Travel

The 20 airlines with the best first-class experience

By Mark Matousek
Singapore Airlines first class
A first-class seat on Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines
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The aviation research firm Skytrax announced on Tuesday the winners of its 2019 world airline awards, based on over 21 million survey responses from airline passengers.

Qatar Airways was named the best airline, followed by Singapore Airlines and ANA All Nippon Airways. Skytrax also gave awards for categories like the best cabin crew, in-flight entertainment, and cabin cleanliness. 

Read more: The 20 best airlines in the world for 2019

Singapore Airlines won the award for the best first-class experience. There are no US air carriers on the list.

These are the 20 airlines with the best first-class experience, according to Skytrax.

20. Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330
Malaysia Airlines. REUTERS/Greg Wood/

Malaysia Airlines won the award for the most-improved airline in Asia this year.

19. Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airbus A380
Asiana Airlines. Airbus

Asiana Airlines was named the world's 28th-best airline this year.

18. Korean Air

Korean Air A330 first class
Korean Air. David Slotnick/Business Insider

Korean Air was named the world's 35th-best airline this year.

17. China Southern Airlines

Airbus A380 China Southern
China Southern Airlines. Airbus

China Southern Airlines was named the world's 14th-best airline this year.

16. Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia. Willy Kurniawan/Reuters

Garuda Indonesia won the award for the best airline staff in Indonesia this year.

15. British Airways

British Airways First Class
British Airways. British Airways

British Airways won the awards for the best airline staff and the most improved airline in Europe this year.

14. Saudi Arabian Airlines

Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines. Altaf Qadri/Associated Press

Saudi Arabian Airlines was named the world's 57th-best airline this year.

13. Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific first class
Cathay Pacific Airways. Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific was named the world's fourth-best airline this year.

12. Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines. shutterstock

Japan Airlines won the awards for the world's best economy class and economy-class seat this year.

11. Thai Airways

Thai Airways first class
Thai Airways. Thai Airways

Thai Airways won the awards for the best airline staff in Asia and the world's best airline spa facility this year.

10. Oman Air

Oman Air
Oman Air. GeographyPhotos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Oman Air was named the world's 43rd-best airline this year.

9. Qantas Airways

Qantas First class
Qantas Airways. Qantas

Qantas won the awards for best airline, best first class, and best business class in the Australia/Pacific region this year.

8. Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Swiss International Airlines won the award for the world's best first-class lounge this year.

7. ANA All Nippon Airways

ANA 777-300ER First Class
ANA All Nippon Airways. David Slotnick/Business Insider

ANA All Nippon Airways won the awards for the world's best airport services, the world's best business-class onboard catering, the best business class in Asia, and the best airline staff in Japan this year.

6. Emirates

Emirates First Class TV
Emirates. Emirates

Emirates won the award for the world's best inflight entertainment this year.

5. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways First Class
Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways was named the world's best airline this year.

4. Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways first class
Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways

Etihad won the award for the best first class in the Middle East this year.

3. Air France

Air France first class
Air France. Air France

Air France won the awards for the world's best first-class onboard catering, first-class amenities, and first-class lounge dining this year.

2. Lufthansa

Lufthansa first-class
Lufthansa. Lufthansa

Lufthansa won the awards for best airline in Europe and best first class in Europe this year.

1. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines first class
Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines was named the world's second-best airline this year.

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Mark Matousek
I'm a senior transportation reporter at Insider covering electric vehicles, automated-driving technology, and ride-hailing. I joined Insider in October 2017 and previously worked as an intern at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in film and media studies and business economics. You can follow me on Twitter @matousekmark and email me at mmatousek@jkmperu.com.  If you have sensitive information you'd like to share and don't feel comfortable sending it to my work email or via a direct-message on Twitter, you can contact me on the encrypted messaging app Signal at 646-768-4712 or email my encrypted address at mmatousek@protonmail.com. Here's some of my work: Uber insiders are divided over Dara Khosrowshahi's leadership, with some worried the company has become 'boring' and 'confused' about its future Nikola founder Trevor Milton convinced the world he was the next Elon Musk. Insiders say a history of lies brought the billionaire down. 17 hours a day, 7 days a week: Cruise-ship workers describe the grueling conditions they face on the job We talked to 42 insiders about Tesla's factory of the future. They revealed the corners cut to hit ambitious production targets. 70-hour weeks and 'WTF' emails: 42 employees reveal the frenzy of working at Tesla under the 'cult' of Elon Musk Tesla is transforming how cars are sold. But 27 insiders say the company's methods mean slashed pay and living under the constant threat of getting laid off. Uber insiders reveal how DoorDash stole its delivery crown and left Eats in the dust Uber's trying no-meeting Mondays to give employees a break from 'tiring' back-to-back meetings, a leaked email reveals Leaked email reveals a Tesla VP expressed concern about employees coming to work with COVID-19 symptoms Leaked document reveals Nikola flip-flopped on whether it would spend any of its $17 million of customer deposits to fund the Nikola One Insiders reveal Alibaba's Jack Ma sought a partnership with Canoo to build electric delivery vans, but the deal fell flat because the startup couldn't meet his aggressive timeline Leaked email from Elon Musk reveals the Model Y is experiencing production 'challenges' while passing the Model 3 as the top priority at Tesla's US car factory Leaked email and audio reveal Carnival-owned Holland America has struggled to give refunds to some customers Leaked documents reveal the severance packages laid off Carnival UK workers will receive Inside Tesla's overhaul plan for its sales and delivery teams to solve one of its toughest customer challenges
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