Step right up to the greatest show on Earth! Yes, 2020 has been a bit of a circus, disrupting life as we know it, especially our beloved travel. But travel remains the greatest show on Earth, taking us to people and places around the globe that will forever change, shape and educate us. And now more than ever, the travel industry is pivoting to reshape the experience in the safest and healthiest way while staying true to the essence of travel at its core.

With all that said, welcome to the 17th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards! We know where to look for experience, especially in times of uncertainty, and that’s to you, our readers. Intrepid, frequent, luxury travelers yourselves, you know the standouts, and you voted for them, from airlines and airports to hotels and credit cards. Join us on the following pages as we admire the high-flying acts of the winners in our 17th annual survey.

On this year’s roster of performers is a who’s who of the travel industry’s best and brightest, and we begin by welcoming airlines into the big top.

This year United Airlines takes top honors as Best Overall Airline in the World, stealing the title from five-time winner Singapore Airlines. United Airlines’ MileagePlus program earned three awards this year: Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program for the 17th consecutive year; Best Frequent-Flyer Elite- Level Program for its Premier Executive IK level; and Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program, for the eighth year in a row. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines won its first Best Business-Class Seat Design accolade.

Picking up its impressive 11th consecutive win as Best Airline Alliance is oneworld. Oneworld member American Airlines flies home with a number of awards this year: Best Airline Website (aa.com), fourth consecutive year; Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans- Pacific, four years running; Best Airline for Domestic First Class, sixth year in a row; Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service (AAdvantage) for the third year in a row; and Best Airline App, also for the third time.

The two-time Best Aircraft Type, Airbus A350, is flown by, among others, Best Airline for International First Class winner Cathay Pacific Airways. The Hong Kong-based carrier also wins Best Flight Attendant Uniforms.

Taking the category for the second year in a row, Delta Sky Club is Best Airline Lounges. And sweeping its categories for every year of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards’ existence is Asiana Airlines, Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline for Flight Attendants, both for the 17th time. Etihad Airways is a double winner this year for Best Airline Cuisine and Best Airline in the Middle East.

EL AL Israel Airlines takes its 14th consecutive nod as Best Airline for Security. All Nippon Airways soars away with three awards this year: Best First- Class Seat Design, Best Trans-Pacific Airline and Best Airline to Japan.

PHOTO: © AIR CANADA

Especially important this year, Air Canada is the inaugural winner of Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness. The carrier to our North also wins Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption for Air Canada Aeroplan and Best Airline in North America for the second year in a row.

Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers goes to Turkish Airlines Corporate Club for the third consecutive year, while Turkish Airlines wins for Best Airline for Business Class and takes home its fifth win for Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents.

We round out our airline winners with a geographic breakdown of the best of the best: Avianca, Best Airline to South America; Aeromexico, Best Airline in Mexico, 11th consecutive year; Air Tahiti Nui, three-time Best Airline in the South Pacific; TAP Air Portugal with its 10th win as Best Airline in Europe (TAP also won Best Trans-Atlantic Airline); Aeroflot, Best Airline in Eastern Europe; Ethiopian Airlines, Best Airline in Africa; China Airlines, Best Airline in North Asia, eight consecutive years; and Air India, Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India, seven years in a row.

Next up in the ring is a collection of the best global gateways. Let’s start with Best Overall Airport in the World, with Singapore Changi Airport winning for the fifth consecutive year. The airport also claimed its fourth title as Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia.

PHOTO: © EQ ROY | DREAMSTIME.COM

Drumroll, please! For the 17th year in a row, Chicago O’Hare International Airport is Best Airport in North America. It is also taking its first win as Best Airport Dining. Around the United States, other award-winning airports include Miami International Airport, two-time Best Airport Shopping; and Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, three-time Fastest- Growing U.S. Airport.

Elsewhere around the globe, we have Incheon International Airport, taking its fourth win as Best Airport in Asia; Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, scoring a three-peat as Best Airport in Europe; and El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá as Best Airport in South America for the third year in a row. In the Middle East, Hamad International Airport is Best Airport in the Middle East, four years running, while Dubai Duty Free earns its 14th Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World title.

