World's best first class and business class airline seats

By David Flynn, June 26 2011
World's best first class and business class airline seats

It's one of the questions most asked of frequent flyers: which airline has the best business class seat, the best first class seat or even suite?

We've all got our favourites, of course.

But according to the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, the honours fall to Cathay Pacific and Oman Air, with Air New Zealand picking up the gong in the growing premium economy market

Cathay Pacific was chosen as the world’s best first class seat (a cut-away diagram shown above), rated higher than the lush private suite offerings of Etihad and Singapore Airlines – at least, in the minds of the "over 18.8 million airline passengers from 100 different nationalities" who voted in the Skytrax awards.

The world’s best business class seats are found in an Oman Air plane, according to the Skytrax survey – and a glimpse at the photo below may help you guess why these came in ahead of the business-class benches of runner-up Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways (in third place).

Air New Zealand’s innovative Space Seat (which Australian Business Traveller reviewed earlier this year) was recognised as the world’s best premium economy seat , ahead of Turkish Airlines and Qantas’ Marc Newson-Recarro A380 designs.

Emirates took home a trophy for best inflight entertainment, with Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific also on the winner’s podium.

The world’s finest first class in-flight catering is served up by Etihad Airways, according to Skytrax, with Singapore Airlines in second place and Qantas in third.

The World’s Best Airlines (according to Skytrax)

  1. Qatar Airways
  2. Singapore Airlines
  3. Asiana Airlines
  4. Cathay Pacific Airways
  5. Thai Airways International
  6. Etihad Airways
  7. Air New Zealand
  8. Qantas Airways
  9. Turkish Airlines
  10. Emirates
David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

Skywards Gold

21 Apr 2011

Total posts 54

Never heard of Asiana... Surprised to find Emirates so low on the list.. What are these rankings based on?

Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles

25 Apr 2013

Total posts 542

Customer votes. Skytrax new to you?


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