It’s difficult to find a traveler who thinks always-congested JFK is the best airport in the country or that always-late American Airlines is the top air carrier — let alone a competent travel agent.
But not according to the World Travel Awards, which has given JFK and American its top honors. What’s more, it claims the accolades are determined by travel agents, although the organizers don’t reveal the exact number of ballots or their methodology.
I wrote about the World Travel Awards several years ago when I investigated travel industry awards. At the time, I concluded that they were the most questionable of the group.
But perhaps the harshest criticism was reserved for the World Travel Awards, an industry accolade with a shady reputation and an abundance of detractors. As one source close to the awards told me, “The winners were pre-determined. They never bothered to explain their methodology. They never counted a vote.”
Readers share my skepticism. In comments on the Dallas Morning News aviation blog, several travelers criticized the award.
How can American Airlines win any kind of award when they sit at the bottom of all the surveys in customer service and other services. Sounds like AA paid someone to put them at the top to me.
Another reader suggested the award is meaningless.
This award for American Airlines casts a huge credibility cloud on the issuer. Their customer service, even for their most frequent travelers, is deplorable. If I treated my customers the way I’m treated by AA, I would have no customers left. But they have a monopoly out of Dallas because of the Wright Amendment, which they leverage to the max. Once its lifted in 2014, they will be in big trouble, as Southwest will win away a large percentage of American’s business travelers.
The biggest problem I have with the World Travel Awards — apart from the fact that they’re complete nonsense — is that its organizers pin it all on travel agents.
I wonder what travel agents have to say about this year’s list of winners …
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Isn’t this like United being a finalist for an award for achievement in excellence in customer service?
FYI
For JFK to receive any award except WORSE North American airport clearly shows the travesty of these “awards”. Wonder if it based on a “pay to play” basis or who has the nicest tuxedo or gown for the award dinner?
In that JFK is the “gateway” to the US for foreign visitors it is an embarrassment to the entire country. JFK is not only the worst airport in the US, it is one of the worst in the world.
I frequently travel into and through other countries’ gateway airports such as Chiangi (Singapore), Chap Lek Kok (Hong Kong), Incheon (Seoul), and Pu Dong (Shanghai). JFK is not even close to these airports based on any criteria which matters to travelers.
The airlines put up with JFK, because the have little choice. I do have a choice and my travel agent knows not to route me through JFK after the last delay fiasco I went through there (flight delayed 9 hours).
Any award for JFK is a sham.
It’s like giving the current Administration the award for “Best Iraqi Redevelopment Program.” Aside from gaining pats on the back from the awarder and the awardee, there’s no credibility with the general public.