Tired fliers often think about how nice it would be to stretch out across a whole row of economy-class seats and take a nap. But let's face it: airline seats were simply not designed for napping. That is, until Air New Zealand introduced its "Sky Couch," with flip-up seats created for just that purpose.
Comforts like these are just one reason ANZ was voted the No. 4 World's Best Airline in our annual World's Best Awards, where our readers ranked 76 airlines based on cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, value, and food.
So which airlines came out on top? International airlines virtually own the top 20 World's Best Airlines; only two U.S. carriers made the list. Asian and Middle Eastern carriers dominate the top 10, with scores that are remarkably consistent from year to year, such as this year's No. 3-ranked Etihad Airways, a United Arab Emirates-based carrier.
One thing is clear: the quest by the top-ranked airlines to become even better is raising the stakes. The leading carriers are vying to upgrade seating in every class - so-called "thin seats" in economy that allow everyone to recline without disturbing neighbors are all the rage among Asian carriers. For example, Korean Air, which ranks No. 9, earned points for its ergo-friendly "slim seats."
The world's best airlines
