Global Traveler Announces 17th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards
The GT Tested Reader Survey awards name the top in the travel industry
YARDLEY, Pa., Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The results are in! For the 17th consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 22,000 people responded. Global Traveler's inaugural awards were celebrated in 2004.
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 September. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2020 issue, available now.
"This year has certainly tested the travel industry and this list of winners is truly a who's who of the very best in the industry, beyond cabin set-up or room service menu. It's a compilation of those who put traveler safety and security first and foremost," said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. "We also need to thank our readers who vote yearly in the survey. For intrepid travelers, this year has been quite the curveball, and not only do we celebrate our winners, we also celebrate the promise of a return of the travel industry we know and love. Congratulations!"
This year's winners will be feted at a virtual reception Dec. 14, at globaltravelerusa.com. For more information, check out the December 2020 issue of Global Traveler or visit our website.
A complete list of winners is as follows:
Best Overall Airline in the World 
United Airlines
Best Airline Alliance 
oneworld 
11th Consecutive Year
Best Aircraft Type 
Airbus A350 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline Website 
AA.com 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific 
American Airlines 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airline for International First Class 
Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Airline for Business Class 
Turkish Airlines 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airline for Domestic First Class 
American Airlines 
Fifth Consecutive Year 
Best Airline Lounges 
Delta SkyClubs 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline for Onboard Service 
Asiana Airlines 
17th Consecutive Year
Best Airline for Flight Attendants 
Asiana Airlines 
17th Consecutive Year
Best Airline Cuisine 
Etihad Airways
Best Flight Attendant Uniforms 
Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Airline for Security 
EL AL Israel Airlines 
14th Consecutive Year
Best Business-Class Seat Design 
Singapore Airlines
Best First-Class Seat Design 
All Nippon Airways 
Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers 
Turkish Airlines Corporate Club 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness 
Air Canada
Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program 
United Airlines MileagePlus 
17th Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program 
United MileagePlus Premier Executive 1K
Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program 
United MileagePlus 
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption 
Air Canada Aeroplan
Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service 
American Airlines AAdvantage 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline in North America 
Air Canada 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline to South America 
Avianca
Best Airline in Mexico 
Aeromexico 
11th Consecutive Year
Best Airline in the South Pacific 
Air Tahiti Nui 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Europe 
TAP Air Portugal 
10th Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Eastern Europe 
Aeroflot
Best Airline in Africa 
Ethiopian Airlines
Best Airline in the Middle East 
Etihad Airways 
Best Airline in North Asia 
China Airlines 
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Airline in China 
China Airlines 
Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India 
Air India 
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Airline to Japan 
All Nippon Airways 
Best Trans-Atlantic Airline 
TAP Air Portugal
Best Trans-Pacific Airline 
All Nippon Airways 
Best Overall Airport in the World 
Singapore Changi Airport 
Fifth Consecutive Year 
Best Airport in North America 
Chicago O'Hare International Airport 
17th Consecutive Year
Best Airport in Asia 
Incheon International Airport 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airport in Europe 
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airport in the Middle East 
Hamad International Airport 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airport in South America 
El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents 
Turkish Airlines 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airport Dining 
Chicago O'Hare International Airport 
Best Airport Shopping 
Miami International Airport 
Second Consecutive Year
Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport 
Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World 
Dubai Duty Free 
14th Consecutive Year
Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia 
Singapore Changi Airport 
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best International Hotel Chain 
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Best Domestic Hotel Chain 
The Ritz-Carlton 
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Lifestyle Hotel 
Andaz
Best MICE Hotel 
Lotte Hotel Seoul 
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Website 
hilton.com
Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World 
InterContinental Hotels Group 
IHG® Rewards Club 
16th Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program 
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program 
Hilton Honors
Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption 
Marriott Bonvoy
Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service 
Marriott Bonvoy 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in the United States 
The Peninsula Beverly Hills 
10th Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in Asia 
SIGNIEL Seoul, Lotte Tower
Best Hotel in South Korea 
Lotte Hotel Seoul 
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best European Hotel Chain 
St. Regis 
Fifth Consecutive Year 
Best Hotel Chain in Mexico 
Fiesta Americana 
10th Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East 
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in the Middle East 
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Overseas Delivery Program 
Volvo 
Fifth Consecutive Year 
Best Rental Car Company 
Enterprise
Best Airport Parking 
The Parking Spot 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Tourism Destination 
Spain
Best MICE City 
Seoul 
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best WiFi Service 
Boingo Wireless 
10th Consecutive Year
Best Luggage Brand 
Briggs & Riley 
11th Consecutive Year
Best Hotel App 
Hilton Hotels 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline App 
American Airlines 
Third Consecutive Year
Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program 
IHG Business Edge 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Overall Credit Card 
Chase United Club Infinite Card 
Best Credit Card Rewards Programs 
Chase United Club Infinite Card
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card 
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase 
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions 
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits 
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions 
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Best Credit Card Special Events 
Inside Access from Chase
Best Small Business Credit Card 
American Airlines Aviator Barclays
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card 
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America 
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions 
Chase United Club Infinite Card
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits 
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America 
Second Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions 
United Explorer Card from Chase 
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card 
Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays 
Third Consecutive Year
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–Sept. 30, 2020. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot 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 550,000 readers, Global Traveler connects brands with U.S.-based frequent, affluent travelers. According to MediaMark Research (Gfk 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 (11 round-trips in the last three years), mostly in first and business class. More than 55 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average 60 nights per year. Special editions — Leisure Lifestyle Edition, Global City Guidebook and Class Act Guide — complement monthly issues. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, the Leisure Lifestyle Awards and the Wines on the Wing awards (business- and first-class wine survey). 
About FXExpress Publications, Inc. 
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com, FX Excursions, eFlyer USA and several annuals. WhereverFamily LLC publishes whereverfamily.com and its related brands, and Trazee Travel, LLC publishes trazeetravel.com.
Media Contact
Kimberly Krol Inlander, Global Traveler, 2673645811202, [email protected]
SOURCE Global Traveler
 
Share this article