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A flight attendant serves food and drinks to passengers on board of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, November 3, 2015. - Sorbis—Shutterstock
A flight attendant serves food and drinks to passengers on board of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, November 3, 2015.Sorbis—Shutterstock
Heading overseas? In most cases, you can expect to be stuck in your seat for far longer than you'd like; you may well also have to splash out more cash than on a domestic trip. Even the best international flights can leave you a bit bored; on the worst, you'll wind up tired, uncomfortable, and maybe even late.
For those reasons, choosing the right international airline can make all the difference for travelers who will spend a longer time in the air. To find the best international airline for economy travelers, Money evaluated 70 of the largest international carriers on factors such as cost and fees, customer experience, and flight performance. We found that Asian airlines dominated the top of the list, largely because of standout performance on customer experience. (Also read The 9 Biggest U.S. Airlines, Ranked From Best to Worst.)
What follows is the best international airline overall, as well as the rest of the top 30; we also highlighted the best international airlines for several separate regions.
A flight attendant serves food and drinks to passengers on board of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, November 3, 2015. - Sorbis—Shutterstock
A flight attendant serves food and drinks to passengers on board of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, November 3, 2015.Sorbis—Shutterstock
The Best International Airline: Singapore Airlines
Average price of roundtrip flight: $1,081
Anyone who’s traveled on a Singapore Airlines flight knows the luxury experience that awaits—even in economy class. Renowned for their exceptional in-flight staff and amenities, this airline tops Money’s list of best international airlines for the third year in a row; it's held the top spot on sister publication Travel + Leisure’s world’s best survey for 22 years.
Cabin crew undergo a four-month training process, one of the longest in the industry, which covers everything from etiquette to wine appreciation. Travelers get hot towels before takeoff and personal TVs that offer more than 1,000 movies, TV shows, music options, and games. Even the food has been meticulously crafted: Because cabin pressure can alter how you perceive taste, Singapore tests all dishes first in a simulated pressurized cabin to ensure no flavor is amiss.
One of the best perks of this international airline: the space. On its 777 and A350 planes, there are only nine seats per row—other airlines typically squeeze in 10 on the same aircraft. And premium economy travelers enjoy generous 19.5 inch-wide seats that recline eight inches and have footrests. The price tag may seem like a splurge, but if you factor in the distance traveled, the cost works out to only 11 cents per kilometer, Rome2rio finds—one of the cheapest rates in the industry.
THAI aircraft landing at Hong Kong airport, June 4, 2015. - Sorbis—Shutterstock / Sorbis
THAI aircraft landing at Hong Kong airport, June 4, 2015.Sorbis—Shutterstock / Sorbis
2. Thai Airways International
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $796
Asiana Airlines crew members at Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea, June 2017. - Sorbis—Shutterstock
Asiana Airlines crew members at Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea, June 2017.Sorbis—Shutterstock
3. Asiana Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $862
SilkAir check-in zone at Changi Airport, Singapore, November 7, 2015. - Sorbis—Shutterstock
SilkAir check-in zone at Changi Airport, Singapore, November 7, 2015.Sorbis—Shutterstock
4. SilkAir
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $401
Qatar Airbus A330 at gate in Milan Malpensa international airport, Italy, June 1, 2017. - Stefano Garau—Shutterstock
Qatar Airbus A330 at gate in Milan Malpensa international airport, Italy, June 1, 2017.Stefano Garau—Shutterstock
5. Qatar Airways
**Regional Winner: Middle East Average price of a roundtrip flight: $989
State-owned Qatar Airways dominates in the Middle East thanks to its top-rated customer service, entertainment, and food offerings. Despite flying to more than 150 destinations across six continents, it also maintains one of the best on-time records.
- courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways
courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Cathay Pacific Airways
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,026
Economy Class seats in A380, Lufthansa Airways - Rolf Bewersdorf Gregor Schlaeger—Lufthansa
Economy Class seats in A380, Lufthansa AirwaysRolf Bewersdorf Gregor Schlaeger—Lufthansa
7. Lufthansa
**Regional Winner: Europe Average price of a roundtrip flight: $499
Europe’s largest airline company is also its best. The German airline impresses travelers with its in-flight experience, scoring high on food, seat comfort and entertainment options. Economy fliers will like the free meals and snacks and the wider seats (15.7 inches) offered on long-haul flights.
A Boeing Co. 787-9 Dreamliner passenger aircraft operated by Korean Air Lines Co. stands on the tarmac during a media preview at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. - SeongJoon Cho—Bloomberg via Getty Images
A Boeing Co. 787-9 Dreamliner passenger aircraft operated by Korean Air Lines Co. stands on the tarmac during a media preview at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.SeongJoon Cho—Bloomberg via Getty Images
8. Korean Air
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,135
787 KLM airplane - courtesy of KLM
787 KLM airplanecourtesy of KLM
9. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $434
A picture taken on July 6, 2016 during a flight onboard the Swiss International Air Lines' new Bombardier CS 100 passenger jetliner shows the Swiss Alps. - Michael Buholzer—AFP/Getty Images
A picture taken on July 6, 2016 during a flight onboard the Swiss International Air Lines' new Bombardier CS 100 passenger jetliner shows the Swiss Alps.Michael Buholzer—AFP/Getty Images
10. Swiss
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $491
Free WiFi aboard Norwegian Air - courtesy of Norwegian Air
Free WiFi aboard Norwegian Aircourtesy of Norwegian Air
11. Norwegian Air
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $263
Cabin crew of the Russian airline Aeroflot walk past during the International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget on June 16, 2015. - MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Cabin crew of the Russian airline Aeroflot walk past during the International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget on June 16, 2015.MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
12. Aeroflot
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $630
Soft toys and a children's meal sit on a economy class seat on board a [f500link]Boeing[/f500link] Co. 777 passenger aircraft, operated by Emirates Airlines, during the 15th Dubai Air Show in November 2017. - Natalie Naccache—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Soft toys and a children's meal sit on a economy class seat on board a [f500link]Boeing[/f500link] Co. 777 passenger aircraft, operated by Emirates Airlines, during the 15th Dubai Air Show in November 2017.Natalie Naccache—Bloomberg via Getty Images
**Regional Winner: Australia/Oceania Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,227
Australia-based Qantas tops its region thanks to a dip in flight prices, a solid loyalty program, and highly rated inflight service. Money's favorite perk? A self-service snack bar open to anyone in the international economy cabin.
ANA cabin crew in Singapore Changi Airport, September 2016. - Sorbis—Shutterstock
ANA cabin crew in Singapore Changi Airport, September 2016.Sorbis—Shutterstock
15. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,296
Haneda Airport and Mount Fuji on a clear day, Tokyo, Japan, December 14, 2017. - Sakarin Sawasdinaka—Shutterstock
Haneda Airport and Mount Fuji on a clear day, Tokyo, Japan, December 14, 2017.Sakarin Sawasdinaka—Shutterstock
16. Japan Airlines (JAL)
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,202
Aegean Airlines - Gousse Herve—Masterfilms
Aegean AirlinesGousse Herve—Masterfilms
17. Aegean Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $278
Interior of a China Southern Airlines Company Limited (CSN) commercial airplane, Guangzhou, China, May 10, 2015. - Shutterstock
Interior of a China Southern Airlines Company Limited (CSN) commercial airplane, Guangzhou, China, May 10, 2015.Shutterstock
18. China Southern Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $978
Toronto's Island airport home to Porter airlines, is right outside the city center. - Alamy
