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 A SENSE OF PLACE THE BEST AIRLINES IN ASIA |
This page presents the final results of our previous Best Places in Asia survey. Click on the links below to see results and vote in the 2003 survey. PlacesCity Hotels 5 Star/Business City Hotels 3 to 5 Star Resorts Guest Houses/Other accomodation Restaurants Business/up-market Cheap Eats Hawkers, cafés, cheap eats Pubs/Bars/Meeting Places Airports Airlines From the Business Travel section of the Asian Business Strategy Ezine. Results validated and managed by Orient Pacific Century. |
| Rank | Last move | Comments & Voting | |
| 1 |  |
Cathay Pacific Airways
Responses: 195 |
Superb service and comfort in First Class. Stewardesses are outstanding | Business class service is good, though food is very average and even the new seats are a long way of the likes of BA | The best airline in the world. Just look at its new First and Business Class sleeper seats...market leaders | Excellent service but again out of my price range; probably ranks near number ONE along side Singapore and Thai Airlines | Genuinely courteous staff much more friendly and flexible than SQ | Business class is glorified coach. Terrible seats and rude stewardesses | I think the service is better than SQ | Okay! | Cathay definitly have the most friendly cabin staff then anyother airline. They treat you in a very friendly manner and they are very efficient | Ok lah but too much cantonese style compared to SQ | Best food in business, good entertainment, service is above average | Really a wonderful airline! Good service, good food! Best in Asia! | Cathay Pacific is an amazing aircraft mashalla! Great staff and its one of the best airlines! Great in the air and on ground! Keep up the great work..!! | Really good airline- better than any other I have flown. Service is excellent. | Great lounges, best in-flight films, good food, foot rest in economy class. | An airline which is among the best in this region. | Best service and food and entertaining equipment. | Good airline with innovative ideas-needs to stay competitive esp with loyalty programmes. | Cathay Pacific has improved a lot from the past few years. All cabin crew are now very friendly and efficient. Cathay's Business Class has excellent seats and the new First Class perhaps has the BEST seats in the world. Cathay is now again an industry leader, both in passenger service and technology. | Cabin crew are much friendly than those of SQ | I think it's really THE BEST AIRLINE IN THE WORLD!! | Great service, nice food, and the best of all, inflight video games and TV sets for every passenger, including those in economy class. Offering convenient connections worldwide from their Hong Kong hub, CX is certainly the heart of Asia | Excellent service | Great, funny and service-minded staff. Much more human than SQ. | Service is getting worse and worse, meals are cutting in certain route, flight attendants are not nice anymore. | Cathay staff are very genuine and multi racial too which is nice to see. | cx must be the no.1 | Always helpful staff, the best in Asia - stil flying several old planes | CX is the best in Asia. CX try to improve the service it provide. It now expand its plane to meet the demand. | Great service if your Chinese, lousy if your not; never tell the truth if they screw up; try getting a refund from these people, or even an apology, forget it...trying to change. | The airline and the new airport will be the best in Asia. | The best airline in the world. Better than SQ. | Best Airline, helpful & friendly staff, No. 1 choice | The seats in economy class were not designed for a 6'2" American, but the service more than made up for it. Very helpful ground crew at Hong Kong and LAX | Outstanding customer service from ground to air. Highly trained flight crew makes flight safe, and comfortable throughout. Although ticket price are almost always higher than its competitors, and its destinations throughout the world is still limited, it remains one of the best carriers in the industry. | if you're flying to and from hong kong its the best one available. | The food onboard was delicious. Nice crew too! | Cathay has very good inflight service | Very Good | Best one ever. Thx CX, I love you.| Too much hype given to the airline. Service doesnt match up. |
Crew are excellent. | In economy, class, crews' English ability is poor. U have to be Cantonese speaking, service in economy is efficient, could do with more friendly crew. | old planes but good service | Me favourite airline | Terrible airline! I got scolded by the crew when they scald me accidentally! | Cathay can actually demo the Good Chinese Hospitalities | Excellent airline. The best in the world. Great service, great crew and great safety record. Overall, the best in the world! | some of its aircraft's entertainment tv sets were spoilt. A seat in one of the airplanes was spoilt. | Flight attendants are getting uglier by the day. | Very expensive if compared with the service provided. Simply good in food only. |
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| 2 | |
Singapore Airlines
Responses: 158 |