Polish educator Janusz Korczak is noted as saying, “Life is a circus ring, with some moments more spectacular than others.” And we know what’s among the most spectacular: our hotel winners.

InterContinental Hotels Group outperforms in two categories: Best International Hotel Chain, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; and Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World, IHG Rewards Club, for 16 consecutive years. Its IHG Business Edge program picks up its second nod as Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program.

With so many hotel brands under the Marriott International umbrella, it’s no surprise a number of them are racking up awards this year. First up is The Ritz- Carlton, Best Domestic Hotel Chain for the sixth year in a row. Three awards go to Marriott Bonvoy, the rewards program. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite wins Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program for the second consecutive year, while Marriott Bonvoy is Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption and Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service (third consecutive year). For the fifth time, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is Best European Hotel Chain.

Lotte Hotels takes an impressive three awards this year: Best MICE Hotel for the sixth year for Lotte Hotel Seoul, also the nine-time Best Hotel in South Korea winner. SIGNIEL Seoul – Lotte Tower is Best Hotel in Asia.

Andaz returns to the winners’ list with its Best Lifestyle Hotel nod. Hilton shows it’s twice as nice with wins for Best Hotel Website, hilton.com, and Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program, Hilton Honors. The Hilton Hotels app earned its second win as Best Hotel App.

PHOTO: © THE PENINSULA BEVERLY HILLS

Two winners take their 10th honors: The Peninsula Beverly Hills is Best Hotel in the United States, and Fiesta Americana is Best Hotel Chain in Mexico. Rounding out our hotel winners, we have Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East for the third consecutive year, and another three-time victor, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Best Hotel in the Middle East.

As we continue to tell the story of the world’s greatest show, we wrap up our long list of honorees with travel products, service providers, destinations and credit cards. For the fifth year in a row, Volvo drives away with the Best Overseas Delivery Program win. Also in the automotive sector, Enterprise wins the prize of Best Rental Car Company, and The Parking Spot takes its second consecutive Best Airport Parking nod.

Whether your first visit or 20th, make sure Spain, Best Tourism Destination, and Seoul, Best MICE City for the sixth year in a row, are on your list to visit as soon as possible. Taking it for the 11th time, Boingo Wireless celebrates as Best WiFi Service. It looks to Briggs & Riley, Best Luggage Brand, for inspiration, as 2020 marks its 11th consecutive win.

Cha-ching! Purchase travel and rack up the miles, points, extras and bonuses with these credit card winners. We begin with the United Club Infinite Card from Chase, winning Best Overall Credit Card, Best Credit Card Rewards Program and Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions. The United Explorer Card from Chase celebrates its eighth Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions win. Inside Access from Chase is Best Credit Card Special Events.

Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards won a bevy of acknowledgments this year. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card from Chase enjoys its ninth consecutive win as Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card, with its sights firmly set on win No. 10 in 2021. And triple-threat Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express won Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions, two years running; Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits, second year in a row; and Best Frequent- Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions.

We’ve come to our last three winners: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America, with its ninth win as Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card and also winning as Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits; AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard from Barclays, Best Small-Business Credit Card; and Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays, Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card for the third year in a row.

Each year, we also honor those winners who successfully won the same awards for five and 10 consecutive years by inducting them into our Quint Status and Hall of Fame, respectively.

Our 2020 Quint Status winners, celebrating five-time wins, are Singapore Changi Airport, Best Overall Airport in the World; Turkish Airlines, Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents; St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Best European Hotel Chain; and Volvo, Best Overseas Delivery Program.

Our 2020 Hall of Fame winners, celebrating 10 consecutive years topping their category, are TAP Air Portugal, Best Airline in Europe; The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Best Hotel in the United States; Fiesta Americana, Best Hotel Chain in Mexico; and Boingo Wireless, Best WiFi Service.

In a year of uncertainty, we seek adaptability, reliability, consistency and strength, and while 2020 underperformed in many areas, it offered this year’s winners a stage to show us what they are made of. Congratulations to this year’s winners. We know 2021 will deliver us a shiny ticket to once again participate in the greatest show on Earth in a fully re-opened world.

