FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

2019 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards Recap

by Kimberly Inlander

Mar 11, 2020

PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK

March 2020

FOR THE NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, The Peninsula Beverly Hills hosted Global Traveler’s GT Tested Reader Survey awards. On a beautiful evening overlooking the lights of Los Angeles from the hotel’s rooftop, we lauded the winners of our sweet 16th awards. It was truly a night to remember as we celebrated those travel companies consistently going above and beyond, as voted by our readers. In addition to honoring those winners, we also feted the Airline and Hotel of the Year; winners of our 2019 Wines on the Wing airline wine competition; and Quint Status, Hall of Fame and Crystal Status winners, those companies that won the same GT Tested Reader Survey award for the fifth, 10th and 15th consecutive years, respectively.

A number of sponsors joined in the festivities including United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase, United Explorer Card from Chase, Air Canada, Ontario International Airport and China Airlines. Liz Watts & Company electrified with Hawai’ian-themed entertainment and fire dancing.

We were also honored to welcome Jacob Adoram Hendrickson on behalf of Water Mission. He broke a world record for being the first person to row the entire Pacific Ocean without stopping or receiving support. He rowed 7,145 miles across the ocean as a fundraising effort for Water Mission, focused on building safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions around the world so every- one has access to clean, safe water. Learn more at watermission.org.

Be part of the action as we recap the night’s festivities on the following pages.

WINNER’S CIRCLE

Best Overall Airline in the World 
Singaporea Airlines
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Airline Alliance 
oneworld
10th Consecutive Year

Best Aircraft Type 
Airbus A350

Best Airline Website 
AA.com
Third Consecutive Year

Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific 
American Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airline for International First Class 
Lufthansa

Best Airline for Business Class 
Turkish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
American Airlines
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline Lounges 
Delta Sky Club

Best Airline for Onboard Service 
Asiana Airlines
16th Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Flight Attendants 
Asiana Airlines
16th Consecutive Year

Best Airline Cuisine 
Alitalia
10th Consecutive Year

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms 
Delta Air Lines

Best Airline for Security 
EL AL Israel Airlines
13th Consecutive Year

Best Business-Class Seat Design 
Alitalia
Second Consecutive Year

Best First-Class Seat Design 
Air France
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for New Service Launch 
Air France
Paris (CDG)–Dallas (DFW)

Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers
Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
Second Consecutive Year

Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
United MileagePlus
16th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Diamond Medallion

Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program 
United MileagePlus
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
LifeMiles (Avianca)

Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service
American Airlines AAdvantage
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline in North America 
Air Canada

Best Airline to South America 
LATAM Airlines Group
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Mexico 
Aeromexico
10th Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand
Virgin Australia

Best Airline in the South Pacific 
Air Tahiti Nui
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Europe 
TAP Air Portugal
Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Eastern Europe 
LOT Polish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Africa 
South African Airways
16th Consecutive Year

Best Airline in the Middle East 
Emirates
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline in North Asia 
China Airlines
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Airline in China 
Hainan Airlines
Seventh Consecutive Year

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

Best Airline to Japan 
Japan Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline 
Brussels Airlines
Second Consecutive Year

Best Trans-Pacific Airline 
Japan Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

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

Best Airport in North America 
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
16th Consecutive Year

Best Airport in Asia 
Incheon International Airport
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airport in Africa 
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airport in Europe 
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airport in the Middle East 
Hamad International Airport
Third Consecutive Year

Best Airport in South America 
El Dorado International Airport
Second Consecutive Year

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents 
Turkish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year

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

Best Airport Shopping 
Miami International Airport

Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport 
Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California
Second Consecutive Year

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World 
Dubai Duty Free
13th Consecutive Year

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia 
Singapore Changi Airport
Third Consecutive Year

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Africa 
Seychelles International Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in Europe 
Munich Airport

Best Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East
Dubai Duty Free
Third Consecutive Year

Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Lifestyle Hotel
Moxy Hotels

Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Website
IHG.com

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Rewards Club
15th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
HG Rewards Club

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
World of Hyatt

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service
Marriott Bonvoy
Second Consecutive Year

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

Best Hotel in Asia
Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
Third Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in South Korea
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in Europe
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, Munich

Best European Hotel Chain
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana
Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
Second Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in the Middle East
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Second Consecutive Year

Best Individual Hotel in the World
The Address Hotel Downtown Dubai

Best Overseas Delivery Program
Volvo
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Rental Car Company
Hertz
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Airport Parking
The Parking Spot

Best Tourism Destination
India

Best MICE City
Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless
Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley
10th Consecutive Year

Best Hotel App
Hilton Hotels

Best Airline App
American Airlines
Second Consecutive Year

Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program
IHG Business Edge

Best Overall Credit Card
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Small-Business Credit Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best Credit Card Special Events
Citi Entertainment

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

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card from Chase

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

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
United Explorer Card from Chase
Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card
Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays
Second Consecutive Year

AIRLINE AND HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Airline of the Year
Air Canada

Hotel of the Year
Hyatt Hotels

QUINT STATUS

Best Overall Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best MICE City
Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year

HALL OF FAME

Best Airline Alliance
oneworld
10th Consecutive Year

Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
10th Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico
10th Consecutive Year

Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley
10th Consecutive Year

CRYSTAL STATUS

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Rewards Club
15th Consecutive Year

WINES ON THE WING

Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing
Etihad Airways

Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing
American Airlines

Best Champagne International Business Class
Aeromexico

Best Champagne International Business Class
Etihad Airways

Best Champagne International First Class
Air France

Best White Wine International Business Class
All Nippon Airways

Best White Wine International First Class
Singapore Airlines

Best Red Wine International Business Class
Etihad Airways

Best Red Wine International First Class
All Nippon Airways

Best Alliance Wines on the Wing
oneworld

Best North American Wines on the Wing
American Airlines

Best North American Sparkling Wine
Aeromexico

Best North American White Wine
American Airlines

Best North American Red Wine
Alaska Airlines

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FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

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