they are the best in the world and are of world class standard. | Expensive but occasionally offers a discount package flight deal in Asia | I visit Malaysia and Singapore at least once a year over the past 10 years. Flew on Singapore Airline twice (1996 and 2001) and had not too pleasant experiences both times. Everything met expectation except the attitude of male cabin crew members - very rude. I am sure they did not mean to behave the way they did and I believe some training in proper English will alleviate the problem. For example, I was waiting in line for the rest room and did not realize I rested my hand on the hinge of a cabinet. So, when a male crew opened the cabinet's door, my pinky was squeezed/sandwiched and it was quite painful. Instead of apologizing, the crew member said I should have be sitting down on my seat. Just a couple months ago, I gave the airline another trial. Immediately after boarding (before any flight announcement), my son (4 yr old) took out my cell phone and was trying to call grandma to share the exciting experience with her. A male crew member just zoomed toward us and yelled, "I want you to turn off your cell right now! Do it now!" My son was so frightened that he cried. It was supposed to be a happy adventure for him but it became a scary experience for him. The crew member could have said firmly, "Please turn off your cell phone immediately ....." It would be even nicer if he could explain to my son why. That's it for me. No more Singapore Airline from now on. I had wonderful experiences flying to that region on Malaysian, Eva, Cathay, Northwest, and United Airlines. | The most over-rated airline in the sky. If you are taken in by insincere similes, then this is the airline for you | Great Service! Great Great Service! Great Entertainment! Great Airline! | Generally insincere robot staff - If you want genuine friendly service choose Cathay instead | The leading airline of the world | Bad service! Some crew members are rude | Good service, however, had bad experience with ground staffs at Heathrow Airport are very rude! | Incredible service even throughout emergency landing! | Irregardless of the crisis it had, it is still the safest airline! | Best airline ever tried | Provide a very good and friendly service even in Economy class | Singapore Airlines is an overall best airline in the first class and business class. The economy price might be a little too costly, but the services provided are mostly efficient and pleasant, though some problems may crop up with one or two individuals. However, SIA has the world's lowest problematic rate for any airline. The smiles, posture and the accent of the stewardess in sarong kebaya indeed livens up one's day. A good airline indeed. Do remember to try the Raffles or First class to really experience the best of the best feeling, you will be guaranteed to leave the plane with full satisfaction | Best I ever flown! But what about service to his own singaporeans? I heard about that | Good service, so-so food | If Senior Minister Lee Kuan-Yew is on board, you have to REPORT 3 hours in advance with short notice < 12 hours | Ignorant! | I am proud of the airline!! Being a Singaporean , I am proud that the airline has come a long way to invite these good comments from people around the world , despite the recent accident . All I want to say is , keep up the good work !!! | Best airline of the whole world. Good airplane and services and the world's first dolby surround headphone ! | Good in air - inflexible on the ground. Hope you don't need to make changes | The best airline ever. Although its fare is pricey, I find that on the whole, it is worth every cent. | Great airline to fly with, ppl are friendly and sincere | Airline most efficient in the world and still the best despite recent accident...better than all u.s. airlines | An all around great airline. Efficient, corteous service. However, they are not head and shoulders above other carriers such as United or Northwest. I would be just as happy flying other good airlines. United has a much better mileage program which makes it a better value for the service. | Best service in J and F class only. If you are flying in Y class and not white, fly CX | Really the only reliable airline in Asia | Efficient, friendly cabin crew and ground staff | Still one of the best in the region, but catering better for business travellers than tourists | Probably just a shade above Cathay | Robots, but good service. | The most well managed airline and pro customer. | I was only seven years old when I first flew SIA, and even back then and even at a young age, I was aware that their service was superb. More than twenty years later, my initial experiences aboard SIA have left an indelible impression in my mind that they are the best. | Premium pricing but service doesn't match it. | Better than Cathay, but too expensive. | Best airline I have had the pleasure of flying with , from start to finish. | Flew only once and was only moderately impressed. | Good modern fleet, clean aircraft, professional staff. | Safe and reliable, professional cabin crews.....definitely highly recommended! | Is the best and is still the best. | Dedicated and well managed staff, good prices. | good, but the service was quite bad, press call button 3 times and still no cabin crew answer my call, the food was ok. the staff was very rude they forced me to eat meat, because veg food had ran out. So i did not eat much just drink. Plane was also delay for 45 min. I'm not flying it again. | The stewardess have attitutes, feet room are too narrow. I'd rather have a wider