Best Airlines for Long Flights: Ultimate Long-Haul Travel Guide

Going on a long-haul trip? Whether you’re flying from India to the United States, Australia, Europe or Latin America, the right choice of airline can make all the difference between arriving refreshed and stepping off the plane exhausted. Every detail matters a huge amount on flights that regularly last anything from 10 to 17 hours – seat comfort, the quality of the food, the entertainment, the service.

To assist Indian travellers in making smart and informed decisions when booking their next international trip, EaseMyTrip has compiled a comprehensive guide to the best airlines for long flights. Business Class luxury to the best Economy options, here’s everything you need to know.

The importance of choosing the right airline for long-haul flights

Long distance travel and short domestic hops are a different ball game. When you are sitting for 12+ hours, legroom, how often you get meals, the variety of entertainment, the cabin air quality, and how attentive the crew are all directly affect your health and well-being when you arrive.

Studies have repeatedly shown that passengers on airlines with better long-haul offerings — wider seats, better humidity levels, quieter cabins — suffer far less from jet lag and fatigue. This can directly impact the productivity of business travellers. For tourists, it determines how soon they can begin to enjoy their destination.

Good choices also mean better value. A little extra fare on a premium carrier generally translates to better meals, more entertainment options and a much more comfortable seat, making the overall experience worth every rupee.

How we rated these airline

The basis of our ranking is:

• Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class comfort and legroom
• In-flight entertainment (IFE) – screen size, library of content, quality of headphones
• Quality of Food and beverage in all classes of cabin
• Cabin crew attentiveness and service
• Reliability & on-time delivery
• Wi-Fi availability and speed
• Value for money: The key consideration for Indian travellers on international routes
• Awards and accolades from the likes of Skytrax and Airline Ratings

1. Singapore Airlines – The Gold Standard of Long-haul Travel

Most travelled routes for Indian tourists: Delhi/Mumbai → Singapore → USA, Australia, Europe, New Zealand

Singapore Airlines is always among the top of the list of world airlines, and for good reason. It is a multi-award winner of the Skytrax World’s Best Airline and is universally acclaimed as the benchmark for airline excellence.

Why Singapore Airlines Is Out Of This World On Long-Haul Flights:

The Business Class Suites on the A380 are arguably the best in commercial aviation – fully enclosed private cabins with a personal wardrobe, 18-inch screen and a proper flat bed. Singapore Airlines offers one of the most generous seat pitches in the industry, even in Economy Class.

The KrisWorld entertainment system is a treat for travellers with hundreds of films, TV shows, music albums and games available on a large touchscreen display. The content is updated on a regular basis and comprises of Bollywood, Hollywood, regional Indian languages and international cinema.

Food is another highlight. Economy meals are well curated and come with Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, a critical plus for Indian travellers. Passengers in Business and First Class have the option to pre-order gourmet dishes from a handpicked menu via the “Book the Cook” programme.

Best for: Travellers who appreciate a high level of service and are headed to Southeast Asia and Australasia or onwards to Europe and North America.

EaseMyTrip Tip: Singapore Airlines often launches promotional fares for metro cities in India. Set fare alert on EaseMyTrip to grab these deals early on.

2. Emirates – The long-haul giant with unbeatable entertainment

Popular routes for Indian travellers: Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai/Bengaluru/Hyderabad » Dubai » USA, UK, Europe, Africa, South America

Emirates is the world’s largest long-haul airline and has one of the world’s largest hub-and-spoke networks from Dubai, making it a very convenient choice for Indian travellers to connect to most of the world.

Why Emirates is special:

The ice (Information, Communication, Entertainment) system is legendary – it is the most extensive IFE library in the industry with over 6,500 channels of entertainment including films, TV series, music, podcasts and live television. The screens are big (13.3 inches on the newer planes) in Economy and noise-cancelling headphones are available in Business and First Class.

Emirates First Class Private Suites on the A380 include a virtual window on windowless middle suites (using real-time cameras), a fully flat bed and an in-suite minibar. One of the iconic features of A380 Business Class is the Onboard Lounge, a social hub for premium passengers.

Economy on Emirates is solid – seats on newer Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offer decent legroom and USB charging ports. The meal service has Indian vegetarian options and regional cuisine and is popular with Indian diaspora travellers.

Best for: Travellers who want a large network, great entertainment and premium cabin products.

