How the Onboard Awards work
A transparent, independent process designed to recognise excellence across airline, cruise and rail onboard experience.
Entries for 2027 are now open.
The Process
Independent by design.
Rigorous by nature.
A transparent, independent process designed to recognise excellence across airline, cruise and rail onboard experience
Enter
Submit your product, service or innovation across relevant categories.
Review
Entries are assessed by our international judging panel and voted for by Onboard Hospitality Magazine’s international trade readership.
Judge
Finalists
Recognise
Awards Categories
Every detail of the journey.
The Onboard Awards span every aspect of onboard experience, from food and beverage and passenger comfort to technology, sustainability, accessibility and innovation.
Categories are designed to reflect the full journey – recognising excellence across every cabin, every touchpoint and every mode of travel.
JUDGING
How entries
are judged
Judging is carried out by a distinguished independent global panel of industry experts, each with extensive and senior-level experience across the airline, cruise, and rail sectors. Their combined insight ensures the Onboard Awards remain one of the most respected benchmarks of excellence in the industry.
All entries are showcased online from January 1 each year, offering visibility to a global audience of industry decision-makers and influencers.
The judging process begins with rigorous online evaluation, where judges assess and score each submission against a clearly defined set of criteria. In parallel, readers of Onboard Hospitality Magazine are invited to cast their vote for standout entries in each category. This combination of expert assessment and industry engagement determines the shortlist that progresses to the next stage.
Shortlisted entries are then reviewed in person by the full judging panel, convened from across the world. This final stage represents the highest level of scrutiny, where entries are examined in detail to determine those worthy of the coveted Onboard Awards Mark of Excellence – a recognised symbol of outstanding onboard innovation and quality.
From this group, category winners are selected, representing the very best in onboard product and service design worldwide.
JUDGING
Judging criteria
Entries are evaluated against a clear set of criteria:
Passenger Experience
How the product or service enhances the onboard journey in terms of comfort, usability, service, and overall enjoyment
Innovation
The originality of the idea and the extent to which it meaningfully advances the onboard experience
Quality & Execution
Attention to detail, build quality, consistency, and reliability in real operational conditions
Operational Effectiveness
How well the product or service performs in practice, including ease of integration, crew usability, and scalability
Sustainability & Responsibility
Environmental and social considerations across materials, sourcing, production, and lifecycle impact
Customer Impact
Evidence of passenger satisfaction, feedback, or measurable improvements in experience
CATEGORIES
Category-Specific Criteria
Certain categories are assessed against additional, discipline-specific factors. For example, Food & Beverage entries will also be judged on taste, presentation, texture, and culinary authenticity, alongside service suitability for onboard environments.
Other product types may include tailored considerations relevant to their function and usage, ensuring each entry is evaluated fairly within its own context.
ENTERING
How to enter
Entries open on September 1 2026
Step One
Complete the entry form, selecting how many submissions you would like to make and then providing your product information, images, and supporting evidence.
Step Two
You will receive an invoice within two working days. This must be settled by December 31 2026 in order to be eligible for inclusion in the awards.
Enter the awards
Set the standard.
Enter the Onboard Awards
For airlines, cruise lines and rail operators
Showcase your onboard experience and earn a trusted mark of excellence recognised across the industry and by passengers.
For suppliers
Put your products and innovations in front of decision-makers and demonstrate your role in shaping world-class onboard experiences.
Previous Winners
Championing the world's leading travel brands.
