Class is in session and the grades are out: the 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey winners earned top marks this year. This marks the 13th consecutive year of reader-voted GT Tested Reader Survey awards and the sixth year we celebrated the winners at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.
Readers cast ballots for their favorites across airlines, airports, hotels, destinations and travel products and services worldwide. Below are the standout winners from the 2016 survey, recognized by frequent travelers for service, design, loyalty programs and overall excellence.
Leading the list, Singapore Airlines captures Best Overall Airline in the World for the second year running and again takes Best Airline for Business Class. Its hub, Singapore Changi Airport, earns Best Overall Airport in the World, surpassing perennial favorites like Incheon.
Popular long-term winners include oneworld for Best Airline Alliance, Airbus A380 for Best Aircraft Type, and JetBlue for Best Airline Website—each recognized repeatedly by readers. American Airlines and Qatar Airways earned new top spots this year, with American named Best Airline for Domestic First Class and Qatar named Best Airline for International First Class; Qatar also won Best First-Class Seat Design and Best Airline in the Middle East.
© ASIANA AIRLINES
Asiana Airlines continues to impress, earning its 13th straight wins for Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline for Flight Attendants. China Airlines stands out for Best Business-Class Seat Design and Best Airline in North Asia, while Alitalia takes Best Airline Cuisine for the seventh time. EL AL Israel Airlines is again recognized for security, and TAP Portugal is honored for both Best Airline for New Service Launch (BOS to LIS) and Best Airline in Europe for a sixth consecutive year.
Frequent-flyer and hotel loyalty programs remain a major focus for readers. United MileagePlus is named Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program for the 13th time, Hawaiian Airlines wins Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program for its Pualani Platinum membership, and LifeMiles from Avianca TACA takes Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption and Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service in the Americas. In hotels, IHG Rewards Club is the top hotel rewards program worldwide, Hilton HHonors Diamond wins Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program, and Marriott Rewards rates highest for Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption.
© AEROMEXICO
Regional leaders include Air Canada as Best Airline in North America; LATAM Airlines Group as Best Airline to South America; Aeromexico as Best Airline in Mexico for the seventh consecutive year; Qantas as Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand; Air Tahiti Nui as Best Airline in the South Pacific; Aeroflot for Eastern Europe; South African Airways for Africa; Air India for Central/South Asia & India; All Nippon Airways for Japan; and Hainan Airlines as Best Airline in China and the Fastest-Growing Airline in Asia.
Lufthansa wins Best Trans-Atlantic Airline while United takes Best Trans-Pacific Airline for a third consecutive year. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is again voted Best Airport in North America, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport earns Best Airport Dining, and Delta Sky Club is named Best Airport Lounge. Dubai Duty Free continues its decade-long run as Best Duty-Free Shops, and EVA Air is recognized for Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents.
© JUMEIRAH HOTELS
In hospitality, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is voted Best Individual Hotel in the World. The Ritz-Carlton earns several top honors, including Best International Hotel Chain, Best Domestic Hotel Chain, Best Hotel Club Floor and Best Hotel Website. The Peninsula Beverly Hills is again named Best Hotel in the United States. Other notable hotel winners include Andaz as Best Lifestyle Hotel, Grand Hyatt Incheon as Best Airport Hotel, and Lotte Hotel, Seoul as Best MICE Hotel and Best Hotel in South Korea.
Chain and regional hotel honors recognize a wide range of brands: St. Regis is the top European hotel chain, Conrad leads in Asia, Sheraton wins Best Hotel Chain in Latin America, Fiesta Americana is Best Hotel Chain in Mexico, and Jumeirah International tops the Middle East category.
Beyond airlines and hotels, readers also honored travel-related products and services. Volvo won Best Overseas Delivery Program; Verizon Wireless was named Best Wireless Service in the World; Tamron took Best Photographic Equipment; Hertz was named Best Car Rental Company; Ireland was voted Best Tourism Destination; Seoul is Best MICE City; Briggs & Riley leads Best Luggage Brand; Boingo Wireless took Best WiFi Service; and Sony won Best Noise-Canceling Headset.
