The majority of us will go straight to a flight comparison website when on the hunt for our next airfare. Some will even let the cheap flights select their destination for them. Others, on the opposite end of the spectrum, may stay true to an airline for decades – kind of like an allegiance to an automaker.
Even though most of us fall into the former category, there is something to be said for choosing experience over your bank account. What’s even better is that the airlines that consistently rank highest on the list aren’t inaccessible. Sure, we aren’t all sitting in seat 1A, but the latest rankings from Skytrax awarded at the 2017 Paris Air Show may help you make that decision when tossing up your carrier for next summer’s Euro trip.
Interesting to note, Asian airlines dominate the top half of the list with 9 out of 10 spots, and no U.S. airline has even cracked the top 30.
20. Asiana
Previous rank: 16
Modern fleet, excellent economy class
19. Air New Zealand
Previous rank: 17
Family friendly ‘skycouch’ economy configuration
18. Air France
Previous rank: 14
‘La Premiere’ first class suites, exceptional service
17. Austrian Airlines
Previous rank: 19
Consistently efficient, newly renovated fleet
16. Japan Airlines
Previous rank: 21
Best Economy Class Airline Seat 2017, well-coordinated ground staff
15. Qantas
Previous rank: 9
Holds its title as only accident-free carrier
14. Swiss International Airlines
Previous rank: 15
Friendly cabin crew, generous with alcoholic beverages and chocolate
13. Virgin Australia
Previous rank: 18
State-of-the-art infotainment systems, Best Australian Airline
12. Turkish Airlines
Previous rank: 7
Services over 100 countries, one of Europe’s finest
11. Thai Airways
Previous rank: 13
Known for premium First and Business cabins, but extends to economy also
10. Garuda Indonesia
Previous rank: 11
Best Cabin Crew for 2017
9. Hainan Airlines
Previous rank: 12
Only Chinese airline with 5-star Skytrax rating
8. Etihad Airways
Previous rank: 6
Exclusive ‘Residence’ flying apartments
7. Lufthansa
Previous rank: 10
Europe’s largest carrier, overall product quality remains high
6. EVA Air
Previous rank: 8
Taiwan-based airline known for the debut of the ‘premium economy’ cabin
5. Cathay Pacific
Previous rank: 4
One of Asia’s finest flying experiences, known for comfort and attention to detail
4. Emirates
Previous rank: 1
Despite dropping a few sizeable rankings, Emirates remains the benchmark for most
3. All Nippon Airways
Previous rank: 5
Home to the largest fleet of 787 Dreamliners
2. Singapore Airlines
Previous rank: 3
The best airline in Asia, above and beyond with service even in economy
1. Qatar Airways
Previous rank: 2
Supreme offerings overall, visit Skytrax for more details on each airline above.
