The best seats in the sky: Top 10 airline cabins for first, business and economy class revealed

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A seven-course tasting menu, 1,000 channels and a flat bed with a sheepskin mattress – enjoyed in the privacy of your own private suite.

Airlines have been competing to create flying experiences you’ll look forward to almost as much as arriving at your destination, so choosing which carriers offer the best in-flight services can't be an easy task.

Nevertheless, AirlineRatings.com has scoured the skies and produced lists of what it claims are the very best seats in economy, premium economy, business and first class for 2017.

The rankings are based on space allotted to passengers, innovations in each class and product and safety reviews by experts and consumers.

AirlineRatings editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas told MailOnline Travel: ‘In economy class, for example, we looked at seat pitch and width as one of our parameters. But seat design also plays a role and some of the newer seats can offer more legroom for the same seat pitch. And, of course, service is also important - even at this end of the plane.’

Read on to discover the best seat in every cabin class. 

Hotels in the sky: Airlines are improving their layouts and accommodations across all cabins. A new ranking by AirlineRatings.com highlights the top ten in each cabin class. Pictured above, guests stretch their legs in the Emirates Airbus A380 business class bar

First class  
As carriers take business class to new heights, they've had to up the ante for first class and create experiences akin to stays in luxury hotels. Guests travelling with the top airlines can expect to enjoy fine wines, a la carte dining and private suites in this cabin class.

Etihad has been pushing boundaries with concepts such as The Residence - your very own private hotel in the sky - and has been rewarded with the top spot for its first class. It's closely followed by Singapore Airlines, which has a social element that allows guest to dine together in their first class suite and Emirates' lavish, entertainment-heavy first class claims the third spot.

Other airlines awarded accolades for their first class suites were Qantas in fourth place, Cathay Pacific taking fifth, Air France claiming sixth, British Airways soaring into seventh, All Nippon Airways sitting comfortably at eighth, Lufthansa scoring ninth and Korean Airlines rounding out the top ten.

1. Etihad Airways

Mr Thomas explained the reason for its win: 'The airline's new first class and business class offerings are quite stunning and have set the bar even higher in luxury travel. In what is an incredible achievement in just over 13 years, Etihad Airways has stamped itself not only as a major force in the airline industry but a trendsetter.' Etihad's first class has a 6ft 10in flat bed, armchair and closed doors to take a meal with a companion. There is also a seven-course tasting menu and fine wine list to choose from. Guests can make use of a vanity unit and full length wardrobe after freshening up in the onboard shower

2. Singapore Airlines

In at number two, Singapore Airlines has a social element that allows guestd to dine together in their first class suite. Seats are extra wide at 35 inches and transform into flatbeds.  Guests are also offered mood lighting, a Ferragamo amenity kit and over 1,000 entertainment options

3. Emirates

Emirates' lavish, entertainment-heavy suite with a fully flat bed to unwind on claims the third spot. It has sliding privacy doors, a mini bar, ambient lighting and a vanity mirror and Bulgari amenity kit so you arrive at your destination looking fresh. Emirates A380 also features a shower spa and there is an onboard lounge

4. Qantas

Passengers flying in Qantas' first class can expect privacy and space to stretch their legs and store their luggage. There is a bedding down service featuring pillows, blankets and a sheepskin mattress. There is also an ottoman to host a companion in your suite during the flight

5. Cathay Pacific

Guests travelling with the top airlines can expect to enjoy fine wines, a la carte dining and private suites in this cabin class. Cathay Pacific took the fifth spot in the awards and offers in-chair massages, a fully flat bed and a large private working area

6. Air France

Sleeping in the clouds: Passengers can arrive well-rested after a trip in Air France's first class, which has memory foam flat beds and lounge wear and toiletries ready to use. There is also a bench to share a meal with a friend

7. British Airways

 Flyers in BA's first class have their own private, spacious suite with a fully flat bed and access to lounges and spa treatments

8. All Nippon Airways

Scoring eighth position, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways' first class seat boasts jacket and storage compartments, an  adjustable dining table, 23in TV and plenty of privacy in a unique square cabin design

9. Lufthansa

 Offering ergonomic comfort with plenty of seating positions to choose from Lufthansa scooped ninth place. Seats also transform into six-and-a-half-feet long beds

10. Korean Airlines

Guests can enjoy ultimate privacy behind the sliding door of Korean Airlines' top ten-ranked first class cabin

Business class
Judges recognised that business class has advanced immeasurably in recent years with many airlines offering passengers flat beds, privacy and places to stow laptops and books. 