Credit card rewards and affinity programs were also ranked by readers. The United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase was named Best Credit Card and Best Credit Card Rewards Program. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase earned Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JPMorgan won Best Small-Business Credit Card as well as Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions. Chase collected several other honors across special events and redemption categories.
Other top credit card winners include the Hilton HHonors Card from American Express for Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions and Benefits, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America for Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card, and the Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Card as Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card.
Each winner listed here earned high marks from readers for performance, service and value. We congratulate the 2016 honorees and look forward to seeing how the industry evolves as ballots open for next year’s survey.
THE VOTING PROCESS
Open-ended ballots ran in subscriber copies of Global Traveler and online from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2016. Ballots were also distributed by direct mail and email. Submissions with fewer than 50 percent of fields completed were disqualified. More than 22,000 qualified ballots were returned. Employees of FX Express Publications, Inc. and affiliated travel-industry members were not eligible to participate.
BEST OVERALL AIRLINE IN THE WORLD
1. Singapore Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Asiana Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Emirates
6. Delta Air Lines
7. Etihad Airways
8. Swiss International Air Lines
9. Lufthansa
10. Qatar Airways
BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam
4. Etihad Airways/airberlin/Aer Lingus/Air Seychelles
5. Emirates/Qantas Airways
BEST AIRCRAFT TYPE
1. Airbus A380
2. Airbus A350
3. Boeing 777
4. Boeing 787
5. Boeing 747
6. Boeing 737
7. Airbus A340
8. Boeing 767
9. Airbus A330
BEST AIRLINE WEBSITE
1. jetblue.com
2. delta.com
3. united.com
4. aa.com
5. southwest.com
6. britishairways.com
7. lufthansa.com
8. aircanada.com
9. alaskaair.com
10. airfrance.us
BEST AIRLINE FOR BUSINESS CLASS
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. United Airlines
4. Delta Air Lines
5. Etihad Airways
6. Emirates
7. Asiana Airlines
8. British Airways
9. Lufthansa
10. Air Canada
BEST AIRLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
1. Qatar Airways
2. Etihad Airways
3. Emirates
4. Asiana Airlines
5. Swiss International Air Lines
6. Singapore Airlines
7. Qantas Airways
8. Lufthansa
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Korean Air
BEST AIRLINE FOR DOMESTIC FIRST CLASS
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Alaska Airlines/Virgin America
4. Delta Air Lines
BEST AIRLINE FOR ONBOARD SERVICE
1. Asiana Airlines
2. South African Airways
3. Qatar Airways
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Etihad Airways
6. LATAM Airlines Group
7. Swiss International Air Lines
8. Air Canada
9. Emirates
BEST AIRLINE FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. Emirates
4. Singapore Airlines
5. airberlin
6. Etihad Airways
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. LATAM Airlines Group
9. Air Canada
10. South African Airways
© ALITALIA
BEST AIRLINE CUISINE
1. Alitalia
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Air France
5. TAP Portugal
6. Lufthansa
7. Air New Zealand
8. Brussels Airlines
9. Etihad Airways
10. Asiana Airlines
BEST AIRLINE FOR SECURITY
1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. Swiss International Air Lines
3. Lufthansa
4. British Airways
5. United Airlines
6. Austrian Airlines
