Great customer service, a range of onboard facilities and a smooth journey from check-in to takeoff are just some of the things we'd expect from a top airline flying from the UK. But which are currently making the mark and who may be better off remaining on the runway? We've taken a close look at the airline ratings (out of five stars) from air transport review organisation Skytrax and data about the number of airline complaints from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reveal our ultimate guide, ranked from the worst to best. Read on to discover which airlines you should be booking with in 2019 and those you might want to miss... 

Skytrax's ratings cover key services across all types of tickets and seating for individual airlines, from onboard wi-fi to economy meals, cabin safety information and even the showers in the business class lounges. The rankings also separate long haul and short haul offerings. Starting with the lowest in the rating, TAP's Skytrax rankings firmly placed the Portuguese flag carrier at the lower end of the three-star airlines on our list. The only four-star scores in economy short-haul were for aircrews' attention to cabin safety and speed and timing of service and also for the cabin safety video itself. 

The CAA also noted the airline had a total of 430 complaints per million passengers between April and June 2018. Of these nearly three-quarters (73%) were upheld. Formal grievances only reach the CAA when other channels, including approaching the airline directly, have failed for UK customers.

The second three-star airline on the list, Thomas Cook, achieved a rating in economy class of 4 out of 5 for cabin staff enthusiasm and friendliness, service and attention to safety and the choice of buy onboard food and drink in short haul. In premium class (available on long haul flights) the same score was given for areas including seat comfort and in-flight entertainment. Staff language skills in economy short haul scored just 2 out of 5.

Thomas Cook had 406 complaints per million passengers, with 49% of those upheld and paying out an average of £918 ($1,146) per booking.

Notching up three-stars overall, Ryanair scored four-stars for the quality of its buy-onboard food and drink, attention to cabin safety and priority boarding prices.

Despite a year where Ryanair have been hitting headlines over their changing carry-on baggage policies and prices, the low-cost Irish carrier saw just 319 complains per million passengers. Ryanair paid out £484 ($612) for each booking where a complaint was upheld. 

The low-cost eastern European airline achieved its highest score of 3.5 out of 5 for areas including the following: seat comfort, prices and selection of onboard food and beverages and attention to cabin safety. Potential areas for improvement include pre-ordered food and beverages (1 out of 5) and staff assistance on arrival at Budapest Airport (1.5 out of 5).

However the Hungarian brand scored better than some when it came to formal complaints made to the CAA. The airline was on the receiving end of a total of 190 concerns per million passengers, with 66% of complaints upheld.

Despite a lower overall rating Air Europa managed to impress customers in several areas in economy long haul, including the following which scored 4 out of 5: cabin and seat cleanliness, onboard wi-fi and cabin staff service skills and proficiency. One key area for improvement highlighted was complimentary food and beverages in economy short haul, which each scored just 0.5 out of 5.

Air Europa, Spain's third largest airline, had 156 complaints per million passengers with 71% of claims upheld, ranking it above its low-cost competitor Wizz.

Financial problems, including falling into administration during 2017 and multiple restructures over the years mean it's no surprise the Italian national flag carrier is a three-star airline. But customers scored Alitalia 4 out of 5 for cabin service and safety in economy short haul and for onboard wi-fi and connectivity, comfort items (blanket, pillow etc), cabin temperatures and food and drink on long haul journeys. Staff assistance on arrival and transfer service assistance at Rome Fiumicino airport however each scored just 2.5 out of 5.

And Alitalia had a total of 31 complaints per million passengers, with 75% of those upheld, putting it at 17 on our list.

The economy-only airline achieved a 4 out of 5 rating for its selection and prices of buy-onboard food and beverages, cabin staff service skills and proficiency and cockpit information, hand luggage policy and boarding efficiency. Potential areas for improvement (3 out of 5) include cabin staff service hospitality and interaction with customers.

Based at Exeter airport in the West Country, the airline had a total of 26 complaints per million passengers, with 29% of complaints upheld.

One of loveEXPLORING's favourite airlines thanks to their free stopovers, Icelandair remains an excellent value three-star option. In economy, language skills and safety were praised by customers. Areas for improvement though include washroom amenities (2.5 out of 5) and transfer service assistance (2 out of 5) but it still received an average of 3.5 for its economy offering overall. 

Plus Icelandair only saw a total of just 24 complaints per million passengers, with 75% of complaints upheld.

The Scandinavian airline garnered a 4 out of 5 rating for long-haul areas including the following: cabin staff service skills and proficiency in economy, in-flight entertainment in premium economy and quality of wines and beverages in business class. Scoring just 0.5 out of 5 each were complimentary meals/snacks and complimentary beverages in economy short haul however.

And SAS had just three complaints per million passengers, with 100% of these upheld, making it the highest placed three-star airline on our list.

Norwegian is the first four star airline on our list. The low-cost carrier, with routes around Europe and the USA, achieved 5 out of 5 for its in-flight entertainment and free onboard wi-fi, as well as the website's manage booking function and online check-in options. The lowest score of 3 out of 5 was given for cabin staff interaction in economy. 

However Norwegian had the worst complaint record out of the four-star rated airlines, amassing 526 complaints per million passengers, 72% of which were upheld.

The airline achieved its highest rating of 5 out of 5 for its priority boarding service, staff assistance on arrival, transfer service assistance and comfort items (duvet, pillows, turndown) in first class. Economy saw more of a mix of three and four stars with the long haul seat comfort and wines and washing room amenities among the top scores. 

