In the world of digital nomadism, traveling is quite important, and with so many airlines around, it begs the question: Which airline is the better one?
There are quite a few airlines that you can pick from, and each one is based in a different country and associated with a different airport. Every airline provides you with a unique and attractive stopover plan to extend your vacation, but which of these is truly worth it?
I understand the process can be quite tedious but being in the world of digital nomads for a handsome time now, I’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of airlines. In today’s guide, I’ll be talking about the best ones around.
In-Depth Airline Reviews by Region
Depending on the country or region of origin, I have organized the best of the best airlines around in a comprehensive list. My aim is to feature the best aspects of every airline and to answer your question as to which one you should pick for your flight. Let’s get into it.
The regions most commonly traveled from are as follows:
● Middle-East
● Asian
● Australian/Pacific
● American
● European
Middle-East
The Arabian countries as well as their neighbors host some of the largest airlines in the world. Among the most renowned are Qatar and Emirates Airlines. These offer not only the best and most innovative features but some of the most hospitable staff and reasonable pricing.
Qatar Airways
Named after the country of its origin, Qatar Airways has been on an upward trend in the airlines of the world since it was launched in 1997. It connects its passengers to all six continents, providing them with First-class, Business-class, and Economy-class cabin configurations to travel in.
Airport
The standout feature of this airline is the airport it is based in. Doha or the Hamad International Airport is among the most beautiful airports in the world and is a sight to behold. All the shops in the airport allow payments using USD as a standard currency. With a stopover package, you can witness the airport, as well as the city of Doha in all its glory.
Pre-Select Dining
Among the services it provides, Qatar Airways was the first to introduce a Pre-Select Dining service for first and business-class passengers.
Although it’s available on only limited routes, passengers can choose the main course of their liking from a wide variety of cuisines. On top of that, there are no extra charges for this and is given as a complementary service to the passengers.
Amenities
The five-star rating given by Skytrax to Qatar Airways is completely justified. It comes with every airline service you could ask for, from superfast Wi-Fi to disability assistance.
The onboard staff is extremely helpful and amiable, and try their best to solve any issue that may occur. Booking a ticket with Qatar Airways is extremely simple and easy, making it a very reliable airline to go with.
Emirates
The second big-name airline from middle-east after Qatar Airways has to Emirates. The marketing budget of this airline is inexhaustible, and you should have seen banners and advertisements of Emirates almost everywhere you go. Launched in 1984, Emirates now connects over 150 destinates with its fleet of state-of-the-art airplanes.
Desert Stopover
Emirates is based in Dubai, which is the perfect stop for an extended stop. Among the plethora of stuff to dabble in, one of the highlights is the desert tour that you can partake in.
As standard, longer flights, for instance, from India to New Zealand, will naturally have a 2-hourstopover at Dubai. But you can choose to extend it by a day or two, and experience camel treks in the desert, or drive in jeeps over sand dunes. Enjoy the best of Dubai with this stopover option when you pick Emirates airlines.
A380 Airplanes
Everybody loves A380 airplanes. The comfort, space, and engine sound-dampening on these are much better than the 737s. Emirates airlines have the honor to own the most A380 airplanes in the world.
Traveling in the business class of Emirates is a must. Not because of bad its cheaper categories are, but due to the unique services they provide in the business class cabins of their A380s.
Passengers can access the chill area on the second floor which is a highlight when flying business class. It comes equipped with a bar and sofas, which truly gives this premium category a new meaning.
Food and Servies
Contrary to the general consensus that airplane food is nothing to write home about, food on Emirates is absolutely delicious. The standout snack that I personally loved and couldn’t get enough of, was the croissants that they serve for breakfast.
The dishes have ample variety with neither of them tasting bland, and surprisingly have a larger serving than most other airlines. It’s like Emirates knows their food is good, and they serve you more of it, just to make you happier.
In regard to entertainment, know that the A380s are built with some of the most modern airplane technologies, and the same goes for the screens they come with.
Unlike most other airlines, the screen size is much larger and is touch-enabled for more intuitive navigation. Watching any of the huge selection of movies, shows, or classics that Emirates provides on these screens is much better than doing the same on your phone or tablet.
Asian Airlines
The biggest continent in the world offers some of the largest and all-around top-rated airlines. Hailing from vastly different countries, the best Asian airlines in my opinion have to be ANA (All Nippon Airlines) from Japan and Singapore Airlines. The cultural significance is strong in these, so let’s find out why these airlines never fail to impress.
ANA All Nippon Airlines
You may not have heard of ANA airlines before, but it is arguably among the best Asian airlines out there.
Great Economy Class
Economy class in most cheaper airlines tends to cut back on the services and hospitality provided to the passengers. The freebies and signature services are reserved only for first or business-class customers.
This is true with ANA airlines as well, but only to some extent. When flying economy on ANA airlines, the treatment you get from the staff, as well as the quality of food and the in-flight entertainment, are leagues ahead of economy class categories of other airlines.
