If you’ve ever found yourself cold, squashed in the middle seat and paying more than you should for a tiny bottle of wine, you’ll already be aware that not all long-haul flights are created equal. Here’s what you need to know about the airlines seeking to improve the experience, with more comfortable seats, better food and first-rate service.
Qatar Airways economy cabin
Named ‘Best Airline of the Year’ at the 2019 Skytrax World Awards, Qatar Airways has won praise for everything from its business-class seating to its luxury amenity kits. A relatively new airline, it has grown rapidly in recent years and now serves more than 160 destinations around the world.
What’s great
Comfort – Most airlines save their fanciest innovations for business and first-class, but earlier this year, Qatar launched a new economy class seat. The seat has plenty of great design features including an adjustable headrest, separate cocktail table, high-resolution monitor and USB connector for fast charging. It’s also a comfortable 18 inches wide with a generous 31-inch pitch.
Food and drink – The fact that salted caramel popcorn is available is surely reason enough to fly with Qatar, but in case you need more convincing, the airline has recently revamped its whole food offering in economy. Portion size has increased, bottled water is free, and as well as the popcorn, there are other ‘mid-flight movie snacks’ such as crisps and chocolate.
Sustainability – Qatar’s ethical credentials are worth mentioning too. In February they became the first airline with a training program to help staff spot and prevent illegal wildlife smuggling. A media campaign is being planned to raise awareness among passengers.
Plant-based meals in Emirates First and Business Class
What’s great
Comfort – Emirates has over a hundred Airbus A380s, which have only been around for about 12 years. They are quieter, more modern and have lower cabin pressure than their older aircraft – all of which will help you beat the dreaded jet lag. Special touches include hot towels, complementary beer and wine in economy, and a swish cocktail bar in business.
Connectivity – In the early days, Emirates pioneered inflight connectivity. Today, every aircraft has wi-fi and customers in all classes are given 20 MB of free data or two hours of access to messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Lounges – A key perk of flying with Emirates is their lounges, located in more than 30 airports. There are as many as seven lounges in Dubai Airport alone, and, unlike many other airlines, with Emirates, you can pay to access them. At upwards of $130, it isn’t cheap, but it is a great way to upgrade your experience.
All Nippon Airlines (ANA)
ANA cabin crew with their ‘flying turtle’ aircraft
Japan’s largest carrier is well-known for its colourful Pokémon-themed aircraft, and recently, its flying sea turtles. The airline has been awarded a five-star rating by Skytrax for seven consecutive years and in 2018 was named ‘Airline of the Year’ by Air Transport World.
What’s great
Comfort – This is another airline with lots of space in economy. Seats often have a pitch of 34 inches as opposed to the usual 31 or 32 inches.
Food and drink – The food is well above average. Economy passengers can upgrade their meal for $23, and also choose what they want to eat before departure (this service is free in business). Japanese beer, sake and wine are also available in economy. Business passengers won’t go hungry with a ‘dine anytime’ ramen option.
Customer service – Travel bloggers rave about the service on ANA flights. Japan expert Robert Schrader says, ‘ANA flight attendants are some of the best in the industry’, and the team at God Save the Points say that they ‘found ANA ground staff to be amongst the most professional and proficient in the business.’
Food themed around the destination on Singapore Airlines
Founded in 1947, Singapore Airlines is regarded by many as the best in the business. Named ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards, over the years, this airline has won more awards than anyone other airline.
What’s great
Comfort – The level of comfort on board a Singapore Airlines’ flight is superlative. There’s plenty of legroom and seats boast footrests and cushioned headrests. There are perks in every class; Bang and Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones in business and first, amenity kits in economy.
Food and drink – The airline has put lots of effort into its in-flight catering. Menus are created by a panel of international chefs and wine experts, and many dishes are based on the specialities of the destination. Premium Economy passengers and parents with children can use the ‘Book the Cook’ service to choose and order their meals in advance
Sustainability – Singapore’s sustainable initiatives are also worth mentioning. The airline is currently working to become plastic-free and is planning a new, more sustainable way of sourcing food from vertical farms and local fisheries.
While it doesn’t have the dozens of awards and accolades of the other airlines, Norwegian is the best of the low-cost long-haul options available.
