The 2009 Zagat Airline Survey

Thank you to everyone who cast a vote in our Airline Survey

Here are the results of Zagat's 2009 Airline Survey covering 16 domestic and 73 international airlines, as well as 30 domestic airports. The survey incorporates the opinions of 5,895 frequent fliers and travel professionals. See which airlines are flying high – and which are grounded! Read More

See Top Overall Ratings
See The Press Release
Download Survey Statistics

#1 in Each Category

Top-Rated Large Domestic Airline – Premium Seating
Continental Airlines
Top-Rated Large Domestic Airline – Economy Seating
JetBlue Airways
Top-Rated International Airline – Premium Seating
Singapore Airlines
Top Website
Virgin America
Best In-Flight Entertainment – Domestic
JetBlue Airways
Best In-Flight Entertainment – International
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Best Consumer On-Time Estimates – Domestic
Southwest Airlines
Top-Rated Midsize Domestic Airline – Premium Seating
Virgin America
Top-Rated Midsize Domestic Airline – Economy Seating
Virgin America
Top-Rated International Airline – Economy Seating
Singapore Airlines
Top Frequent Flier Program
Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)
Best Value –
Domestic
Southwest Airlines
Best Value –
International
Continental Airlines
Best Luggage Policy –
Domestic
Southwest Airlines
  • They still serve bad airline food, so retro!
  • Old worn-out birds staffed with old worn-out birds.
  • I expected a coin slot for the toilet.
  • Mean people like working here
View More Outtakes

Top Rated on Zagat's 30-Point Scale

Top-Rated Large Domestic Airlines – Premium Seating

21
Continental Airlines
17
American Airlines
17
Delta Air Lines
16
United Airlines
15
AirTran Airways

Top-Rated Midsize Domestic Airlines – Premium Seating

24
Virgin America
21
Hawaiian Airlines
20
Alaska Airlines

Top-Rated Large Domestic Airlines – Economy Seating

19
JetBlue Airways
15
Continental Airlines
15
Southwest Airlines
12
AirTran Airways
11
Delta Air Lines

Top-Rated Midsize Domestic Airlines – Economy Seating

21
Virgin America
21
Midwest Airlines
16
Hawaiian Airlines

Best International Airlines – Premium Seating

28
Singapore Airlines
26
Cathay Pacific Airways
26
Emirates Airline
25
Air New Zealand
25
Virgin Atlantic Airways

Top-Rated International Airlines – Economy Seating

24
Singapore Airlines
22
Emirates Airline
21
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
21
Air New Zealand
21
Thai Airways

Top Websites

23
Virgin America
23
Southwest Airlines
22
Virgin Atlantic Airways
22
Continental Airlines
22
JetBlue Airways

Top Frequent Flier Programs

20
Virgin Atlantic Airways (Flying Club)
19
Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan)
18
Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)
18
Lufthansa/Swiss (Miles & More)
18
Continental Airlines (OnePass)
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Other Categories (Top Five Based on Consumer Preferences)

Best In-Flight Entertainment – Domestic

  1. JetBlue Airways
  2. Virgin America
  3. Continental Airlines
  4. Delta Air Lines
  5. American Airlines

Best Value – Domestic

  1. Southwest Airlines
  2. JetBlue Airways
  3. Continental Airlines
  4. American Airlines
  5. Delta Air Lines

Best In-Flight Entertainment – International

  1. Virgin Atlantic Airways
  2. Singapore Airlines
  3. Continental Airlines
  4. British Airways
  5. Delta Air Lines

Best Value – International

  1. Continental Airlines
  2. American Airlines
  3. Virgin Atlantic Airways
  4. Delta Air Lines
  5. British Airways

Best Consumer On-Time Estimates – Domestic

  1. Southwest Airlines
  2. JetBlue Airways
  3. Continental Airlines
  4. American Airlines
  5. Delta Air Lines

Best Luggage Policy – Domestic

  1. Southwest Airlines
  2. JetBlue Airways
  3. Continental Airlines
  4. American Airlines
  5. Delta Air Lines
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