BEST FIRST-CLASS SEAT DESIGN
1. Qatar Airways
2. Lufthansa
3. Emirates
4. Asiana Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Etihad Airways
7. British Airways
8. Qantas Airways
9. Swiss International Air Lines
10. Air France
BEST BUSINESS-CLASS SEAT DESIGN
1. China Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Asiana Airlines
4. Etihad Airways
5. Delta Air Lines
6. Virgin Atlantic Airways
7. airberlin
8. Qantas Airways
9. Swiss International Air Lines
10. Aer Lingus
BEST AIRLINE FOR NEW SERVICE LAUNCH
1. TAP Portugal (BOS to LIS)
2. Hainan Airlines (SJC to PEK)
3. Qatar Airways (LAX to DOH)
4. Air France (JFK to ORY)
5. Norwegian Airlines (OAK to LGW)
6. Hawaiian Airlines (HNL to NRT)
7. Southwest Airlines (LAX to LIR)
8. United Airlines (EWR to BRU)
9. Fiji Airways (SFO to NAN)
10. Air Serbia (JFK to BEG)
FASTEST-GROWING AIRLINE IN ASIA
1. Hainan Airlines
2. Air China
3. Xiamen Air
4. China Southern Airlines
5. China Eastern Airlines
BEST OVERALL FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
4. Delta SkyMiles
5. JetBlue TrueBlue
6. Southwest Rapid Rewards
7. Lufthansa Miles & More
8. British Airways Executive Club
9. Air France Flying Blue
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER ELITE-LEVEL PROGRAM
1. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum
2. American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum
3. United MileagePlus Premier Executive 1K
4. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
5. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold
6. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred
7. Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns Summit Level
8. JetBlue TrueBlue
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER BONUS PROGRAM
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. LifeMiles (Avianca TACA)
4. Delta SkyMiles
5. Air Canada Aeroplan
6. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
7. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
8. Virgin America Elevate
9. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
10. LATAM Pass
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER AWARD REDEMPTION
1. LifeMiles (Avianca TACA)
2. United MileagePlus
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
4. LATAM Pass
5. American Airlines AAdvantage
6. Air Canada Aeroplan
7. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
8. Southwest Airlines Rapid Returns
9. Virgin America Elevate
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER CUSTOMER SERVICE, AMERICAS
1. Avianca
2. Delta SkyMiles
3. American Airlines AAdvantage
4. United MileagePlus
5. Air Canada Aeroplan
6. LATAM Pass
7. Virgin America Elevate
8. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
BEST AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Air Canada
2. Alaska Airlines/Virgin America
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines
6. JetBlue
7. Frontier Airlines
8. Porter Airlines
9. Southwest Airlines
BEST AIRLINE TO SOUTH AMERICA
1. LATAM Airlines Group
2. Aerolineas Argentinas
3. Avianca
BEST AIRLINE IN MEXICO
1. Aeromexico
2. Volaris
3. VivaAerobus
4. Interjet
BEST AIRLINE TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
1. Qantas Airways
2. Air New Zealand
3. Fiji Airways
4. Air Tahiti Nui
5. Virgin Australia
BEST AIRLINE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
1. Air Tahiti Nui
2. Fiji Airways
3. Qantas Airways
4. Virgin Australia
5. Air New Zealand
© TAP PORTUGAL
BEST AIRLINE IN EUROPE
1. TAP Portugal
2. Aer Lingus
3. airberlin
4. Alitalia
5. British Airways
6. Virgin Atlantic Airways
7. Lufthansa
8. Austrian Airlines
9. Swiss International Air Lines
10. Brussels Airlines
BEST AIRLINE IN EASTERN EUROPE
1. Aeroflot
2. LOT Polish Airlines
3. Transaero
4. S7 Airlines
5. Tarom Romanian Airlines
6. Adria Airways
7. Croatia Airlines
8. Wizzair
BEST AIRLINE IN AFRICA