What’s great
Price – Not everyone loves flying with Norwegian and the airline has suffered some very bad reviews. But there’s no getting away from the fact that they’re extremely affordable. Bloggers report prices as low as $268 for a return flight from New York to London, and flights currently advertised on their website include a one-way ticket from Europe to the US for £134.90
Comfort – Norwegian’s entire fleet is made up of Boeing 787 Dreamliners with an average age of 3.8 years. These new aircraft are roomier, quieter and more modern, with newer toilets, and lower cabin pressure, making your trip instantly more comfortable. And, if you opt for Premium Economy you get a huge 46 inches of legroom, as well as access to the lounge.
Connectivity – Norwegian has recently launched ‘gate-to-gate’ wi-fi, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout the whole flight.
Crossing a dream destination off your bucket list is a hard-to-beat feeling. You’ve finally saved up, bought your tickets, and the only thing standing between you and that tropical beach or snowy mountain town is a full day (or two) of airplane travel. So how can you ensure that a cringe-worthy amount of hours on a plane doesn’t suck the fun out of your trip? All it takes is a little bit of preparedness to ensure a smooth, manageable and worry-free flight. As the holiday season enters full swing, here’s some of our accumulated experience.
1. Bring your own empty water bottle
We all know that airplanes are dehydrating. The small amount of moisture in the highly-pressurized air can wreak havoc on your skin and immune system. While bringing liquids through security is a no-no, an empty water bottle is completely allowed. You’ll save money by avoiding those expensive airport water bottles by filling up your own at the airport. Plus, the flight attendants may even fill up your bottle on the plane if you ask nicely.
Many travelers don’t realize that TSA allows you to bring your own snacks on the plane–with a few restrictions. Something protein-packed like unsalted mixed nuts or granola bars work great (avoiding extra salty food will help you stay hydrated). You’re even allowed to bring packaged fruits, cheese and wrapped sandwiches as long as it goes through the x-ray. Do everyone a favor and avoid smelly foods, though, no one wants to be that person (or sit next to them).
We’ve already established that flying, in general, can make you dehydrated. Well, guess what else does? Alcohol. Anyone who’s accidentally combined jet lag with a hangover will adamantly advise against it. Find other ways to relax like safe sleep aids, listening to music or a meditation app (just remember, if you use an app or podcasts make sure it works in flight mode before you leave, and download your favorites if it doesn’t). If you do choose to indulge in a drink or two, make sure you’re supplementing it with plenty of water.
Side note: If you’re a nervous flyer and use booze to calm your nerves, it helps to arm yourself with knowledge before taking off. The internet is ripe with useful information about the inner workings of airplane technology, and it’s pretty interesting.
Airlines don’t always provide blankets on long flights (and let’s face it, even a slight germaphobe isn’t touching those things). There’s nothing worse than being on a freezing plane with hours left to go, so don’t forget your blankets, socks, sweatshirts, or anything else that will help keep you warm.
5. Stock up on essentials
- Bringing a USB battery pack along while traveling is always a good idea, and it can help in a pinch if you end up in a seat with no USB charging port.
- To aid in avoiding dehydration, bring some electrolyte tablets, chapstick, saline nasal spray, or lotion.
- Try not to think about all the germs floating around inside the flying metal tube full of strangers–just bring along some vitamin c and hand sanitizer/wipes.
- Throw a pen into your carry-on to avoid awkwardly asking your neighbors for one when it’s time to fill out immigration forms (or, bring a few extra pens to help make friends).
- Don’t forget a travel pillow or eye mask for red-eye flights.
- A 10-hour flight can seem like an eternity with a baby crying in your ear the whole time–headphones or earplugs are a must.
6. Choose your seat wisely
Use sites like Seat Guru to pick the best seat (or avoid the less-than-ideal ones). Exit row and premium seats may be worth the extra money and effort on long flights, but it all depends on your budget. If turbulence makes you queasy or anxious, pick a seat over the wing (being in the center of the aircraft actually provides a smoother ride).
7. Keep the important stuff in your carry on
Keep the important stuff in your carry on
If you’ve never had an airline lose your luggage before, consider yourself very lucky. Keeping toiletries, medications, underwear and basically anything you’d be super uncomfortable without for a few nights inside your carry-on is a no brainer.
While this advice really applies to all aspects of life, it’s especially useful while traveling. Don’t take it as fact if your flight advertises in-flight entertainment. I’ve been on plenty of flights where the entertainment system fails–and it’s pretty low on the list of priorities for a flight crew (personally I’d rather have them focused on safety). So stock up on some reading material, movies and music on your personal device so you’re not left to your own thoughts for 10+ hours straight.
Keep that blood circulating. Take a walk to the bathroom or up and down the aisles to stretch your legs. The CDC recommends getting up every 2-3 hours and/or wearing compression socks while traveling large distances to prevent blood clots.
