And the winner is?

[The Rok]

23rd Annual Best in Business Travel Awards 2011 Announced - Business Traveler US

 

[anat0l]

Dear God, please help me understand this crazy list. Although given it is a process decided by voting (albeit by BT readers), it's probably just as farcical as the Logie Awards.

Best Airline for International Travel

Qatar Airways

Now this is always going to be controversial, but how does one exactly arrive at QR?

Best First Class Service

Singapore Airlines

Best Business Class Service

Singapore Airlines

Best Premium Economy Class Service

Virgin Atlantic

Best Economy Class Service

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines scoops 3 of the 4 class service awards and Qatar - the best international travel in the world - none of them?

Best Airport Clubs/Lounges

Virgin Atlantic

Again controversial, although arguably the best lounges in the world that is still accessible at a "Business Class" level (most of the "better" lounges, if even then, are only accessible at the "First Class" level).

Best Business Hotel Chain in the World

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

This is where it gets interesting. You could say Starwood, Hilton or IHG for various reasons.

• Starwood has prestigious hotels, albeit not huge coverage as Hilton, and SPG is quite a good program - probably one of the few which has been gutted if at all in recent times
• IHG is probably the least prestigious by a country mile, but the coverage is huge and consistently across the world. Priority Club, though not big on benefits at all, is the easiest earn and burn out there.
• Hilton is kind of middle-road here, though more towards the "Starwood" side than the "IHG" side. Perhaps this is what got it across the line.

Best Aircraft Type

Boeing 777

No surprises there, really.

Best A380 Layout

Qantas

I'd like to know how they assessed this one. (The result is not completely unbelievable, but it's not like it would be an easy decision.)

Best Airline in Western Europe

British Airways

Not much competition there, really. At least it isn't Ryanair.

Best Airline in the Middle East

Emirates

Not Qatar?

Best Airline in Asia

Korean Air

Not Singapore Airlines?

Best Frequent Flyer Program

Delta Air Lines

I am so waiting for the popular bloggers on Boarding Area (FlyerTalk) to go absolutely ballistic at this one.



This list of awardees doesn't seem congruent with the list which I found here: Business Traveller Awards 2011: the full results - Business Traveller (The results in this one were published a few months earlier than the "awards ceremony" article, linked by the OP).

 

[Must...Fly!]

Now this is always going to be controversial, but how does one exactly arrive at QR?

Not by flying via DOH in Y, that is for sure:!:

 

[JohnK]

You always take these ratings with a grain of salt.

The ratings that matter are the ones in your own mind and it does not matter what anyone else thinks.

 

[The Rok]

I would of thought the VS Y+ is a little bit old in the tooth to be winning this award, but I might be wrong.

 

[opusman]

I've found the service on SQ J to be very average and (at 6'3") the seats not all that comfortable. There are other Js (QF on the 380 included) I'd definitely rate higher.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Dear God, please help me understand this crazy list. Although given it is a process decided by voting (albeit by BT readers), it's probably just as farcical as the Logie Awards.

Now this is always going to be controversial, but how does one exactly arrive at QR?

Just ask FIFA - the soccer mob as opposed to AFF's own Fifa.

FIFA.com - The Official Website of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar?

I remember being on an aircraft where another pax was reading that JQ won some Skytrax award for something & he remarked to his travelling companion "is (then QF CEO) Dixon running his own race"?

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, i think i've probably been as pleased flying QR in Y as any Y experience i have had.... Not saying they should be best in the world and not sure what fun and games might go on with these things... I guess there are a lot more Y flyers than the other classes so as long as you provide a decent experience in that class...

 

[serfty]

You always take these ratings with a grain of salt.

The ratings that matter are the ones in your own mind and it does not matter what anyone else thinks.

I don't waste my time with these things - haven't even opened the link in the OP.