Virgin Australia claimed the gong for the top category thanks to the seats on its Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s. Second place went to Air New Zealand, Singapore came in at third. The top three are pictured below.

Fourth place went to Etihad Airways, followed by Qantas Airways in fifth, Emirates took the sixth spot, Cathay Pacific came seventh, Virgin Atlantic was crowned eighth, All Nippon Airways was rated ninth and Japan Airlines rounded out the top ten. 

1. Virgin Australia

Outlining why Virgin Australia was awarded best business class, Mr Thomas said: 'The major plus for this product is the bed with its triple-layer seat cushion supported by a hammock sub-frame, which almost guarantees perfect slumber. Importantly there is plenty of space for gadgets and shelf-space to place one's laptop while dining'

2. Air New Zealand

And relax: The category judges recognised that business class has advanced immeasurably in recent years with many airlines offering passengers flat beds. Pictured above, Air New Zealand came second

3. Singapore Airlines

Passengers have room to store their headphones, laptops and tablets in this spacious Singapore Airline's seat, which took third place for its business class

Premium Economy
As premium economy becomes more widespread and particularly popular on long-haul flights, passengers are being offered extras such as more leg room, dedicated check ins and a better quality of food and wine.

Mr Thomas said: 'Competition between carriers in this cabin is tough, so there are some decent premium economy fares out there and the standard among the top-tier airlines is high.'

Air New Zealand was praised for its innovation and attention to detail and topped this category followed by Qantas Airways in second position and Virgin Australia in third, which are all pictured below. Virgin Atlantic took the fourth spot, followed by Singapore Airlines in fifth, Cathay Pacific Airways shooting into sixth, Eva Air claiming seventh, Lufthansa ranking eighth, All Nippon Airways claiming ninth and British Airways rounding out the top ten.

1. Air New Zealand

Explaining why Air New Zealand's premium economy was rated top, Mr Thomas said: 'Air New Zealand has shown better than any other airline that passengers will pay more if the product is right and priced accordingly. Its efforts in this space are a lesson to all airlines that passengers want better and are prepared to pay'

2. Qantas Airways

Mr Thomas said: 'Competition between carriers in this cabin is tough, so there are some decent premium economy fares out there and the standard among the top-tier airlines is high.' Qantas came second in the category

3. Virgin Australia

Premium economy has become more widespread and is particularly popular on long haul journeys. Virgin Australia came third in this category

Economy class
Singapore Airlines leads the economy pack with its acclaimed Singapore Girl service followed by Korean Airlines in second place and Eva soaring into third. Cathay Pacific Airways took the fourth spot, Qantas Airways came fifth, Air New Zealand claimed sixth, Japan Airlines was ranked seventh, Virgin Australia was eighth, Etihad Airways was named ninth and All Nippon Airways took the tenth spot. The first, fifth and sixth place are pictured below.

Mr Thomas outlined the reason for Singapore Airline's reign at the top: 'The airline has always been a leader in the economy class product going back to the 1960s, when as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines, it introduced free headsets and free drinks to economy passengers.' 

'And the innovation has never stopped, with new seats on its A350 and the continual upgrading of its industry-leading in-flight entertainment system.' 

1. Singapore Airlines

Praised as a trailblazer since the 1960s, Singapore Airlines' new seats and continual upgrade saw it rated as the best economy offering

5. Qantas Airways

Qantas featured in the top ten for all four award categories. The Australian airline's comfortable economy seating secured it fifth place in this class

6. Air New Zealand

Crowned the best airline overall in the world, Air New Zealand's spacious economy class took sixth place in the awards