Remember, only you have the power to let something insignificant ruin your trip. Nobody enjoys a delayed flight or lack of drink service during turbulence, but these things are almost always due to safety reasons over which the flight attendants or desk agents have no control. Travel is an experience denied to many, so be grateful for the adventure and try not to complain.
Face it. A long distance flight is often an ugly and inelegant place to begin a trip. It’s a well-organized nightmare. Who longs for a 10-hour flight across the ocean sitting nose-pore range from a seatmate?
Now consider the weird warm excitement of flying Business Class. Yeah, it’s a game changer.
British Airways introduced flat beds in First Class in 1995 and airborne sleeping became a competitive sport. Now almost all major carriers offer fully flat beds in Business Class on many international and some cross-country flights.
Business seats once resembled dentist chairs. Now they’re sleek wingback capsules that transform into pods (assembly required). They morph into flat beds and a private slice of time all wired with a nerd’s panoply of electronics. There’s always another convenience or luxury to top the last flight. One interior designer boasted “you never want the passenger to discover all the seat has to offer in the first 10 minutes.”
Flat-bed seats on Singapore Airlines
Business seats usually have a pitch (front of one seat to the front of the next seat forward) of about 52 inches. The pitch in economy seating is around 31 inches. The grown-up seats also are wider and recline deeper.
Menu choices and libations are richer in Business Class. Even the entertainment options are on a higher plane. Allowable check-in baggage is jacked up to 88 pounds and tagged Priority.
Many of the seat and electronics innovations are a result of new Airbus and Boeing extended-range aircraft, especially the A-380, 787 Dreamliner, and 777. There’s also a new generation of interior cabin magicians like JPA Design changing the way we fly. Consider American Airlines new First and Business Class cabins on its Boeing 777-300ER international fleet, where every fully lie-flat seat has direct aisle access.
American Airlines Flagship First cabin in the Boeing 777-3000ER
Business Class tickets sell at four to five times the price of economy seats. That’s major revenue for competitive airlines where costs are sky high and fluctuate beyond a CEO’s control. What about all those cheap seats back in the lower intestine of the aircraft? You can’t sell dollars for 50 cents and make it up on volume. Airlines need expensive real estate at the front of the plane to balance the bottom line.
This is what one blogger wrote: “My basic belief is that Business Class is where they treat passengers like dignified human beings and Economy Class is where… well, where they don’t.”
Yet passengers are the same. After a landing we’ve all made the perp walk from economy to the front exit through an already deplaned business class. As Chekhov wrote: All I know about ballet is that ballerinas stink like horses between dances.
You can noodle over the cost difference between Business and Economy and what you get. A lot of high-stakes frequent flyers, the ones who know the airline’s month’s menu choices by heart, spend their bonus awards on upgrades rather than Economy award tickets, perhaps getting more value per award.
Most top-tier Business Class carriers hail from Asia, and, over the last few years, include Gulf-based carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. Even Turkish Airlines gets high praise.
United Airlines Polaris cabin
U.S. carriers also receive accolades. United Airlines’ “sleep-focused” Polaris Business Class debuted in December. Delta has a herringbone configuration allowing flat-seat conversion and aisle access. Air Canada Business Class, a frequent award recipient among North American airlines, offers fully flat “executive Pods” on their Boeing 777-200LR’s and Dreamliners.
SWISS Business Class is a perennial award winner among European airlines. In the hospitality industry, Swiss hoteliers are the gold standard. The same holds true in the sky. SWISS integrated-massage seat converts into a roomy 6-foot-6-inch flat bed at the touch of a button.
But to many long distance fliers nothing beats business class aboard Singapore Airlines — the perfect trifecta of modernity, service (even charm), and efficiency. Flight attendants wear batik sarong kebayas instead of uniforms that look like children’s naval wear. They’re professional, fun, alert, and indefatigable. You can reserve your main dining course from a celebrity-chef menu up to 24 hours before boarding.
Singapore Airlines New Business class
As for passenger surveys, the deepest comes from Skytrax World Airline Awards, an independent survey analyzing 20 million responses.
And here are the rankings for the best premium class (whatever the name) by airline:
| 1 |
Etihad Airways |
| 2 |
Cathay Pacific |
| 3 |
Air France |
| 4 |
ANA All Nippon Airways |
| 5 |
Singapore Airlines |
| 6 |
Emirates |
| 7 |
Lufthansa |
| 8 |
Qatar Airways |
| 9 |
Qantas Airways |
| 10 |
Garuda Indonesia |
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