Toronto's Island airport home to Porter airlines, is right outside the city center.Alamy
19. Porter Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $321
Flight attendant serving breakfast onboard a Boeing 737, Turkish Airlines. Tokyo, Japan, April 8, 2017. - Alamy
Flight attendant serving breakfast onboard a Boeing 737, Turkish Airlines. Tokyo, Japan, April 8, 2017.Alamy
20. Turkish Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $614
Various food items available on the EVA Air Hello Kitty Shining Star Jet - Inaugural Event at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on June 19, 2015 in Houston, Texas. - Bob Levey—Getty Images for Sanrio
Various food items available on the EVA Air Hello Kitty Shining Star Jet - Inaugural Event at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on June 19, 2015 in Houston, Texas.Bob Levey—Getty Images for Sanrio
21. EVA Air
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $923
Airbus A319 of Czech Airlines at Vaclav Havel Prague Airport in the Czech Republic in December 21, 2014. - Jaromir Chalabala—Shutterstock
Airbus A319 of Czech Airlines at Vaclav Havel Prague Airport in the Czech Republic in December 21, 2014.Jaromir Chalabala—Shutterstock
22. CSA Czech Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $258
Airplane Air New Zealand take-off from Queenstown, August 16, 2014. - Petr Sommer Photography—Shutterstock
Airplane Air New Zealand take-off from Queenstown, August 16, 2014.Petr Sommer Photography—Shutterstock
23. Air New Zealand
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,253
Royal Jordanian Airbus A319 lands at Frankfurt airport, September 24, 2015. - Vytautas Kielaitis—Shutterstock
Royal Jordanian Airbus A319 lands at Frankfurt airport, September 24, 2015.Vytautas Kielaitis—Shutterstock
24. Royal Jordanian
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $669
Customers wait to drop their luggage at the Aer Lingus Group check-in desks in the departure hall at Dublin Airport. - Aidan Crawley—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Customers wait to drop their luggage at the Aer Lingus Group check-in desks in the departure hall at Dublin Airport.Aidan Crawley—Bloomberg via Getty Images
25. Aer Lingus
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $794
ANTILLES, PHILIPSBURG / ST. MAARTEN (SAINT-MARTIN) - PRINCESS JULIANA AIRPORT. AUGUST 15, 2017. Passenger plane Boeing 737 of COPA Airlines flies over the Maho Beach and tourists. - Shutterstock
ANTILLES, PHILIPSBURG / ST. MAARTEN (SAINT-MARTIN) - PRINCESS JULIANA AIRPORT. AUGUST 15, 2017. Passenger plane Boeing 737 of COPA Airlines flies over the Maho Beach and tourists.Shutterstock
26. COPA Airlines
**Regional Winner: Latin America Average price of a roundtrip flight: $815
If you want to arrive on time, fly COPA. The Panama-based airline ranks as the most punctual in Latin America and the fourth most punctual in the world, according to FlightStats and the Official Airline Guide.
Etihad Airways unveils its first Airbus A380 aircraft in Abu Dhabi before it enters passenger service, with economy seats on the lower deck, December 18, 2014 - First Class Photography—Shutterstock
Etihad Airways unveils its first Airbus A380 aircraft in Abu Dhabi before it enters passenger service, with economy seats on the lower deck, December 18, 2014First Class Photography—Shutterstock
27. Etihad Airways
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $1,010
SAS Lounges - Benjamin Lund—SAS
SAS LoungesBenjamin Lund—SAS
28. SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $312
El Al Boeing 767 at Stuttgart Airport, July 27, 2016 - Alamy
El Al Boeing 767 at Stuttgart Airport, July 27, 2016Alamy
29. El Al Israel Airlines
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $587
World Traveller catering, British Airways - Miles Willis—British Airways
World Traveller catering, British AirwaysMiles Willis—British Airways
30. British Airways
Average price of a roundtrip flight: $441
Methodology
The pool of airlines considered included 70 of the largest international airlines. Criteria included average fare costs, year-over-year ticket pricing changes, and cost per kilometer for passengers; number of on-time arrivals; and customer satisfaction ratings for seat comfort, food and drink, entertainment, service, amenities, and overall value. Data providers included FlightStats, J.D. Power, Rome2rio, SkyTrax, and Travel + Leisure. Money ranked the top 30 carriers overall, but also highlighted the best international airline in each region.