1. South African Airways
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. Air Seychelles
4. Kenya Airways
5. Air Mauritius
6. Mango
7. Kulula
8. TAAG Angola Airlines
9. Air Austral
10. Ethiopian Airlines
BEST AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. Etihad Airways
4. Saudi Arabian Airlines
5. EL AL Israel Airlines
6. Royal Jordanian
7. Middle East Airlines
8. Gulf Air
9. Royal Air Maroc
10. Egyptair
BEST AIRLINE IN NORTH ASIA (EXCLUDING CHINA)
1. China Airlines
2. EVA Air
3. Korean Air
4. All Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Japan Airlines
7. Dragonair
8. Asiana Airlines
BEST AIRLINE IN CHINA
1. Hainan Airlines
2. China Eastern Airlines
3. Air China
4. China Southern Airlines
5. Shenzhen Airlines
6. Juneyao Airlines
7. Shandong Airlines
8. Spring Airlines
9. Sichuan Airlines
10. Tianjin Airlines
BEST AIRLINE IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH ASIA & INDIA
1. Air India
2. Jet Airways
3. Indigo
4. SriLankan Airlines
5. SpiceJet
6. Mihin Lanka
7. Air Astana
8. Biman Bangladesh Airlines
9. PIA
BEST AIRLINE TO JAPAN
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Japan Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines
BEST TRANS-ATLANTIC AIRLINE
1. Lufthansa
2. TAP Portugal
3. British Airways
4. United Airlines
5. airberlin
6. Austrian Airlines
7. Brussels Airlines
8. Swiss International Air Lines
9. Delta Air Lines
10. Air France
BEST TRANS-PACIFIC AIRLINE
1. United Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Asiana Airlines
4. All Nippon Airways
5. China Airlines
6. Japan Airlines
7. China Southern Airlines
8. Air China
9. Korean Air
© SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT
BEST OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Munich Airport
3. Incheon Airport
4. Hamad International Airport, Doha
5. Hong Kong International Airport
6. Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol
7. Frankfurt am Main Airport
8. Shanghai International Airport
9. Beijing Capital International Airport
10. Tokyo International Airport/Haneda Airport
BEST AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston
4. San Francisco International Airport
5. Pittsburgh International Airport
6. Newark Liberty International Airport
7. Portland International Airport
8. Denver International Airport
9. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
10. Miami International Airport
BEST AIRPORT LOUNGES
1. Delta Sky Club
2. American Airlines Ambassadors Club
3. Etihad Airways
4. United Airlines United Club
5. Asiana Airlines
6. Lufthansa First Class Lounges
7. Emirates
8. Virgin Atlantic Airways Clubhouse
9. South African Airways Cycad Lounge
10. British Airways Executive Club
BEST AIRPORT STAFF/GATE AGENTS
1. EVA Air
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Turkish Airlines
5. Qatar Airways
6. Lufthansa
7. Emirates
8. United Airlines
9. Asiana Airlines
10. Etihad Airways
BEST AIRPORT DINING
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Hong Kong International Airport
4. Vienna Airport
5. Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol
6. London Heathrow Airport
7. Brussels Airport
8. Los Angeles International Airport
9. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
10. Frankfurt am Main Airport
BEST DUTY-FREE SHOPS
1. Dubai Duty Free
2. Incheon Airport
3. Hong Kong International Airport
4. Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol
5. Hamad International Airport, Doha
6. Singapore Changi Airport
7. Abu Dhabi International Airport
8. Frankfurt am Main Airport
9. Vancouver International Airport
10. London Heathrow Airport
BEST INDIVIDUAL HOTEL IN THE WORLD
1. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
2. The St. Regis Bora Bora
3. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
4. Hotel de Crillon, Paris
5. Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, S.C.
