Our Airline Rating System: From 1 to 10

At Milesopedia, we have chosen a rating scale from 1 to 10 to evaluate airlines in a nuanced and comprehensive way. This approach aims to offer sufficient perspective to discern qualitative variations between different airlines, helping travellers make informed choices.

Why a Scale From 1 to 10?

A scale of 1 to 10 provides greater precision in the evaluation of airlines than a 5-star system.

It offers a more refined ability to distinguish between services, taking into account the subtleties that exist between apparently similar companies.

For example, two airlines could receive 4 stars in a traditional system, although there are marked differences in seat comfort, service quality or other specific criteria.

A scale of 1 to 10 helps us to better understand these distinctions and provide a more accurate assessment.

How Does Our Rating System Work?

Each airline is evaluated according to rigorously defined criteria, enabling a multi-dimensional analysis of the flight experience:

Seating comfort: This critera includes legroom, seat inclination, material quality and cabin configuration. A score of 1 indicates a notable absence of comfort, while a score of 10 indicates an exceptional level of comfort, equivalent to a top-tier business class.
Onboard service: The onboard service rating takes into account the quality and variety of meals and beverages, as well as the attitude and responsiveness of the cabin crew. Very limited service would score 1, while a score of 10 reflects exemplary service, characterized by attention to detail and personalized interaction.
In-flight entertainment: The diversity and quality of entertainment options, such as movies, music, games, and Wi-Fi access, are considered. A score of 1 means a virtually non-existent service, while a score of 10 reflects a comprehensive, modern package, with an intuitive user interface.
Punctuality: The company’s ability to keep to its advertised schedules is a crucial aspect of passenger satisfaction. A score of 1 reflects frequent and prolonged delays, while a score of 10 indicates exemplary punctuality, with minimal disruption.
Baggage management: This criteria looks at the speed and safety of baggage handling, as well as the rate of loss or delay. A score of 1 indicates recurring problems, while a score of 10 indicates efficient, incident-free baggage handling, with optimized retrieval processes.
Value for money: The value for money rating considers the value of the service provided in relation to the cost of the ticket. A score of 1 indicates that the service does not justify the cost, while a score of 10 means that the experience provided far exceeds expectations for the fare paid.

For each criterion, we assign a score from 1 to 10, then calculate an overall average that reflects the airline’s overall performance. Our detailed comments accompany these scores to provide an explanation of strengths and areas for improvement.

A Rating System to Help You Choose

Our 10-point rating system enables travellers to make more informed choices based on their personal priorities. For example, if seat comfort is your main selection criteria, our rating will enable you to easily identify the airlines that stand out in this area.

These distinctions will help you compare airlines more accurately, and align your choices more cohesively with your travel style.

It is important to note that not all airlines are positioned the same way in the market.

Some are high-end airlines offering exclusive services, while others are low-cost airlines focused on the essentials, with no extra frills.

As a result, our expectations must be adapted to the type of company we choose.

For example, low-cost airlines may offer less comfortable seats and limited meal options, but they often offer excellent value for money.

Conversely, high-end airlines seek to offer a more luxurious experience with superior comfort and services.

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Moreover, frequent flyer status also influences the flying experience.

Travellers with a high status in a loyalty program can benefit from numerous advantages, such as upgrades, access to airport lounges or priority treatment.

These advantages have a significant influence on the overall experience, and can have an impact on the general perception of an airline. It is therefore essential to take these aspects into account when evaluating an airline.

However, each evaluation is partly influenced by the author’s subjectivity.

For example, a passenger for whom punctuality is a priority might give a company a high rating for its reliability in keeping to their schedule, while another might place more value on comfort or on-board services.

If you find that an author closely shares your preferences, it can be useful to consult their other reviews to get a perspective that is aligned with your expectations.

In addition, certain external circumstances such as strikes, weather conditions or delays beyond the company’s control may have an impact on the rating.

We make every effort to point out these circumstances in our reviews, to give you a complete picture of the factors that may have influenced the flying experience.

Experience-Based Assessment

All our evaluations are based on direct, real-life flight experiences. We are committed to rigorously analyzing every aspect of the airline service, to provide you with objective, reliable, and useful information for planning your next trip.

Please feel free to read our reviews and share your comments to enrich Milesopedia’s community of travellers.