The 2010 World Airline Awards

[thekfc]

The Awards have just been announced for 2010.

http://www.airlinequality.com/

AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2010
1.   Asiana Airlines
2.   Singapore Airlines
3.   Qatar Airways
4.   Cathay Pacific  (Last year's #1)
5.   Air New Zealand
6.   Etihad Airways
7.   Qantas Airways
8.   Emirates
9.   Thai Airways
10.  Malaysia Airline

Best transpacific airline 1. CATHAY 2. SINGAPORE 3. ASIANA
Best airline ASIA 1. ASIANA 2. SINGAPORE 3. CATHAY
Best low cost airline 1. AIR ASIA 2.  AIR BERLIN 3. VIRGIN BLUE
Best Low-Cost Airline Asia 1. AIRASIA 2. JETSTAR AIRWAYS 3. TIGER AIRWAYS
Best regional airline 1. DRAGONAIR 2. SILKAIR 3. THAI AIRWAYS
Best airline south east Asia 1. SINGAPORE 2. THAI 3. MALAYSIAN
Staff Service Excellence Asia 1.MALAYSIA AIRLINES 2. ASIANA AIRLINES 3. SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Best Inflight entertainment 1. EMIRATES 2. SINGAPORE 3. VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Best cabin staff 1. SINGAPORE 2. MALAYSIAN 3. ASIANA
Best 1st Class 1. ETIHAD 2. SINGAPORE 3. QANTAS
Best business class 1. QATAR 2. SINGAPORE 3. ETIHAD
Best economy class 1. MALAYSIAN 2. QATAR 3. SINGAPORE
Best 1st class lounge 1. THAI 2. QANTAS 3. QATAR
Best BIZ class lounge 1. VIRGIN ATLANTIC 2. British Airways 3. QATAR
Best catering First class 1. ETIHAD 2. CATHAY 3. SINGAPORE
Best catering biz class 1. QATAR 2. AUSTRIAN 3. SINGAPORE
Best catering Y (economy) class 1. TURKISH 2. ETIHAD 3. QATAR
Best seats F class 1. ETIHAD 2. SINGAPORE 3. EMIRATES
Best seats biz class 1. SINGAPORE 2. KINGFISHER 3. QATAR
Best seats Y(economy) class 1. KINGFISHER 2. ASIANA .3 QATAR
Most Improved Airline 1.GARUDA INDONESIA 2. HAINAN AIRLINES 3. OMAN AIR

5 Star Airlines:   
 A 5-Star ranking recognizes the highest standard of Product across the different quality assessment categories, and consistently high standards of Staff Service delivery in Onboard and Airport environments.

Asiana Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Kingfisher Airlines Malaysia Airlines
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines

4 Star Airlines:
Notables:
ANA All Nippon Airways
Bangkok Airways
British Airways
China Airlines
Dragonair
Emirates
Etihad Airways
EVA Air
Japan Airlines
Korean Air
Qantas Airways
Thai Airways
 
3 Star Airlines:
Notables:
American Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
Philippine Airlines - scored high on onboard services & cabin staff, but low on transfer services, arrival assistance, online check-in & handling delays/cancellations (all for Manila). They ranked higher for economy class than business class.

[thekfc]

WORLD'S TOP 10 AIRPORTS 2010
   
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Hong Kong International Airport
4. Munich Airport
5. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
6. Zurich Airport
7. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
8. Beijing Capital International Airport
9. Auckland Int'l Airport
10. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
   

[thekfc]

BEST AIRPORT IMMIGRATION SERVICE
1. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
2. Beijing Capital International Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport

BEST AIRPORT WASHROOMS
1. Hong Kong International Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Kansai International Airport

BEST AIRPORT TERMINAL CLEANLINESS
1. Zurich Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Beijing Capital International Airport

BEST AIRPORT BAGGAGE DELIVERY
1.Zurich Airport
2. Copenhagen Airport
3. Kansai Airport

BEST AIRPORT SECURITY PROCESSING
1. Beijing Capital International Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3.Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

BEST AIRPORT SHOPPING
1. London Heathrow Airport
2. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport

BEST AIRPORT DINING
1. Hong Kong International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Munich Airport

BEST INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT AIRPORT
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Munich Airport

[Capstone]

No big surprises from that list as my best flying experiences have always been with the Asian carriers. Although I have never flown Asiana Airlines myself I always hear from those that have that it is top-notch. I have flown Singapore, Cathay and Drangonair,  which are all on the lists and have never had a bad experience on any of those - I would rank those as my top 3 picks. I have also had good experiences on Korean, ANA and a host of Chinese airlines as well. The only Asian carrier that I have ever had a truly bad experience with is JAL.

[thekfc]

I too wasn't too surprise but I was hoping to see an American based airline name somewhere in there.

Also looking at the North American region - the winners were either Westjet (Canadian based) or Virgin America.

[Dave H]

I suppose my favorite airline, German Zeppelin Transport Company, wouldn't do well on their list! Here is a great page for anyone that is interested in airships. http://www.airships.net/

[robert angel]

Hard to believe Cathay was rated the "Airline of the year" last year and number 4 this year. Their Los Angeles staff was absurdly horrible when they lost our luggage and their so called 'compensation' was so low as to be insulting--we never even took it. Because my wife is a Filipina, they treated her poorly, but were nicer to me, which only made me madder.

