This was published 7 years ago
TripAdvisor names the world's best airlines for 2017 in Travellers' Choice Awards for Airlines
By Kylie McLaughlin
TripAdvisor has named Emirates as the world's best airline for 2017 in its first Travellers' Choice Awards for Airlines.
Not content with reviews of hotels and attractions, TripAdvisor allowed readers to submit reviews of their experiences on flights last year.
This week the travel review site revealed its awards list, with Emirates scooping first place.
Fifty airlines were honoured from all over the world, with Singapore and Azul, a Brazillian airline, filling the top three places.
Operating since 2008, Azul is a budget carrier that has rapidly grown and now serves 105 destinations with its fleet of 134 aircraft.
Thai Smile was the eighth most popular airline, another fairly unknown entity as a regional budget carrier for Thailand. Garuda Indonesia just snuck into the list at 10th position.
Emirates was also named as world's best airline at the annual Skytrax awards, held in July.
The airline also took the opportunity to take a dig at rival United Airlines, who are facing a storm of bad publicity after forcibly removing a passenger from an overbooked flight.
Recently United CEO Oscar Munoz referred to the Gulf carriers by saying "Those airlines aren't airlines. They're international branding vehicles for their countries".
The video (below) quotes Munoz and responds by saying: ""Well Mr. Munoz, according to TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, not only are we a real airline ... we are the best airline."
In Australia, reviewers rated Qantas the best airline for its "fantastic service" and "good value", making it "a pleasure to fly" with the airline scoring an average rating of four out of five.
But the favourite airline in the Asia-Pacific region was Singapore Airlines, followed by Air New Zealand and Korean Air.
TripAdvisor determine the results using an algorithm that takes into account the quantity and quality of airline reviews and ratings submitted by users over a 12 month period.
The hallmarks of the award winners are outstanding service, quality and value.
The top 10 airlines in the world (click on the links for Traveller.com.au's reviews)
1. Emirates, United Arab Emirates
2. Singapore Airlines, Singapore (Economy class review)
3. Azul, Brazil
4. JetBlue, United States
5. Air New Zealand, New Zealand (Premium economy review)
6. Korean Air, South Korea
7. Japan Airlines, Japan (Premium economy review)
8. Thai Smile, Thailand
9. Alaska Airlines, United States (Economy review)
10. Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia (Business class review)
Class of service global winners:
Best First Class: Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Best Business Class: Aeroflot, Russia
Best Premium Economy Class in the World: Air New Zealand, New Zealand
Best Economy Class in the World: Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Top 10 major airlines in Asia Pacific:
1. Singapore Airlines, Singapore
2. Air New Zealand, New Zealand
3. Korean Air, South Korea
4. Japan Airlines, Japan
5. Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia
6. All Nippon Airways, Japan
7. EVA Air, Taiwan
8. Asiana Airlines, South Korea
9. Thai Airways, Thailand
10. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
What do you think? Vote in our poll or leave a comment below
See also: World's 21 worst airlines named
See also: Airlines with the most legroom in economy revealed
See also: Five ways you can get an upgrade on your next flight
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