Hello all - please excuse my ignorance but during the research for my next vacation I found a site which provided skytrax ratings where BA was described as a 'low 4 star' airline. Not having had any real experience with many of the other airlines in the list I was wondering if there was really so much difference between BA and the supposed 5 star airlines?

Are the 5 star airlines only ranked in this manner because they have amazing first / premium class products or is the difference noticeable across all classes? As an economy class passenger would I really notice a real difference?

Most importantly do you agree with these rankings - what is that lets BA down in this respect?

Do airlines take these rankings seriously - I have seen advertisements where certain 5 star airlines like to boast about how they are a cut above the rest (Qatar) - but apart from this do the airlines really spare a seconds thought for this data?

Please excuse all the questions and my ignorance but I really am very intrigued by this