Jim Eagles: Pick of the high-flyers

COMMENT


What airline gives the best service? Depends. Depends where you want to fly, what class of ticket you're looking at and, above all, what services you value.

If it's overall service you're interested in, then the top places in this year's Skytrax Airline of the Year survey - based on the views of more than 10 million passengers - went to Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Thai Airways.

That's encouraging for New Zealand travellers because all of them fly to this country.

But for the average punter who flies economy class, those airlines aren't necessarily the best.

Some of their high ratings were the result of superb first and business class arrangements of little relevance to most travellers.

The best economy class overall, according to this year's survey, was provided by Emirates.

Its economy class rates four stars, as do several other airlines that fly this way, including Air New Zealand, Singapore, Thai, Malaysia and Air Tahiti Nui.

But Qantas and Cathay Pacific, as well as Virgin Blue (which flies here as Pacific Blue), Polynesian, Air Pacific, LanChile and Korean, receive only three stars for their economy service.

So, if it's a trip in steerage you're looking at, Emirates and the rest of the four-star generals could be the way to go.

Of course most of us fly either Air NZ or Qantas, so what does the Skytrax survey have to say about them?

Overall, Qantas rates better for first and business class, and Air NZ rates better for economy class.

According to Skytrax, Qantas is seen as offering better service when it comes to checking in, inflight entertainment and passenger amenities, while Air NZ does a bit better with its lounges.

Qantas has much better seating for first and business class passengers, but Air NZ has more comfortable seating in economy class.

Catering is pretty much the same in both airlines, but Air NZ scores for its friendlier and more efficient cabin staff in economy class.

It sounds like Air NZ is the best option for ordinary travellers, and Qantas is better for those who can afford a little luxury, (or have someone else to pay the bill).

If you're able to travel in the posh seats, you really can't go past Cathay Pacific, which won this year's award for the best first class service.

Or, if you're a corporate traveller, British Airways was judged as offering the best business class.

The best low-cost airline in this year's survey was JetBlue, just ahead of Virgin Blue/Pacific Blue.

Of course people have different priorities when they are flying. If you're planning to take the kids with you, Emirates has to be the choice because it rated five stars for assisting parents with children.

Air NZ, Qantas, Virgin Blue, Air Pacific, Cathay, Thai, Malaysia, Tahiti Nui and Singapore all did well enough to collect four stars.

If it's fine food you're looking for, then the best bet looks like Singapore, which scores five stars for its first class long haul catering and four stars elsewhere.

Close behind is Emirates which gets four stars all the way.

Cathay Pacific also gets five stars for its first class long haul catering but falls down with only three stars for short haul economy.

Best cabin service for the third year in a row goes to Malaysia.

If it's comfortable seating that matters most, then the choice rather depends on what class you'll be flying

Qantas, Singapore and Cathay Pacific all get five stars for their first and business class seating.

But Malaysia stands alone among the airlines flying here to score a marvellous five stars for its economy class long haul seating.

Sounds good to me.

* You can find the Skytrax survey on Airline Equality