Before you check into a stunning hotel or explore a new city, chances are your travels will begin at the airport. And the journey is just as important as the destination. That’s why Forbes Travel Guide is launching its first Verified Air Travel Awards to celebrate the best airline and airport experiences.
Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”)—the world’s leading authority on luxury hospitality—has announced the winners of its first Verified Air Travel Awards. The 2024 awards spotlight the best experiences in air travel, including airlines, airports and private jet services.
The 22 awards highlight a range of categories—from fine airport dining and lavish lounges to top-of-the-line first-class suites and in-flight cocktail bars. For those who prefer traversing the globe in a more exclusive style, the Air Travel Awards also cover private jet and private airport services.
Emirates and Delta Air Lines were named Best International Airline and Best U.S. Airline, respectively. Singapore Changi Airport earned the title of Best International Airport, while LaGuardia’s renovation landed it the Best U.S. Airport accolade. And the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) picked up Innovation of the Year for introducing facial recognition at major U.S. airports. La Compagnie was named as Best Small Airline, and Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno in Doha as Best International Airport Lounge.
FTG’s air travel experts scoured the globe to come up with a list of nominees. Then the Verified Air Travel Award winners were decided by an invitation-only survey of 5,000 of the most well-traveled people in the hospitality industry, including luxury travel advisors and FTG’s most frequent fliers, its incognito inspectors and training team. The results were validated by the experts at FTG, known for the integrity and objectivity of its 66-year-old Star Ratings system (which relies on incognito inspections by expert inspectors to determine the annual ratings of hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruise ships). Winners will be celebrated at The Summit in Monaco in February 2025, FTG’s annual conference dedicated to luxury brands and luxury travel.
“Too many travel industry awards are the result of a somewhat suspect popularity contest. The Verified Air Travel awards are important because the metrics are based on real-world experience and real-world accountability,” said Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-winning travel journalist and host of “Eye on Travel” on CBS Radio. “In a world experiencing an explosion of luxury brands, it’s not about pretty pictures or mission statements, but the unbiased opinions of veteran travelers coupled with reliable facts that lead to a credible and relevant definition of excellence.”
“In today’s travel landscape, travelers have high expectations,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “They don’t want to wait until they arrive at a luxury hotel to experience exceptional dining, cocktails, comfort and, most especially, world-class service. The Verified Air Travel Awards help guide these discerning travelers to the best experiences.”
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