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The 2008 Zagat Airline Survey

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

The results of our 2008 Airline Survey are in, and while there were a few positive developments, the industry as a whole is hardly flying high in the public's eyes. Read More

See Top Overall Ratings

#1 in Each Category

Best Large Domestic Airlines
(Premium Seating)
Continental Airlines
Best Large Domestic Airlines
(Economy Seating)
JetBlue Airways
Best International Airlines
(Premium Seating)
Singapore Airlines
Best Airline Websites
Southwest Airlines
Best In-Flight Entertainment
(Domestic)
JetBlue Airways
Best In-Flight Entertainment
(International)
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Best Consumer On-Time Estimates
(Domestic Only)
Southwest Airlines
Best Midsized Domestic Airlines
(Premium Seating)
Virgin America
Best Midsized Domestic Airlines
(Economy Seating)
Midwest Airlines
Best International Airlines
(Economy Seating)
Singapore Airlines
Best Frequent Flier Programs
Southwest Airlines
Best Value for the Money
(Domestic)
Southwest Airlines
Best Value for the Money
(International)
Continental Airlines
Best Luggage Policy
(Domestic Only)
Southwest Airlines
  • The only thing older than the planes are the flight attendants
  • Like spending four hours in third class on the Titanic
  • Bathrooms smell like the lion house at the zoo on a hot day
  • Hot food in coach – so retro!
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Top Rated on Zagat's 30-Point Scale

Best Large Domestic Airlines – Premium Seating

21
Continental Airlines
17
American Airlines
17
Delta Air Lines
16
AirTran Airways
16
Northwest Airlines

Best Midsized Domestic Airlines – Premium Seating

25
Virgin America
21
Hawaiian Airlines
20
Alaska Airlines

Best Large Domestic Airlines – Economy Seating

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

Best Midsized Domestic Airlines – Economy Seating

22
Midwest Airlines
21
Virgin America
17
Hawaiian Airlines
16
Alaska Airlines
15
Frontier Airlines

Best International Airlines – Premium Seating

28
Singapore Airlines
26
Cathay Pacific Airways
26
Virgin Atlantic Airways
25
Air New Zealand
25
ANA (All Nippon Airways)

Best International Airlines – Economy Seating

25
Singapore Airlines
22
Emirates Airline
22
Air New Zealand
21
Cathay Pacific Airways
21
Thai Airways

Best Airline Websites

24
Southwest Airlines
23
Virgin America
22
JetBlue Airways
22
Continental Airlines
22
Virgin Atlantic Airways

Best Frequent Flier Programs

20
Southwest Airlines
19
Virgin Atlantic Airways
16
Continental Airlines
16
Cathay Pacific Airways
15
Alaska Airlines
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Other Categories (Top 5 Based on Consumer Preferences)

Best In-Flight Entertainment – Domestic

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

Best Value for the Money – 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. British Airways
  4. American Airlines
  5. Continental Airlines

Best Value for the Money – International

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

Best Consumer On-Time Estimates (Domestic Only)

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

Best Luggage Policy (Domestic Only)

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