As your journey often begins at the airport, Forbes Travel Guide has introduced its first-ever Air Travel Certified Awards to honor exceptional airline and airport experiences. Recognizing that the travel experience is just as important as the destination, the awards celebrate a variety of categories, including fine airport dining, luxury lounges, premier first-class suites, and onboard cocktail bars. The awards also feature categories for private jets and exclusive airport services.
Emirates was named Best International Airline, while Delta received the title of Best U.S. Airline. Singapore’s Changi Airport earned the distinction of Best International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport’s renovation was recognized with the title of Best U.S. Airport. Additionally, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was awarded Innovation of the Year for its implementation of facial recognition technology at major U.S. airports.
The winners were determined by Forbes Travel Guide’s air travel experts, who meticulously curated a shortlist from around the world. The final selections for the Verified Air Travel Awards were made through an invitation-only survey involving 5,000 of the hospitality industry’s most frequent travelers, including luxury travel advisors, FTG’s regular fliers, anonymous inspectors, and training teams. Results were verified by FTG experts, known for their commitment to the integrity of their 66-year-old star rating system, which assesses hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruises through anonymous inspections.
“Too many awards in the travel industry are the result of somewhat dubious popularity contests,” remarked Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-winning travel journalist and host of CBS’ Eye on Travel. “The Verified Air Travel Awards are significant because the criteria are grounded in real-world experience and accountability. In a landscape filled with luxury brands, the true measure of excellence lies in the objective opinions of seasoned travelers combined with hard data.”
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