The airline had 310 complaints per million passengers, with 74% upheld, paying out an average of £500 ($632) per booking.

The airline achieved its highest score of 4.5 out of 5 for attention to cabin safety in economy long haul. It also achieved a score of 4 out of 5 for areas including the following: cabin and seat cleanliness and complimentary beverages in economy short haul and comfort items (duvet, pillows, turndown) and quality of meals served in business class long haul. Scoring 3 out of 5 cabin staff presence and attention in economy long haul is a potential area for improvement.

But KLM Royal Dutch Airlines saw fewer official grievances with 288 complaints per million passengers and 40% of those upheld. That places it just above stablemate Air France, which has been part of the same group after the two big-hitters merged in 2004.

The Spanish carrier achieved a line-up of 4 out of 5 scores in several economy categories ranging from onboard food and beverage prices to washroom cleanliness. But economy complimentary meals and beverages scored just 0.5 out of 5.

The airline had 178 complaints per million passengers, with 78% upheld putting it just inside our top 10 airlines.

It might be known for its budget offering but easyJet continues to impress customers. The airline achieved a 4 out of 5 score for areas including the selection and quality of its buy onboard food and beverages, cabin cleanliness, seat comfort and cabin service staff presence and attention. When it came to online services and information, 4.5 out of 5 scores were given for the carry-on bag allowance (standard fare), online check-in options and easyJet Plus cost & benefits. A potential area for improvement (3.5 out of 5) is staff assistance on arrival at Gatwick Airport.

The Skytrax ratings are also backed up by a good record when it comes to formal complaints. EasyJet had 115 complaints per million passengers, with 82% upheld putting it in ninth place on our list.

A commendable score of 4.5 out of 5 was achieved by Sir Richard Branson's airline in areas such as in-flight entertainment in economy and premium economy as well as premium check-in facilities in business class. A rating of 4 out of 5 was also given for quality consistency among staff in economy, priority boarding options in premium economy and staff service for those using the business class lounge. One area scoring just 3 out of 5 was cabin staffs' language skills in economy.

The airline had 79 complaints per million passengers, with just under half (49%) upheld.

Achieving four stars in all, BA, Britain's flag-carrying airline, achieved a faultless 5 out of 5 for cabin staff service skills and proficiency in both economy and premium economy long haul. An equally impressive score of 4.5 out of 5 was achieved in long haul areas including quantity of food in economy and in-flight entertainment in premium economy, business class and first class. But a disappointing rating of 0.5 out of 5 was given for onboard wi-fi and connectivity in all classes of seating. 

There were a total of 63 complaints per million passengers, and an average payout of £739 ($925) for each booking where a concern was upheld regarding flight cancellations, long delays or those denied boarding.

Checking emails and more must have been a breeze in business class as the airline achieved 5 out of 5 for its onboard wi-fi and connectivity in long haul. The airline also scored 4.5 out of 5 for service hospitality in economy long haul. However complimentary food and beverages scored just 0.5 out of 5 in economy short haul.

The second largest airline in Ireland after Ryanair, Aer Lingus had 31 complaints per million passengers, with just over half (51%) upheld. 

Greece's flag-carrying airline achieved an overall rating of four stars. Aegean scored 4 out of 5 in areas including boarding efficiency, seat comfort and response to customer requests in economy as well as friendliness of staff service and the priority boarding service in business class. Areas for improvement (scoring 3.5 out of 5) included the washroom cleanliness in economy short haul.

The airline had 11 complaints per million passengers, although no information was available on the number of complaints upheld.

In economy the airline impressed by scoring 4 out of 5 in several areas including boarding efficiency and cabin temperatures in long haul. Areas for improvement (with 3 out of 5) in long haul include personalisation of service in business class and enthusiasm and friendliness of staff in economy.

The airline had just six complaints per million passengers and 0% were upheld.

Scoring four-stars overall, the airline scored 4.5 out of 5 in several areas within first class including: cabin and seat cleanliness in long haul and a la carte dining options in the lounge. Several long haul areas also achieved 4 out of 5 ratings including: quality of food served in economy and seat comfort and personal space in business class. A lower 3.5 rating was given for areas including check-in staff service in economy.

It's happy fliers all the way for the airline, which had zero complaints per million passengers. 

Discover 18 of the world's coolest airports here. 

The airline's slogan is "The Charming Way to Fly" and passengers seem to agree. Austrian achieved a 5 out of 5 rating in the following economy class areas: cabin safety information on both long and short haul flights as well as general attention to cabin safety in long haul. They also scored 4 out of 5 for hospitality and in-flight entertainment in economy. One area for improvement (scoring 3.5 out of 5) is cabin staff presence and attention in economy long haul.

A subsidiary of the Lufthansa group (see the next entry) the CAA data on airline complaints for April to June 2018 did not include a separate entry for Austrian Airlines.

Flying in the USA? Find out which domestic airline received the most complaints in 2018 here. 

Heading up our list with a five-star rating is German carrier Lufthansa. The airline scored 4.5 out of 5 for areas such as cabin and seat cleanliness, cabin staff interaction with customers in the economy section of long haul flights and the priority baggage service in business class. Potential areas for slight improvement (scoring 4 out of 5) include baggage delivery times in economy and the quality of in-flight entertainment in both economy and premium economy on long haul flights.

Following on from their impressive Skytrax ratings and reviews, the CAA also reported that there were zero complaints received per million passengers about the German airline. Gold stars all round. 

Now read about the groundbreaking airlines that no longer fly.