The results are in! For the 14th consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and leisure luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories.

The survey honors airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in more than 80 categories. GT’s distinguished readers vote for their favorites in the world of travel in an open-ended survey running in the magazine and online from January to August each year. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2017 issue, available now.

GT readers are frequent premium travelers averaging 11 international and 13 domestic round-trip flights a year, with an average household income of $312,000 per year. Global Traveler’s elite readers spend an average 60 nights per year in hotels. A whopping 68 percent regularly travel in first and business class.

“For 14 years, we’ve been proudly honoring the very best in travel,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. “We continue again in 2017, awarding some of the most sought-after honors in travel to an elite group of the best and brightest in the industry. But the awards are also a testament to our readers, well-traveled, savvy frequent flyers who each year vote for their favorites. All winners have three things in common — true dedication to travelers, exceptional service and leadership in the industry. Congratulations!”

This year’s winners will be feted at a cocktail reception Dec. 12, at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. For more information, check out the December 2017 issue of Global Traveler or visit our website at globaltravelerusa.com. A complete recap of the night’s festivities will be featured in the March 2018 issue.

A complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Overall Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airline Alliance
oneworld
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Aircraft Type
Airbus A350

Best Airline Website
AA.com

Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans- Pacific
American Airlines

Best Airline for International First Class
Qatar Airways
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Business Class
Turkish Airlines

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
American Airlines
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Onboard Service
Asiana Airlines
14th Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines
14th Consecutive Year

Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
Etihad Airways

Best Airline for Security
EL AL Israel Airlines
11th Consecutive Year

Best Business-Class Seat Design
China Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best First-Class Seat Design
Qatar Airways
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for New Service Launch
Delta Air Lines

Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
United Airlines MileagePlus®
14th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Hawaiian Airlines, HawaiianMiles – Pualani Platinum Membership
Third Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
United MileagePlus®
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
LifeMiles
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service, Americas
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™

Best Airline in North America
Alaska Airlines

Best Airline to South America
LATAM Airlines Group
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand
Air New Zealand

Best Airline in the South Pacific
Fiji Airways

Best Airline in Europe
TAP Air Portugal
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Eastern Europe
LOT Polish Airlines

Best Airline in Africa
South African Airways
14th Consecutive Year

Best Airline in the Middle East
Qatar Airways
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline in North Asia
China Airlines
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in China
Hainan Airlines
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India
Air India
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline to Japan
Japan Airlines

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
TAP Air Portugal

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Japan Airlines

Best Overall Airport in the World
Singapore Changi Airport
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airport in North America
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
14th Consecutive Year

Best Airport in Asia
Incheon International Airport

Best Airport in Africa
O.R. Tambo International Airport

Best Airport in Europe
Vienna International Airport

Best Airport in the Middle East
Hamad International Airport

Best Airport in South America
Jorge Chávez International Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
Turkish Airlines

Best Airport Dining
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airport Shopping
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World
Dubai Duty Free
11th Consecutive Year

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia
Singapore Changi Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Africa
O.R. Tambo International Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Europe
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East
Dubai Duty Free

Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Third Consecutive Year

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Third Consecutive Year

Best Lifestyle Hotel
Andaz
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Third Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Club Floor
The Ritz-Carlton
Second Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Website
ritzcarlton.com
Third Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
InterContinental Hotels Group IHG® Rewards Club
13th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
World of Hyatt Platinum

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
Marriott Rewards

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
World of Hyatt

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service, Americas
World of Hyatt
Second Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in the United States
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in Asia
Mandarin Oriental, Taipei

Best European Hotel Chain
St. Regis
Second Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Grand Hyatt

Best Hotel in South Korea
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in Europe
Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Best Hotel in the Middle East
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Best New Luxury Hotel in Asia
SIGNIEL SEOUL

Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
InterContinental Hotels and Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Overseas Delivery Program
Volvo
Second Consecutive Year

Best Rental Car Company
Hertz
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Tourism Destination
Mexico

Best MICE City
Seoul
Third Consecutive Year

Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Wireless Service in the World
Verizon
Second Consecutive Year

Best Noise-Canceling Headset
Sony
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Photographic Equipment
Nikon D7500

Best Ride Share
Uber

Best Hotel App
Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Best Airline App
Delta Air Lines

Best Overall Credit Card
United MileagePlus® Club Card from Chase
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Credit Card Rewards Programs
United MileagePlus® Club Card from Chase
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Hilton Honors™ Card from American Express
Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan
Third Consecutive Year

Best Credit Card Special Events
Inside Access From Chase
Second Consecutive Year

Best Small Business Credit Card
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan
Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World EliteTM Mastercard®
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Third Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
United MileagePlus® Explorer Card from Chase
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card
Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature®
Third Consecutive Year

Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the reception: Air Canada (Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing and Best International Business-Class White Wine); Asiana Airlines (Best International First- Class Wines on the Wing and Best International First-Class Red Wine); Aeroflot (Best International Business-Class Champagne); United Airlines (Best International First-Class Champagne); Brussels Airlines (Best International Business-Class White Wine); EL AL Israel Airlines (Best International First-Class White Wine); All Nippon Airways (Best International Business-Class Red Wine); TAP Air Portugal (Best International Business- Class Sparkling Wine); oneworld (Best Alliance Wines on the Wing); American Airlines (Best North American Wines on the Wing, Best North American White Wine and Best North American Red Wine); and Hawaiian Airlines (Best North American Sparkling Wine). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2017 issue.

About the Survey
Global Traveler conducted an open-ended survey of its readers to determine the best in more than 80 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from Jan. 1, 2017, to Aug. 31, 2017. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online and through direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of the questions answered were considered. An outside accounting firm, Citrin Cooperman LLP, tabulated the results. Employees of the magazine and members of the travel industry were barred from participation.

About Global Traveler
With nearly 300,000 readers, Global Traveler connects with U.S.-based frequent, affluent, international travelers. According to MediaMark Research (MRI), GT readers have an average net worth of $2 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average nine domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis, mostly in first and business class. More than 55 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average 60 nights per year. Four special editions — Leisure Lifestyle Edition, Global City Guidebook, Class Act Guide and The Trazee Book — complement 12 monthly issues. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, the Leisure Lifestyle Awards and the Wines on the Wing awards.

About FXExpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, eFlyer USA, eFlyer Asia, Trazee Travel, WhereverFamily and several annuals; and also operating globaltravelerusa.com, globaltravelerusa.com/blog, trazeetravel.com and whereverfamily.com.