This Is the Best Airline in the World
When it comes to flying, the term “enjoyable” doesn’t quite come to mind. Manageable, maybe. Necessary evil, perhaps. But there may be one airline in the world better described by that first term: Qatar Airways.
According to Skytrax,, the company that announces the World Airline Awards every year, the Middle Eastern airline is the global best. What put it there? Impeccable service, a variety of destinations (it flies to over 160 cities worldwide) and a phenomenal business class.
In business class, guests are treated with spa products from Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, including lip balm, moisturizer, and face mist. And when it's time to fall asleep on those long haul flights, you can wrap yourself in a sleeper suit and slippers from London leisure and linen brand, The White Company. LED lights pulsate above to help you beat the jet lag.
But that’s only if you have time to doze off. For business travelers needing to, well, conduct business, some flights offer suites with doors and media panels—so you can present that powerpoint if you want to. For families, these spaces can be used to eat or just hang out together.
In first class, the luxury is really piled on: think food served whenever you want it, caviar service served on Italian Crystal, vintage wines, and lay flat beds with frette linens.
Although menus differ from flight to flight, Qatar boasts that they offer “cuisine designed by the best chefs in the world.”
Economy class riders get above-average legroom and, soon, a lot more: Qatar announced that they are currently revamping their seats to include two tray tables, adjustable headrests, and more "shin and knee clearance" (tall flyers everywhere, rejoice).
This is the fifth time Qatar Airways has been awarded the prestigious honor. Last year, the top spot went to this year’s second place winner, Singapore Airlines. In fall 2018, the Asian airline launched the longest flight in the world between Newark and Singapore.
There’s not much good news for those in the United States—no American airlines managed to break the top 10. But United did win for Best Business Class Lounge. Their Polaris lounges, available in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, and San Francisco, offer amenities like showers with Sunday Riley products, daybeds, and restaurant-style food service. They also offer a cocktail menu with a signature drink: The Paper Plane, with bourbon, jasmine honey, Amaro Nonino, Aperol, chamomile honey and lemon. It is garnished with (you guessed it) a paper plane.
And hey—at least JFK now has the TWA Hotel.
Originally Appeared on Vogue
