We don't try or want to call these the travel Oscar awards!

The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards are not subscriber based, or a profit-driven self-interest type of award programme. The guaranteed survey transparency and global survey coverage is what distinguishes SKYTRAX awards as the most prestigious and respected quality recognition for today's world airline industry.

As the most prestigious recognition of airline standards, SKYTRAX World Airline Awards do not have to classify themselves as the airline business Oscar awards or the travel industry's equivalent to the Oscar awards.
 

"Companies that operate an awards programme for profit only, might describe themselves as the travel Oscars or similar. It seems largely a ploy to gain credibility for a survey or awards process that is perhaps not so reputable. At SKYTRAX, we have always ensured that our Awards stand on their own reputation. This open and honest policy has shown to be correct, as airlines and their customers across the world now regard SKYTRAX Awards as the most prestigious and respected awards for the airline industry. SKYTRAX guarantee a totally independent and professional Survey and Award process, that is paid for 100 per cent by our organisation. No sponsorship, no associated advertising revenue ... or the cheek of charging winners to attend dinner at an awards ceremony!"   Edward Plaisted, SKYTRAX

The passenger survey for the 2011 awards covered over 200 airlines, from the largest international airlines to small domestic carriers, and measured standards across more than 38 different items of airline front-line product and service. Operated over a 10-month period, the passenger survey achieved more than 18.8 million interviews, drawn from over 100 different nationalities across the world.

The World Airline Awards are regarded as the primary benchmarking tool for Passenger Satisfaction levels of airlines throughout the world - delivering a unique survey format based on analysis of business and leisure travellers, across all cabin travel types (First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy class passengers).

The study analyses customer satisfaction for the Airline Passenger Experience, across the Airport and Onboard environments - check-in to boarding, onboard seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, IFE and  staff service.

Skytrax guarantee total transparency across the World Airline Survey process, and the sole directive is for real customers to make their own, honest choices as to the airlines they consider to be best, and worthy of an award.

Airlines do not subscribe to be included in the customer survey, there is no membership criteria, and no charge for winners to attend the World Airline Awards ceremony. To reinforce this credibility, complete independence and clarity of survey and awards process, Skytrax do not accept any third party sponsorship.