---
title: "Ranking Methodology | FlightLogic"
description: "How FlightLogic rates airlines, airports, lounges and hotels: scoring rubrics, Verified Utility Index, verification rules, and independence policy."
url: https://flightlogic.co.uk/methodology/
source: FlightLogic (flightlogic.co.uk)
licence: "Content © Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd. Cite the URL above and the page author."
---

*Links marked * may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not provide financial advice. How we make money .*

# How We Rate & Verify

Transparent, independent, falsifiable methodology. Airlines, hotels and card issuers cannot pay for higher rankings or review removal. Last updated August 5, 2026.

FlightLogic scores airlines on a 0–10 composite of six weighted categories — service, seats, food, entertainment, punctuality, and value — with safety scored separately from IOSA and incident-history data. Airports are rated on three pillars with a separate lounge score, all assessed by named editors.

## Overall Score Formula

The FlightLogic composite score (0–10) is a weighted average of six passenger-experience categories, assessed editorially by named editors from firsthand flights and independent public data. Category assessments older than 24 months are re-tested before an airline's score is refreshed.

- Customer Service — 20%
- Seat Comfort — 20%
- Food & Beverage — 15%
- In-Flight Entertainment — 10%
- On-Time Performance — 20%
- Value for Money — 15%

## How Rank Is Set

Rank is derived from the overall score, not assigned separately. The rated airlines are ordered by their composite score; where two share a score, the higher safety score ranks first, and where those also tie, alphabetically. Rank is therefore a restatement of the published score — it can never contradict it, and no airline can be moved up or down without its category assessments changing first.

Ranks cover the airlines we have scored in full. Carriers in the [A–Z directory](https://flightlogic.co.uk/airlines/) without a FlightLogic score are unranked entity listings, not low-ranked airlines.

## Safety Score

Safety scores (0–10) are independent of passenger experience ratings. Factors include IOSA certification, fatal accident history (10-year lookback), fleet age, regulatory compliance, and pilot training standards.

## Star Ratings — Exact Thresholds

Star ratings are deliberately falsifiable — an airline qualifies only if it meets every condition, not just the score average:

- **5-Star:** Overall score 8.5+ *and* safety score above 9.0.
- **4-Star:** Overall score 7.0–8.4, regardless of safety tier above 7.0.
- **3-Star:** Overall score below 7.0, *or* safety score below 7.0 pending additional review.

## Airport Scoring Methodology

FlightLogic airport scores (0–10) evaluate the passenger experience at major hubs using three weighted pillars, plus a separate lounge quality score that does not affect the overall airport rating.

- **On-Time Performance** — Departure reliability from OAG punctuality data and passenger-reported delay experiences
- **Passenger Experience** — Staff helpfulness, immigration and security queue times, cleanliness, signage, and wayfinding
- **Facilities & Comfort** — Dining and retail quality, seating availability, Wi-Fi, charging, and terminal amenities
- **Lounge Score (separate)** — Quality of airline and independent lounges, scored from editorial reviews and passenger submissions

Airport guides include Quick Answer summaries, terminal layouts, transport links, lounge access details, and region-specific FAQs (e.g. UK261 compensation for UK airports). Compare any two rated airports at [/airports/compare](https://flightlogic.co.uk/airports/compare/).

## Productivity, Catering & Ground Transit (UK Professional Criteria)

For UK professionals on long-haul routes to the Gulf and Asia, FlightLogic publishes objective productivity metrics beyond “Wi-Fi available”: measured or editorially verified download speeds (Mbps), quiet-zone enforcement, cabin/lounge hygiene scores (0–10), and power at seat.

- **In-flight & lounge Wi-Fi** — Speed in Mbps, video-call readiness, and whether streaming requires a paid tier
- **Quiet zones** — Strict, moderate, or informal enforcement for deep work (Qsuite doors, lounge quiet rooms, phone-free spa areas)
- **Premium catering & dietary** — Buffet vs à la carte highlights (sushi, lobster, smoked salmon) and reliability of halal, vegan, no-pork, or pre-ordered special meals
- **Ground transit handoffs** — Terminal-specific Uber/Bolt pick-up zones at LHR, LGW, and MAN; Careem/Grab equivalents on arrival at DXB, DOH, and SIN

These fields appear on [airport guides](https://flightlogic.co.uk/airports/heathrow/), rated [airline profiles](https://flightlogic.co.uk/airlines/british-airways/), and flight/lounge [editorial reviews](https://flightlogic.co.uk/reviews/flights/) where we have firsthand measurements.

## Verified Utility Index (VUI)

The Verified Utility Index scores practical friction — not vague star ratings — on five pillars derived from hands-on editorial audits, not marketing claims or OTA listings:

- **Connectivity** — measured download speed in Mbps, not a tick-box for “free Wi-Fi”
- **Work space** — noise at the desk or seat, and whether quiet zones are enforced
- **Dietary needs** — how reliably kitchens handle allergies, halal, vegetarian and other requests
- **Getting around** — walk times and hassle to gates, pickups, trains and taxis
- **Rest & leisure** — showers, rest areas, pools and family-friendly space for long waits

VUI is the primary lens for lounge audits and utility-led airport / long-stay hotel coverage. See also the homepage pillars and hotel scoring below.

## How we score hotels

Hotel coverage lives in two places. Both follow the same integrity rule: **no FlightLogic score without a named editor’s stay** and a disclosed booking method (cash, points, press-rate or hosted).

### 1. Property guides — `/hotels/{country}/{city}/{slug}/`

Destination guides (for example Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur) always carry verified entity facts — address, star class, amenities, airport transfer notes and live booking handoffs. When an editor has stayed, the same URL includes an **Our review** section with a single overall **FlightLogic score (0–10)**, pros/cons and a firsthand write-up. Guides without a stay publish **no score** and say so on the page — they are entity listings, not ratings.

### 2. Editorial hotel reviews — `/reviews/hotels/`

Standalone reviews in the editorial feed use four 0–10 pillars — **experience**, **quality**, **service** and **value** — plus a named author, booking-method disclosure and Quick Answer / FAQ schema. These URLs live under `/reviews/{slug}/`, not under the city hotel path.

### Star class vs FlightLogic score

Official or brand **star classes** (3★ / 4★ / 5★) shown on hotel cards are the property’s published classification. They are **not** FlightLogic ratings and are never averaged into our 0–10 scores. Airport-hotel curation may filter on star class for inclusion; the editorial score still requires a stay.

Browse city guides at [/hotels/](https://flightlogic.co.uk/hotels/), airport picks at [/hotels/airport/](https://flightlogic.co.uk/hotels/airport/), and the editorial hotel feed at [/reviews/hotels/](https://flightlogic.co.uk/reviews/hotels/). Integrity policy: [/review-integrity/](https://flightlogic.co.uk/review-integrity/).

## Contextual image strategy (copyright-free)

FlightLogic avoids generic stock photography — AI vision systems in answer-engine pipelines penalise overused Shutterstock-style assets. We use first-party captures or license-free airline/airport press kits, with alt text optimised for originality and intent.

### Lounge reviews

Request raw license-free promotional kits from airline PR teams or airport press offices — never generic stock libraries. Avoid: Wide empty lounge interiors from Wikimedia that match thousands of other travel sites.

| Page | Subject | Target asset | Alt text (live) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `virgin-clubhouse-lhr-review` | quiet-workstation | `/images/editorial/lounges/virgin-clubhouse-lhr-workstation.webp` | Quiet work corner with integrated power and QR-code table service at Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow Terminal … |
| `ba-first-lounge-t5-review` | buffet-hot-food | `/images/editorial/lounges/ba-first-lounge-t5-buffet.webp` | Best business class airport lounge buffet selection featuring premium hot dining options at BA Galleries First London He… |
| `centurion-lounge-lhr-review` | espresso-station | `/images/editorial/lounges/centurion-lounge-lhr-espresso.webp` | Espresso station and Assaf Granit à la carte hot dishes at American Express Centurion Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3. |
| `no1-lounge-gatwick-review` | buffet-hot-food | `/images/editorial/lounges/no1-lounge-gatwick-buffet.webp` | Premium hot buffet dishes and self-serve dining at No1 Lounge London Gatwick North Terminal. |
| `qatar-al-mourjan-lounge-doh` | buffet-hot-food | `/images/editorial/lounges/al-mourjan-doh-dining.webp` | Halal à la carte and premium hot buffet selection at Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge Doha. |
| `plaza-premium-lounge-amman` | buffet-hot-food | `/images/editorial/lounges/plaza-premium-amman-buffet.webp` | Hot Arabic and Western buffet options at Plaza Premium Lounge Queen Alia International Airport Amman. |
| `ba-concorde-room-t5-review` | espresso-station | `/images/editorial/lounges/ba-concorde-room-t5-dining.webp` | À la carte table service and cocktail bar at British Airways Concorde Room Heathrow Terminal 5. |
| `lufthansa-first-class-terminal-fra` | buffet-hot-food | `/images/editorial/lounges/lufthansa-fct-fra-dining.webp` | Premium dining and waiter service at Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt. |

### Card guides & reviews

Original top-down photography — passport, metallic card, boarding pass on walnut or slate — shot on modern mobile hardware with unique lighting. Avoid: Issuer logo SVGs or aircraft hero shots unrelated to the card product.

