall favorite. This year, the
airline came out on top in every category: cabin
comfort, food, in-flight service, customer service,
and value. The 32-inch seat pitch in economy class
helps, as do the flight attendants, famous for their
above-and-beyond service and sarong and kebaya
uniforms. Bedtime turndown service is even part
of the flying experience for those with pockets
deep enough to book the A380 first-class suites that
feature sliding doors, 23-inch TVs, and stand-alone
beds hand-stitched by master Italian craftsmen Poltrona Frau.
No. 2 Air New Zealand
The Kiwi carrier has been steadily climbing up the
ranks of th e world’s best airlines. Two years ago,
Air New Zealand ranked seventh, and last year, it
was fourth. Cabin comfort, food, and especially
improved in-flight service vaulted it into the No. 2
position this year. T+L readers felt that the airline’s
value had improved during the past year, and its innovative OneUp program, which allows you to bid
for an upgrade seven days before you fly internationally, beats paying through the nose for business
or first. Another popular innovation: cuddle class,
an economy row of three seats that can convert to a
bed.
No. 3 Emirates
Emirates have slipped slightly from No. 2, a spot
it held for the past two years. While the airline
maintained steady scores for cabin comfort, inflight service, and food, readers demoted both the
airline’s customer service and value scores this year.
Still, there’s nothing wrong about coming in third.
And forward-thinking innovations like the airline’s
signature Shower Spa in first class should keep the
airline up to speed with the very best.
No. 4 Korean Air
Korean Air vaulted up the list from last year’s ninth
place, thanks to major improvements in readers’
perceptions of in-flight service and food, as well as
cabin comfort and value. Tastier Western, Chinese,
Japanese, and Korean dishes have certainly helped.
But, taking a page out of Singapore Airlines’ book,
it’s the improved level of service that has brought
this airline into the rarefied ranking of our top five
carriers.
No. 5 Cathay Pacific Airways
Cathay Pacific went up the list from seventh place
last year. The airline worked hard and offered improvements in every area, according to our readers,
but especially in the areas of value and food. Leave
it to Hong Kong–based Cathay to be among the first
to have rice cookers on board. Each seat is outfitted
with power outlets and iPod and USB ports—not to
mention a 32-inch seat pitch in economy class—and
these special touches keep the airline highly ranked
for cabin comfort.
No. 6 Asiana Airlines
Asiana is the comeback kid this year. The carrier
fell to No. 13 in our 2011 rankings, but in 2010,
it was No. 6. What’s the story? According to T+L
readers, Asiana has upgraded its cabin comfort,
in-flight service, customer service, and value. It fell
a little short in its food ranking, but it was so much
better in the other critical areas that it’s firmly back
in our top 10. Now that Asiana, like its formidable
Asian peers, offers suites, it’s clearly a contender.
No. 7 Virgin America
Virgin America remains the highest-ranking U.S.
airline in our survey, despite slipping two slots in
the overall rankings from last year. (It holds up even
better among the survey’s domestic rankings with a
No. 1 rank in every category.) The Red touch-screen
system that allows you to order snacks and drinks,
shop, and give back to fight cancer or to offset your
carbon footprint is a prime example of how Virgin
America is truly in step with the expectations of
21st-century travelers.
No. 8 Qatar Airways
Ranked No. 11 in 2011, Qatar has made a move into
the top 10, although not yet back to the No. 3 ranking it earned from readers in 2010 or 2009’s No. 2
spot. Readers did give kudos to improvements in
the airline’s in-flight service and to welcome changes in cabin comfort, namely the 32-inch seat pitch.
Hiring celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa to oversee the
in-flight menu is another crowd-pleaser.
No. 9 Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic ranked eighth last year and could
use a little maintenance in the eyes of T+L readers. The airline fell a bit short in every category
this year, but most especially when it came to food,
in-flight service, and value. Even cabin comfort
was found to be less comforting this year compared
to last. That said, the airline still made it into the
survey’s top 10—and continues to make headlines
for its cheeky spirit. Earlier this year, for instance,
Upper Class passengers had the distinct pleasure of
drinks served with ice cubes crafted to resemble Sir
Richard Branson’s head.
No. 10 Thai International Airways
Ensconced at No. 10, as it was in 2011, Thai Airways pretty much maintained the status quo, according to our survey, although readers did feel
that the airline offered more value than it had in the
past. Thai has certainly been keeping up with other
quality carriers, installing niceties like Audio Visual
on Demand (AVOD). But since most of its flights
are within Asia or to Europe (with North American
service only to Los Angeles), it lacks the visibility
of the top-dog Asian airlines. Regardless, our readers think it deserves top 10 status.