Best Airline In The World

northseatiger · Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:53 am

I've just been having an arguement with my old man as to what the best airline in the world is, he says Singapore airlines I say Cathay Pacific, what do you guys in A.Net thing ?

ssides · Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:55 am

American Airlines -- not only the world's largest, but the world's best.

PA110 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:58 am

NORTHSEATIGER,
What do you mean by "best airline in the world"? What criteria are you considering? Please define, otherwise a.net users will just list the usual unqualified favorite's list.

xjramper · Fri Feb 27, 2004 4:04 am

Best airline in terms of comfort: BA
Best airline in terms of IFE: Emerites(pardon the spelling)
Best airline geared towards business persons: CO, AA
Best in Pax services: NW

XJR

[Edited 2004-02-26 20:05:57]

rampmike · Fri Feb 27, 2004 4:10 am

Hooters Air - Need I say more?

Guest · Fri Feb 27, 2004 4:18 am

1. British Airways
2. Emirates
3. Qantas
4. SAA
5. American Airlines

Regards,

Milo

SR 103 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 4:45 am

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Swissair & pre 1996 Singapore Airlines
3. KLM
4. British Airways
5. Emirates

SR 103

slider · Fri Feb 27, 2004 5:12 am

BWAHAHAAA! Rampmike- a little levity in what is sure to be a contentious thread, hehe...

I second Hooters. Big grin

qantas747 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 9:32 am

Didn't ATWOnline recently vote Qantas as world's best? or am I mistaken, I saw it on the QF website in a media release.

Quite frankly I would agree that QF is the best, l thought I haven't tried them all!.

QANTAS747

kevin752 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 10:46 am

5 of my favorite airlines are as follows:
1. Lufthansa
2. Southwest Airlines
3. American Airlines
4. America West Airlines
5. United Airlines.
I like all of these because of their great service in all areas and for their IFe on all airlines except Southwest and America west ( i flew short flights and no entertainment was shown.)

CVGpilot · Fri Feb 27, 2004 10:52 am

In the USofA---------#1-CO, #2-USairways, #3-AA,

bongo · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:01 am

Hard question, but I guess BA, KLM, Singapore airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates

leviticus · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:03 am

Many dislike them but my absolute favorite is LH, Lufthansa has the best service, they are friendly, and in-flight service is great and I usually get great deals on fares together with many FF miles so Lufthansa gets my vote. I do not even care about their lack of PTVs Laugh out loud

NIKV69 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:04 am

USAirways? If you like paying high fares! Gordon Bethune has made CO a major player in the US. My favorite. As for the world that is a tough one, I would rank AA, Cathy Pacific and Singapore as the best.

Aerosvit · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:05 am

No doubt...British Airways...the worlds favorite (and best) airline.

prosa · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:11 am

Best airline if you're a shareholder - WN!

b741 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:22 am

The Name says it all: British Airways "The Worlds Favorite Airline"

flybynight · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:27 am

SAS ranks up there as well.

XJRamp - I guess NW has really improved if you'd rank them highest in passenger satisifaction. A few years ago I'd be happier flying as cargo on FedEx over going with NW. Of course that was a few years ago, so congrats for improving.

yxskip · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:28 am

Domestic- MIDWEST AIRLINES
International- LUFTHANSA
Caribbean- AIR JAMAICA

Spike · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:32 am

IMHO:

1. Vietnam Airlines
2. BA
3. Air Macau
4. Swiss International
5. Finnair

JAL777 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:41 am

My vote goes to Air Koryo...

Spike · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:50 am

Yes, that is a fantastic sight indeed. I flew OK-CSA's IL-62M from Prague to Bombay, superb.

sw733 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:56 am

A lot of people have said bad stuff about them, but my vote goes to AF. Very very comfortable A340's, great food, great IFE...good stuff all around

AMERICAN757 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 1:11 pm

Okay, now I know my member name is American757, but I have to say United. Within the past year I have flown United, Continental, and Northwest, and United has been the best as far as their service, people, and professionalism. Continental I would have to say tied with them. Since me n my cousin were by ourselves the flight attendant would talk to us since were were delayed 4 hrs and made sure we had plenty of food (pretzels and mc donalds), she was there to make sure we met our parents at the gate and they even had a little conversation before she was to board the flight back to houston. Northwest had friendly and really grouchy people mixed around. Some were really nice, then there were two mean flight attendants on the MEM-IAH leg of the flight. The gate lady was really really snobby to me, but thats another semi long story for another time. I dont know if I will ever fly Northwest again. I am trying to stay loyal to my home airline when I can. But were goin on Delta in March Sad

VHTAE · Fri Feb 27, 2004 2:14 pm

Qantas, I have never had a problem with them.

chrisrad · Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:48 pm

1.Malaysia Airlines
2.Singapore Airlines
3.Emirates
4.Cathay Pacific
5.Air New Zealand

Waiting for the SKYTRAX airline of the year announcment sometime March....

TBCITDG · Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:55 pm

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Malaysia Airlines
3. Emirates
4. Qantas
5. British Airways

saintsman · Fri Feb 27, 2004 5:04 pm

I seem to remember a poll in the UK voting a small airline in Bournemouth, England called Palmair the best in Britain.

http://wuk1.ciao.com/Palmair_European__Review_5123619

Note that the chairman likes to be present for every departure!

VonRichtofen · Fri Feb 27, 2004 5:09 pm

Who actually gets the OAG airline of the year award? Isn't it usually SQ? I could be mistaken but I do know that SQ blows away anything we have in North America.

JGPH1A · Fri Feb 27, 2004 5:58 pm

Re: My vote goes to Air Koryo...

