He or she who travels on business knows both the cost of inefficiency and the value of small comforts.
With roughly 100,000 commercial flights taking off each day, hotel rooms shrinking to protect profits, and loyalty programs designed to compensate, and AI attempting to optimize the choice of every route and stay, business travel has never been more… unforgiving.
We consulted top industry sources to help you travel comfortably.
Most On-time Airlines in the World
Aviation analytics company Cirium crowns Mexican airline Aeromexico the most on-time global airline of 2024 in its annual report.
Global leaders
- Aeromexico: world’s most punctual airline
Saudia: second place - Delta Air Lines: third place
On-time arrivals and departures: Aeromexico (86.7% / 87.7%), Saudia (86.4% / 88.8%), Delta (83.5% / 83.7%).
Regional champions:
- Latin America: Copa Airlines
- North America: Delta Air Lines
- Europe: Iberia Express (also the best low-cost airline)
- Asia-Pacific: Japan Airlines
- Middle East & Africa: FlySafair
On-time arrivals and departures: Aeromexico (86.7% / 87.7%), Saudia (86.4% / 88.8%), Delta (83.5% / 83.7%), LATAM (82.9% / 83.2%), Qatar Airways (82.8% / 82.6%).
Small Mercies that Matter in the Air
Punctuality is great. Upgrades are good. The more, the merrier. Here’s what to be on the lookout for when flying.
Early departures: Morning flights face fewer delays and leave more daylight to recover if schedules slip.
Non-stops: Every connection adds a potential failure point; on time-critical trips, consider paying a small premium to remove the weakest link.
Connection buffer: Create slack at congested hubs; a modest cushion is cheaper than a missed meeting and an overnight stay.
Aircraft type: Newer cabins mean quieter rides, better pressurisation and humidity; 2–2 or 2–3 layouts reduce the middle-seat tax.
Seat strategy: Opt for an aisle seat near the front for a swift exit; consider exit rows for extra legroom; avoid the last rows, bulkhead galley/lavatory zones, and windows that are not aligned properly.
Bin security: Priority boarding or forward seats protect overhead space; gate-checking is friction you’ll pay for on arrival.
Power and connectivity: In-seat power and stable gate-to-gate Wi-Fi keep work moving; use a VPN and two-factor authentication on public networks. With reliable bandwidth, you don’t need to decide what to watch in advance—stream, sync, and join calls as you go. Where permitted by law and corporate policy, it also enables online entertainment, whether it be mainstream mobile titles or an international online casino platform such as Videoslots. That choice is yours, but the option is there.
Quiet zones: Distance from galleys and lavatories buys focus; bulkheads help with elbow room, not with foot space.
Airline app: Live gate alerts, same-day changes, and baggage tracking compress decision time when disruption hits.
Lounge proximity: Showers, quiet desks, and a gate nearby convert dead time into prep time; food here beats terminal queues.
Fast-track lanes: Priority security and trusted-traveller schemes reduce variance, the prime enemy of tight agendas.
Top Performing Airports
Here are the airports whose relentless discipline kept global aviation moving on time in 2024.
- Global leader: Riyadh King Khalid International (RUH)
- Latin America: Lima Jorge Chávez International (LIM)
- North America: Mexico City Benito Juárez International (MEX)
- United States standout: Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- South America: Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL)
On-time arrivals and departures: Riyadh (81.8% / 86.7%), Lima (78.6% / 84.6%), Mexico City (84.8% / 84.0%), Salt Lake City (84.8% / 83.8%), Santiago (78.5% / 82.8%).
Leading Hotel Loyalty Programmes
A hotel stay is rarely about leisure, not for those traveling in service. It is about reliability, predictability, and the occasional upgrade that justifies the loyalty points collected along the way.
Here are the best hotel loyalty programmes in the world, based on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 editorial evaluation of major hotel groups’ loyalty programmes.
World of Hyatt: Milestone Rewards with confirmed suite upgrades, strong late checkout at the top tier, “Guest of Honor” to share elite perks, and good off-peak redemption value.
Marriott Bonvoy: Vast footprint and corporate coverage, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at higher tiers (exceptions apply), lounges, Annual Choice Benefits, faster earnings via co-branded cards.
Hilton Honors: Straightforward elite ladder, “fifth night free” on reward stays, solid lounge, and upgrade recognition at Diamond Tier.
Choice Privileges: Low point prices in midscale segments, wide secondary-market coverage, practical perks for road-warriors outside major hubs.
Wyndham Rewards: Simple three-band award chart with no blackout dates, quick path to elite, useful upgrades, and status gifting at the top tier.
Accor Live Limitless (ALL): Broad global reach from luxury to midscale, clear tier benefits including lounge access at higher levels, strong event and partner tie-ins.
GHA Discovery: Cash-like “Discovery Dollars” usable without blackout dates, meaningful on-property recognition, good for independent luxury and regional brands.
Brilliant by Langham: High-touch recognition, upgrades, and late checkout at upper tiers, integrated dining benefits across a smaller but premium footprint.