As 2025 draws to a close, we are wrapping up my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on my 10 favorite flights from 2025.
My Top 10 Flights In 2025
As a reminder, this is not a top-10 all-time list, nor does it necessarily contain the 10 most luxurious flights I enjoyed this year. Rather, it represents my subjectively favorite flights. You’ll see the common thread among the list is great service onboard. While it is difficult to quantify the value of great service, it certainly makes a flight memorable in a positive way and, in retrospect, is always a hallmark of my favorite flights.
10. Aer Lingus A330-200 Business Class [DUB-LAX]
The seat is no longer competitive and the meal was rather poor, but the warm Irish hospitality displayed by the flight attendants somehow salvaged this flight and made it one of my favorites.
9. AeroDili A320-200 Business Class [DLI-DPS]
Visiting Timor Leste was a very special trip for me (that almost never came to be) and flying the flag carrier as the only passenger in business class was quite special.
8. Malaysia Airlines A330-900neo Business Class [KUL-DPS]
What a pleasant flight onboard this brand new aircraft, with friendly service and excellent technology.
7. SAS A330-300 Business Class [CPH-SFO]
I’ve flown a lot of SAS flights this year and my journey from Copenhagen to San Francisco was the best, not for the aircraft (I prefer the A350 to the A330), but for the excellent service onboard.
6. Starux A321neo Business Class [TPE-BKK]
Warm hospitality and a delicious meal onboard my short flight from Taipei to Bangkok on Starlux.
5. Cathay Pacific A350-1000 Business Class [HKG-AMS]
My marathon 14-hour flight from Amsterdam to Hong Kong featured sevearl great meals onboard, warm service, and a great seat.
4. Starlux A350-900 Business Class [LAX-TPE]
Starlux offers a phenomenal business class product. I boarded with high expectations and somehow they were even exceeded with friendly service and delicious food onboard.
3. Singapore Airlines 777-300 First Class [CGK-SIN]
This was a very special flight because I had the entire first class cabin to myself and was treated royally by the crew.
2. Korean Air 747-8 First Class [ATL-ICN]
After sitting on my bucket list for a decade, I finally had the chance to fly Korean Air in first class on the 747 from Atlanta to Seoul, KAL’s longest flight, and had a lovely experience onboard.
1. Singapore Airlines A380-800 Suites Class [SIN-LHR]
From tremendous service to the best Champagne and lobster thermidor to a comfortable rest…Singapore Airlines Suites Class is very hard to beat.
I will not do a “10 worst flights” list this year. Sure, I can count up a number of bad flights (on American and United…and even one on Delta), but with those, it feels like I am just nitpicking, especially because I mostly fly in premium cabins.
Let me use this opportunity to take all the flight attendants and pilots I interacted with this year…I consider it a great privilege to fly and am thankful for the men and women who keep the skies safe and do their best to work with the product they have been given.
I’m quite looking forward to more great travel next year…now firmly ensconsed as a free agent.
What was your best flight in 2025?
“Singapore Airlines Suites Class is very hard to beat.” – I agree with you on that.
As a proud member of SkyTeam alliance, the savvy SAS is on the right route… Let’s hope it continues that way.
Our flight from JFK to KEV on Icelandair in Saga class was surprisingly both comfortable in their 767 and their hospitality was friendly and welcoming …
I believe you mentioned KEF (not KEV).
In the new year, FI will be using the A321neo instead of the B767-300 on its JFK – KEF non-stop flights…
No US airline or ME3 flights, and only 2 flights on European airlines…the rest is Asian airlines all the way.
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to flying Emirates this year! Hopefully, Etihad, Gulf, Oman, Riyadh, and Qatar as well!
For me the best longhaul this year has been Air India business class DEL-LHR on the A350. Fantastic seat, good food but excellent service.
Best short haul was Sri Lankan business class BOM-CMB. Standard seat but good food and super service. Plus a huge relief to have got on, as I had flown Indigo to BOM but at the transit desk both Indigo and Celibi staff refused to let me through without a printed boarding pass, even though I had an email confirming I was checked in. They refused to call Sri Lankan, claiming they didn’t have the phone number. Thankfully I have an Indian visa so had to pass through immigration, go to departures and check in where the Sri Lankan manager told me that the transit desk do have the number and call almost every day. I was not the only one – there were others who were trying to transit and being refused; one lady claimed to have been there for six hours.
I hope to fly Air India on the A350 in 2026!
LX F for me. Honorable mention to QSuites from DFW to DOH (though J on the 789 from DOH to MAA wasn’t far behind, honestly).
I’m so glad you are back on Travel Codex. Did you take the whole family to MAA in business class?
Great ‘top 10 lists,’ Matt! Korean First in the nose of the 747 does seem like the av-geek special. Nice photos of you, too. Is that a suit jacket or a mere sweater on Starlux? Glad AeroDili actually worked out, too!
Sport coat.