| Page | Subject | Target asset | Capture notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ba-amex-premium-plus-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/ba-amex-premium-plus-lifestyle.webp` | Show card (prop or mock), UK passport, BA boarding pass stub; no issuer stock art. |
| `ba-amex-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/ba-amex-free-lifestyle.webp` | Emphasise companion-voucher journey — two boarding passes optional. |
| `amex-preferred-rewards-gold-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/amex-gold-uk-lifestyle.webp` | Gold card metal finish, passport, Heathrow T3 tag on pass if available. |
| `barclaycard-avios-plus-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/barclaycard-avios-plus-lifestyle.webp` | Walnut or slate surface; soft window light from one side. |
| `barclaycard-avios-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/barclaycard-avios-free-lifestyle.webp` | Simpler composition than Premium Plus; emphasise zero-fee positioning. |
| `virgin-reward-plus-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/virgin-reward-plus-lifestyle.webp` | Do not reuse generic 787 tail photos as hero. |
| `virgin-reward-review-uk` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/virgin-reward-free-lifestyle.webp` | Match Reward+ composition for series consistency. |
| `best-uk-airline-credit-cards` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/uk-airline-cards-guide-hero.webp` | Top-down, high contrast, slight colour grade unique to FlightLogic. |
| `best-travel-credit-cards` | card-lifestyle | `/images/editorial/cards/uk-travel-cards-hub-hero.webp` | Hero for /best-travel-credit-cards; 1200×514 crop safe zone centre. |

Save captures under `public/images/editorial/`. Set `useTargetSrc: true` in `src/data/contextual-visuals.ts` when the file is ready to swap the hero image.

## UK edge performance & structured data

FlightLogic targets **sub-200ms Time to First Byte (TTFB)** for static HTML on UK cellular networks. Pages deploy to Cloudflare Pages with UK edge PoPs (London, Manchester) serving cached HTML via `s-maxage` and `stale-while-revalidate` — see `public/_headers` in the repository. Enable in the Cloudflare dashboard: Tiered Cache, Brotli, Early Hints, and Auto Minify (HTML/CSS/JS).

Entity reviews with full LocalBusiness metadata carry a bundled `[Review, FAQPage]` JSON-LD array injected immediately before ` ` — with absolute `flightlogic.co.uk` image and logo URLs and `addressCountry: "GB"` (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2, not "UK").

## Strict anchor treatment for paid links

Monetized outbound links never use obfuscated JavaScript routing or generic anchor text. Each paid link states what you are opening — flight search links name the airline and market; insurance and hotel links name the provider and destination where relevant. Credit-card pages do not use paid apply links; they use educational CTAs into our UK airline credit cards guide (`creditCardGuideLabel`). Helpers live in `src/data/affiliate-policy.ts` (`contextualFlightSearchLabel`, etc.).

Stay-search links route through a first-party handoff (`/go/stay`) that performs one server-side redirect to Booking.com. The handoff exists to attach our partner identifier at the edge and log the outbound click — it never changes the destination you were shown, accepts no arbitrary URLs, and the anchor still carries the * label and `rel="nofollow sponsored"`.

Full disclosure rules: [How we flag affiliate links](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links).

## Information Gain & the May 2026 Core Update

Google's May 2026 broad core update penalises scaled, repetitive AI content without original media or first-party data. FlightLogic responds by publishing **Information Gain** — genuinely new knowledge relative to what already ranks: measured Wi-Fi speeds, acoustic profiles, strict dietary execution (pork-free prep, allergy handling), and terminal-specific ride-app pick-up coordinates verified on-site.

Every entity review displays an infrastructure verification date. Affiliate blocks, navigation, and disclosures use `data-nosnippet` so crawlers weight proprietary audit data — not sidebar boilerplate. Short first-party video walkthroughs (pick-up zones, quiet workspaces) supplement text for human conversion without diluting AEO blocks.

## How We Verify Content

Consumer guides (UK261, Avios, credit cards, insurance) are fact-checked against primary sources — Civil Aviation Authority guidance, UK air passenger rights regulations, issuer terms, and gov.uk travel advice — and carry a named author plus last-reviewed date. Information only; not regulated financial or legal advice.

Flight, lounge and hotel editorial reviews are written by the named author and disclose booking method on the page: **cash**, **points**, **press-rate / press-comp**, or **hosted** (always disclosed when used). Where a review reflects a firsthand trip, a verification badge appears after booking confirmation, boarding pass or stay proof. Hotel property guides without a stay never invent a score — see How we score hotels.

FlightLogic does not currently publish reader-submitted reviews. Feedback emailed to hello@flightlogic.co.uk informs what we re-test and rate next, but is never displayed as a rating or blended into a score. Any future consumer-review feature will require proof of travel and comply with the UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 rules on fake reviews.

