Best Airlines To Fly International

Flying internationally can be complicated enough, even when you’ve already chosen your airline. But if you need help choosing the best international airline for your trip, the most important factor is your destination. Different airlines fly to different destinations and most carriers have specific regions where their routes and fares offer the best options for that part of the world. If you start by narrowing down your destination to a specific region, country, or city, then your best options will often make themselves clear, based on available routes and flight times. 

Choosing the best airlines from the U.S. to Europe depends on your definition of “best.” If you want an airline with more routes to European cities, choose American Airlines or Delta Air Lines. If you’re looking for an international airline that offers more European connections to other international cities, consider British Airways. 

Travelers Say:

For traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, it’s hard to beat Delta Air Lines and its close affiliation with Aeromexico. Delta owns a large percentage of Aeromexico, creating a strong partnership that together offers flights between more cities in both Mexico and the U.S. Connecting between the two airlines is intentionally simple, offering smooth transitions from one leg of your journey to the next. Both airlines boast a fleet that’s eco-friendly and boasts some of the most modern aircraft available. Looking for more affordable fares to Mexico? Consider Southwest Airlines, which operates several routes between the U.S. and some of Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations.

The Caribbean offers U.S. residents many wonderful opportunities for quick getaways to an island paradise. The best airlines from the U.S. to the Caribbean include JetBlue Airways, Southwest, and Delta Air Lines, which offer frequent flights between some of the region’s most popular vacation destinations.

Travelers Say: 

Delta Air Lines’ history with South America reaches back to its very beginnings in the 1920s. In 2019 it was named United States’ Leading Airline to South America. Also, Delta has acquired a 20 percent stake in South American airline LATAM, making it the top U.S. airline for South American destinations.

Travelers Say:

United Airlines offers a large number of routes from the U.S. to Asia, giving travelers ample destination options from points across the U.S. Major Asian international carriers fly to West Coast cities, but few offer routes to American cities in the Midwest, South, and the East Coast. Korean Air offers world-class service to Asia from cities throughout the U.S. Also, Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) offers a premium, award-winning product to and from Asia from major U.S. cities.

Travelers Say:

United Airlines is among the best U.S. carriers that fly to Australia, but if you want to immerse yourself in the Aussie experience, try flying the nation’s flagship airline, Qantas, which offers 10 flights from the U.S. to three different Australian cities, including travel on the world’s largest airliner, the Airbus A380. The superjumbo includes updated business-class cabin suites and an upper deck lounge.

Travelers Say: 

Choosing an international airline is what you make it. Do you want luxury or economy? Lots of various destinations or a few spectacular ones? These choices and others will define which carrier you choose as your best international airline. 

The destinations you choose will largely guide your available options, so choose your routes carefully. Every continent, country, city, and neighborhood offers an opportunity to surround yourself in a new culture with the chance to meet new and fascinating people.

Because many international flights can  last 10 hours or more, arriving at your destination refreshed and in the mood to conduct business or to explore is important–and could make or break your entire journey. 

That’s why choosing the right airline for your international flight is critical. 

With that in mind, here are a few things you may want to know before you book your next trip to another country.

Although the details surrounding the passport process are different in every country, typically, it begins with gathering your official identification documents, such as a driver’s license and birth certificate. Next, find the website for the state department of the government where you’re a citizen. Search for information about applying for passports. Download a form and fill out the required information, including information from your identification documents. Copies of your identification documents will most likely be required, as well as a headshot photo cropped to specific dimensions. You will likely have to pay a fee for the passport. If you prefer, these websites will list office locations where you can bring your identification documents, photo and payment to apply in person. If you follow directions and all goes smoothly, it often takes several weeks to receive your passport. 

When it comes to choosing an international airline, everyone has different priorities. Your choice of airline may depend on a combination of infinite factors, including comfort, safety, services, amenities, seating, ticket fares, routes, times, and even what type of aircraft you want to fly on. Let’s take a quick look at some of these factors. 

International flights often require passengers to remain seated for 10 hours or more, which makes the distance between seats a very important metric–especially for passengers with long legs and wide behinds. The common measurements for this are width and seat pitch–the distance from seatback to seatback. Each airline determines seat configurations for its aircraft. SeatGuru.com has some of the best data on seat dimensions. If seat comfort is important to you, book your international flight accordingly.  

Flying on commercial airlines is proven to be among the safest modes of travel in the world, according to carefully monitored and easily available data. That’s largely due to regulatory oversight by aviation authorities in each country. 

Sometimes, if the food, drinks, and inflight entertainment are good enough, they can make a good international flight unforgettable. The best international airlines know this, and so they make a point of offering passengers delicious meals, refreshing beverages, and top-notch options for movies, TV, and games. Check out the food, drink, and entertainment fare listed on each airline’s website or app. 

Amenities on international flights can range from the bare basics (like free headphones), to semi-private, lie-flat seats with accouterments such as skincare products, eyeshades, blankets, and pillows, to the extreme–including a private suite and an onboard shower. Amenities are listed on each airline’s website. If amenities are important to you, then book your airline accordingly. 

Some air travelers consider an airline’s fleet when booking international flights. Every airline’s fleet offers a different mix of aircraft, each with various attributes pertaining to age, cabin size, engine noise, and seat configuration. Travelers who know, for example, that a specific international airline flies a new aircraft type on a particular route may wish to book that airline for their trip because they are familiar with the aircraft and want the specific attributes that type of jetliner offers. 

Now that you’ve learned about options for choosing the best international airlines and which factors to pay attention to, you’re ready to book your flight and start your unforgettable journey, exploring unique locations and fascinating cultures. And if you’re interested in learning more about aviation, including how to learn to be a pilot, sign up for a subscription to FLYING Magazine.