THE VOTING PROCESS

Open-ended ballots ran in subscriber copies of Global Traveler and online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2020. Ballots were distributed via direct mail and email during the same period. Ballots returned with less than 50 percent of the fields completed were disqualified. More than 20,000 qualified ballots were returned during the voting period. Employees of FX Express Publications, Inc., and affiliated members of the travel industry were not allowed to participate.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Best Overall Airline in the World
1. United Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Alliance
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam

Best Aircraft Type
1. Airbus A350
2. Boeing 787
3. Boeing 777

Best Airline Website
1. aa.com
2. delta.com
3. united.com

Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Japan Airlines

Best Airline for Business Class
1. Turkish Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline for International First Class
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Etihad Airways
3. Emirates

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines

Best Airline for Onboard Service
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Turkish Airlines

Best Airline Lounges
1. Delta Sky Club
2. American Airlines Admirals Club
3. United Polaris Club

Best Airline for Flight Attendants
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Etihad Airways

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Cuisine
1. Etihad Airways
2. Turkish Airlines
3. Alitalia

Best Airline for Security
1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. Swiss International Air Lines
3. British Airways

Best First-Class Seat Design
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Business-Class Seat Design
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Alitalia
3. Asiana Airlines

Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers
1. Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
2. American Airlines Business Extra
3. United PerksPlus

Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness
1. Air Canada
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines

Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
1. United MileagePlus
2. Air Canada Aeroplan
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
1. United MileagePlus Premier Executive 1K
2. American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Diamond Medallion

Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
1. Air Canada Aeroplan
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Southwest Airlines Rapid Returns

Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service
1. American Airlines AAdvantage
2. United MileagePlus
3. Air Canada Aeroplan

Best Airline in North America
1. Air Canada
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Airline to South America
1. Avianca
2. Aerolineas Argentinas
3. LATAM Airlines Group

Best Airline in Mexico
1. Aeromexico
2. Interjet
3. VivaAerobus

Best Airline in the South Pacific
1. Air Tahiti Nui
2. Fiji Airways
3. Air New Zealand

Best Airline in Europe
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. British Airways
3. Austrian Airlines

Best Airline in Eastern Europe
1. Aeroflot
2. LOT Polish Airlines
3. S7 Airlines

Best Airline in Africa
1. Ethiopian Airlines
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. South African Airways

Best Airline in the Middle East
1. Etihad Airways
2. Emirates
3. Qatar Airways

Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China)
1. China Airlines
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways

Best Airline in Central/ South Asia & India
1. Air India
2. Indigo
3. SpiceJet

Best Airline to Japan
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Japan Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
1. All Nippon Airways
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Singapore Airlines

Best Overall Airport in the World
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha
3. Incheon International Airport

Best Airport in North America
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Miami International Airport
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Best Airport in Asia
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

Best Airport in Europe
1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
2. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
3. Zürich Kloten International Airport

Best Airport in the Middle East
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport

Best Airport in South America
1. El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá
2. Jorge Chávez International Airport
3. Quito International Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
1. Turkish Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. United Airlines

Best Airport Dining
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Best Airport Shopping
1. Miami International Airport
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport
1. Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California
2. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
3. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World
1. Dubai Duty Free
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Hamad International Airport, Doha

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Incheon International Airport
3. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

Best International Hotel Chain
1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. The Peninsula Hotels

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Four Seasons

Best Lifestyle Hotel
1. Andaz
2. Moxy
3. Aloft Hotels

Best MICE Hotel
1. Lotte Hotel Seoul
2. Hyatt Regency Incheon
3. Aspen Meadows Resort

Best Hotel Website
1. hilton.com
2. marriott.com
3. ihg.com

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
1. IHG Rewards Club
2. Hilton Honors
3. Marriott Bonvoy

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
1. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
2. World of Hyatt Platinum
3. Hilton Honors Diamond

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
1. Hilton Honors
1. Le Club Accor
3. IHG Rewards Club

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. IHG Rewards Club
3. World of Hyatt

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. Le Club AccorHotels
3. IHG Rewards Club

Best Hotel in the United States
1. The Peninsula Beverly Hills
2. The Breakers Palm Beach
3. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs