Forbes Travel Guide (FTG), the foremost authority on luxury hospitality, has unveiled the winners of its inaugural Verified Air Travel Awards for 2024. This new accolade celebrates outstanding experiences in air travel, recognising excellence across airlines, airports, and private jet services.
The awards spotlight a diverse range of winners, with Delta Air Lines taking the title of Best U.S. Airline, while Emirates was recognised as the Best International Airline. Other notable mentions include La Compagnie as the Best Small Airline, LaGuardia Airport as the Best U.S. Airport, and Singapore Changi as the Best International Airport. The Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno in Doha received the award for Best International Airport Lounge. A complete list of winners can be found on ForbesTravelGuide.com.
The selection of the Verified Air Travel Awards was based on an invitation-only survey conducted among 5,000 highly experienced individuals in the hospitality industry. This group included luxury travel advisors, FTG’s incognito inspectors, and experts from FTG’s Learning & Development team. The integrity of FTG’s renowned 66-year-old Star Ratings system validated the results, ensuring that the winners were chosen based on real-world experiences rather than popularity.
The winners will be honoured at The Summit, FTG’s annual conference dedicated to luxury brands and travel, scheduled to take place in Monaco in February 2025.
Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-winning travel journalist and host of CBS Radio’s “Eye on Travel,” commented on the significance of the awards. “Too many travel industry awards are the result of a somewhat suspect popularity contest. The Verified Air Travel Awards are important because the metrics are based on real-world experience and real-world accountability,” he stated. “In a world experiencing an explosion of luxury brands, it’s not about pretty pictures or mission statements, but the unbiased opinions of veteran travellers coupled with reliable facts that lead to a credible and relevant definition of excellence.”
Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, emphasised the importance of high standards in today’s travel landscape. “Travelers have high expectations. They don’t want to wait until they arrive at a luxury hotel to experience exceptional dining, cocktails, comfort, and, most especially, world-class service,” he noted. “The Verified Air Travel Awards help guide these discerning travellers to the best experiences.”
As the travel industry evolves, the Verified Air Travel Awards aim to provide valuable insights for those seeking premium air travel experiences, ensuring that passengers can make informed decisions based on verified quality and service.
For a detailed overview of all the winners, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.