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Best in Business Travel

Virgin America named best airline for business travel in U.S.

By
Fortune Editors
Fortune Editors
and
Travel + Leisure
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September 10, 2015, 10:00 AM ET
Virgin America Flight
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 12: Passengers on a Virgin America flight to New York stow their bags January 12, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)Robert Nickelsberg—Getty Images

Virgin America claims the top spot among U.S. carriers in the Best in Business Travel survey again this year.

For our second annual survey, Fortune partnered with Travel + Leisure to ask readers about their habits and brand preferences while traveling for work. They named their favorite airlines and rated them using a variety of criteria, including customer service, frequent flier programs, in-flight class experience, food and entertainment options, and airport lounges.

Here’s what’s keeping Virgin America ahead of the competition:

• Two words: live streaming. Satellite wi-fi recently launched on 10 A320s, with more to come. Internet speeds are eight to 10 times faster than any other in-flight system.

• Plush full-size pillows and duvets have spruced up an already standout first-class cabin, complementing the white leather seats and lumbar massagers.

• Its Elevate loyalty program has a “no blackout date” policy—and is a boon for those looking to book on major holidays and during peak travel periods.

• Virgin is the only U.S. airline with on-demand food ordering. Just press a button on the seat-back touch screen, settle in, and wait for your artisanal cheese plate to arrive.

See below for rankings of U.S. airlines by survey categories.

Best U.S. Airlines for Business Travel — Overall

An employee prepares a Virgin America Inc. Airbus A320 plane for take off at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S.

1. Virgin America
2. Alaska Airlines
3. JetBlue Airways
4. Delta Air Lines
5. Southwest Airlines

Best Customer Service

Baggage carts are towed to a Southwest Airlines jet in Little Rock, Arkansas.

1. Virgin America
2. Alaska Airlines
3. Southwest Airlines
4. JetBlue Airways
5. Delta Air Lines

Best Airport Lounges

Travelers relax at the Delta Sky Club in the Delta Air Lines Inc. Terminal D at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, U.S.

1. Delta Air Lines
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines

Best Frequent Flier Program & Alliances

Travelers wait in line at JetBlue Airways Corp.'s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

1. Alaska Airlines
2. Southwest Airlines
3. Virgin America
4. JetBlue Airways
5. American Airlines

Best Economy & Premium Economy In-Flight Experience

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Delta Airlines
5. Southwest Airlines

Best Business & First Class In-Flight Experience

Seats sit in the first-class cabin on board an American Airlines Group Inc. Boeing Co. 777-300ER aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, June 13, 2014. American Airlines inaugurated their Hong Kong-Dallas route this month.

1. Delta Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines

 

For more on Fortune and Travel + Leisure's  Best in Business Travel 2015, visit travelandleisure.com/best-in-business-travel. To see the survey methodology, go here. 

Read: The Best Hotels for Business Travel 2015

Read: The Best International Airlines for Business Travel 2015

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By Travel + Leisure
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