The world’s best airline cabins for 2025 have been named by a prestigious award, with the winners featuring economy ‘beds’, a la carte dining and ‘exceptional service’.
The accolades come courtesy of the 2025 AirlineRatings World’s Best Airline Cabin Class Awards, which ‘recognised the top performers across business class, first class, premium economy, and economy’.
The site added: ‘These awards highlight the airlines that offer the highest levels of comfort, service, and value for travellers within each cabin class.’
Read on to find out if your favourite airline is one of the winners.
WORLD’S BEST FIRST CLASS: SINGAPORE AIRLINES
RUNNER-UP: ETIHAD AIRWAYS
First prize for first class goes to Singapore Airlines’ ‘Skyroom Suite’.
The highlight, for AirlineRatings.com, is the separate foldout flatbed, which comes ‘complete with premium bedding, a duvet, and plush pillows’.
The world’s best airline cabins for 2025 have been named by AirlineRatings.com. Above is the winner of the first-class category – Singapore Airlines’ Skyroom Suite
The site continued: ‘The bedhead is equipped with a gas spring, allowing passengers to comfortably watch movies while reclining.’
What’s more, a double bed can be created – as you may have seen on breathless social media reviews – by lowering the partition.
A similarly luxurious flight can be enjoyed in an Etihad first-class suite, says AirlineRatings.com, which commented: ‘Each suite comes with closing doors, fully flat beds dressed in premium bedding, and mood lighting.
‘Dining is a standout feature, with passengers enjoying gourmet à la carte meals served on fine bone china and beverages in premium glassware. On select routes, an onboard chef tailors meals to personal preferences.
‘Passengers are also treated to luxury amenity kits, ultra-comfortable pyjamas, and noise-cancelling headphones.’
Etihad’s first-class cabin (above) is the runner-up in the first-class category
AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen added: ‘Etihad and Singapore Airlines’ suites deliver a perfect blend of comfort, privacy, and exceptional service, making them world-class products. From the exquisite dining to the branded amenities, both airlines ensure every detail contributes to an unforgettable experience.’
BEST BUSINESS CLASS: QATAR AIRWAYS – QSUITE
RUNNER-UP: CATHAY PACIFIC – ARIA SUITE
The Qatar Airways’ Qsuite – laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration – is a matchless business-class experience, according to Petersen.
She remarked: ‘The experience in Qatar Airways’ business class is second to none.
Above is the winner of the business-class category – Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, which AirlineRatings.com described as ‘second to none’
‘While the Qsuite is already best in class, Qatar will soon elevate it further with the launch of the Qsuite Next Gen, featuring wider seats, longer beds, enhanced privacy, and upgraded technology.’
The silver medal goes to Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite, which is currently being rolled out across the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet and also arranged in a 1-2-1 pattern.
AirlineRatings.com said: ‘Each suite features a sliding door, a fully flat bed, a luxurious blanket and pillow, and significantly increased storage. Passengers in the middle seats benefit from an electronic privacy divider, while a tablet holder integrated into the tray table adds a unique touch.
The silver medal in the business-class category goes to Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite, which is currently being rolled out across the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet
‘The Aria Suite also boasts cutting-edge technology, including wireless charging, a fixed 24in 4K touchscreen for superior clarity, and Bluetooth headphone connectivity for pairing personal earbuds.’
WORLD’S BEST PREMIUM ECONOMY: EMIRATES AND QANTAS TIE FOR FIRST PLACE
Emirates and Qantas share the top podium spot for the premium economy category, with AirlineRatings.com describing the award as the toughest to decide.
Petersen commented: ‘This year’s premium economy award was the hardest to decide, with nine airlines offering exceptional products.
‘Airlines such as Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic all provide features such as leg rests, generous recline, wider seats, increased seat pitch, amenity kits, business-class-style dining, and enhanced in-flight entertainment.’
Emirates’ premium economy ties for first place in the premium economy category with Qantas
Above is the ‘exceptional’ Qantas premium economy berth
How were the winners decided upon?
Because they ‘excelled across all areas’, said Petersen, who explained: ‘We started looking at relatively small, seemingly insignificant details like dedicated cabins, toilets, blanket quality, and cabin location. However, for every advantage one airline had, the other excelled in a different area. It quite simply became impossible to separate the two.’
WORLD’S BEST VALUE PREMIUM ECONOMY: VIETNAM AIRLINES
RUNNER-UP: TUI
Vietnam Airlines has been recognised for the second consecutive year as the winner of AirlineRatings’ Best Value Premium Economy Award.
The site explained that while some airlines ‘stand out for their premium features’, others ‘focus on providing exceptional value for money’.
Vietnam Airlines ‘exemplifies the latter’.
Vietnam Airlines has been recognised for the second consecutive year as the winner of AirlineRatings’ Best Value Premium Economy Award
TUI was honoured with the runner-up gong in the Best Value Premium Economy Award, with AirlineRatings.com describing its premium economy cabin (above) as ‘an attractive, value proposition’
The site continued: ‘Meals served in premium economy are the same as those in economy, with drinks presented in either glassware or plastic, depending on the route, but passengers still get priority check-in, boarding, and baggage services, spacious 2-3-2 seats, and generous legroom with a pitch of up to 107cm on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
‘Passengers also benefit from USB charging ports, and thoughtful amenities such as travel kits and a cosmetics pack, all without the premium price tag.’
Remarking on TUI’s silver gong, AirlineRatings.com notes that TUI makes its debut in the awards this year, ‘offering passengers an attractive, value proposition for premium economy’.
The site continued: ‘Passengers will enjoy priority check-in and boarding, a generous 38-inch seat pitch, adjustable headrests and footrests, and an amenity kit complete with noise-cancelling headphones, blankets, and pillows.
‘Before take-off, they’ll be treated to a glass of Prosecco, with complimentary premium drinks available throughout the flight. The dining experience includes a four-course meal followed by a lighter second meal before landing. However, like Vietnam Airlines, TUI’s meal service aligns more closely with economy-class offerings and may feature plastic instead of glassware.’
WORLD’S BEST ECONOMY CLASS: KOREAN AIR
RUNNER-UP: AIR NEW ZEALAND
Above is the innovative ‘Skycouch’ by Air New Zealand, the runner-up in the economy category. The concept features leg rests that can be raised to 90 degrees to create a ‘bed’
The economy award winner is Korean Air, which offers those at the back of the plane ‘exceptional comfort’
The winner is ‘benchmark-setter’ Korean Air, which Petersen noted offers ‘spacious seating and exceptional comfort’.
She added: ‘[The airline offers] the most spacious economy seating in the world, and passenger feedback consistently highlights legroom and space as top priorities. In addition to this, passengers are given extra comforts such as slippers and larger meal portions, which just add to the economy experience.’
Runner-up Air New Zealand is praised ‘for its innovation, particularly the Skycouch and the upcoming Skynest beds’.
Petersen explained: ‘The Skynest has captured the imagination of travellers globally. It’s a game-changing concept, allowing economy passengers to lie flat on ultra-long-haul flights for a set period of time.
‘The Skynest, debuting [in 2026] on the Auckland–New York route, features six pods equipped with bedding, reading lights, USB ports, and ventilation. Meanwhile, the Skycouch [which features leg rests that can be raised to 90 degrees to create a “bed”] remains a popular option, and passengers can also purchase the seat next to them for additional comfort.’