Readers’ Choice: Winners of Global Traveler’s 17th Annual GT Tested Awards

Step right up to the greatest show on Earth: travel. Though 2020 felt like a circus and disrupted how we move around the world, travel still connects us to people and places that shape and educate us. The travel industry has pivoted to prioritize safety and health while preserving the spirit of exploration. In that spirit, we present the results of the 17th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards, driven by the votes of experienced, frequent and luxury travelers who shared their insights on airlines, airports, hotels, loyalty programs and travel services.

Our winners include many familiar names and several new highlights. In airline categories, United Airlines earned the title of Best Overall Airline in the World. United’s MileagePlus program was honored across three categories: Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program for the 17th consecutive year, Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program for its Premier Executive 1K level, and Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program for the eighth straight year. Singapore Airlines captured Best Business-Class Seat Design.

oneworld was named Best Airline Alliance for the 11th straight year. American Airlines collected multiple honors, including Best Airline Website (aa.com), Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific, Best Airline for Domestic First Class, Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service for AAdvantage, and Best Airline App. Cathay Pacific Airways won Best Airline for International First Class and Best Flight Attendant Uniforms. Asiana Airlines continued its sweep with wins for Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline for Flight Attendants, both marking its 17th victories in those categories. Etihad Airways earned recognition for Best Airline Cuisine and Best Airline in the Middle East.

EL AL Israel Airlines maintained its strong record as Best Airline for Security for the 14th year. All Nippon Airways won Best First-Class Seat Design, Best Trans-Pacific Airline and Best Airline to Japan. Air Canada was a notable new winner as the inaugural Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness recipient; it also won Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption for Aeroplan and Best Airline in North America for the second consecutive year.

Turkish Airlines Corporate Club took Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers, while Turkish Airlines itself was recognized as Best Airline for Business Class and won Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents. Other regional airline winners include Avianca (Best Airline to South America), Aeromexico (Best Airline in Mexico), Air Tahiti Nui (Best Airline in the South Pacific), TAP Air Portugal (Best Airline in Europe and Best Trans-Atlantic Airline), Aeroflot (Best Airline in Eastern Europe), Ethiopian Airlines (Best Airline in Africa), China Airlines (Best Airline in North Asia, eight years running) and Air India (Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India).

Airport winners highlight the gateways that make travel possible. Singapore Changi Airport was voted Best Overall Airport in the World for the fifth consecutive year and also claimed Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia. Chicago O’Hare International Airport was named Best Airport in North America for the 17th year running and earned its first award for Best Airport Dining. Incheon International Airport was recognized as Best Airport in Asia, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol took Best Airport in Europe, and El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá was Best Airport in South America. Hamad International Airport in Doha won Best Airport in the Middle East for the fourth straight year, and Dubai Duty Free retained its long-held title as Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World.

Hotels and loyalty programs were also celebrated. InterContinental Hotels Group won Best International Hotel Chain and IHG Rewards Club was named Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World for the 16th year; IHG Business Edge was again recognized as Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program. The Ritz-Carlton was voted Best Domestic Hotel Chain, and Marriott Bonvoy earned multiple awards across elite-level benefits, redemptions and customer service. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts secured Best European Hotel Chain for the fifth time.

Lotte Hotels received multiple honors, including Best MICE Hotel for Lotte Hotel Seoul and Best Hotel in South Korea. SIGNIEL Seoul — Lotte Tower was named Best Hotel in Asia. Andaz was singled out as Best Lifestyle Hotel. Hilton won Best Hotel Website and Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program for Hilton Honors, and the Hilton Hotels app was recognized as Best Hotel App. The Peninsula Beverly Hills was voted Best Hotel in the United States, and Fiesta Americana was crowned Best Hotel Chain in Mexico.

Beyond airlines, airports and hotels, readers recognized travel products and services. Volvo won Best Overseas Delivery Program; Enterprise was named Best Rental Car Company; The Parking Spot took Best Airport Parking; Boingo Wireless was voted Best WiFi Service; and Briggs & Riley earned Best Luggage Brand. Spain was selected as Best Tourism Destination, and Seoul was again named Best MICE City.

Credit card winners reward travelers who maximize points and perks. Chase’s United Club Infinite Card was voted Best Overall Credit Card, Best Credit Card Rewards Program and Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions. The United Explorer Card also earned recognition for award redemptions. Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards received several distinctions, including wins for Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card and related benefits and redemptions. Other honored cards include the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America, Barclays’ AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard, and the Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays.