feet room that having a screen in front. | The Best airline I have ever flown. Personal TV monitors even in coach. Great international food. | Outstanding service! I was very impressed by their inflight entertainment even other airlines talk about! And their air hostess looks so warm in their smart uniform. And the food menu is fantastic too. Even had hagen dazs ice-cream for dessert. Definately the airline for me! | Good? Absolutely. Overpriced? Absolutely. Definitely not worth the extra money. | rude & ignorant staff, if u want better service, try CX | Great inflight entertainment but awful cabincrew. | Nice Service! As passengers, we should think about the attendant's welfare. Sometimes, they maybe too tired. Very prompt service. At a touch of a button, the stewardess came immediately. Singapore Girl, you are a great way to fly! | the world greatest airline. try it and discover. cannot do away with problems. But they try their best and are the best. | Overall best airline, but I also feel that the male attendants have bad attitudes | Excellent inflight entertainment accompanied by sumptuous cuisine. Indeed, a great way to fly. | I agree it's the most overrated airline in the world | just too expensive | Always the best | I have unplesant flight with SQ, the cabin crews are quite snobbish with the "we're no.1" attitude, Economy seat is terribly cramped. Rude cabin crews, not attentive. Food was OK | Much better than Cathay! Best in asia. Best in the world | the best entertainment system ever | Pay different attention to different categories of people. Unprofessional. | Definitely the best airline in the world. I've flown Cathay and Malaysia Airlines, and both are not up to the standards of Singapore Airlines. The crew is polite and sincere, although sometimes, they do look tired. Something could be done about the price though. |
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| 3 | |
Thai Airways
Responses: 107 |
Cabin crews are very friendly and attentive. I will surely fly Thai again and i will recommend the company to my friends | yea smooth as silk alright, time to change for newer planes! | Very friendly cabin crews | Really a wonderful airline! Good service, good food! The best airline I have flown | Great but out of my price range. Use to fly with them in the early 80's when they offered budget flights | The most uncomfortable economy I have ever flown in | Good Service but bad entertainment | Poor seating in business class | Okay! | I'm sure service is the best | I love to fly with THAI!!! | Poor command of English | I LOVE flying Thai. I am an American who flies once a year to visit my family in Chiang Mai. I have never had less than superb service, on the ground and in the air. Thank you, Thai! | Thai business very cramped. Entertainment poor. | Smooth as Silk,everyone knows. | Thai food is awesome | Good. | The best airline I have flown. | Uncomfy, not very friendly service. Lousy entertainment. | a ball of crap! | Loving you,THAI | THAI crews are friendly and hospitality as in the slogan "When you flying THAI, Smooth as Silk" My next flight, I will aboard beautiful THAI. | Thai crew are the best crew in the world | very reliable, staff are very polite | Not Good | Wonderful experiance! | very comfortable economy seats with 34".Old business class seems outdated but the refurbished one is very good. |
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| 4 | |
Japan Airlines (JAL)
Responses: 52 |
Communication problem with cabin crews that unable to speak in good English | Excellent service, friendly crew but EXPENSIVE except when I fly as an air courier to Hong Kong | Come on good as any other simply diff mentality!! but old MD11 | Very rude frontline staff. If this is what you get over-the-counter, I wonder what one will get on board? | The best airline in the world. Just look at its new First and Business Class sleeper seats...market leaders | Excellent service but again out of my price range; probably ranks near number ONE | I was treated like a king on this airline,and always enjoy my trip from Canada | Too expensive and poor frequent flyer program
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| 5 |  |
Malaysia Airlines
Responses: 92 |
Best cabin crew in the world. They are so professional and very dedicated. No 1 choice | A very hassle-free airlines, efficient quality service plus the best crew in the world! | The most beautiful stewardess in the whole world.... i bet u | Crew members are so old and they look rather nerdy | Surprisingly good in business | A fantastic airline with great food, excellent inflight entertainment, reasonable prices, extremely helpful & smiling crew, innovative services in the air and on the ground.. only complaint is that a few ground workers seem slightly rude... I definitely recommend this airline to first time travellers | Great Service. The crews are very friendly. Good food! | The best aircraft and best service and best fares. Fly Singapore Airlines and you pay US$100 for the 50 minute Singapore - KL flight. And Singapore Airline won't give you any food or drink! Fly the same route on MAS and you pay half the price plus you get a sandwich and coffee. And smiling faces on cabin crew | The food is great better than SQ. Seating is more spacious. Value for money | As good as Singapore simply a different culture! | Most of the time the crew are really good and professional. | Apart from the price, there's nothing much to boast about. | One of the stewardess was very rude, lectured me in a loud voice instead of telling me nicely | Good airline but can do some catching up to CX and SQ. | Not a fancy airline, but they are a very safe carrier and provide good service for the price. | Forget it, rats in first class cabin, what can you say | Unsafe and most screw up airline in the world | Never trust them | I have traveled extensively for 5 years and never flown with such a beautiful airline. Onus for Malaysia Airlines... | Clean, good impression on cabin crew. Best crusine i ever had. | a great airline, very helpful staff, always smiling. food was very good. and most of all the hospitality and entertainment system was fantastic. a must try airline!!!! | it's the best airline I have ever travelled with. | Definitely a must for first time (and frequent) travellers. Very friendly and helpful staff. | Had an experience with many rude male stewards. Food is indigestable, and entertainment cannot be compared to SQ. Thumbs down... | Best airline that I have ever travelled with! | MAS has come a long way - service with a smile. Good wide body aircraft with spacious seatings. | Rather rude cabin staff. Worrisome safety record. Only plus point is the cheap fares. | Great business class service. There was never a moment something was not being offered. Great video on demand too.| The staff are very friendly. Service with a smile. At least they are not as judgemental as SQ. Agree that they have a lot of catching up but recently they were voted as the having the gest cabin crew 2002. well done | cheap but bad food, worse service | Surprisingly cabin crews have been very friendly and very tidy and clean | If you really cannot afford SIA, try Malaysia Airlines. They are almost the same in terms of service and ambience (not forgetting the Batik uniforms). The only thing that Malaysian Airlines lack is the inflight entertainment. | Great service from KL to Frankfurt, bad service KL-HK, still highly recommended, FRA-HK I'd prefer Cathay but MAS is much better than Lufthansa
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| 6 |  |
EVA Air
Responses: 30 |
Excellent cabin staff, Evergreen Deluxe, seat pre-allocation and punctuality separates EVA from the rest | My wife reports it's the worst airline she's ever flown with an unfriendly racist crew | Buddhism chants and ads run throughout the flight | Safe! Much wider seat at similar price level | One of the best airlines. Good services on the ground and air. Especially the Evergreen Deluxe Class. | EVA has everything Cathay and Singapore has, but they also have something called Evergreen Deluxe. This is what separates this excellent airline from the others. | nice, safe, food ok, evergreen delux first rate. | ancient planes, lousy service, no english magazines, no entertainment...but cheap. | Its one of the best airline except for the unfriendly racist cabin crew. One experience is when one of my seat mates asked for water the cabin crew replied 'you wait' in a unfriendly mannner. good service from the rest of the asian airlines what makes it only recommended is of its racist cabin crew they seem to separate passengers from the rest of chinese and taiwanese passengers specially the staff of Taiwan to Manila. | Bad | Definitely Best Airline! | top airline staff all very good food ok lots of room in seats | I highly recommend EVA, since with their low price (lower than most other airlines), they provide great Deluxe service, always on time, good food (although not great), and new airplanes. | EVA economy delux is probably the best deal going | Lack of security sense when aboard | Bad and Bad
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| 7 | |
Korean Airlines
Responses: 29 |
Flew from London to NZ and an excellent service. Excellent host & hostesses | Friendly stewardesses; great budget flights USA- Manila RT. Now their rates have gone UP | The airline stinks. I flew both ways LAX Seoul in first class and they didn't even offer a film. No inboard TV's nothing. I heard there's only one modernized 747 in the fleet with all the garbage they boast about in their marketing material | Come on good as any other aircraft only the accident factor thats all nice airbus 330! | Lived in Korea for four years and flew a lot. Asiana is more impressive yet still pales to SQ | Rude ground staff, good air staff. Old planes | As soon as the first wheel touches ground, people are running for the exits | Tend to crash too often for my liking. Nice food | I can only say rude ppl and poor safety record | Rather unpleasant, old aircraft | The stewards and the stewardess went to great lengths to make sure that you were happy | Flew Nadi to Auckland sector a few years ago and planes interior was quite shabby and old | Great prices but being that there hubis seoul it makes for a long trip to Philippines | You need to allow for more Leg Room. Was very unconfortable during flight to Korea | Very Bad | I used to fly them all the time only because they had a great frequent flyer program. They made changes to the program and now have one of the worst frequent flyer programs of any airline. I haven't flown them since the change and don't expect to again. | Awesome | Lack of English command. | Good
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