Some Skytrax Award Winners in Airline Industry that I Have Experienced

When I travel in other countries, I always love to experience their different local transportation system, from trains, buses to flights. During the Paris Air Show held in France recently, Skytrax announced the 2011 World Airline Award and World Airport Award winners for all categories involving different front line sectors in airline industry. I have some experiences with some of the winners so I think it would be nice to show some photos and stories of them here…

Some of the Skytrax 2011 Airlines Award winners that I have experienced with are:

1) Malaysia Airlines – Winner of Best Cabin Staff, Airline Staff Service Excellence Asia 3rd Place.

I took this airlines to Shanghai 3 years ago and I’m flying with them again this October for my Beijing trip.

2) SAS Scandinavian Airlines – Best Airlines Northern Europe 2nd Place.

Taking this flight from Copenhagen to Brussels, SAS is a simple but well managed airline which impressed me with its live cam underneath its carrier showing passengers its taking off and landing process.

3) EasyJet – Best Low-Cost Airline Europe, Best Regional Airline Europe 2nd Place.

Frankly speaking, I have had very good experience flying with EasyJet before. Though there were just short flights from Barcelona to Switzerland and from Switzerland to Berlin, the whole process was smooth from booking, checking in, boarding to baggage reclaim. To me, Easy Jet is the truly the best budget airline in Europe.

4) Air Asia – World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, Best Low-Cost Airline Asia.

Need me say more? Air Asia was the best low cost airline for the last 2 years and it clinched the top spot again this year! What’s the secret? Keep improving the passengers experience while maintaining its low fares, and this is the secret! I took Air Asia flights to Bali and Phuket before.

5) Air Asia X – Best Low-Cost Airline Asia 2nd Place.

Following the success formula of its sibling airline Air Asia, long haul budget airline Air Asia X found little problem to clinch the 2nd spot. I had great memories flying with them twice to London.

6) Air Berlin – Best Low-Cost Airline Europe 2nd Place.

With EasyJet winning the Best European low cost airline award, Air Berlin clinched the second spot. It was another great low cost airline to me, with even complimentary snacks and coffee on board! I took Air Berlin flight from Berlin to Copenhagen.

Some of the Skytrax 2011 Airport Award winners that I have experienced with are:

7) Beijing Capital International Airport – Worlds Best Airport 5th Place, Best Airport China Award, Best Immigration Service 3rd Place, Best Airport Terminal Cleanliness 2nd Place, Best Airport Washrooms.

I haven’t been to this airport but I will! I’m flying to Beijing this coming Autumn! So my impression here would be updated by then. 🙂

8) Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) – Worlds Best Airport 9th Place, Best Immigration Service, World’s Staff Service Excellence 2nd Place.

The main international airport of Malaysia and I have been there numerous times, KLIA is no doubt one of my favourite airport in the world. All my booked Malaysia AirlineS flights took off from this airport, including my upcoming Beijing flight.

9) Copenhagen Airport – Worlds Best Airport 10th Place, Best Airport in Northern Europe, Best Airport for Baggage Delivery 2nd Place, Staff Service Excellence Europe 3rd Place.

Copenhagen Airport is no doubt one of the best airport I have ever been to. It is huge and seemed like a shopping mall rather than an airport!

This huge shopping and dining hall is actually shared by both Departure and Arrival guests so there would be a bit of complication when you just arrived at the airport for the first time and looking for directions to reclaim your luggage. What I don’t quite understand is its winning in Best Airport for Baggage Delivery 2nd Place, as I had to walk for 15 minutes from one end to the other to reclaim my luggage!

And it is unique to have a leisure outdoor park within the Copenhagen Airport. I traveled to and leaving from Copenhagen both by air last month.

10) London Stansted Airport – World’s Best Airport for low-cost Airlines.

This 69 year old airport was initially the British Army air base during the World War Two in 1945. London Stansted Airport won the best airport for low cost airlines without argument. I visited the airport a few times for twice of my Europe tour and it truly is the best low cost carrier airport that I’ve been to.

For long haul flights, there is a transit train carrying passengers to the boarding hall next door.

11) Brussels Charleroi Airport – World’s Best Airport for low-cost Airlines 2nd Place.

My flight to Brussels last month arrived at Brussels Charleroi Airport. I haven’t got much memories on the airport as I was rushing for airport transfer platform to catch the next train to Brussels city centre. But I prefer Stansted a lot more.

12) Brisbane Airport – Best Airport Australia/Pacific 3rd Place, Best Regional Airport Australia/Pacific 2nd Place.

Brisbane Airport was my gateway to Gold Coast.

13) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport – Best Airport Europe 2nd Place, Best Airport in Western Europe, Best International Transit Airport 3rd Place, Best Airport Leisure Amenities 3rd Place.

Schiphol Airport is another huge airport in Amsterdam. There are many similarities between it and Copenhagen Airport. I took my flight to Venice here last year. One thing to take note is its strict security check point process that was so slow to almost caused us to miss our flight!

14) Barcelona International Airport – Best Airport in Southern Europe.

An old airport to me, I took my flight to Switzerland here last 2 months after a 4-day-tour in Barcelona and my departure from this airport was a hassle free experience.

15) Shanghai PuDong Airport – Best Airport China 3rd Place

Last but not least, Shanghai Pudong Airport was my last exit point in China for my South Yangtze region of China travel in 2008. It is a beautifully designed airport, albeit my memories was stuck on the airport transit Maglev high speed train instead.

Personally, I think the result is truly reflecting the worldwide air passengers’ opinion on the winners’ respective winning categories. For me who has personally traveled with them before, the awards are well deserved by them. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate travel photo blog