1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia

6. British Airways

7. Etihad Airways

8. All Nippon Airways

9. Eva Air

10. Lufthansa

Air New Zealand has been named the best airline in the world for the fourth consecutive year at the 2017 Airline Excellence Awards.

The airline perhaps best known for its funny inflight videos also scooped best premium economy class for the third time.

The awards, created by airlineratings.com, rank the inflight experience across airlines in categories including entertainment, catering and cabin crew.

Air New Zealand was praised for its inflight innovations, which in the past have included “cuddle class” seating for affectionate passengers. It was also hailed for its financial performance, environmental leadership and motivation of staff.

Etihad picked up the best first-class cabin award – the luxurious Middle Eastern airline is, after all, the home of the “First Apartment”, which offers both a wide leather armchair and a lie-flat bed. Singapore Airlines was honoured for having the best economy cabins. 

Australian airline Qantas came second in the Airline of the Year category, jumping from fourth place last year.

Cathay Pacific came fourth after Singapore Airlines in third place, while Virgin Atlantic/ Virgin Australia jumped three places, taking the number five position.

These are the world’s top airlines, according to the awards by the Australia-based website:

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

I wouldn't put much store in any ratings the WA came up with , but having flown Air NZ, albeit a long time ago, I'd go with the number one spot. Trolly-dollies amazing. Unless Qantas have got rid of their awful cabin staff and cleaned up their act I wouldn't have them in the top 10... same goes for BA (going by the Bkk-Lon route). Good to see Emrats and Qatar are not there though.

quite simple really Thai air do not meet the required standards  to qualify  for a top 10 rating

 

 

 

would be interesting where they would stand  say in the top 50 

This list has a slightly different top 10:

 

http://www.worldairlineawards.com/Awards/worlds_best_airline.html

 

And this one is different again:

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/20-best-airlines-in-the-world-2016-skytrax-2016-7

 

 

 

 

I couldn't DISAGREE more with this ranking. Quantas ? British Airways ? Lufthansa ?

 

LOL...... that made my day

I don't see any US airlines on the OP's list either.  So what's the point?

In case anyone is not sure what the real ranking are, they go like this: Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines joint first, all the others followed by British Airways.

44 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

I don't see any US airlines on the OP's list either.  So what's the point?

 

If you want to go anywhere other than the US on a US airline you will probably have to transit through US and that is not a pretty experience !

BA at number six???

 

This list is a total farce to anyone who knows what's actually happening.

Ummm....how do they do this when it isn't 2017 yet?

 

What if 3 Air NZ planes crash next January?