Yes, but do they have PTV's in Economy ? I think we should start a thread about it and whinge excessively - maybe they have 50 year old DC9's as well... score !

azncsa4qf744er · Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:56 pm

Qantas Airways of Australia is the best.
Best Ground Service.
Best In-Flight Service.
Best-overall Airlines.

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © James Evans

Guest · Fri Feb 27, 2004 7:06 pm

@Sliders : American is best airline in the world?
We say: They may be a big one - but not a great one Wink/being sarcastic

Sorry for that but I think you made a joke.

kalakaua · Fri Feb 27, 2004 7:06 pm

There is no such thing as "Best Airline In The World," but if I had to choose, it would have to be... sorry, I can't decide. In my opinion, there are several Airlines I know that deserve the title and recognition.

AMM744 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 7:28 pm

"American Airlines -- not only the world's largest, but the world's best"

Ssides - you've got to be kidding, as much as I like AA they are just average at best.

He asked for our opinions on "The" best airline not your best 3 or 5.

So, if there's only one to choose from as an all rounder I would have to choose BA as they serve more international destinations than anyone else.

They also have an awesome First and Biz class, though not necessarily the best.

I'm not just favouring BA because I'm British, that would be just too typically arrogant (something we're world famous for !) and smug, but mainly because they have such a wide route structure, amazingly diverse fleet and great but not the best service.

I would have said SQ but they just don't have the worldwide route structure.

AirGAbon · Fri Feb 27, 2004 7:55 pm

My vote goes to Air France.... Good food, champagne (even in Economy Class), PTVs are OK and very cute and elegant FAs....

keno · Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:14 pm

It would be biased for listing down just a handful of airlines that you've flown with, so of course airlines like AF, BA, CX, SQ etc will crop out time and time again. So the topic should be rephrased as "Best Airline in The World That I've Flown With". What about airlines that not many people have the chance to fly with? I heard Air Tahiti Nui is not bad either.

AMM744 · Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:17 pm

I bet they have some truly stunning FA's too, polynesian looks and manners, wow what a combination.

Anyone flown on Air Tahiti Nui ?

BMAbound · Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:41 pm

SAS is quite a classy airline, but BA or NW wins in my book.

regards,

johan

anxebla · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:16 am

In Europe:BA,AF,IB
In Africa:SA
In Asia/Pacific:MH,SQ,CX,KE,JL and QF
In America:LA
By:a good and new (average) fleet.Good network.Good maintenance.Good service.

bluethunder · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:35 am

I dont think you can just name best airline. You can name your favorite. However, you here are a few airlines that constantly get good reviews and also get many awards. In that order airlines like
Singapour, Emirates, British airways, KLM, Malasian and Cathy have been always in the news. i have flown all the above and the experiance has been excellent except with Cathy Cacificpic. It was a little surprising. They might have had a bad day - i dont know.

thaiaggie · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:41 am

1. Singapore airlines
2. Air NEw Zealand
3. Cathay Pacific
4. THAI (great food)
5. Finnair

Spike · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:48 am

As a rough count here: BA are in the lead, followed by AF and close behind AA. I still say you are all wrong though, VN rules.

SJU767 · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:50 am

My vote is:
1. CO
2. QF
3. SQ
4. UX
5. VS

Spike · Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:58 am

Air Europa of Spain #4? u r joking?

anxebla · Sat Feb 28, 2004 5:23 am

....sure Spike,hahaha.SJU767 must be joking Laugh out loud

Skyguy · Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:32 am

Thats a tough question, each one of the often mentioned airlines compete fiercely for the top slot but being a frequent flyer for 30 years I have found inconsistency amongst the top airlines their biggest enemy. BA & SQ have more all around achievements, but they too are victims of their own success due to their size (..often, their left hand does not know what thier right hand is doing.) The smaller airlines like SAS are also noteworthy.
The US airlines simply do not make it, very erratic and flight crew are like school teachers, constantly telling you what to do or not do and indifferent ground staff, flying within the US is like being on a greyhound bus with wings.

In my (humble) opinion, the best airline would have the following traits;

Efficiency like Lufthansa
Comfortable seating like British Airways
In-flight meals like Swissair
In-flight drinks like Air France
Friendly flight crew from Singapore Airlines
On-time performance like JAL
Competent ground crew like SAS
Frequent Flyer program like American Airlines
Clean aircraft like Emirates
Baggage handling like Lufthansa
Safety like Qantas
....and fares like Iran-Air.

soamsky · Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:42 am

Anxebla
"In Europe:BA,AF,IB"

Sorry, but Iberia does not qualify here.

aussie747 · Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:59 am

Is this awarded by personal opinion or by awards. If it is based on awards we at least know these are official. That way there can be no arguements (except for those who by opinion do not like the result)

The two main awards for best airline are usually from Air Transport World (ATW) and Skytrax.

The 2004 award by ATW for best airline in the world was: "QANTAS"

The 2003 award by Skytrax for best airline in the world was "CATHAY PACIFIC"
(2004 award results should be released around mid MARCH)

Of course there are many other misceallaneous awards such as best cabin crew, best lounge etc.

anxebla · Sat Feb 28, 2004 8:08 am

SoAmSky....
That's your opinion.I've the own mine.

PA110 · Sat Feb 28, 2004 8:24 am

Sorry Anxebla, I have to agree as well. It's great to support your national carrier, but you shouldn't let nationalism get in the way of rational judgement. IB is terrible. Not only rude and unhelpful service inflight but also on the ground as well. I have had nothing but problems with IB in the USA. Customer service staff refuse to address legitimate complaints, and sale staff can't even take a pee without permission from Madrid!!!

While I applaud them for getting their financial act together, they still have a very long way to go in getting their service standards back up to expectations.

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