i would say it would have to be Delta or US Air

According to Skytrax >>

Airline of the Year 2004 - Final Rankings
1st - Singapore Airlines
2nd - Emirates
3rd - Cathay Pacific
4th - Qantas Airways
5th - Thai Airways

Link >> http://www.airlinequality.com/2004/airline_04_entry.htm

but these airlines are quite expensive if you are looking for cheap n reliable then go for :
-Airindia
-Shrilankan airways

I thought Sabena, the former belgain airline. It was almost every day in the news when it went bankrobbed...

I guess it kind of depends where you are traveling to. Alot of US commercials here are for the "major airlines", that are for US only (domestic), I don't really see any commercials for International Travel.

I think that BA (British Airways) would be the most popular even though I have looked at the prices of their flights in the past, they do tend to be on the expensive side. The last and only time I've been in a plane was a British Midland flight 10 years ago to Amsterdam.

The best airlines according to me are First Emirates and then Qantas. I have been on both and both have really very good crew, service and lounges.