Making The Grade

Global Traveler congratulates the winners of the 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey awards.

- Kimberly Krol

Listen up! Class is in session and grades are in: This year’s class of 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey award winners scored all A’s this semester. This year, 2016, marks the 13th consecutive year (sans the typical middle-school angst) of our reader-voted GT Tested Reader Survey awards and our sixth year celebrating them with an end-of-the-year bash at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Our readers took part in the election process by once again voting for their favorites when it comes to airlines, hotels, destinations and travel goods and services around the globe. Let’s line up for recess as we proudly present the honor roll pupils of the 2016 class of GT Tested Reader Survey award winners.

Top of the class this year we have Singapore Airlines, earning its second consecutive nod as Best Overall Airline in the World. Consider the airline among the popular students, as it also won Best Airline for Business Class (third consecutive year). Singapore Airlines’ hub airport, Singapore Changi Airport, found its place at the front of the line in 2016, winning high marks as Best Overall Airport in the World, topping perennial teacher’s pet Incheon Airport.

The writing is on the blackboard: oneworld, Airbus and JetBlue are favorites of our readers, receiving acclaim for multiple years as Best Airline Alliance (seven years), Best Aircraft Type for A380 (two years) and Best Airline Website (three years).

American Airlines, winner of Best Airline for Domestic First Class, and Qatar Airways, Best Airline for International First Class, are new to the school this year. Qatar Airways also won Best First-Class Seat Design and Best Airline in the Middle East in 2016.

It’s easy to see Asiana Airlines is (way) above average with its 13th consecutive wins as Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline for Flight Attendants. High marks all around for the South Korean carrier.