Each year we also acknowledge long-term excellence. Our 2020 Quint Status inductees (five consecutive wins) are Singapore Changi Airport, Turkish Airlines (Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents), St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, and Volvo. Hall of Fame inductees (10 consecutive wins) include TAP Air Portugal, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Fiesta Americana and Boingo Wireless.

In a year defined by change, these winners demonstrated adaptability, reliability and consistency. Congratulations to all honorees. We look forward to a safer, more open future when travel resumes in full and once again becomes the greatest show on Earth.

THE VOTING PROCESS

Open-ended ballots ran in Global Traveler subscriber issues and online from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2020. Ballots were distributed via direct mail and email during the same period. Submissions with less than 50 percent of fields completed were disqualified. More than 20,000 qualified ballots were returned. Employees of FX Express Publications, Inc., and affiliated travel-industry members were not permitted to participate.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Best Overall Airline in the World
1. United Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Alliance
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam

Best Aircraft Type
1. Airbus A350
2. Boeing 787
3. Boeing 777

Best Airline Website
1. aa.com
2. delta.com
3. united.com

Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Japan Airlines

Best Airline for Business Class
1. Turkish Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline for International First Class
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Etihad Airways
3. Emirates

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines

Best Airline for Onboard Service
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Turkish Airlines

Best Airline Lounges
1. Delta Sky Club
2. American Airlines Admirals Club
3. United Polaris Club

Best Airline for Flight Attendants
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Etihad Airways

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Cuisine
1. Etihad Airways
2. Turkish Airlines
3. Alitalia

Best Airline for Security
1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. Swiss International Air Lines
3. British Airways

Best First-Class Seat Design
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Business-Class Seat Design
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Alitalia
3. Asiana Airlines

Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers
1. Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
2. American Airlines Business Extra
3. United PerksPlus

Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness
1. Air Canada
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines

Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
1. United MileagePlus
2. Air Canada Aeroplan
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
1. United MileagePlus Premier Executive 1K
2. American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Diamond Medallion

Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
1. Air Canada Aeroplan
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service
1. American Airlines AAdvantage
2. United MileagePlus
3. Air Canada Aeroplan

Best Airline in North America
1. Air Canada
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Airline to South America
1. Avianca
2. Aerolineas Argentinas
3. LATAM Airlines Group

Best Airline in Mexico
1. Aeromexico
2. Interjet
3. VivaAerobus

Best Airline in the South Pacific
1. Air Tahiti Nui
2. Fiji Airways
3. Air New Zealand

Best Airline in Europe
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. British Airways
3. Austrian Airlines

Best Airline in Eastern Europe
1. Aeroflot
2. LOT Polish Airlines
3. S7 Airlines

Best Airline in Africa
1. Ethiopian Airlines
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. South African Airways

Best Airline in the Middle East
1. Etihad Airways
2. Emirates
3. Qatar Airways

Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China)
1. China Airlines
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways

Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India
1. Air India
2. Indigo
3. SpiceJet

Best Airline to Japan
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Japan Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Overall Airport in the World
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha
3. Incheon International Airport

Best Airport in North America
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Miami International Airport
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Best Airport in Asia
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

Best Airport in Europe
1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
2. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
3. Zürich Kloten International Airport

Best Airport in the Middle East
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport

Best Airport in South America
1. El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá
2. Jorge Chávez International Airport
3. Quito International Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
1. Turkish Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. United Airlines

Best Airport Dining
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Best Airport Shopping
1. Miami International Airport
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport
1. Ontario International Airport, California
2. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
3. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World
1. Dubai Duty Free
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Hamad International Airport, Doha

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

Best International Hotel Chain
1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. The Peninsula Hotels

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Four Seasons

Best Lifestyle Hotel
1. Andaz
2. Moxy
3. Aloft Hotels

Best MICE Hotel
1. Lotte Hotel Seoul
2. Hyatt Regency Incheon
3. Aspen Meadows Resort

Best Hotel Website
1. hilton.com
2. marriott.com
3. ihg.com

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
1. IHG Rewards Club
2. Hilton Honors
3. Marriott Bonvoy

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
1. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
2. World of Hyatt Platinum
3. Hilton Honors Diamond

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
1. Hilton Honors
2. Le Club Accor
3. IHG Rewards Club

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. IHG Rewards Club
3. World of Hyatt

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. Le Club AccorHotels
3. IHG Rewards Club

Best Hotel in the United States
1. The Peninsula Beverly Hills
2. The Breakers Palm Beach
3. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs