World's best plane cabins revealed as Air New Zealand, Etihad and Qantas

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AirlineRatings.com rates carriers on everything from comfort to safety
Study names best for economy, premium economy, business and first
Qantas was one of three airlines to find a spot on all four best-of lists

Published: 06:11 EST, 9 October 2015 | Updated: 04:08 EST, 12 October 2015

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A website that ranks airlines on everything from comfort to safety has named its best long-haul economy class cabins, with carriers in Oceania, Asia and the Middle East dominating the list.

Air New Zealand, Etihad and Qantas were among those that found a spot in the top 10.

No airline from Europe or the Americas managed to crack the list, and they didn’t fare much better in the rankings for first, business and premium economy classes.

Air New Zealand's long-haul economy class features the SkyCouch - a three across sleeper with lie-flat beds

British Airways made it onto one list – for best premium economy cabins – while Virgin Atlantic was cited twice. The only airlines to make it onto all four lists were Japan Airlines, Australian flag carrier Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

Ranked alphabetically, the seven other airlines that were recognised by AirlineRatings.com for their long-haul economy cabins were Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

Sharon Peterson, from AirlineRatings.com, said: 'The cabins are awarded in the top 10 because they are truly all-inclusive offering passengers multiple meal and beverage services, blankets, pillows and amenity kits as well as an extensive range of in-flight entertainment on demand.

'They also have a more generous seat pitch of at least 31 inches and usually 32 to 33 inches.'

One of the reasons Air New Zealand found its way onto the list is its SkyCouch, a three-across sleeper with lie-flat seats that allow a single passenger, couple or family to stretch out.

Since its launch in 2013, the Australia-based website’s editors, who include former pilots, authors and aviation journalists, have twice named Air New Zealand its airline of the year.

The Auckland-based airline was also included in the website’s rankings for best business and premium economy cabins.

Etihad Airways, which launched The Residence on its A380 aircraft, made the list for best first class cabins

In addition to Air New Zealand, the best premium economy classes were (in alphabetical order) were Air France, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, Taiwan’s EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia.

The top airlines for business class were almost a mirror image, with AirlineRatings.com choosing Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic.

In first class, which offers the ultimate in luxury and space with exclusive perks such as multi-room apartments, double beds and on-board showers, the top airlines were All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swissair and Thai Airways.