As 2023 draws to a close, we are wrapping up my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on my 10 favorite flights from 2023.
My Top 10 Flights In 2023
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, always is a hallmark of my favorite flights.
10. Malaysia Airlines A350 Business Class [KUL-HND]
Malaysia Airlines offers a nice longhaul product on its A350 and the service was extremely attentive and friendly.
9. Japan Arlines 777 Business Class [HND-SFO]
Wonderful service, great food, and a very private seat on my flight to California.
8. United Airlines 787 Business Class [LAX-LHR]
Despite a three-hour mechanical delay, it was a real treat to travel with my family in business class to London over the summer.
7. SAS A350 Business Class [BKK-CPH]
Lovely inaugural flight to Copenhagen with superb service plus two excellent meals onboard.
6. United Airlines 777 Business Class [DXB-EWR]
Best catering of the year on United and warm service plus a great rest. United has such great potential.
5. Singapore Airlines 737 MAX 8 Business Class [SIN-REP]
I love the 737-8 on Singapore Airlines (great lie-flat seats in business class) and I also enjoyed the delicious lamb and excellent service onboard.
4. Drukair A320 Business class [KTM-PBH]
There was something absolutely magical about flying over Mt. Everest. Wonderful hospitality onbaord too and the “most dangerous” landing in the world in Paro.
3. Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class [JFK-FRA]
My only complaint: this flight was far too short (well, the steak wasn’t great either). What a lovely first class product.
2. Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class [FRA-SIN]
What a pleasure to experience Singapore Suites on a 12-hour flight. This is one of the best ways to fly and was my best airplane flight of the year.
1. Helicopter Over Mt. Everest
An absolute bucket-list experience: a helicopter over Mt. Everest. I cannot wait to do this again.
I will not do a “10 worst flights” list this year. Sure, I can count up a number of bad flights, but sometimes it feels like I am just nitpicking, especially because I mostly fly in premium cabins.
Last year not a single United flight made the list, but this year two did. United is improving and I’m grateful for that. I’m quite looking forward to more great travel next year.
What was your best flight in 2023?
Nice list. I wish more travel bloggers would do the same. I’m particularly glad to hear about #5 as my wife and I are flying that same flight in a month.
I’d have to think about whether VS A330-900neo Upper Class or SQ F on the A380 takes the top spot on my list. One flight that rated surprisingly high on mine was UA SFO-PPT…in Economy Class. The problem is, my Polaris experience MAD-IAD was decidedly mediocre. While I agree they’re getting better overall, if UA could ever put their best foot forward consistently, they’d have a really good thing going.
What, No economy class for us poorer people? (I would choose some of the Asian airlines probably for economy class).
I suspect Singapore Airlines would feature heavily in any Economy Top 10 list – as would a number of Far Eastern airlines.
@TonyN:
My best economy class lights of the year? Tough one…
Probably it was EVA from TPE-SIN, followed by Thai from MNL-BKK. My Bangkok Airways flight from REP-BKK was also great. I’m not even sure if I had 10 flights in economy this year.