With “90s core” and the quest for a 1990s childhood trending on social media, those same nostalgic twinges have touched travel — further proving just what an important segment millennials are to the travel industry and making it the perfect time to announce the winners of our 2026 The Trazees, now in its 12th year. Trazee Travel is the resource for travelers aged 25–45 for the latest in travel and a sister web publication to Global Traveler. Readers selected their favorites in the world of travel during the voting period. Congratulations to all the incredible winners this year!
PHOTO: © UNTIED AIRLINES
The award-winning journey takes off with United Airlines, this year’s Favorite International Airline. The airline also wins its ninth Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program title for its MileagePlus program. The Boeing 787 soars to new heights with its second Favorite Aircraft Type win.
Alaska Airlines’ alaskaair.com wins its third Favorite Airline Website nod. Airline alliance oneworld receives Quint Status as it takes its fifth Favorite Airline Alliance nod. A winner earns Quint Status when it takes its fifth consecutive win in the same category.
Let’s congratulate the carriers best in their respective regions, including Air Canada as Favorite Airline in North America. Others include LATAM Airlines, Favorite Airline in South/ Central America; TAP Air Portugal, Favorite Airline in Europe, ninth consecutive year; Ethiopian Airlines, Favorite Airline in Africa; Etihad Airways, Favorite Airline in the Middle East, three years running; Korean Air, Favorite Airline in Asia for the second consecutive year; and Aeromexico, Favorite Airline in Mexico, seventh consecutive year. Delta Air Lines picks up its fifth Favorite Airline App win (Quint Status!), and Condor Airlines makes its debut as Favorite Green Airline.
Premium economy class grows more and more popular every year; here’s a look at the airlines delivering the best experiences around the globe in 2026: Korean Air, Favorite Premium Economy Class, Asia; Virgin Atlantic Airways, Favorite Premium Economy Class, Europe, for the second consecutive year; avianca, Favorite Premium Economy Class, South/Central America, two years running; and Delta Air Lines as Favorite Premium Economy Class, United States, for the fourth year.
PHOTO: © SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT
Where to next? Airports, of course! These winners aim to deliver a pleasant and efficient experience at the airport every time. iGA İstanbul Airport takes two awards: Favorite Overall Airport in the World for the fifth consecutive year, and entry into Quint Status, and Favorite Airport in Europe for the third time. Also securing two wins: Singapore Changi Airport, Favorite Airport in Asia and two-time Favorite Duty-Free Shopping. Ditto for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Favorite Airport in North America, second consecutive year, and a seven-time winner for Favorite Airport Dining. Hamad International Airport takes its fifth win — and Quint Status — for Favorite Airport in the Middle East. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport claims Favorite Airport in South/Central America for the eighth consecutive year. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport gets the nod for Favorite Airport Shopping.
PHOTO: © MARIAKRAY | DREAMSTIME.COM
Now for the hotels. Excellence Punta Cana takes top honors as Favorite Individual Hotel. It’s four for Marriott Hotels & Resorts, winning Favorite Hotel Chain, Favorite Hotel Website for marriott.com for the fifth consecutive year and Quint Status, and its second Favorite Hotel App. Marriott Bonvoy wins its sixth Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World. No. 1 for Favorite Lifestyle Hotel Chain: Andaz. Six Senses is named Favorite Hotel Chain in Asia, while Waldorf Astoria wins Favorite Hotel Chain in Europe; Fiesta Americana Travelty, a 12th win for Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico; Jumeirah International two-time Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East; RIU Hotels & Resorts, Favorite Hotel Chain in South/Central America, two years running; and Element Hotels, Favorite Green Hotel, second consecutive year.
PHOTO: © VALENTIN M ARMIANU | DREAMSTIME
Where to go? Greece is named Favorite Country for the seventh consecutive year, and Seoul goes Quint Status as Favorite Worldwide City for the fifth year in a row. Turks and Caicos snags the Favorite Honeymoon Destination designation for the second year in a row. Taiwan is Favorite Adventure Destination, four years running; Austin, Texas, returns to the list with its Favorite Foodie City honor. San Antonio, Texas, takes Friendliest City honors from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
When the beach calls, here are the spots that answer: Nantucket, Massachusetts, Favorite Beach Town, Northeast United States, for the third consecutive year; Cocoa Beach, Favorite Beach Town, Florida East, for the second consecutive year; Key West, Favorite Beach Town, Florida West; Santa Monica, California, Favorite Beach Town, West Coast United States, second year in a row; Waikīkī, O‘ahu, Favorite Beach Town, Hawai‘i.
