[Gamecock]

I was lucky enough to fly Cathay from LAX-HKG-ORD in business class. The flight ended too soon. It was that nice.

[Army Air Corps]

The aircraft are clean, the cabin crew are polite and attentive, and business class has nice amenities. A pleasant experience all the way ‘round.

[Vigilanteman]

Same feeling on a long haul flight I took from the Middle East to Hong Kong and back to Japan years ago, one way on SQ, the return on CX. Cathay and Singapore Airlines are the best in the world.

It doesn't hurt that they have eye candy quality flight attendants and transfer hubs which are second to nowhere on earth.

Well, one of them has got to be second and, if forced to choose, I'd give the edge to Singapore simply because there is no "very densely populated city" smells near the airport.