EaseMyTrip Tip: Among all international airlines, Emirates offers the most departure points from India – from major metros to Tier-2 cities like Kochi, Ahmedabad and Kozhikode.

3. Qatar Airways – Business Class Award Winning & Economy Standards Rising

Popular routes for Indian travellers: Delhi/Mumbai → Doha → Europe, USA, South America, Africa

Qatar Airways holds more Skytrax World’s Best Airline awards than any other airline, and is widely praised for its Qsuite Business Class, which many claim is the best Business Class product in the sky.

Qatar Airways highlights for long haul:

The Qsuite offers a fully enclosed private cabin with a sliding door, a double bed option when booking adjacent seats (ideal for couples) and a large 21.5 inch 4K touchscreen. It’s a new definition of the Business Class.

Economy Oryx One entertainment system in Qatar offers a large selection of content on a decent-sized screen. The airline has been aggressive in upgrading its fleet with fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s that both offer improved cabin humidity and lower cabin altitude pressure to reduce fatigue on long flights. The seat pitch is competitive.

The food quality is good in all the cabins and there are options for Indian meals and special meals which can be pre-selected through their website or EaseMyTrip.

Best for: Business and premium travellers, couples travelling together on long-haul routes and transiting through the Middle East to Europe or the Americas.

4. Air India — India’s Own Flag Carrier Steps Up

Popular routes for Indian travellers are Delhi/Mumbai → New York, London, San Francisco, Melbourne, Toronto, Chicago

Air India has changed under the ownership of the Tata Group. Its fleet of wide-bodied aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 777s, now link Indian cities to major global destinations non-stop, removing the need for a transit stop.

Why Air India is in this list:

The biggest advantage of flying Air India on long-haul routes is the non-stop connectivity – the airline flies some of the longest non-stop routes in the world from India, including Delhi to San Francisco and Delhi to Melbourne. This translates to no layovers, no transit visa and a dramatically reduced travel time for Indian travellers.

Refurbished aircraft offer lie-flat beds in Business Class and a revamped entertainment system. The airline has come a long way in terms of its Economy seat and cabin crew service standards since Tata took over.

Food is also a particular strength – the Indian cuisine on board is prepared to a high standard, with regional meal options, and the bread basket in Business Class has become something of a talking point. Special meals (Jain, diabetic, low-sodium) are available and can be pre-selected with ease.

Best for: Indian travellers who want a non-stop experience, familiar food and Hindi-speaking crew on long-haul routes.

EaseMyTrip Tip: As the national carrier of India, Air India has special fares that are usually listed only on Indian booking platforms. EaseMyTrip offers the best prices for Air India long-haul routes.

5. Lufthansa — European Precision and Reliability

Popular routes for Indian travellers: Delhi/Mumbai - Frankfurt/Munich - USA, Canada, Latin America and all over Europe

One of Europe’s most reliable and premium long-haul airlines, Germany’s flagship airline Lufthansa. It is an excellent option for Indian travellers bound for continental Europe, North America and beyond with Frankfurt and Munich as efficient European hubs.

What makes Lufthansa special:

Lufthansa Business Class on long haul routes features direct aisle access for all seats, wide lie flat beds and a good selection of European and Indian cuisine. On selected routes, the First Class product is one of the best in the world, with personalised service and superb wine and champagne lists.

Lufthansa offers a solid, if not amazing, experience in Economy. The seat pitch is good on Airbus A350 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The entertainment system has a wide range of content and the crew is efficient and professional.

Lufthansa has one of the best on-time records in the industry, which is critical if you’re connecting to other flights or need to get to important meetings upon arrival.

Best for: Travellers to Germany, central Europe or using Frankfurt/Munich as a hub for connections onwards.

6. Cathay Pacific—On the Right Track

Routes popular with Indian travellers: Delhi/Mumbai - Hong Kong - Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Japan

Hong Kong’s flagship carrier is back in a big way after a rough patch, and is once again offering the premium long-haul experience it was long known for.

Cathay Pacific’s advantages:

The airline’s Business Class is a benchmark product — fully flat bed in a 1-2-1 configuration (with direct aisle access for every seat), a large entertainment screen and meticulous crew service reflecting the service culture of Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific’s economy class is particularly comfortable – the seat widths are generous and the entertainment system boasts a solid content library. The food is much better and has Chinese, international and Indian meal choices.

Cathay Pacific’s modern, fuel-efficient fleet (primarily Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s) offers the lower altitude pressure and higher humidity that go a long way toward alleviating long-haul fatigue.