PHOTO: © VIRGIN VOYAGES
Last, but certainly not least, here are the final honorees in the 2026 The Trazees awards: Hertz, Favorite Car Rental Company, second consecutive year; Abercrombie & Kent, Favorite Tour Operator, two years in a row; Samsonite, Favorite Luggage Brand, three years running; United Explorer Card, Favorite Credit Card; Capital One Venture X, Favorite Credit Card Design; Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card, two-time Favorite Cruise Line Credit Card; and Virgin Voyages, Favorite Cruise Line.
THE PROCESS
Trazeetravel.com conducted a survey of its readers Sept. 20, 2025–April 30, 2026, with open-ended questions for the best in many categories important to the millennial travel market (under 45 years of age). This survey was conducted at trazeetravel.com/the-trazees and emailed during the period in question. Only those questionnaires where more than 50 percent of the questions were completed were counted. Those with less than 50 percent answered were discarded. Submissions by employees of the magazine or individuals associated with the travel industry were not accepted.
Favorite International Airline
1. United Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. Condor Airlines
4. Etihad Airways
5. Qatar Airways
Favorite Airline Alliance
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam
Favorite Aircraft Type
1. Boeing 787
2. Boeing 777
3. Airbus A320neo
4. Embraer E175
5. Boeing 767
Favorite Airline Website
1. alaskaair.com
2. united.com
3. delta.com
4. condor.com
5. ba.com
Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program
1. United MileagePlus
2. Delta SkyMiles
3. Atmos Rewards
4. JetBlue TrueBlue
5. American Airlines AAdvantage
Favorite Airline in Africa
1. Ethiopian Airlines
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. Air Seychelles
4. Kenya Airways
5. Air Mauritius
Favorite Airline in Asia
1. Korean Air
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. EVA Air
4. Singapore Airlines
5. STARLUX Airlines
Favorite Airline in Europe
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. Condor Airlines
3. Turkish Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic Airways
Favorite Airline in Mexico
1. Aeromexico
2. Viva Aerobus
3. Volaris
4. AeroMar
Favorite Airline in the Middle East
1. Etihad Airways
2. Qatar Airways
3. Emirates
4. Saudi Arabian Airlines
5. Gulf Air
Favorite Airline in North America
1. Air Canada
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Alaska Airlines
5. American Airlines
Favorite Airline in South/ Central America
1. LATAM Airlines
2. avianca
3. Aeromexico
4. Copa Airlines
5. Aerolineas Argentinas
Favorite Green Airline
1. Condor Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Etihad Airways
5. Lufthansa
Favorite Airline App
1. Delta Air Lines
2. Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
Favorite Premium Economy Class, Asia
1. Korean Air
2. Air New Zealand
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. China Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
Favorite Premium Economy Class, Europe
1. Virgin Atlantic Airways
2. Finnair
3. Condor Airlines
4. Air France
5. KLM
Favorite Premium Economy Class, South/Central America
1. avianca
2. LATAM Airlines
3. Copa Airlines
4. Aeromexico
5. Azul
Favorite Premium Economy Class, United States
1. Delta Air Lines
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines
4. JetBlue
5. Alaska Airlines
Favorite Overall Airport in the World
1. iGA İstanbul Airport
2. Hamad International Airport
3. Incheon Airport
4. Singapore Changi Airport
5. San Francisco International Airport
Favorite Airport in Asia
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Incheon Airport
3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
4. Kansai International Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
Favorite Airport in Europe
1. iGA İstanbul Airport
2. Vienna International Airport
3. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
4. London Heathrow
5. Munich Airport
Favorite Airport in North America
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
4. Orlando International Airport
5. Pittsburgh International Airport
Favorite Airport in the Middle East
1. Hamad International Airport
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Bahrain International Airport
4. King Khalid International Airport
5. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport
Favorite Airport in South/Central America
1. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport
2. Medellín José Maria Córdova International Airport
3. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
4. Jorge Chávez International Airport
5. Quito International Airport
Favorite Airport Dining
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Hamad International Airport
4. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
5. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Favorite Airport Shopping
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
3. Incheon Airport
4. Miami International Airport
5. Hamad International Airport
