Annual airline survey reveals surprise winners of best carriers
Each year, Airlineratings.com rolls out the red carpet in a global survey to narrow down travellers' top picks across various categories, including the world's best cabin crew service, best cabin crew uniform, most eye-catching aircraft livery, and even weigh in on the airline that gave the greatest peace of mind while travelling.
Dubbed the 'the Flyers' Choice Awards', the categories aim to recognise excellence in the aviation industry based on passenger feedback.
Unlike the website's similar World's Safest Airlines and World's Best Airline awards, which are determined by aviation experts using strict, measurable criteria, the Flyer's Choice
Awards are a little more lighthearted and driven entirely by votes from the public.
It means these results cut out the textbook criteria, and instead offers an authentic insight into which airlines passengers themselves consider the best.
This year, the results are in — after thousands of participants took part in the survey. And it turns out, when it comes to local Aussie travel — the national carrier received several nods.
AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said while Qantas remained popular, it's no surprise Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand also made the cut.
'These results show that Qantas remains a highly respected brand and the preferred
choice for many travellers,' she said, noting the result comes amid growing scrutiny of the brand and the airline's recent cyber security breach.
'I fully expected Virgin Australia to be in the top three, given its award-winning
customer service year after year. Air New Zealand's strong showing is no
surprise — despite its smaller size, its outstanding on-board offering clearly resonates
with passengers.'
So how did all the airlines stack up?
Best Airline Livery (the airline's visual identity on the aircraft).
1) Qantas
2) Etihad
3) Air New Zealand
Best Cabin Crew Service
1) Singapore Airlines
2) Qatar
3) Emirates and Cathay Pacific
Who's winning the fashion game with the best Cabin Crew Uniform?
1) Singapore Airlines
2) Emirates
3) Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia
Airline that gives the traveller the greatest peace of mind when flying
1) Qantas
2) Singapore
3) Qatar
4) Etihad
5) Cathay Pacific
6) Emirates
7) Air New Zealand
Preferred Airline UK/Europe
1) British Airways
2) Lufthansa
3) Air Baltic
Preferred Airline Middle East and Africa
1) Emirates
2) Qatar
3) Etihad
Preferred Airline USA/Canada
1) Delta
2) Air Canada
3) United
Preferred Airline Australia and Pacific Ocean
1) Qantas
2) Air New Zealand
3) Virgin Australia
Preferred Airline North Asia (Japan, Korea, Taipai, Hong Kong, China)
1) Cathay Pacific
2) Japan Airlines
3) Korean Air
Preferred Airline South East Asia
1) Singapore Airlines
2) Philippine Airlines
3) Malaysian
Preferred Airline Central/South America
1) Avianca
2) Latam
3) Copa
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