2023 Readers’ Choice Awards:  5 Best International Airlines

The 36th annual Readers’ Choice Awards from Condé Nast Traveler reveal the best international airlines voted for by readers. These airlines consistently offer high standards of service, onboard comfort and exciting new routes. Read on to find out which international airlines were chosen as the best international airlines.

Best International Airlines according to Condé Nast Traveler’s readers

Condé Nast Traveler has revealed is 36th annual Readers’ Choice Awards relating to the best hotels, best islands, best skiing destinations, international airlines and more. This year, some 526,518 readers opened up to reveal the top international airlines. Read on to discover the top five airlines according to travelers’ recommendations. Find out about passengers’ experience during the flight, including service, food and more.

1. Singapore Airlines – Best International Airline

Those travelers who have visited Singapore know that the city nation is modern, beautiful and innovative and offers an exciting visit. Meanwhile, it is known for setting records and has come up tops in the Readers’ Choice Awards several times over the years. This includes the world’s longest flight, a 19-hour nonstop between New York and Changi Airport in its all-premium Airbus A350s.

Now that service has resumed following the pandemic, it continues to offer long routes with top seat comfort, in-flight service and reliability for passengers. Singapore Airlines is also known for its innovation, continually upgrading its product. Among the best options are the airline’s farm-to-plane catering and its wellness partnership with California’s Golden Door Spa.

2. Qatar Airways and its popularity with passengers

Flying long haul in Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000 planes, Qatar Airways is one of the industry’s youngest fleets. Their jets have the infrastructure to lower cabin pressure and increase humidity to lessen the effects of jet lag. Meanwhile, this is especially enjoyed by passengers connecting through Qatar’s hub in Doha to other destinations beyond.

Moreover, the airline’s QSuite business class can be configured with double beds and four-person dining suites. These options have given the airline top reviews from passengers who enjoy those welcome touches like a welcome drink and hot towels.

3. Turkish Airlines – the country’s flagship international airline

With its modern and flashy new airport hub in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines offers comfort throughout the experience of transatlantic travelers. Moreover, the airline is lauded for its popular stopover program in the country’s capital, where travelers can enjoy vouchers for four- or five-star hotels en route to many cities in Europe and Asia.

Condé Nast Traveler readers applaud the airline’s excellent cuisine, attentive in-flight service and comfortable seats. Meanwhile, the airline’s recent expansions to Newark, Dallas/Fort Worth and Seattle have been hugely popular. Moreover, this summer Turkish Airlines announced an upcoming nonstop service to Istanbul from Detroit and Denver.

4. Emirates – Dubai-based top international airline

For travelers looking for the best perks when flying first or business class, Emirates comes up tops for its in-flight showers, cocktail lounges and more. However, there are even more reasons why travelers have voted Emirates as a top international airline. Its fleet of Airbus A380s offers state-of-the-art seatback entertainment systems with 5,000 TV and movie channels, as well as music, news, and Wi-Fi connectivity that come up tops with readers. In fact, the Dubai-based airline also gets top points for its service and amenities in every class.

Moreover, the airline has expanded those classes by debuting a long-planned premium economy cabin. This class includes dedicated check-ins, luxury seating, linen napkins and china plates. The airline also offers sustainable blankets crafted from recycled plastic bottles.

5. Virgin Atlantic – top international airline

40 years ago, Richard Branson founded Virgin Atlantic and it keeps attracting travelers back with perks like cocktail lounges, top seat-back entertainment options and even in-flight manicures. Readers also love Virgin Atlantic for its premium economy section, with touches like a welcome drink and hot towels. Moreover, Condé Nast Traveler’s readers applaud the airline’s Upper Class which features fully flat beds.

Moreover, Virgin Atlantic is set to offer more flights to the US and has already launched direct routes between London and Austin. Meanwhile, its relationship with Delta Air Lines offers access to a wide choice of domestic cities.

Visit Condé Nast Traveler’s website for the full details of the top international airlines as chosen by its readers.