Virgin America has been named the USA's top airline for the ninth consecutive year in "World's Best Awards” for 2016, released Wednesday (July 6) by Travel + Leisure magazine.
JetBlue finished second among U.S. carriers in the annual ratings. Singapore Airlines was rated the top international airline, winning in that category for the 21st consecutive year.
The T+L awards are one of several annual consumer-focused rankings covering the airline industry. In May, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines continued their stranglehold atop the annual J.D. Power customer service satisfaction survey of North American carriers. A month before that, Virgin America took the top spot in another ranking – this one the 2016 Airline Quality Rating report.
In the 2016 T+L ratings, Virgin America has now taken the top spot among U.S. carriers every year going back to 2008. Virgin America made its first flight in 2007.
Despite its long run atop the T+L awards, however, Virgin America’s days could be numbered. In April, Alaska Airlines announced a deal to acquire Virgin America. If that deal wins approval, Virgin America’s fate remains unclear.
Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden said last month he's given thought to keeping the Virgin America brand, possibly running it and Alaska as two distinct products under the same airline holding group. However, that would incredibly unusual within the U.S. airline industry, where one of a merging carrier’s brands typically fades away.
Still, Alaska Airlines also was well-liked in the T+L rankings. The Seattle-based carrier placed No. 4 among U.S. carriers, ranking it between No. 3 Hawaiian Airlines and No. 5 Southwest Airlines.
Internationally, Singapore Airlines and Emirates were tabbed as the best in the world, holding down the same No. 1 and No. 2 positions they’ve occupied in the T+L ratings since 2013. Rounding out the top five were Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Etihad and Virgin Atlantic were new to the top five for 2016, replacing previous No. 4 Cathay Pacific and previous No. 5 Air New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines has won the top spot in the T+L’s category for international carriers every year since the Worlds Best Awards were introduced in 1996.
On the ground, Oregon's Portland International Airport was named the best in the United States for the third year in a row. Indianapolis, Tampa, Austin and Minneapolis/St. Paul rounded out the domestic top 5. Dropping out of the top five from last year was Dallas Love Field.
Internationally, Singapore's Changi Airport repeated as No. 1 for the third year in a row. Dubai, Hong Kong, Seoul/Incheon and Zurich rounded out the top five. Dropping out of the top five from last year were Amsterdam and Munich.
T+L offers an in-depth explanation of its ratings methodology on its website. But, in short, the magazine says the ratings are "indexed averages of ... responses" compiled via surveys of its readers.
The T+L "best of" list rated U.S. airlines primarily for cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value. The survey also incorporated food, for timeliness/reliability and loyalty programs in its ratings.
As for airports, the T+L survey used the following criteria: location/access, check-in/security, restaurants/food, shopping, design, business and families.
Scroll down for a list of the top five in each of the Worlds Best Awards airline and airport categories.
Top 5 Domestic Airlines
1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Hawaiian Airlines
4. Alaska Airlines
5. Southwest Airlines
Top 5 International Airlines
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Qatar Airways
4. Etihad Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic Airways
Top 5 Domestic Airports
1. Portland (Ore.) International
2. Indianapolis International
3. Tampa International Airport
4 . Austin-Bergstrom International
5 . Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Top 5 International Airports
1. Singapore Changi
2. Dubai International
3. Hong Kong International
4. Incheon (Seoul) International, South Korea
5. Zurich, Switzerland
Top 5 Car-Rental Agencies
1.National Car Rental
2.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
3. Hertz
4.Avis Car Rental
5. Alamo
