Cathay Named World's Best Airline
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Cathay Named World's Best Airline
This was on CNN. Congrats Cathay!
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/02/pf/g...ex.htm?cnn=yes
World's best: Top 10 airlines named
Annual survey of millions of passengers ranks the planet's best airlines.
June 3, 2005: 4:59 PM EDT
By Gordon T. Anderson, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Does the notion of air travel conjure images of gate agents bickering over carry-on bags, harried flight attendants and adult-sized bodies crammed into a child-sized seats?
Well, guess what: on some airlines, a flight is a trip to be enjoyed, not endured. A massive survey released Thursday names airlines that customers actually like to fly.
The poll, conducted by London-based consultancy Skytrax, asked people to grade the world's airlines according to a broad variety of criteria. Taken over the course of a year, it tallied more than 12 million responses, from citizens of 94 countries.
The winner was Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based carrier most Americans only get to fly if they're making the long haul to Asia. (Click here to see complete results.)
Cathay won particular praise for its first-class and business-class service, but Skytrax made it clear that the best airlines keep folks happy back in the cheap seats, too.
"This is the most representative survey of airline passengers across the globe," said Miller in a statement. "It encompasses all passenger types, be they business travellers, vacationers or backpackers."
The study looked at the entire travel process, from booking a ticket to arriving at your destination.
Airlines were graded for their performance both on the ground and aloft. At the airport, that meant the efficiency of check-in and boarding procedures, handling of delays, even whether gate crew were friendly.
In flight, respondents were asked to assess onboard amenities and the conditions of the planes, as well as service in the sky. Premiums were placed on cabin cleanliness and the comfort and layout of seats, as well as the food.
Where's the United States?
As is typical with surveys of this sort, few U.S. carriers scored very highly. It's tempting to say that's a function of their financial problems -- except for the fact that business conditions are challenging for airlines all over the world.
Or, you could argue that some of the best performers are national airlines that receive generous financial assistance from their governments. Credible -- until you remember those billion-dollar bailouts Washington handed out after September 11.
In fact, the problem for U.S. airlines is partly logistical. Americans hop around the country on a series of short flights. Delta can only offer so much service on a 30-minute shuttle flight, for example.
Covering longer distances domestically often means confronting the hub-and-spoke systems, too. Even if the Southwest flight attendants make you chuckle, you're still changing planes in Dallas.
Most of the survey's top performers -- Qantas from Australia, or Dubai-based Emirates -- fly a greater percentage of long haul trips. On a 12-hour flight, your staff had better be nice.
"Cathay Pacific was repeatedly singled out for the high quality and consistency of its front-line staff, in both the airport environment and onboard flights," according to Miller. "Cathay certainly seems to have achieved its motto of 'service straight from the heart' and wowed passengers accordingly."
Cultural factors might also be at play. Robert Crandall, the crusty former boss at American Airlines, used to say that customers always talk in surveys about food and legroom. But when it comes to buying tickets, the only thing that ever matters to them is price.
In other words, good service is nice but we'll put up with a lot if it means a cheaper seat. Americans, as a rule, won't pay more for a plusher seat or better food. And U.S. airlines know it.
Actually, the U.S. carrier that performed best on the Skytrax survey was JetBlue. The scrappy New York-based discounter was named the world's top low-cost airline.
That makes sense to me. After all, JetBlue combines some of its nation's best cultural values. It's innovative -- love that satellite TV service -- with an energetic workforce. On the operations side, the company hums with an efficiency to make an MBA proud, streamlined from seats to fleet.
Efficiency is good for investors and bargain-hunting consumers, of course. But what if you long for a bit of luxury? Fly the friendly skies -- of Asia.
Best overall
1. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
2. Qantas Airways, Australia
3. Emirates, Dubai
4. Singapore Airlines, Singapore
5. British Airways, United Kingdom
6. Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia
7. Thai Airways, Thailand
8. Qatar Airways, Qatar
9. Asiana Airlines, South Korea
10. ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/02/pf/g...ex.htm?cnn=yes
World's best: Top 10 airlines named
Annual survey of millions of passengers ranks the planet's best airlines.
June 3, 2005: 4:59 PM EDT
By Gordon T. Anderson, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Does the notion of air travel conjure images of gate agents bickering over carry-on bags, harried flight attendants and adult-sized bodies crammed into a child-sized seats?
Well, guess what: on some airlines, a flight is a trip to be enjoyed, not endured. A massive survey released Thursday names airlines that customers actually like to fly.
The poll, conducted by London-based consultancy Skytrax, asked people to grade the world's airlines according to a broad variety of criteria. Taken over the course of a year, it tallied more than 12 million responses, from citizens of 94 countries.
The winner was Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based carrier most Americans only get to fly if they're making the long haul to Asia. (Click here to see complete results.)
Cathay won particular praise for its first-class and business-class service, but Skytrax made it clear that the best airlines keep folks happy back in the cheap seats, too.