6. The Langham, Chicago
7. The Corinthia Hotel London
8. The Peninsula Beverly Hills
9. Montage Laguna Beach
10. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
BEST INTERNATIONAL HOTEL CHAIN
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. Westin Hotels & Resorts
3. Waldorf Astoria
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
6. Marriott Hotels
7. Conrad Hotels & Resorts
8. Four Seasons
9. Park Hyatt
10. The Peninsula Hotels
BEST DOMESTIC HOTEL CHAIN
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. Westin Hotels & Resorts
3. Hilton Hotels Corp.
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Park Hyatt
6. Marriott Hotels
7. Four Seasons
8. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
9. W Hotels
10. Waldorf Astoria
© ANDAZ
BEST LIFESTYLE HOTEL
1. Andaz
2. Aloft Hotels
3. W Hotels
4. Vida Hotels
5. Element Hotels
6. Kimpton Hotels
7. Affinia Hotels
8. Hotel Indigo
9. Moxy
BEST AIRPORT HOTEL
1. Grand Hyatt Incheon
2. Langham Place, Beijing Airport
3. Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong
4. Sofitel London Heathrow
5. Oryx Rotana Doha
6. Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich
7. Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
8. Grand Hyatt DFW
9. Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur Airport
10. Novotel Suvarnabhumi Bangkok
BEST MICE HOTEL
1. Lotte Hotel, Seoul
2. Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong
3. Hyatt Regency Incheon
4. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
5. China World Hotel, Beijing
6. Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao
7. Grosvenor House, London
8. Kempinski Hotel Wuxi
9. The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco
10. The Gleneagles
BEST HOTEL CLUB FLOOR
1. The Ritz-Carlton Club Level
2. JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts
3. Grand Hyatt Grand Club
4. The Peninsula Hotels
5. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
6. Hilton Hotels
7. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
8. Westin Hotels & Resorts
9. Renaissance Hotels
BEST HOTEL WEBSITE
1. ritzcarlton.com
2. marriott.com
3. loews.com
4. intercontinental.com
5. hilton.com
6. peninsula.com
7. starwood.com
8. fairmont.com
9. hyatt.com
© FOUR SEASONS SEOUL
BEST NEW LUXURY HOTEL IN ASIA
1. Four Seasons Seoul
2. Alila Seminyak, Bali
3. The St. Regis Langkawi, Malaysia
4. The Reverie, Ho Chi Minh City
5. Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing
6. Aman Tokyo
7. Katamama, Bali
8. Klapsons The River Residences Bangkok
9. Raffles Jakarta
BEST HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD
1. IHG Rewards Club
2. Starwood Preferred Guest
3. Marriott Rewards
4. Hilton HHonors
5. Hyatt Gold Passport
6. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Golden Circle
7. Loews Hotel YouFirst
8. Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club
9. Fairmont President’s Club
10. Omni Select Guest
BEST FREQUENT-STAY ELITE-LEVEL PROGRAM
1. Hilton HHonors Diamond
2. Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum Preferred
3. Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite
4. Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
5. IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite
6. Wyndham Rewards ByRequest
7. Fairmont President’s Club Platinum
8. Sol Meliá MAS Rewards
9. Omni Select Guest
BEST FREQUENT-STAY BONUS PROGRAM
1. Omni Select Guest
2. Hilton HHonors
3. IHG Rewards Club
4. Hyatt Gold Passport
5. Marriott Rewards
6. Starwood Preferred Guest
7. Wyndham Rewards
8. Club Carlson
9. Choice Privileges
10. Fairmont President’s Club
BEST FREQUENT-STAY AWARD REDEMPTION
1. Marriott Rewards
2. Hilton HHonors
3. IHG Rewards Club
4. Starwood Preferred Guest
5. Hyatt Gold Passport
6. Club Carlson
7. Choice Privileges
8. Wyndham Rewards
9. Omni Select Guest
10. Fairmont President’s Club
BEST FREQUENT-STAY CUSTOMER SERVICE, AMERICAS
1. Hyatt Gold Passport
2. Marriott Rewards
3. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards
4. IHG Rewards Club
5. Choice Privileges
6. Starwood Preferred Guest
7. Hilton HHonors
8. Club Carlson
9. Omni Select Guest
10. Fairmont President’s Club
BEST HOTEL IN THE UNITED STATES
1. The Peninsula Beverly Hills
2. The Langham, Chicago
3. The Peninsula Chicago
4. Montage Beverly Hills
5. The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown
6. The Mandarin Oriental, New York
7. Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
8. Four Seasons New York
9. The Waldorf Astoria Chicago
10. Park Hyatt New York
BEST EUROPEAN HOTEL CHAIN
1. St. Regis
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. W Hotels
4. The Luxury Collection
5. Westin Hotels & Resorts
6. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
7. Marriott Hotels
8. Kempinski Hotels
9. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
10. Conrad Hotels & Resorts
BEST HOTEL CHAIN IN ASIA
1. Conrad Hotels