My wife flew ahead of me by a few weeks to the RP and her luggage was over a week late getting to her. It was lost in Hong Kong, their home base and they still couldn't find it, even though it sat in the same place for a week. 19 out of 20 times, the LA phone number listed to handle lost luggage issues, which was absurdly hard to find to begin with, didn't work.

The number I initially got  on Google for Cathay L.A. customer service linked me to a porno sex call site. When I finally got an actual number for Cathay (from another airline!) it was almost always busy or just was not answered.

Never again....

And for 'in the air' service and amenities, PAL beats them hands down.

[thekfc]

I cannot speak for PAL because I have never flown on them.  But I have had great experience with the following airlines that I have flown on - Cathay, British Airways, Virgin.

One of Ahya's sister & also a co-worker of mine (who both travel to must of Asia) hate flying on the following airlines; PAL, Thai & JAL. Their number #1 choice - Singapore Airlines. So we all have different experience & preferences.

>>The number I initially got  on Google for Cathay L.A. customer service linked me to a porno sex call site. When I finally got an actual number for Cathay (from another airline!) it was almost always busy or just was not answered.<<  Maybe they gave you the call center number which reroute your call to HK.. 

One thing I recently did was to join the MPC which gives me priority boarding and priority check-in and also a separate customer service #.
I use to have the BA exec club but I let it expired - I should have renewed it.

[william3rd]

I have flown Cathay for over 10 years. The lounges are awesome, the food superb. You will never find a US carrier here because they try to foist their poor service internationally and it just doesnt "fly."

Interesting the take on treatment of Filipinos by the chinese. There is a pecking order/hierarchy among the asian races and the PI is not "top tier."

[Dave H]

And for 'in the air' service and amenities, PAL beats them hands down.

No complaints about PAL either. I prefer to use them when I can! They alway treat me like the Big Kahuna...that I am!

Dave

[evoltnvii]

No complaints about PAL either. I prefer to use them when I can! They alway treat me like the Big Kahuna...that I am!

Dave

wow dave nice banana hammock is that a leopard print?

I loved my flight on a korean air 747 from LAX to korea it was comfortable quiet and good in-flight entertainment. every other flight with them was crap i wanted to commit suicide every moment.

[Capstone]

I loved my flight on a korean air 747 from LAX to korea it was comfortable quiet and good in-flight entertainment.

I'm glad that you had a good flight on a 747 but I really hate those old things and try avoid them at all costs. Every time that I ride on one I know that I am in for a bumpy ride - those things just don't handle turbulence too well. And unless you sit upstairs they are much louder than the newer planes. Most airlines have been phasing them out of their fleets and so really don't upkeep them too well as far as amenity upgrades go. I am a 777 guy myself - I try to book all my overseas flights on one of those whenever I can. 

[robert angel]

My airplane from hell ride was a leg from Japan to LAX on a DC 10 stretch. I sat over the wing, wedged against the window by a 400 pound Chinese woman, who spoke incessantly--no sleep possible. That plane is noisy and shakes enough already, but there was a lot of turbulance and it was just a wicked, awful trip--I was off kilter for a couple days after.

[thekfc]

The most uncomfortable ride I had was on a Continental flight from NYC to Columbia, SC - that was on my way to Augusta, GA.

My long haul flights are on 777-300 or 777-300ER.
For this current flight I could have gotten a seat with extra legroom for free but I didn't choose it. There were baby bassinets near it & I wouldn't want to spend 15+ hours sitting near a crying baby, plus I didn't need it - I am a short guy.

 

[Bob_S]

My airplane from hell ride was a leg from Japan to LAX on a DC 10 stretch. I sat over the wing, wedged against the window by a 400 pound Chinese woman, who spoke incessantly--no sleep possible. That plane is noisy and shakes enough already, but there was a lot of turbulance and it was just a wicked, awful trip--I was off kilter for a couple days after.

Oh man, when you hit turbulence, it don't matter what airplane you're on or what airline you fly.  When we flew out of Narita in January, it had rained the day before.  So as we flew out of Japan, we went over the storm that had just hit the day before.  Normally, the bigger the plane, the smoother the ride because you have greater inertia the winds have to overcome in order to buffet you this way and that.  But still, for an hour, I felt like a dice in a yahtzee cup.

[Ray]

Turbulence shmurbulence!

I flew on a C-118 prop-job out of San Diego to Hawaii and that sucker bounced up & down, and all around for over 3 hours of the flight. Passengers were bouncing off of the ceiling and you could hear people praying out loud. But I couldn’t complain because it was free… 

Speaking of leg room, The most leg room I ever had on a flight was probably at leaast 10 feet in either direction. That was on a C-141 with only 3 passengers. Nice smooth flight from Andersen AFB on Guam to Clark AFB in the Philippines, where again the cost was zero. 