For instance, ANA airlines give their economy class passengers free drinks during the flight. The roster includes, but is not limited to:
● Wine
● Beer
● Mocktails
● Sparkling Wine
ANA Loyalty Program
ANA airlines give their regular customers an extensive loyalty program, which they exploit to cut back on flight fares and hotel costs. Once part of the ANA Mileage Club, you can miles for your every flight and later on redeem them for various rewards.
Accumulated miles can be redeemed on various rewards like:
● Upgrade vouchers
● Hotel stays
● Baggage allowance
● Car rentals
Destinations Visited
Hailing all the way from the east, ANA airlines’ origin country is Japan. The direct competitor to ANA airlines is Japan Airlines, but the factor in favor of the former is the sheer number of destinations it has access to.
Americans in particular can rest easy knowing that direct flights from various major cities of America go to Japan on a daily basis. The main American Airports ANA airlines have access to are as follows:
● New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
● San Fransisco International Airport
● Washington Dulles International Airport
● Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
● Chicago O’Hare International Airport
● Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
● Los Angeles International Airport
● Mexico City International Airport
● Vancouver International Airport
● Seattle Tacoma International Airport
● San Jose International Airport
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is regarded as one of the most reliable airlines with outclass services and a highly amiable staff. With a Skytrax rating of 5 and multiple years as the best airline in the world, you cannot go wrong by picking this airline for your tour.
Cultural Significance
Among all the airlines I mentioned, Singapore Airlines truly takes pride in its cultural background and isn’t shy to show it to its passengers.
The on-flight female staff is donned in a signature sarong kebaya, a heritage dress aging back 50 years. Termed the Singapore Girl, the iconic look of the staff is a symbol that signifies Asian hospitality, according to Singapore Airlines.
For every position, the colors of the sarong kebaya differ, to signify the designation of the woman wearing it.
Changi Airport
When booking a flight with Singapore Airlines, know that your plane will fly through the world-class Changi Airport. While the Hamad International Airport has its own appeal, the Changi Airport has a nature-oriented charm to it.
The standout feature of the Changi Airport has to be the 6 different gardens, as well as the koi pond in it. For a relaxing and peaceful spot to rest, there’s no place better than the koi pond. Or maybe you want to appreciate the various kinds of butterflies in the airport’s butterfly garden.
On top of that, the main area of the airport itself holds more resemblance to a modern mall than an airport, with lounges, shops from various designer brands, cinemas, and various other spots to keep you entertained.
Traveling with Family
While other airlines don’t place a restriction on taking your children with you on a flight, it is a fact that no other airline makes family traveling as easy and convenient as Singapore Airlines. On top of ticking every other customer service checkbox, the staff on Singapore Airlines goes one step ahead of others. The on-flight staff receives 4-month training, as opposed to 2-months for other airlines, and with the added training of supporting families traveling with children.
Anytime you wish to have a moment of peace and quiet, the onboard staff will offer to soothe your child with the variety of toys and amenities they have. Even the menu takes into account the favorite meals of children and caters accordingly.
The seating on the planes of Singapore Airlines has more space than any other airline. For instance, Singapore Airlines planes such as the A350 have one less seat as compared to the competition. This extra space is a godsend for taller people as well as families.
Australian/Pacific Airlines
The smallest continent has a wide variety of different tourist spots that will pique your interest. The airlines originating from this region owe their roots to two main countries, namely Australia, and New Zealand. If you’re looking to have a great time on this nature-filled continent and the surrounding archipelagos, then Air New Zealand or Qantas Airways is the way to go.
Qantas Airways
With more than 100 years under its belt, Qantas Airways is arguably the best Pacific airline today. Recognized globally, the Flying Kangaroo logo on the planes of Qantas airplanes connects to every major destination around the world.
Unmatched Safety
No, I’m not pulling this out of the film, Rain Man, where Raymond attests to Qantas Airlines never having a crash. After conducting proper research, it in fact is true that after 1946, Qantas never had a crash that lead to fatalities.
Part of this is due to the fact that Qantas puts safety above everything else. They will double-check, sometimes even triple check the proper functioning of every system before they put a plane in the sky
Wines
With an onboard sommelier, you know these Australians pay attention to their wine. For those who don’t know, a sommelier is a wine expert, who knows what beverage goes best with every meal and can prepare a killer drink.
Not only that, the drinks served aboard Qantas Airlines are truly memorable. Prepared with subtle sophistication, it’s no wonder that Qantas has won multiple awards for the fine wines they serve.
Qantas App
The Qantas app can be used to check important flight information. If that isn’t special enough, there is a special reading section built within the app that unlocks for 12 around your flight time. Through this section, you can access countless magazines and newspapers in different languages. From local to international publications, the times but unlimited access makes waiting times bearable. You can even bookmark your favorite ones to read at some other time.
Air New Zealand
With multiple awards under its belt, Air New Zealand boasts over 3500 weekly flights and more than 17 million yearly passengers. The airline launched back in 1940 and has since then gained global coverage at ridiculously low fares without compromising on the quality or services provided on the flight.
