Frequent Flyer
New Survey Picks Best for Business Travel
- Virgin America
- Alaska Airlines
- JetBlue
- Delta
- Southwest
- AirTran
- American
- United
- Frontier
- US Airways
Best International Airlines - Singapore
- Virgin Atlantic
- Emirates
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific
- Korean
- Air New Zealand
- Swiss
- Lufthansa
- Turkish
Best Hotel Chains - Ritz-Carlton
- Luxury Collection
- Kimpton
- Waldorf Astoria
- Fairmont
- Four Seasons
- Grand Hyatt
- JW Marriott
- Omni
- InterContinental
Best Hotel Loyalty Programs - Marriott Rewards
- Starwood Preferred Guest
- Hilton Honors
- InterContinental Priority Rewards
- Hyatt Gold Passport
Best U.S. Airline Loyalty Programs - Alaska Airlines
- Virgin America
- Southwest
- American
- United
- AirTran
- JetBlue
- Delta
- Frontier
- US Airways
And finally…
Flying Gripes - Cramped legroom/seat comfort (51%)
- Delays/cancellations (42%)
- Poor customer service (26%)
- Inefficient boarding process (23%)
- Lack of space for carry-on baggage (20%)
- Annoying fellow passengers (19%)
- Airport security (16%)
- Hidden fees (12%)
- Lack of good food options (12%)
- Limited seat availability (12%)
- Restrictive loyalty programs (11%)
- Lost/delayed luggage (10%)
- Limited connectivity (e.g. Wi-Fi, cell service, etc.) (6%)
- Immigration/passport control (5%)
Reader Reality Check
Any surprises? (I was particularly struck by the low-cost carriers' top rankings among business travelers, a group that has historically favored the full-service airlines.)
This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.
The best airlines and hotels for business travel?
Travel+Leisure and Fortune teamed up to query business travelers with nine or more trips per year on their preferences, and their gripes, in the first
"Best in Business Travel"
survey.
Here's a summary of the findings, with rankings ordered from best to worst:
Best Domestic Airlines