Ray

[Jeff S]

My flight from hell was in a Pan Am 707 from Haneda to Osaka after a great flight from LAX to Haneda in a 747SP. Caught the edge of a typhoon, right as we were passing over Mt. Fuji. Since it was a working 707, PanAm airlines, and I landed in Haneda instead of Narita, you can tell it was a long while ago. Probably not as long ago as Ray's C-118 story though. I'm guessing we were still in Viet Nam when that happened.

[Ray]

Probably not as long ago as Ray's C-118 story though. I'm guessing we were still in Viet Nam when that happened.

No, 1975

Yeah, the 707 was a good plane!

[william3rd]

just flew Cathay. brand new 777 ER LAX to BKK. They have really let their tourist class slump food and service wise. The new seats are awesome and each seat has a power plug. I saw book of Eli, The Road, and 20 minutes of Alice in W before I turned it off.
 
I can definitely seewhere Cathay Pacific has slumped.

[thekfc]

just flew Cathay. brand new 777 ER LAX to BKK. They have really let their tourist class slump food and service wise. The new seats are awesome and each seat has a power plug. I saw book of Eli, The Road, and 20 minutes of Alice in W before I turned it off.
 
I can definitely seewhere Cathay Pacific has slumped.

Yep, I have heard that their economy class menu have slum a bit, I think J & F menu have stayed the same or gone up in quality. You can also order your meals ahead of time.. Also

This is  was I can remember getting flying out of JFK:
Brunch
Fruit yogurt, Stir-fried beef with oyster sauce, steamed rice and mixed vegetables, Banana nut muffin & Orange Juice & a snack bag.

Lunch
Smoked salmon with celeriac salad, steamed chicken with mushrooms, steamed rice and mixed vegetables, orange Juice & Tiramisuand also another snack bag.

Flying back to NYC - I remember the following:
(I had a seat/class change - a family wanted to sit together with their baby)
Caviar, prawns with cherry tomato salad and vinaigrette, sauteed beef with mushrooms/oyster sauce, steamed Jasmine rice and Chinese mixed vegetable, baked blueberry cheese cake with raspberries, congee with some kind of veggies.
Wine & Champagne was offered but I choose orange Juice.

There were a few other dished/snacks but I forgot what they were.

I also think that they change their travel amenity kits.
This is what I got leaving from HKG:
Agnès b. Dark Green Double Zip Pouch, Murad Man Face Defense, Murad Hydro-dynamic Skin Tonic, Murad Green Tea Lip Balm SPF 15, Agnès b. toothbrush, eyeshade, haircomb and shoehorn, Toothpaste, mouthwash, earplugs and socks.

Each class & sex get a different kit.
Someone told me you now have to ask for the kit - I am not sure for which class you have to ask.

I also love their new seats.

[william3rd]

inbound to HKK- no emenity kit provided
 
first meal lunch- salad, stir fry chicken w vegies and rice. Bluberry cheesecake. you can tell by the one blueberry in the cheese cake

second meal- croissant sausage & egg  sandwich and yogurt.

midflight snack- apples, cup o noodles

100 movies on the tv though

[Dave H]

Flight(s) from (to) hell...sitting on a milk crate with the cargo to the Carribean and L.A.

Dave

[robert angel]

Regrading Cathay and :

""Flying back to NYC - I remember the following:
(I had a seat/class change - a family wanted to sit together with their baby)
Caviar, prawns with cherry tomato salad and vinaigrette, sauteed beef with mushrooms/oyster sauce, steamed Jasmine rice and Chinese mixed vegetable, baked blueberry cheese cake with raspberries, congee with some kind of veggies.
Wine & Champagne was offered but I choose orange Juice.

There were a few other dished/snacks but I forgot what they were.""

It was almost two years ago that we flew Cathay. My wife flew before me and it was over a week before they found her luggage in Hong Kong and as I recall, they tried to offer her like $31 to compensate for going eight days w/o most of her 'stuff' and having to go out and buy new things.

There lost luggage support was like a sci fi nightmare that probably wasted  8 hours of my time. I told them to flip off with their offer and they said they'd send us a $100 credit towards future airfare, which never came.

I don't remember caviar or prawns--was that economy class? The food was decent--better than US carriers, but that's not saying much. I can not ever recommend Cathay again.

 If was one person who was inept or one person who was rude to my wife, I might feel different, but it was several people consistently and an inept system stateside  and in the  RP in terms of infrastructure-----more precisely, a lack thereof...

[thekfc]

I was looking at some of the differences between the Asian Airlines & the American/domestic ones & I started thinking about all the extra fees that some of the airlines charge customers..

Meals: Continental, Delta, AA, United & US Airways and a few other airlines all charge you for meals.
Some give you free meals & snacks on & also allow you to request special meals ahead of time.
Sleep set (pillows & blankets):Some airlines do charge you for a blanket & pillow
Seats Selection: some airlines charge you to do that.
Movies & music: free on some while other charge you.
Checked Baggage A few give you 2 bags plus carry-on for free: some airline do charge you. 

That is a good bunch of "unexpected" extra charges that some travelers have to pay.

[robert angel]

I heard Delta--NorthWest is issuing two squares of one ply toilet paper to those who have to go to the toilet closet. Anything more than two squares and there's an extra charge.....