Best for: Indian travellers transiting through Hong Kong en route to Australia, East Asia or North America.

7. Turkish Airlines – Best Value Premium Long-Haul Experience

Indian travellers’ favourite routes: Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai to Europe, USA, Africa & Latin America via Istanbul

Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to more countries than any other in the world, utilises the stunning new Istanbul airport as its hub. “It is one of the best value propositions for Indian travellers on long-haul routes.

Strengths of Turkish Airlines long-haul:

The Business Class product – the Business Class Flat Bed – is very good value, with fully flat beds and great Turkish cuisine that wins awards on a regular basis. All cabins on board serve truly excellent food and Turkish Airlines is known to have some of the best in-flight meals in the world, a feat that is a reflection of the country’s rich culinary heritage.

Economy Class has generous legroom compared to many competitors and the entertainment system has a strong range of Turkish, Hollywood and Bollywood content. Crew is friendly and attentive.”

Istanbul’s new airport is a world-class transit hub with great facilities. Layovers are genuinely pleasant.

Best for: Budget-conscious travellers who want a premium experience, and those going to Europe, Africa or the Americas.

EaseMyTrip Tip: Turkish Airlines often offers some of the best deals from Indian cities, especially for flights to Europe. Compare on EaseMyTrip to get the best deals.

8. ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Japanese Stealth Luxury and Precision

Top routes for Indian Travellers: Delhi→Tokyo→USA, Australia & South East Asia

ANA (All Nippon Airways) is Japan’s largest airline and is the very embodiment of the famous Japanese concept of omotenashi, or wholehearted hospitality. It is a Skytrax 5-Star airline and is regularly ranked among the best in the world.

Long-haul: Why ANA is special for:

ANA Business Class “The Room,” on select routes on the Boeing 777-9, means full-height walls, a door to yourself, and a true hotel-like experience. The standard Business Class on the 787 Dreamliner fleet is also great.

ANA boasts one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world, with heavy use of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The aircraft is widely considered the most comfortable for long-haul travel due to higher cabin pressure and better air quality.

Attention to detail in food, service and cabin cleanliness is second to none. Special meals can be served if you tell us beforehand.

Best for: Travellers flying to Japan or continuing on to North America and Australia via Tokyo.

How to Pick the Best Airline for Your Long-Haul Flight

Think about the Aircraft Type

Composite fuselage materials in Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s allow for greater cabin humidity and a lower cabin altitude, typically about 6,000 feet compared with 8,000 feet on older planes. This is a great relief for dehydration and fatigue on very long flights. If you are comparing airlines, check which aircraft is used on your particular route.

Compare Seat Width and Pitch

Economy seat pitch should be more than 31 inches and seat width more than 17 inches. Premium Economy offers a lot more comfort for a moderate price premium – well worth considering on flights over 10 hours.

Choose Your Meals Ahead of Time

All these airlines also let you pre-select special meals like Indian vegetarian (AVML), Jain (VJML), Hindu non-vegetarian (HNML) and others. You should do this when booking or at least 24 hours before departure for the best experience.

Book in advance for best seats

Exit rows and bulkhead rows (preferred rows) go fast. Aisle and window seats also go fast. If you are travelling on a popular route with widebody aircraft, these seats are best booked early.

Price Compare using EaseMyTrip

Long-haul fares can vary dramatically between airlines and booking dates. EaseMyTrip’s search and fare alert tools help you compare prices across all the airlines mentioned above, track fare trends and book at the optimal time.

Final Conclusion: Which airline is the best choice for your long-haul flight?

There isn’t one airline that’s best for all travellers; the best one for you depends on your route, budget and priorities. Here's a quick guide to:

• Singapore Airlines - For overall excellence and service.
• Emirates: Entertainment and widest network from India.
• Qatar Airways (Qsuite) - For the best Business Class.
• Air India - Direct flights from India.
• Turkish Airlines - Value and great food.
• ANA or Cathay Pacific - Japan & East Asia connections.
• Lufthansa - European precision and reliability.

Whatever your destination may be, EaseMyTrip makes it easy for you to compare fares, seat options and baggage policies across all these airlines at one place. Book your next long-haul flight with confidence – and arrive at your destination ready to explore.

Book your long haul flight today with EaseMyTrip and compare fares on all the top airlines of the world. And our fare alert feature means you’ll never miss out on a great deal on international travel.