If you’ve ever found yourself cold, squashed in the middle seat and paying more than you should for a tiny bottle of wine, you’ll already be aware that not all long-haul flights are created equal. Here’s what you need to know about the airlines seeking to improve the experience, with more comfortable seats, better food and first-rate service.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways economy cabin

Named ‘Best Airline of the Year’ at the 2019 Skytrax World Awards, Qatar Airways has won praise for everything from its business-class seating to its luxury amenity kits. A relatively new airline, it has grown rapidly in recent years and now serves more than 160 destinations around the world.

What’s great

Comfort – Most airlines save their fanciest innovations for business and first-class, but earlier this year, Qatar launched a new economy class seat. The seat has plenty of great design features including an adjustable headrest, separate cocktail table, high-resolution monitor and USB connector for fast charging. It’s also a comfortable 18 inches wide with a generous 31-inch pitch.

Food and drink – The fact that salted caramel popcorn is available is surely reason enough to fly with Qatar, but in case you need more convincing, the airline has recently revamped its whole food offering in economy. Portion size has increased, bottled water is free, and as well as the popcorn, there are other ‘mid-flight movie snacks’ such as crisps and chocolate.

Sustainability – Qatar’s ethical credentials are worth mentioning too. In February they became the first airline with a training program to help staff spot and prevent illegal wildlife smuggling. A media campaign is being planned  to raise awareness among passengers.

Emirates

Plant-based meals in Emirates First and Business Class

With a fleet of 244 aircraft, Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East and one of the most popular airlines overall. It has plenty of awards to its name including ‘Best Airline’ (2018 Conde Nast Travel Awards) and ‘Best First Class’ (2019 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards). According to Business Insider, Emirates ‘has the best entertainment system, the friendliest staff, and the best service.’

What’s great

Comfort – Emirates has over a hundred Airbus A380s, which have only been around for about 12 years. They are quieter, more modern and have lower cabin pressure than their older aircraft – all of which will help you beat the dreaded jet lag. Special touches include hot towels, complementary beer and wine in economy, and a swish cocktail bar in business.

Connectivity – In the early days, Emirates pioneered inflight connectivity. Today, every aircraft has wi-fi and customers in all classes are given 20 MB of free data or two hours of access to messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Lounges – A key perk of flying with Emirates is their lounges, located in more than 30 airports. There are as many as seven lounges in Dubai Airport alone, and, unlike many other airlines, with Emirates, you can pay to access them. At upwards of $130, it isn’t cheap, but it is a great way to upgrade your experience.

All Nippon Airlines (ANA)

ANA cabin crew with their ‘flying turtle’ aircraft

Japan’s largest carrier is well-known for its colourful Pokémon-themed aircraft, and  recently, its flying sea turtles. The airline has been awarded a five-star rating by Skytrax for seven consecutive years and in 2018 was named ‘Airline of the Year’ by Air Transport World.

What’s great

Comfort – This is another airline with lots of space in economy. Seats often have a pitch of 34 inches as opposed to the usual 31 or 32 inches.

Food and drink – The food is well above average. Economy passengers can upgrade their meal for $23, and also choose what they want to eat before departure (this service is free in business). Japanese beer, sake and wine are also available in economy. Business passengers won’t go hungry with a ‘dine anytime’ ramen option.

Customer service – Travel bloggers rave about the service on ANA flights. Japan expert Robert Schrader says, ‘ANA flight attendants are some of the best in the industry’, and the team at God Save the Points say that they ‘found ANA ground staff to be amongst the most professional and proficient in the business.’

Singapore Airlines

Food themed around the destination on Singapore  Airlines

Founded in 1947, Singapore Airlines is regarded by many as the best in the business. Named ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards, over the years, this airline has won more awards than anyone other airline.

What’s great

Comfort – The level of comfort on board a Singapore Airlines’ flight is superlative. There’s plenty of legroom and seats boast footrests and cushioned headrests. There are perks in every class; Bang and Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones in business and first, amenity kits in economy.

Food and drink – The airline has put lots of effort into its in-flight catering. Menus are created by a panel of international chefs and wine experts, and many dishes are based on the specialities of the destination. Premium Economy passengers and parents with children can use the ‘Book the Cook’ service to choose and order their meals in advance

Sustainability – Singapore’s sustainable initiatives are also worth mentioning. The airline is currently working to become plastic-free and is planning a new, more sustainable way of sourcing food from vertical farms and local fisheries.

Norwegian

Norwegian cabin crew

While it doesn’t have the dozens of awards and accolades of the other airlines, Norwegian is the best of the low-cost long-haul options available.

What’s great
Price – Not everyone loves flying with Norwegian and the airline has suffered some very bad reviews. But there’s no getting away from the fact that they’re extremely affordable. Bloggers report prices as low as $268 for a return flight from New York to London, and flights currently advertised on their website include a one-way ticket from Europe to the US for £134.90

Comfort – Norwegian’s entire fleet is made up of Boeing 787 Dreamliners with an average age of 3.8 years. These new aircraft are roomier, quieter and more modern, with newer toilets, and lower cabin pressure, making your trip instantly more comfortable. And, if you opt for Premium Economy you get a huge 46 inches of legroom, as well as access to the lounge.

Connectivity – Norwegian has recently launched ‘gate-to-gate’ wi-fi, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout the whole flight.