Pricing
If you’re looking for a cheap flight ticket from a pacific airline, it will most probably be Air New Zealand. Even if a small-name airline beats Air New Zealand to it, know that you’ll get the best value for your money with the one that’s named after a bunch of islands.
Most domestic flights in the pacific are usually handled by Air New Zealand, due to the remarkably low fares and incredible deals they provide. Recommending this airline is easy for anyone looking to save traveling costs.
Safety Videos
While this in itself isn’t a reason to pick Air New Zealand over other airlines, I had to mention this point due to its sheer genius. I think I’m not alone when I say that safety videos are very droll and difficult to watch. Well, so
does Air New Zealand, it seems. That’s why they took steps to make these videos way more interesting than they have any right to be.
Featuring themes from various movies like Lord of the Rings and Men in Black, as well as featuring famous celebrities like Bear Grylls and Elijah Woods, the safety videos in Air New Zealand carry an entertainment factor of their own.
American Airlines
While Skytrax may not rank American Airlines in their top-10 list, by no means does this mean that they’re bad. In fact, American airlines have some of the most sophisticated systems in use to make the booking and flight experience seamless. The best airlines in this region have to be Delta Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, hands down.
Delta Airlines
Dating back to 1925, Delta Airlines has risen to become one of the biggest American airlines. While the majority of flights are domestic, its international expansion program has given it a foreign footprint as well.
Booking Tickets via Third-Party Source
Isn’t it convenient to book your tickets directly from the website you’re booking your hotels from? This is the seamlessness that Delta Airlines promotes.
An added benefit is the great deals that you can find on these websites, as well as their own loyalty program benefits.
Do be cautious when buying a ticket from these websites though, and give their refund policy a good read before proceeding.
Rollover Miles Concept
The reward program by Delta Airlines termed Medallion Qualifying Miles has a unique property attached to it. If at the end of a year, you have remaining MQMs, these will be carried over into the next year.
This factor is a major incentive to keep coming back to Delta Airlines, year after year. The Medallion Qualifying Dollars, however, do not get this benefit.
Southwest Airlines
With a three-colored heart as its logo, Southwest Airlines took flight in 1971, making it fall among the younger airlines of today. With an emphasis on customer satisfaction, Southwest has become of the major airlines for domestic as well as international travel.
No Cancellation Fee
Unlike other airlines that penalize you for changing your flight, Southwest’s major step in providing customer satisfaction is to allow unlimited re-bookings without any restrictions or extra fees.
This makes it the ideal airline if you are unsure of the time of your flight, or destination. In case anything unexpected comes up, simply change the booking, and pay only the difference between the 2 bookings.
Extra Baggage
Yet another factor where Southwest Airlines shines is the extra baggage they allow for every passenger.
Most other airlines allow only a single bag per passenger. Southwest Airlines one-ups them by allowing two bags for every passenger. On top of that, there are no charges for taking a carry-on with you for the flight, so feel free to indulge in the extra baggage that comes with this airline.
Colombia – The Land of Biodiversity
If you happen to find yourself in Colombia or are planning a visit to this tropical heaven, then who better to guide you than a Colombian? Yes, that’s me.
Famous for its arepas, the never-ending lineup of exotic fruits, lush rainforests, and soccer, Colombia is the perfect tourist spot for a family or a honeymoon.
Keeping in line with the topic of our article, let’s find out which airlines can fly you over to Colombia, and which are best at what they do.
Colombian Airlines
They may not be the best or have a 5-star Skytrax rating, but they perform exactly how they advertise them. Used mostly for domestic or to–and-fro flights within the two American continents, these are all the airlines present in Colombia:
● Avianca Airlines
● Copa Airlines
● Latam Airlines
● Taca Airlines
● Satena
Avianca Airlines
Avianca Airlines is without a doubt the best Colombian airline. While the other airlines are mostly restricted to local or only American flights, Avianca has recently expanded to Europe. With a very pleasant staff and a healthy variety of food and drinks, Avianca has received a 3-star rating from Skytrax.
The in-flight experience is far better than other Colombian airlines, with dedicated entertainment systems and fast Wi-Fi. This is bolstered further by the comfortable leather seats that have ample legroom to accommodate even taller passengers.
The reasonable price of Avianca Airline tickets makes for the perfect budget traveling option. Avianca Airlines have the following different fare classes:
● S – Economy
● M – Economy
● L- Economy
● XL – Business
● XXL – Business
The amount of luggage you can carry, as well as the incentives, increase down the list, but so does the price. S – Economy or M – Economy is perfect for a single person or couple vacation, while you may have to pick a larger class if you’re traveling long-distance with a family.
Conclusion
For all digital nomads, choosing the right airline is of the essence. Whether you’re going for economy or first-class, make sure you go through all the details and reviews before you book a flight.
In this article, I handpicked the best airlines I have traveled in, from all the different regions of the world, and highlighted the best features that make them stand out from others.