Asian airlines have taken the lead in a recent rating of family-friendly airlines by travel site The Family Vacation Guide. On this list, eight of the highest 11 airlines are based in Asia, out of a complete of 34 airlines that were rated.
The rating criteria was based on eight various factors, covering facets similar to seat comfort, free seat selection and pre-boarding family accommodation, leading to a maximum rating of 18 points. Japan Airlines secured the highest spot on this list with a complete rating of 15 out of 18 points. It lost a degree for imposing additional charges on infants traveling on laps, commonly often known as “knee charges”.
In second place were Korean Air and Hainan Airlines from China, which each scored 14 out of 18 points. It’s value noting that neither of those airlines offer free seat selection and each impose baby knee fees.
Singapore Airlines, which was named best airline within the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the fifth consecutive yr, placed fourth alongside Qantas and China Southern Airlines. This airline lost points within the seat comfort and infant knee charges rankings.
All airlines on the highest 11 list offer kids meals and free kid’s entertainment, and permit free stroller inspections. With the exception of Lufthansa, all offer gondolas on board, and all but Hawaiian Airlines allow free checked baggage. However, it’s value noting that lap fees are common to all airlines except Hawaiian Airlines and Lufthansa. Family Vacation Guide rankings are based on publicly available information as of February 2023.
According to Praowpan Tansitpong, an assistant professor at Nida Business School, the advantage of Asian airlines on this family-friendly list could be attributed to differences in business priorities. She explained that over the past 20 years, Asian airlines have invested more in improving passenger amenities in comparison with their Western counterparts, which have focused more on revenue management. Tansitpong also identified that cultural differences may play a job because, unlike Western societies, Asian countries prioritize family ties, mutual support and respect for the elderly.
Family Vacation Guide also conducted a family-friendly evaluation of airports, bearing in mind aspects similar to on-time departure times, cancellation rates, availability of free, unlimited Wi-Fi, and number of dining and recreation options. The top family-friendly airports include:
- Mexico Juarez-Mexico International Airport
- International Airport John F. Kennedy – USA
- O’Hare International Airport – USA
- Philadelphia International Airport – USA
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – USA
- Frankfurt am Main International Airport – Germany
- Toronto Pearson International Airport – Canada
- Soekarno-Hatta International Airport – Indonesia
- El Dorado – Colombia International Airport
- Singapore Changi Airport – Singapore
10. Fukuoka Airport – Japan
Mexico City’s Juarez International and Mexico City International Airport took first place. John F. Kennedy, which received a rating of 9.87 out of 10. Gimpo International Airport in South Korea was rated the least family-friendly on the list resulting from its lack of entertainment, dining options and free Wi-Fi.
It’s value noting that only two Asian airports made the list of the 11 best family-friendly airports. Singapore’s Changi Airport and Japan’s Fukuoka Airport jointly placed tenth, with a combined rating of 8.68 out of 10. Despite being recognized because the “best airport on the planet” within the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Changi Airport has faced criticism for not offering a free, unlimited Wi-Fi -Fi.
Tansitpong suggested that the differences in performance of Asian airports and airlines on these lists might be attributed to distinct planning and execution priorities and objectives. Airports typically focus more on aircraft safety and ground services than on family-oriented services. However, she stressed that the study may not fully reflect the airport’s ability to satisfy the needs of family travelers with amenities similar to play areas, family toilets and kids’s menus in restaurants.