"This is the most representative survey of airline passengers across the globe," said Miller in a statement. "It encompasses all passenger types, be they business travellers, vacationers or backpackers."
The study looked at the entire travel process, from booking a ticket to arriving at your destination.
Airlines were graded for their performance both on the ground and aloft. At the airport, that meant the efficiency of check-in and boarding procedures, handling of delays, even whether gate crew were friendly.
In flight, respondents were asked to assess onboard amenities and the conditions of the planes, as well as service in the sky. Premiums were placed on cabin cleanliness and the comfort and layout of seats, as well as the food.
Where's the United States?
As is typical with surveys of this sort, few U.S. carriers scored very highly. It's tempting to say that's a function of their financial problems -- except for the fact that business conditions are challenging for airlines all over the world.
Or, you could argue that some of the best performers are national airlines that receive generous financial assistance from their governments. Credible -- until you remember those billion-dollar bailouts Washington handed out after September 11.
In fact, the problem for U.S. airlines is partly logistical. Americans hop around the country on a series of short flights. Delta can only offer so much service on a 30-minute shuttle flight, for example.
Covering longer distances domestically often means confronting the hub-and-spoke systems, too. Even if the Southwest flight attendants make you chuckle, you're still changing planes in Dallas.
Most of the survey's top performers -- Qantas from Australia, or Dubai-based Emirates -- fly a greater percentage of long haul trips. On a 12-hour flight, your staff had better be nice.
"Cathay Pacific was repeatedly singled out for the high quality and consistency of its front-line staff, in both the airport environment and onboard flights," according to Miller. "Cathay certainly seems to have achieved its motto of 'service straight from the heart' and wowed passengers accordingly."
Cultural factors might also be at play. Robert Crandall, the crusty former boss at American Airlines, used to say that customers always talk in surveys about food and legroom. But when it comes to buying tickets, the only thing that ever matters to them is price.
In other words, good service is nice but we'll put up with a lot if it means a cheaper seat. Americans, as a rule, won't pay more for a plusher seat or better food. And U.S. airlines know it.
Actually, the U.S. carrier that performed best on the Skytrax survey was JetBlue. The scrappy New York-based discounter was named the world's top low-cost airline.
That makes sense to me. After all, JetBlue combines some of its nation's best cultural values. It's innovative -- love that satellite TV service -- with an energetic workforce. On the operations side, the company hums with an efficiency to make an MBA proud, streamlined from seats to fleet.
Efficiency is good for investors and bargain-hunting consumers, of course. But what if you long for a bit of luxury? Fly the friendly skies -- of Asia.
Best overall
1. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
2. Qantas Airways, Australia
3. Emirates, Dubai
4. Singapore Airlines, Singapore
5. British Airways, United Kingdom
6. Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia
7. Thai Airways, Thailand
8. Qatar Airways, Qatar
9. Asiana Airlines, South Korea
10. ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan
The Reverend
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Not only best airline, best first and business class lounge, 2nd best 1st class catering and not to forget the best airport they are based at; Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok.
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Emirates I concur
Emirates did well as expected, yeii. I never fly American across the Atlantic anymore. The sh*ttie*st cross Atlantic service I have recieved in the last 3 years was in AA. Jesus, I was cursing the whole friggin" trip from point A to Z,
Arrogant stewards and hostesses, and the food,... i wouldn't feed my dog on a bad day. 5 bucks for a can of bud light, do these guys think they are the only airline flying that route???? They really should be competeing with South West on the domestic routes and get out of the intl routes, bahh!
Arrogant stewards and hostesses, and the food,... i wouldn't feed my dog on a bad day. 5 bucks for a can of bud light, do these guys think they are the only airline flying that route???? They really should be competeing with South West on the domestic routes and get out of the intl routes, bahh!
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AA and the rest od the American lot desrve to be bankrupt at this rate. Why will any paying pax fly this crap, when he has CX, EK etc to choose from .
CX crew are selected from the lowest / cheapest level of manpower in HK, hense no english, bad customer service, lost in space attitude.
CX crew are selected from the lowest / cheapest level of manpower in HK, hense no english, bad customer service, lost in space attitude.
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Left wing, what hell did u say?
Do some research before you show off your stupidity. What do you know about the crew of CX?
Lowest? Cheapest level of manpower in HK? You make me laugh!
Lowest? Cheapest level of manpower in HK? You make me laugh!
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No English ! I talk about the cabin crew not pilots, if you really did fly the airline as a pax rather than stay behind the door and only talk to the ISM, you will see what I say is not wrong.
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"Best Airline" is a very broad term. May be as a pax it is good, although expensive compare to some of the competition, but the connections is convenient.
The word "49" or F.A.U. winning court case, then gets victimized come to mind. But I guess the pax don't know much about this, so if this award make you feel good I am happy for you.
P.S. guess there will be a pay increase as reward to staff?
The word "49" or F.A.U. winning court case, then gets victimized come to mind. But I guess the pax don't know much about this, so if this award make you feel good I am happy for you.
P.S. guess there will be a pay increase as reward to staff?
