The 10 Best Airlines In The World
Flying used to be an elite way to travel – only used by the upper class, and where the best of the best was reserved for the richest of the rich. However, with over 4.4 billion people flying annually every year, even the top airlines in the world are catering to all classes of flyers, from business to economy.
Of course, the more you spend, the more you get, so when comfort and quality are a must, you really do get what you pay for. Whether you’re ready to book your next flight or are researching which airline to fly with for your next family vacation, in this list of the top 10 airlines in the world, you might find your new favorite way to fly…
Qantas
Founded in the 1920s, Qantas has the distinction of being the world’s second-oldest airline, but don’t let its age fool you. Qantas has its sights set on the future. In 2017, Qantas challenged both Airbus and Boeing to create a plane that could fly nonstop from Australia to the UK, which has never been done before.
Airbus was the ultimate winner, but Qantas has not yet said when they plan to launch the world’s longest non-stop flight. Offering fully stocked self-serve snack and beverage bars, many passengers call their experiences on Qantas flights relaxing.
Emirates
Are you interested in complimentary chauffeur service to and from the airport or access to exclusive wine and cigar bars? If so, Emirates might be the airline for you. When you book first-class or business-class tickets, this is the kind of VIP treatment you can expect.
Even so, not only do the top-paying customers get to feel like stars. In any class, you’ll be treated to a full three-course meal, and be able to choose from thousands of in-flight entertainment options. The airline even takes care to serve food at times that make time-zone changes a little easier to handle.
Austrian Airlines
With their goal being to make travel easy, Austrian Airlines has partnered with the Vienna Card – the official tourist card in Vienna, Austria designed to help visitors easily navigate the city.
Despite having excellent service quality and easy claim processing, the skies look a little cloudy over Austrian Airlines. Tough competition and staff cuts are presenting a challenge when it comes to maintaining their quality. Even so, online check-in is smooth, even from a smartphone in an airport lobby.
Aeromexico
On some flights, you receive a complimentary snack and drink, but end up paying $9 or more for a simple sandwich. Delta partner, Aeromexico says, “Not on this flight.” When you fly with Aeromexico, all meals, snacks, and drinks – even cocktails – are complimentary.
They don’t skimp on inflight entertainment either, offering a multitude of movies, tv, music, and games to choose from. Despite all of these great reasons to fly with Aeromexico, their most complimented feature on TripAdvisor? Plenty of legroom.
LATAM Airlines
Founded in 2010, LATAM Airlines is the largest airline in Latin America and was born of a merger between Chilean airline LAN and Brazil’s TAM.
With top-notch service and speedy claim processing, there’s little to complain about, save the occasional departure delay. Passengers frequently compliment the pleasant crew, better-than-average food, and clean environment.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has long been considered the best airline in the world. Skytrax Ratings is a quality advisor for the air-transport industry that gives Qatar Airways a solid 5-star rating across the board. Everything from airport services to in-flight meals, to products and crew support gets a perfect score.
Many marvel at the airline’s QSuites that can be converted into shared spaces or function as a double bed for more relaxed sleeping on long flights. QSuites even feature a door, so you can have absolute privacy.
Luxair
Though Luxair faces tough competition from low-cost rivals at its home base in Luxemburg, they are so focused on putting customers’ comfort first that most customers hardly notice.
Luxair offers anti-stress seminars for anxious flyers, a digital chatbot assistant named Bobby, and a reduced return fare of $259 for students. Plus, many say that the in-flight meals are some of the best, even in economy. Meals are always served hot and made with top-notch ingredients.
American Airlines
Coming from the largest airline in the U.S., almost all flights feature a free streaming service that allows you to stream movies and tv on your tablet, laptop, or phone, and on select flights, you can even watch live tv.
With friendly, and helpful staff, American Airlines has turned a less-than-stellar reputation from the past into a bright new future, focusing on great customer experiences and on-time arrivals and departures.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Ranked as one of the top airlines in the world, Scandinavian Airlines is basically synonymous with quality. Punctuality and an easy claims process make flying with SAS a breeze and leave many passengers delighted and impressed.
One reviewer on TripAdvisor said that, after a late takeoff due to issues at the airport, they were going to miss their connection. However, SAS had them covered and had already booked them for later flights, giving them all the details before the first plane had even landed.
WestJet
On a mission to give their customers a memorable experience, WestJet has created charming Christmas videos since 2012 that have shown the true colors of this special airline.
This is not just a PR stunt, though. WestJet routinely gets excellent reviews when it comes to claim processing and in-flight service. This airline’s spirit of caring has even helped some customers find joy in flying again.