British Airways is offering a generous limited-time status match offer for U.S.-based members of its loyalty program, British Airways Executive Club.
05.04.2024 - 22:41 / euronews.com / Saskia ODonoghue / Airlines
Whether you’re a frequent first class flyer, or a trip at the front of the plane is still firmly on your bucket list, a luxury flight is the best start to a trip.
New research has revealed the best luxury air travel experiences, with many of the top rated hailing from Europe.
The research looked at first-class experiences across different airlines, analysing factors like airport experience, legroom, cabin and seat quality, food and drink, onboard service and entertainment, as well as amenities and facilities.
They also focused on short and medium haul flights, scoring each factor out of 10, in order to discover the most luxurious airlines. Perhaps a little unusually, the study also looked into Instagram hashtags and TikTok views, which have a significant impact on the rankings. Here’s what their research revealed.
With an overall score of 7.12 out of 10, Slingo games company who conducted the research, put Emirates in first place as the best airline for flying first class.
The Dubai-based company scored highly on first-class legroom, with a minimum of 175cm.
It also received top scores for in-flight entertainment, beverages, amenities and facilities - and short and medium-haul experience.
Interestingly, Emirates also has the highest number of Instagram and TikTok posts associated with it, suggesting that passengers rate the first-class experience so highly that they’re willing to share their positive experiences online.
Coming in in second place is Lufthansa. The flagship German airline scored 5.99 out of 10, offering slightly less legroom than Emirates in first class, with a minimum of 162.5cm.
Despite falling down in that category, the carrier’s first-class airport experience, in-flight beverages and onboard service all came highly rated.
The Lufthansa first-class experience also received the second-highest number of Instagram and TikTok posts, with thousands of posts on each platform.
SWISS, the flag carrier of Switzerland, takes third place with a score of 5.14.
It scored a perfect ten for airport experience and in-flight amenities and facilities, but fell short on legroom, offering a minimum of 152.5cm in first class seats.
Slingo also discovered that, although SWISS is popular on TikTok, it’s less so on Instagram, with just 1,860 posts celebrating the airline’s first class experience.
While Emirates came in highest for overall first class experience, Cathay Pacific’s legroom offerings easily leapfrog the Dubai airline’s.
With some of the longest routes in the world, the minimum of 205cm will come in handy for long haul travellers.
When it comes to airport experience, three airlines were tied for having the best first class offerings. Lufthansa, SWISS and Qatar Airways all received a perfect score, meaning
British Airways is offering a generous limited-time status match offer for U.S.-based members of its loyalty program, British Airways Executive Club.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar was just named the best airport in the world in the 2024 Skytrax awards, knocking 12-time winner Singapore Changi Airport down to second place.
With the Paris Olympics a few months away, booking a hotel in the French capital may as well be a competitive sport. Thankfully, the editors of Forbes Travel Guide have eased some of the preparation by revealing the 30 best hotels in Paris. From five-star grande dame properties, to chic boutiques, here’s where to stay in the City of Light.
Lufthansa is taking off with its all-new first and business class seats ahead of the busy summer season. On May 1, the first Allegris premium cabins will start flying in the sky on select Lufthansa long-haul routes. The German airline confirmed that its first route with the Allegris product will fly between Munich and Vancouver on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. As more Airbus A350s get delivered soon to Lufthansa’s fleet, travelers will be able to experience Allegris on the carrier’s routes from Germany to Toronto, Chicago, and Montreal throughout the summer. The new Allegris seat was first announced in 2017, which promised a sleek new experience for passengers sitting up front. Onboard this Airbus A350, there will be three first-class suites equipped with separate bed and dining areas, marking Lufthansa’s first-ever double bed option designed for two passengers. “Every guest has their own understanding of premium, which is why we focus on maximum individuality and exclusivity,” CEO of Lufthansa, Jens Ritter, said in a statement about the new cabin. “The First Class Suite Plus conveys the feeling of privacy and individuality similar to a hotel room – only at an altitude of eleven kilometers.”
A special segment of adventurous travelers will purposely book itineraries with long connections in layover cities just to leave the airport and explore for a few hours or days between flights.
A 47-year-old man had to endure six-and-a-half hours in the air with a broken leg after severe turbulence on a flight, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Over 1,200 flights have been canceled and 40 diverted in Dubai since an immense flash flood ground the city to a halt on Tuesday. It’s been three days since the storm and Dubai International Airport is still scrambling, however, CEO Paul Griffiths says the hub is “100% operational.”
Skytrax has released its annual ranking of the world's best airports — and if you're a frequent flyer it may come as little surprise that none in the US made the top 20.
If you're looking for a new cobranded airline credit card and want to earn some easy Avios while you're at it, this could be the promotion for you.
Following Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel late Saturday night, several airlines are canceling flights to and from Tel Aviv, as well as rerouting planes scheduled to fly over the Middle East.
Historic storms across the UAE and the wider Gulf have halted operations at the region’s major airports. On Tuesday, the Dubai saw its worst rainfall in 75 years and the disruption has continued into Wednesday.
As more passengers — nearly 8.5 billion to be exact — returned to the skies last year, one international hub made its way back into the global top 10.