2. Grand Hyatt
3. The Peninsula Hotels
4. Park Hyatt
5. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
6. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
7. Four Seasons
8. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
9. Mandarin Oriental
10. Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces
BEST HOTEL IN SOUTH KOREA
1. Lotte Hotel, Seoul
2. Park Hyatt Seoul
3. The Plaza Seoul
4. The Shilla, Seoul
5. Grand Hyatt Seoul
6. W Hotel Seoul Walkerhill
7. InterContinental Seoul
8. The Ritz-Carlton Seoul
9. JW Marriot Hotel Seoul
10. Four Seasons Seoul
BEST HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA
1. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
2. Meliá Hotels
3. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
4. Westin Hotels & Resorts
5. Four Seasons
6. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
7. The Luxury Collection
8. Grand Hyatt
9. The Ritz-Carlton
10. Caesar Park Hotels
© FIESTA AMERICANA HOTELS & RESORTS
BEST HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO
1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton Hotels
4. Westin Hotels
5. W Hotels
BEST HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Jumeirah International
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Marriott International
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. The Address Hotels + Resorts
6. Four Seasons
7. Kempinski Hotels
8. W Hotels
9. Raffles Hotels
10. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
BEST OVERSEAS DELIVERY PROGRAM
1. Volvo
2. Mercedes
3. BMW
4. Porsche
5. Audi
© LEUNG CHO PAN | DREAMSTIME.COM
BEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY
1. Hertz
2. National Car Rental
3. Avis
4. Budget
5. Enterprise
6. Alamo
7. Sixt
BEST TOURISM DESTINATION
1. Ireland
2. Spain
3. Germany
4. South Africa
5. United Kingdom
6. Australia
7. Israel
8. Hong Kong
9. Brazil
10. India
BEST MICE CITY
1. Seoul
2. Madrid
3. Dubai
4. Singapore
5. Hong Kong
6. Abu Dhabi
7. London
8. Sydney
9. San Francisco
10. Paris
BEST WIFI SERVICE
1. Boingo Wireless
2. AT&T Wireless
3. Verizon Wireless
4. iPass
5. LodgeNet
BEST WIRELESS SERVICE IN THE WORLD
1. Verizon Wireless
2. AT&T Wireless
3. Sprint
4. U.S. Cellular
5. T-Mobile
6. MetroPCS
7. Cricket Wireless
8. Boost Mobile
BEST NOISE-CANCELING HEADSET
1. Sony Digital Noise-Canceling Headphones
2. Sennheiser Urbanite XL
3. Bose QuietComfort
4. Studio Beats Pro
5. JVC
6. Audio-Technica
© BRIGGS & RILEY
BEST LUGGAGE BRAND
1. Briggs & Riley
2. Hartmann
3. Louis Vuitton
4. Samsonite
5. Delsey
6. Victorinox
7. Swiss Army
8. Rimowa
9. Travelpro
10. Tumi
BEST PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
1. Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens
2. Nikon D750
3. Fuji X-E2
4. Sony A7R II
5. Zeiss FE 16-35mm F4 (Lens)
6. Sony FE 70-200mm F4 (Lens)
7. GoPro Hero4 Black
8. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
9. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T* Lens
10. Tamron 17-50mmf/2.8 XR Di II Lens
BEST CREDIT CARD
1. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
2. American Express Platinum Card
3. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
4. Plum Card from American Express Open
5. American Express Blue Card
6. Chase Ink Card
7. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
8. American Airlines WorldElite MasterCard
9. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
10. Escape Card from Discover
BEST SMALL-BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
1. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JPMorgan
2. Chase Ink Cash Business Credit Card
3. American Express Business Platinum Card from Open
4. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
5. Chase Ink Plus Business Credit Card
6. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Credit Card from American Express
7. Business Card from Discover
8. Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card from American Express
BEST CREDIT CARD SPECIAL EVENTS
1. Inside Access from Chase
2. Chase Sapphire
3. Citi Private Pass
BEST CREDIT CARD REWARDS PROGRAM
1. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
2. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
3. Membership Rewards Program from American Express
4. Capital One Venture Rewards
5. Delta SkyMiles by American Express
6. United Mileage Plus Visa from Chase
7. Chase Sapphire
8. Miles by Discover
9. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
10. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card from Chase
BEST FREQUENT-STAY AFFINITY CREDIT CARD
1. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
2. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JPMorgan
3. CitiBank Hilton HHonors Reserve Card
4. Choice Privileges Visa Signature
5. Hyatt Gold Passport Card
6. Hilton HHonors American Express
7. US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Card
8. IHG Rewards Club Select Visa
