Airline Ratings: World’s Best Airlines 2026

[MEL_Traveller]

Well… it’s here! World's Best Airlines for 2026 by Airline Ratings

Get out the popcorn

Qatar #1 because of its value proposition, economy class, and award-winning business class. Not sure of the value proposition from Australia?

News.com(.au) has reported on the ratings, and says they are determined not from passenger feedback, but the airlinesratings team having flown or measured everything objectively.

Can’t seem to find that bit in the main article.

Anyway… enjoy.

 

[dajop]

Get out the popcorn

Indeed!

They have created different category for "hybrid" airlines which they state "hybrid airlines offer a mix of onboard service, modelling low cost or full service depending on the length of flight."

Yet AIr New Zealand is considered Full Service! What a load of absolute rubbish. They fit their exact definition of hybrid. Destroys any credibility IMHO.

Another anomaly I'm not sure I'd rank Air France as "full service" and Swiss as "hybrid". They seem very similar to me as do all the big 3 (LH/LX, AF/KL, BA/IB etc). One point of contrast IME in last 12 months, the "hybrid" carrier offered a full hot meal on a 2.5hr euro-business flight (OSL-ZRH) whilst the other "full service" carrier only offered a cold salad on a 3hr euro-business flight (CMN-CDG).! YMMV.

 

[chitown_boy]

Indeed!

They have created different category for "hybrid" airlines which they state "hybrid airlines offer a mix of onboard service, modelling low cost or full service depending on the length of flight."

Yet AIr New Zealand is considered Full Service! What a load of absolute rubbish. They fit their exact definition of hybrid. Destroys any credibility IMHO.

Another anomaly I'm not sure I'd rank Air France as "full service" and Swiss as "hybrid". They seem very similar to me as do all the big 3 (LH/LX, AF/KL, BA/IB etc). One point of contrast IME in last 12 months, the "hybrid" carrier offered a full hot meal on a 2.5hr euro-business flight (OSL-ZRH) whilst the other "full service" carrier only offered a cold salad on a 3hr euro-business flight (CMN-CDG).! YMMV.

TBF Air NZ has full service pricing

 

[cambriamarsh]

TBF Air NZ has full service pricing

On steroi_s! Often twice as dear or more than JQ

 

[Scarlett]

Can one of the mods please fix the spelling in the title. Driving my ocd crazy…

Thanks.

 

[markis10]

Why give air to another GT piece of rubbish, ps OP can fix the title

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why give air to another GT piece of rubbish, ps OP can fix the title

To what?

 

[HS-TQE]

Air New Zealand would be closer to Virgin Australia's hybrid "Value Carrier" (LCC+ status) when it comes to their domestic and Short Haul International offerings.

Like with VA, NZ's Domestic/Short Haul Economy is basically LCC with PAYG, although NZ's business on Short Haul International is basically just their Long Haul product on their Widebodies.