Favorite Duty-Free Shopping
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Dubai Duty Free
3. iGA İstanbul Airport
4. Hamad International Airport
5. Incheon Airport
Favorite Individual Hotel
1. Excellence Punta Cana
2. The Betsy, South Beach
3. W South Beach Miami
4. Nemacolin
5. The Thompson Nashville
Favorite Hotel Chain
1. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Canopy by Hilton
4. Curio Collection by Hilton
5. EVEN by IHG
Favorite Lifestyle Hotel Chain
1. Andaz
2. Moxy Hotels
3. Element
4. Autograph Collection Hotels
5. W Hotels
Favorite Hotel Website
1. marriott.com
2. ihg.com
3. hilton.com
4. sonesta.com
5. andaz.com
Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. IHG One Rewards
3. Le Club Accor
4. Hilton Honors
5. Loews First
Favorite Hotel Chain in Asia
1. Six Senses
2. Oberoi Hotels
3. Aman Resorts, Hotels & Residences
4. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
5. Taj Hotels
Favorite Hotel Chain in Europe
1. Waldorf Astoria
2. Mandarin Oriental
3. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
4. Red Carnation Hotel Collection
5. Park Hyatt
Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico
1. Fiesta Americana Travelty
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Live Aqua
4. RIU Hotels & Resorts
5. Barceló Hotels & Resorts
Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East
1. Jumeirah International
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Favorite Hotel Chain in South/ Central America
1. RIU Hotels & Resorts
2. Sheraton Latin America
3. Fiesta Americana Travelty
4. Westin Hotels & Resorts
5. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Favorite Green Hotel
1. Element Hotels
2. Aloft
3. Hilton Hotels
4. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
5. Six Senses
Favorite Hotel App
1. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
2. Hyatt
3. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
4. Hilton Hotels
5. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Favorite Country
1. Greece
2. Ireland
3. Spain
4. India
5. South Africa
Favorite Worldwide City
1. Seoul
2. Dublin
3. Hong Kong
4. London
5. Athens
Favorite Honeymoon Destination
1. Turks and Caicos
2. Bermuda
3. Fiji
4. Tahiti
5. Aruba
Favorite Adventure Destination
1. Taiwan
2. Türkiye
3. Austria
4. New Zealand
5. India
Favorite Foodie City
1. Austin, Texas
2. Savannah, Georgia
3. Asheville, North Carolina
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Friendliest City
1. San Antonio, Texas
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Charleston, South Carolina
4. Savannah, Georgia
5. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Favorite Beach Town, Northeast United States
1. Nantucket, Massachusetts
2. Mystic, Connecticut
3. Provincetown, Massachusetts
4. Kennebunkport, Maine
5. Edgartown, Massachusetts
Favorite Beach Town, Florida East
1. Cocoa Beach
2. Fort Lauderdale
3. Amelia Island
4. West Palm Beach
5. Jacksonville
Favorite Beach Town, Florida West
1. Key West
2. Tampa Bay
3. Sarasota
4. Marco Island
5. Venice
Favorite Beach Town, West Coast United States
1. Santa Monica, California
2. Laguna Beach, California
3. Monterey, California
4. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
5. Half Moon Bay, California
Favorite Beach Town, Hawai‘i
1. Waikīkī, O‘ahu
2. Kaimukī, O‘ahu
3. Lahaina, Maui
4. Hilo, Big Island
5. Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Favorite Rental Car Company
1. Hertz
2. Avis
3. SIXT
4. National Car Rental
5. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Favorite Tour Operator
1. Abercrombie & Kent
2. G Adventures
3. GOWAY
4. Red Savannah
5. Kuoni
Favorite Luggage Brand
1. Samsonite
2. Travelpro
3. Briggs & Riley
4. Away
5. Tumi
Favorite Credit Card
1. United Explorer Card
2. Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
3. Capital One Venture X
4. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express
5. Escape by Discover
Favorite Credit Card Design
1. Capital One Venture X
2. Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
3. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase
4. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
5. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Favorite Cruise Line Credit Card
1. Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card
2. Royal Caribbean Bank of America Visa
3. Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card
4. Disney Premier Visa from Chase
5. Carnival World Mastercard
Favorite Cruise Line
1. Virgin Voyages
2. Scenic
3. Princess Cruises
4. Paul Gauguin Cruises
5. MSC Cruises
QUINT STATUS
Fifth Consecutive Year
Quint Status celebrates those companies winning the same award for five consecutive years. Congratulations to this year’s five-peat honorees!
Favorite Airline Alliance
oneworld
Favorite Airline App
Delta Air Lines
Favorite Overall Airport in the World
iGA İstanbul Airport
Favorite Airport in the Middle East
Hamad International Airport
Favorite Hotel Website
marriott.com
Favorite Worldwide City
Seoul
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