BEST FREQUENT-STAY AFFINITY CREDIT CARD PROMOTIONS
1. Hilton HHonors Card from American Express
2. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
3. IHG Rewards Club Select Visa
4. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JPMorgan
5. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
6. Hyatt Gold Passport Credit Card
7. Choice Privileges Visa Signature
BEST FREQUENT-STAY AFFINITY CREDIT CARD BENEFITS
1. Hilton HHonors Card from American Express
2. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
3. IHG Rewards Club Select Visa
4. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
5. Hyatt Gold Passport Credit Card
6. Choice Privileges Visa Signature
BEST FREQUENT-STAY AFFINITY CREDIT CARD REDEMPTIONS
1. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JPMorgan
2. IHG Rewards Club Select Visa
3. Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
4. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
5. Hyatt Gold Passport Card
6. Choice Privileges Visa Signature
7. Hilton HHonors American Express
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER AFFINITY CREDIT CARD
1. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
2. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard
3. Delta SkyMiles Card from American Express
4. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
5. British Airways Visa Signature Card
6. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
7. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card
8. JetBlue American Express Card
9. Lufthansa Miles & More Card
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER AFFINITY CREDIT CARD PROMOTIONS
1. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard
2. Delta SkyMiles by American Express
3. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
4. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
5. British Airways Visa Signature Card
6. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
7. JetBlue American Express Card
8. Lufthansa Miles & More Card
9. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER AFFINITY CREDIT CARD BENEFITS
1. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
2. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard
3. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
4. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
5. Aeromexico Club Premier La Tarjeta from American Express
6. British Airways Visa Signature Card
7. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
8. Lufthansa Miles & More Card
9. JetBlue American Express Card
10. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Card
BEST FREQUENT-FLYER AFFINITY CREDIT CARD REDEMPTIONS
1. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
2. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
3. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard
4. United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
5. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Card
6. British Airways Visa Signature Card
7. JetBlue American Express Card
8. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
BEST CRUISE LINE AFFINITY CREDIT CARD
1. Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card
2. Royal Caribbean Visa Credit Card from Bank of America
3. Norwegian Cruise Line MasterCard from Bank of America
4. Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card
© CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK
WINES ON THE WING 2016
The results of Global Traveler’s Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition were published in the August 2016 issue. Twenty-six professional wine experts judged submitted in-flight wines and sparkling selections. Singapore Airlines received multiple awards, including Best International Business Class Wines on the Wing, Best International First Class Wines on the Wing, and Best Champagne International Business Class. British Airways and Singapore Airlines tied for Best Champagne International First Class. Other winners include Emirates, American Airlines and TAP Portugal. In North America, American Airlines swept all categories. Star Alliance was named Best Alliance Wines on the Wing.
Best International First Class Wines on the Wing
Singapore Airlines
Best Champagne International First Class
British Airways (tie)
Singapore Airlines
Best White Wine International First Class
Emirates
Best Red Wine International First Class
American Airlines
Best International Business Class Wines on the Wing
Singapore Airlines
Best Champagne International Business Class
Singapore Airlines
Best White Wine International Business Class
TAP Portugal
Best Red Wine International Business Class
American Airlines
Best Alliance Wines on the Wing
Star Alliance
Best North American Wines on the Wing
American Airlines
Best North American Sparkling Wine
American Airlines
Best North American White Wine
American Airlines
Best North American Red Wine
American Airlines