There are now so many airlines to choose from, that it can all be a bit overwhelming. There are some airlines that we regularly travel on, and there are some we would never travel on. So what should you be looking for when choosing an airline, because you are a ‘captive in the cabin’ for a reasonable period of time.

We have listed our airline choices in order of preference and given a brief reason why we choose to travel with them. Whether we are flying business or economy, our order of preference would not change.

  1. Singapore Airlines – our favourite airline and for good reason. Their fleet is modern and well maintained. Flight crew always look fresh and their service is first class. Nothing is too much trouble. They have excellent lounges around the world and booking on-line is easy and efficient.
  2. Air New Zealand – this is definitely our second choice. Again their fleet is modern and staff are attentive and friendly.
  3. Etihad – we have used Etihad only twice for international flights and one of those was a first class trip. Their first class was exceptional and the service was excellent. We have not tried their business class cabin, but I would expect the standard to be very high.
  4. Qantas – we are not that keen on Qantas for international travel. We found the cabin a little tired, and the staff less attentive. That’s not to say they ignore you, but they do tend to stay out of your way as much as possible.
  5. Thai Airways –
  6. Malaysian Airlines – we actually travelled first class with Malaysian, and even though the staff were excellent, the aircraft was very old and the first class cabin would be the equivalent of a premium economy cabin, with a few minor upgrades. I am sure they have a more modern fleet, but we did not experience it.