Emirates wins best international airline, and Etihad is top for luxury - Fodor's awards
18 June, 2019
It’s been a good week for the UAE's airlines, with Etihad and Emirates both winning recognition in the first ever annual awards from Fodor’s Travel.
For more than 80 years, Fodor’s has been an expert in the world of travel and the company has now launched an annual travel awards to recognise the very best in travel across the globe.
Emirates ranked first in Fodor’s Best International Airline category. According to the travel experts, all cabins on Emirates flights offer comfortable seats. “Whether you’re in coach, lie-flat business class beds, or a private suite in its first-class cabin, Emirates offers one of the comfiest flights in the sky,” writes Fodor’s on its website.
The Dubai airline also received recognition for its high levels of in-flight service and impressive safety record, as well as for having one of aviation’s best entertainment systems. Emirates has won Skytrax’s World’s Best Inflight Entertainment award for the last 14 years.
Cathay Pacific came second in the same category, losing out to Emirates because of its lack of private first-class seats. The Hong Kong carrier received commendation for its wide range of destinations flown to and its good value travel fares.
Blow the budget
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways won the Best Airline for Blowing your Budget award. Fodor’s writes that Etihad offers: “the most luxurious experience you can have in the sky.” The airline’s exclusive VIP lounge, three-room personal suites and in-sky butlers helped secure Etihad top ranking in this category.
Fodor’s also detailed that for travellers on a more modest budget, “Etihad Airways will give you the best experience that money can buy. For example, you can split the cost of an Etihad Apartment and make it a two-person experience complete with a sofa, full-size entertainment center, and touchscreen controls to customise the seat and lighting.”
Elsewhere, American Airlines was named the Best Airline for Pets thanks to the recently launched Cuddle Class. This service lets animals flying with passengers on selected routes have their own special cabin cubicles, right at the front of the plane.
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