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The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 1:46 am
by jetblue777
Currently their are 6 5-tar Airline in the world by Skyrax: OZ, CX, SQ, QR, MH and IT. What airline do you think will be the next 5-star airline? IMO, TG has a pretty good chance, but they need to refurbish their aging 747s. ANA could also be the next one. BTW, do you think that there will be a European/American 5-star airline? So far, the 5-Star Club is an all-Asian club. Maybe an airline from SA,Africa or Australia perhaps? thanks.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:13 am
by sw733
Looking at the list of 4-star airlines on Skytrax, I would agree that probably ANA has the best bet to be the next 5-star one. Air Berlin's growth, also, provides a positive direction to move towards 5-star status, but I have less faith that this would occur.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:34 pm
by initious
How about airlines like QF and NZ? Also, I do not think TG will stand a chance as of yet. Besides refurbishing their aging 747s, they also need to serve better food and have better service in the premium cabins to get that 5* rating. Middle eastern airlines like EK and EY.. Do they stand a chance?
Lastly, GA (Garuda Indonesia) stated on their website that they want to become the next 5* airline by 2014, which I actually doubt so even though they actually have improved by tons in the last few years.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 1:24 pm
by SR4ever
US airlines seem miles away from 5-star, and I don't see any chance that any of them joining that tier anytime soon. New United might qualify though, depending on how the UA/CO product is to be merged and upgraded thereafter, but it will take time.
In Europe, TK I think, is the closest one to 5-star, on condition that they deliver various limited improvements on longhaul flights, and that they upgrade in a consistent way their short/medium haul product.
Otherwise, LX could qualify within a reasonable time, on condition that they:
- deliver a few limited upgrades in Longhaul J (besides the 343 J refurbishment);
- upgrade their F product on 343s to the same standards as on 333s, and offer complimentary chauffeur services as Gulf airlines do
- make a thorough review of their Y product (food, IFE) and maybe introduce a Y+ cabin
- make various upgrades on their European product, possibly with a Y+ cabin, and an enhanced J cabin
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:33 pm
by sw733
JetBlue is 4-star, but besides them nobody is even close in my book...and JetBlue still has a long way to go, in my mind, to reach 5-star
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:17 pm
by PlaneHunter
Air New Zealand is a good guess - and I would also add Oman Air to the list:
The Next 5* Carrier? MUC-MCT-DXB, Oman Air A330 (by PlaneHunter Mar 25 2010 in Trip Reports)
PH
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:47 pm
by sw733
I've heard good things about Oman Air...I only ever get to fly them short haul, but I have always been impressed...I can only imagine good things about their long haul service.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:53 pm
by PlaneHunter
Quoting sw733 (Reply 6): I've heard good things about Oman Air...I only ever get to fly them short haul, but I have always been impressed...I can only imagine good things about their long haul service. |
I have read somethere that they are also planning to refurbish the 738 cabins, so this may be another step upwards.
PH
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 3:36 am
by ZKSUJ
Correct me, by by 5 star I'm presuming people mean by skytrax standards. In that case the likes of NZ are out as they do not have a first class cabin (one of the reqs for a 5 star carrier). So regardless how good these guys are, they wont make the 'grade'
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:44 pm
by Aviacsa737
A European airline, MAYBE. Someone like Virgin Atlantic, BA, or LH possibly. US carrier? Not until hell freezes over. They neither care about what customers think regarding their products, certainly not in Y, nor desire to have a high star rating, they prefer 3 or lower, or just dont care. B6 is the only one that even makes it to 4. Not even UA/CO will make it. Not so long at they continue nickling and diming passengers, which the 5-star airlines do NOT. Besides they could never get their inflight staff to ever be as nice, helpful or caring as the Asian or even some European carriers. Niceness tends not to be a big part of American culture.
[Edited 2010-08-31 05:45:17]
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:57 pm
by SR4ever
Quoting Aviacsa737 (Reply 9): Niceness tends not to be a big part of American culture. |
It used to be, at least at TW, PA and DL...
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:18 pm
by jetblue777
Quoting ZKSUJ (Reply 8): Correct me, by by 5 star I'm presuming people mean by skytrax standards. In that case the likes of NZ are out as they do not have a first class cabin (one of the reqs for a 5 star carrier). So regardless how good these guys are, they wont make the 'grade' |
Actually, IT only has J and Y.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:59 am
by initious
I wanted to comment on that but since IT brands their J class as "Kingfisher First" I got sort of confused. I assume having F Class is not a compulsory element to be considered as a 5-Star airline?