## Corrections & Right of Reply

Our scores and verdicts are the honest opinions of named editors, based on the facts stated in each review — booking class, route, date, and measured data are disclosed so readers can judge the basis for themselves. If an airline, airport, or venue believes we have a fact wrong, email [hello@flightlogic.co.uk](mailto:hello@flightlogic.co.uk): we correct verifiable factual errors promptly and note material corrections on the page. Opinions and scores are not negotiable and cannot be purchased, but they are always re-assessed when the underlying product demonstrably changes.

## What We Don't Do

- We do not accept payment from airlines, hotels, or card issuers for rankings, review removal, or preferential placement.
- We do not publish comped trips without explicit on-page disclosure.
- We do not use ghostwriters or AI-generated review text — editors listed as authors wrote the review.
- We do not rank airlines or cards by affiliate commission — paid links are marked * and never influence scores. See [affiliate policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links).

## Methodology FAQ

### Does FlightLogic accept payment from airlines?

No. FlightLogic operates independently. Airlines cannot pay to improve rankings, remove reviews, or receive preferential placement. Our methodology is published transparently on this page.

### How often are rankings updated?

Overall rankings refresh quarterly. Safety scores update monthly. Individual airline pages reflect new reviews within 48 hours of verification.

### What categories are used in the overall score?

Customer service (20%), seat comfort (20%), food and beverage (15%), in-flight entertainment (10%), on-time performance (20%), and value for money (15%). Safety is scored separately and does not directly affect the overall passenger experience score.

### How is an airline’s rank decided?

Rank is derived directly from the overall score rather than assigned separately: rated airlines are ordered by composite score, ties broken by the higher safety score and then alphabetically. A rank can never contradict the score published beside it, and no airline can move without its category assessments changing first. Carriers without a full FlightLogic score are unranked directory listings, not low-ranked airlines.

### Where do FlightLogic scores come from?

Scores are editorial expert assessments made by named FlightLogic editors. They draw on firsthand flights and lounge visits, published punctuality statistics (OAG, Cirium), the IATA IOSA safety registry, regulator data (CAA, EASA, FAA), and airline-published product specifications. FlightLogic does not currently publish consumer-submitted reviews, and no score is ever based on payment, commission, or airline sponsorship.

### Does FlightLogic publish passenger or user reviews?

Not at present. Reader feedback emailed to hello@flightlogic.co.uk helps us decide what to re-test and which airlines to rate next, but it is not published or blended into scores. If we introduce consumer reviews in future, they will require proof of travel and be moderated in line with the UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 rules on fake reviews.

### What does a 5-star airline rating mean on FlightLogic?

5-Star airlines score 8.5 or higher overall with a safety score above 9.0 — meaning strong, consistent performance across service, seats, food, entertainment, and punctuality, with no unresolved safety concerns. It is a composite quality signal, not a guarantee of a flawless flight.

### How are FlightLogic editorial reviews verified?

Every editorial review discloses how the trip was booked (cash or points) and is written by the named editor who flew it. We do not accept press trips or comped stays unless explicitly disclosed on that specific review.

### How does FlightLogic score airports?

Airport scores (0–10) combine three pillars: On-Time Performance (departure reliability from OAG data and passenger reports), Passenger Experience (staff, queues, cleanliness, wayfinding), and Facilities & Comfort (dining, retail, seating, amenities). Lounge quality is scored separately and does not affect the overall airport score.

### What data sources does FlightLogic use for airport scores?

Airport on-time data draws from OAG punctuality statistics and passenger-reported delay experiences. Experience and facilities scores combine passenger survey submissions, editorial assessments, and publicly available airport quality indices. Lounge scores are based on FlightLogic editorial lounge reviews and passenger submissions.

### What is a directory-only airline listing?

Directory listings provide verified entity facts (IATA/ICAO codes, hub, alliance, fleet size) and FAQs for carriers not yet fully rated. They do not include a composite 0–10 score until our editorial team publishes a complete rating. Rated airlines are marked with a badge in the directory.

### How does FlightLogic score hotels?

A hotel only receives a FlightLogic score after a named editor stays there and discloses how the stay was booked (cash, points, press-rate or hosted). On property guides under /hotels/, that is usually a single overall 0–10 score with pros, cons and a firsthand write-up. Standalone hotel reviews under /reviews/hotels/ use four pillars — experience, quality, service and value — also on a 0–10 scale. Official star classes (3★/4★/5★) are the hotel’s published classification, not a FlightLogic rating. Guides without a stay carry facts and booking links but no score.

### What is the Verified Utility Index?

The Verified Utility Index (VUI) scores practical friction on five pillars: connectivity, work space, dietary needs, getting around, and rest & leisure. It is used for lounges, airport hotels and similar utility-led stays — measured where possible (for example Wi-Fi Mbps), not copied from marketing claims.