If you fly to Asia with any frequency, and you care about service and quality, you’ll probably want to build a relationship with Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier. It ranks among the most luxurious airlines in the world. In addition to receiving a five-star Skytrax rating, it has been recognized as the World’s Best Airline more times than any other carrier.
Aeroflot, Russia’s flag carrier and largest airline, flies between Moscow and four U.S. cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Miami. It also has an extensive network of routes in Europe and Asia, making the airline a convenient choice for connecting flights beyond Moscow.
Air New Zealand is a global airline based in Auckland. It flies to four cities in the United States: Honolulu, Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco.
Aeromexico is Mexico’s largest airline, with 14 non-stop routes between Mexico City and the United States. Its extensive network also makes it easy for U.S. travelers to fly to Central and South America with one connection in Mexico City.
Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. It flies to over 120 destinations around the world, and it’s growing rapidly. In 2014, the airline carried almost 15 million passengers, which is roughly a 22 percent increase from the year before.
Frontier Airlines and its EarlyReturns frequent flyer program underwent a considerable overhaul in March 2015, putting it firmly on the path of becoming a true ultra-low-cost carrier. Fortunately, the EarlyReturns award redemption levels have not changed even though the economy rates are getting a bit harder to find nowadays.
Asiana Airlines is Korea’s second largest carrier after Korea Air. Asiana Club, the airline’s loyalty program, offers members exceptional deals on certain routes, including flights between the U.S. and Korea, Europe, and parts of South America. The program also has some unique perks, like its generous family mile sharing and pooling program and the ability to pay for excess baggage with miles.
Asiana’s program isn’t the most
Depending on how far down the
All Nippon Airlines, or ANA, is the second biggest airline in Japan after the flag carrier Japan Airlines. It consistently receives high ratings from both customers and industry organizations, such as Skytrax. The praise is well-deserved as the airline offers superb service in all classes, both in the air and on the ground.
On its own, Air Canada can be a great airline to fly. It constantly garners awards for being the best airline in North America both from magazines like Business Traveler and Global Travel and industry organizations like Skytrax and World Travel Market.
Though it’s not as widely known and publicized as the Air France-KLM partnership, British Airways and Iberia merged back in 2011. They are technically one airline, even though they operate under separate brands.
Initially a regional airline known for its unusual seating policies”first come, first served” Southwest has transitioned over the years into one of the main domestic airlines, especially after its recent integration of AirTran.
Airberlin’s days as a budget airline appear to be over. Today it is one of the staples of oneworld and has several partners outside the alliance as well. With all these connections, members of its frequent flyer program Topbonus have the option of spending their miles on a variety of carriers all over the world.
While Spirit will never win a popularity contest, it’s hard to argue with its financial success. It was profitable even in the hardest of times, when every other airline was struggling to stay afloat. Spirit Airlines has only one competitive angle: low price. And for that price, it provides only one service, transporting you from point A to point B. Everything else costs extra.
American Express Membership Rewards is the granddaddy of programs offering
Despite not having any transfer partners, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is still a great tool for getting award flights. In addition to a 40,000 mile sign-up bonus, this card has great earning capabilities and the flexibility to redeem your miles for most of your travel expenses.
If you’re saving
JetBlue has been a favorite of frequent flyers since the low-cost airline came on the scene in 2000. Despite offering very affordable fares, the carrier didn’t skimp on service and that helped build a loyal customer base as well as industry accolades. In fact, JetBlue has won JD Power and Associates’ award for Top Low Cost Airline for Customer Satisfaction for 10 years in a row.
Japan Airlines (JAL) is the flagship carrier of Japan. JAL’s planes and service in all cabins are consistently rated among the best in the industry. Their award program, JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), is flexible and offers some great redemption rates on flights between the U.S. and Japan. They are also a member of the powerful oneworld alliance.