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:19 am
by jpetekyxmd80
My prediction would be Etihad.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:25 pm
by AirbusA6
I'm surprised MH is on that list, as to me they don't seem obviously better than most of the 4 star airlines, their 747s are looking very shabby these days.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:41 pm
by jetblue777
Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 14): I'm surprised MH is on that list, as to me they don't seem obviously better than most of the 4 star airlines, their 747s are looking very shabby these days.
|
Exactly. I was reading a lot of MH passenger reviews in Skytrax and most of them are bad to mediocre reviews, there's rarely a perfect 10. Their J class isn't lie flat and their Y class is just old. Plus their fleet is really old compared to other 5-Star Airlines. There are a handful of 4-Star airlines that is actually better (in terms of product) than MH like NH, JL, NZ or even QF. But their crew is voted as the best, so that's MH's forte.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:49 am
by ZKSUJ
Apologies, I stand corrected
Quoting JetBlue777 (Reply 15): There are a handful of 4-Star airlines that is actually better (in terms of product) than MH like NH, JL, NZ or even QF. But their crew is voted as the best, so that's MH's forte. |
When I travelled MH last year on 4 trips, their crews IMO were nothing outstanding. Of course I was down the back in cattle class so I would not have had the 'full' experience. My flights on the NZ A320 were leaps and bounds ahead of the MH 744, 333 or 734
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:51 pm
by Woof
Quoting JetBlue777 (Reply 15): Exactly. I was reading a lot of MH passenger reviews in Skytrax and most of them are bad to mediocre reviews, there's rarely a perfect 10. Their J class isn't lie flat and their Y class is just old. Plus their fleet is really old compared to other 5-Star Airlines. There are a handful of 4-Star airlines that is actually better (in terms of product) than MH like NH, JL, NZ or even QF. But their crew is voted as the best, so that's MH's forte. |
Flown 4 13hr+ plus segments with MH in the last year (cattle class unfortunately) and have to agree the 744s are getting out of date. Their onboard staff are very good (certainly in comparison to many european and most US carriers), but IMHO this is no way makes up for their equipment shortcomings. Surprised they maintain a 5* status.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:36 pm
by TBloemink
Quoting initious (Reply 2): How about airlines like QF and NZ? Also, I do not think TG will stand a chance as of yet. Besides refurbishing their aging 747s, they also need to serve better food and have better service in the premium cabins to get that 5* rating. Middle eastern airlines like EK and EY.. Do they stand a chance? |
TG says they fly a 777-300 with AVOD from BKK to DXB and without any notice we are sitting in a 772 with no AVOD (overhead TV's) with a broken projector, watching movies from the middle of the cabin on a overhead TV on the bulkhead which is the size of a regular AVOD. No, I don't think they'll be 5 star.
EK will make a good chance, when something is broken (like a dripping air conditioning on the ground in A388 A6-EDE) they try to fix it before departure and the service is much better than TG.
Also QF is a good carrier, definitely making a chance.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:43 pm
by DutchBoeing
Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 14): I'm surprised MH is on that list, as to me they don't seem obviously better than most of the 4 star airlines, their 747s are looking very shabby these days. |
Quoting ZKSUJ (Reply 16): Exactly. I was reading a lot of MH passenger reviews in Skytrax and most of them are bad to mediocre reviews, there's rarely a perfect 10. Their J class isn't lie flat and their Y class is just old. Plus their fleet is really old compared to other 5-Star Airlines. There are a handful of 4-Star airlines that is actually better (in terms of product) than MH like NH, JL, NZ or even QF. But their crew is voted as the best, so that's MH's forte. |
I flew
AMS-
KUL-
BKK-
KUL-
DPS-
KUL-
AMS on
MH this summer in C and they definatively do NOT deserve 5 star status. I'm not going to trash them, they are ok, but not 5 atar: C-class seats are indeed not lie-flat, it seems pretty much the same seat as on
KL or
AF. Food is good, not great. Staff was ok, nice, nothing super and planes simply look old and worn now: B744 and B734 especially. Seats on B734 were wide, but leg room was total crap and they were very worn and a bit dirty. No glamour there!
AF is actually a much better airline. I find them quite stylish and their cabins are quite new. Crew not too friendly though generally. Food usually quite good and imaginative (on long haul that is, EU flights in C-class are quite poor food wise - they should improve that!). So perhaps
AF??? Probably not, as they don't seem to care: eventhough I really like
AF, under the influence of KLM
AF is cutting costs wherever they can on service, I do notice that a lot. They are on the way down, not up... Let's not even speak about KLM's RUINED product!!! (Sorry, a bit of topic, but I am so frustrated those @#*%-beancounters at KLM have ruined a once great airline when it came to customer service - perhaps I'll start a threat about that!
).
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:50 am
by RyanairGuru
Mine too. Without a shadow of a doubt they are the best airline I've ever flown.
AUH was a hole and even the lounges were less-than-average but
EY now operates from the new terminal so hopefully things have improved. In the air though they are a class apart....
I've only ever heard bad-to-indifferent things about
MH and
CX, and in my experience
SQ were mediocre. Therefore I'm really not sure that 5 star status is all that it's hyped up to be. I think
EK are above
SQ, but that is only from my experiences with both and I know a lot of people would disagree.
Of the traditional western legacy airlines IMHO
NZ and
QF are the two most likely to make it anytime soon, especially the former.
QF have a good product but I think they should improve their catering (in fact I think they have improved over the past 12 months but there's still room to improve).
BA would be my third guess, especially with their new First, Y+ and Y cabins.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:29 pm
by TravelR
I do not think an American or European carrier will be the next to be a 5 star carrier. They lack an essential part of what makes a 5 star carrier, their service.
BA was once a 5 star carrier on Skytrax but lost a star due to service. I think they are then only carrier to drop from 5 to 4. Even with new hardware, unless they can improve on providing consistent service in all cabins then I do not think they can make it back to 5.
I also think
EY have the potential but they need to get their service consistency under control. I flew them and they varied wildly from the really nice to mediocre. If they can fix this then the sky is the limit as they have hardware in place. Same can be said for
EK as well.
I would also agree
NZ reaching 5 stars too. They nearly have the whole package. Their new 'Skycouch' looks like an innovative idea and their new premium economy looks great. This could propel their ratings there. Service levels are high with them.
QF on the other hand is a mixed bag with service. So I don't think they will make it.
If
TG improved their hardware then maybe they would have a shot. Then again
OZ don't seem to have the best products on board either but their service levels are extremely high. If only every airline's service levels were that high! I actually think their service was higher than
SQ's.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:25 pm
by jetblue777
Quoting travelR (Reply 21): BA was once a 5 star carrier on Skytrax but lost a star due to service. I think they are then only carrier to drop from 5 to 4. Even with new hardware, unless they can improve on providing consistent service in all cabins then I do not think they can make it back to 5. |
Wow, I didn't know that
BA was once a 5-star airline, thanks for that info.
Quoting travelR (Reply 21): If TG improved their hardware then maybe they would have a shot. Then again OZ don't seem to have the best products on board either but their service levels are extremely high. If only every airline's service levels were that high! I actually think their service was higher than SQ's.
|
OZ's product is pretty nice, however, their J Class is far behind the others. Like you said, their service is impeccable and that's what put them on top. And yes
OZ has better service than
SQ,
SQ's service can feel robotic at times.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 10:39 pm
by andaman
Quoting travelR (Reply 21): I do not think an American or European carrier will be the next to be a 5 star carrier |
True... the current European 4* airlines by Skytrax ranking:
Air Berlin
Air France
Austrian
British Airways
Finnair
Lufthansa
Swiss
Turkish Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Have to say I was surprised seeing
AB there.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:04 pm
by TravelR
Star Ranking time!
The latest 2010 Star Ranking reviews begin September, as Skytrax conduct analysis across hundreds of airlines. Amidst predictions that change to the exclusive 5-Star Airline group might occur, Skytrax state that 2-3 airlines are under consideration for this status, plus possible change amongst existing top-ranked airlines.
This has been added to the Skytrax website. I wonder which airlines they may be adding but more importantly, who are they looking to drop as they have state possible changes amongst existing airlines?
Quoting JetBlue777 (Thread starter): I flew AMS-KUL-BKK-KUL-DPS-KUL-AMS on MH this summer in C and they definatively do NOT deserve 5 star status. |
With comments like this,
MH might be under threat.
Cheers,
Rob
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:55 pm
by 474218
Quoting JetBlue777 (Thread starter): Currently their are 6 5-tar Airline in the world by Skyrax: OZ, CX, SQ, QR, MH and IT. |
As far as I can determine there was only one "Five Star Airline"?
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Photo © Gerhard Plomitzer
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:45 pm
by toptravel
How
TG/SQ/MH make it to Five Star is beyond me. Just had two long sectors with
SQ in B/C nothing special there, had 4 with
MH last year and two with
TG earlier this year, same thing, none of them come anywhere near
QR. I would say Oman is the next one to make it up there.
AMerican carriers not likely, way to many "Bean Counters" to give anything like decent service. The days of Pan Am and TWA have long gone, sadly.
RE: The Next 5-Star Airline
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:10 am
by initious
Quoting toptravel (Reply 26): How TG/SQ/MH make it to Five Star is beyond me. Just had two long sectors with SQ in B/C nothing special there, had 4 with MH last year and two with TG earlier this year, same thing, none of them come anywhere near QR. I would say Oman is the next one to make it up there. |
TG is only a 4-star airline, not 5-star. I don't have anything to say about
MH since I've not flown them before but out of all the flights I've had with
SQ none of them disappointed me and I remember all of them clearly with the great food and service.